The beach can be tempting for moms and their newborns. Bringing your little one to the beach can be a memorable experience and babies are bound to be captivated by the atmosphere around them.
While planning for an upcoming beach trip, you need to consider if your newborn is ready to be in the sun, enjoy watching the waves splashing, and play in the sand. For a new member to your family, you are likely worried about the safety of the sun and surf environment. This article will reveal if it’s safe to take a newborn to the beach.
Is it safe to take a newborn to the beach?
Taking babies to a beach is an opportunity to introduce your little one to the outside environment. While children under six months old should always be placed in the shade and protected from the direct sunlight, toddlers and older kids can be in the sun to get Vitamin D. It only requires about ten to fifteen minutes for those with light skin and children with darker skin might take a bit longer in the sun.
Heat and sun might have negative effects on babies younger than six months old. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that babies who are six months old and younger must be sheltered from exposure to the sun to prevent sunburns. Infants can’t regulate their body heat like grownups. Therefore, when they are left in a hot environment, they can feel heat stress.
You can still take your newborn to the beach with some forethought and preparation. After all, there is a lot you can do when the entire family has an opportunity to be together at the beach getaway.
The question, “can you take a newborn to the beach?” the answer is yes. However, consider doing the following things listed below to ensure you and your newborn have a lot of fun and relaxing moments at the beach:
- Choose a safe and clean spot at the beach and it shouldn’t be near to the water’s edge. This will prevent you from moving your day camp when the tide comes in a couple of hours.
- Carry blankets and towels for your newborn to lie or sit on.
- If you take a sun tent, line it with towels and make sure it doesn’t get too hot inside.
- If your baby has already begun moving, create windbreaks surrounding your base camp to prevent them from crawling away.
- Monitor your baby at all times by ensuring that they don’t put shells, sand, or pebbles in their mouth.
When can I take my baby to the beach?
A baby’s skin is delicate and needs to be protected at all times. Even if it’s not a sunny day, a newborn’s skin can still get a sunburn. If your baby is aged six months old or younger, keep them out of the sun by all means and always stay under the shade.
On the other hand, if your baby is older than six months old, keep them out of the sun during the hottest times of the day which is between 11 am and 3 pm.
It’s also vital to dress your newborn in the appropriate clothing when in the sun. Cotton clothes are suitable in such environments and the clothing should cover their legs and arms. You can also dress them in a UV sunsuit and a wide-brimmed hat that provides shade to their face and neck. Look for sunglasses that will protect their eyes from sand and the sun.
What age can I take my baby to the beach?
Taking your baby to the beach involves weighing in several factors. First, you must consider the age of your baby when it comes to water safety.
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend official water safety programs for kids aged one and under as there hasn’t been any scientific study to confirm their effectiveness. However, they do not doubt that the open water at the beach could bring some unforeseen and dangers such as jellyfish stings.
Infants younger than two months of age have a pretty weaker immune system. Therefore, you should not consider taking them to any open water environment. You should consult your doctor if you have a child who is two months to one year old.
The idea of getting an opinion from a healthcare practitioner is because the kid’s health and immune system will determine if it’s safe to put them in the water at the beach. If your beach is hazardous, don’t take any chances by taking your newborn to the beach.
Local water advisories keep updates on the things that might be dangerous to your health including the threat of bacteria. For a beach that is known to be quite safe, then there is no problem placing your infant into the water for the first time. In most situations, it all comes to your situation and the location of the beach.
Newborn beach gear
When you are going, plan what to bring to the beach with a baby. Days at the beach should never be a problem if you have the right gear. You want to ensure that your baby has all the comforts they would usually get at home. Going to the beach with an infant can be overwhelming, but your efforts will be worth it.
Some serious planning and packing are needed so that your little one is safe and happy while having fun in the sun. There are various baby beach gears that you should never leave behind and below are some of the items you must carry with you:
Babyganics Baby Sunscreen Spray
Before you go to the beach, apply sunscreen to every part of your baby’s skin, that is not covered by either clothes or a hat. This means to apply it to their hands and feet.
It’s easier to apply the sunscreen in the morning before you dress them as it helps you to use it on all the areas of the skin. There are sunscreens formulated for babies and the best ones have a sun protection factor (SPF) of about 15.
Babyganics Baby Sunscreen Spray is one of the best sunscreens for the babies. Its formula doesn’t have harmful substances such as PABA, phthalates, or fragrances and it’s made up of plant-derived and certified ingredients. It has SPF 50+ and will protect your baby from UV lights. It’s also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes and comes in a pack of 2 measuring 6 Fl Oz.
Simple Joys 2-Piece Rashguard Set
You need a decent hat, rashies, and swimwear for your little one for protection from the sun at the beach because the skin of your baby is still very sensitive. Therefore, a hat will keep the sun from shining on your baby’s head and it also keeps the sun rays out of their eyes.
A cover-up and rash guard will prevent sunburn and sand rashes from happening on your baby. The ideal baby swimwear should have a UPF rating of about 30+ ad make sure that the sleeves of the rashie are long and the hat has large flaps.
If you want to invest in high-quality and protective swim gear, consider Simple Joys 2-piece Rashguard Set. It has a pull-on closure and it’s easy to wash. This rashguard set features a long sleeve with a ruffle bottom. It comes in various sizes and colors to suit your baby boys and girls.
Click N' Play Beach Sand Toy Set
Baby beach toys are great entertainment for little ones as they distract them from attempting to put sand, pebbles, and seashells in their mouths. If your baby is crawling, they would love to play around with the toys.
Choose toys that are easy to wash and clean. This makes sand toys the appropriate ones for your beach day with your baby. While regular sand toys might sometimes be slightly large for newborns to play with, consider choosing a set of smaller-sized sand toys that your baby can handle.
Click and Play Beach Sand Toy Set consists of 18 pieces of a bucket, shovels, rakes molds, and watering can. The toys are made of BPA free materials to enable your baby to have fun while playing with shapes and sculptures.
This is a suitable set because your baby can begin learning cognitive and imaginative skills at an early age. There are various sand molds including octopus, sea horse, seashell, turtle, and a boat.
Conclusion
It’s a lot of fun to go with your baby to the beach, but safety should always come first. Your baby might love to join you and play in the water. If you are in the water with your little one, ensure you have kept a good hold on them.
Try not to play in the water for too long as babies can get cold quickly. Besides this, you should apply sunscreen on your baby, ensure they are wearing the right clothes, and they have plenty of beach toys to play with.
