Keeping Your Children Safe at the Beach

Keeping your children safe on the beach is something all families think about at one time or another.  A family beach vacation is a “must” for so many families.  We will be embarking on our fourth family beach vacation this sumer, and one thing at the front of my “mommy mind” is keeping our children safe at the beach.  Last summer, we enjoyed Surfside Beach, SC on our way home from Walt Disney World.  This year, we are making our way to Hilton Head Island, SC.  Have you been?  My favorite part of beach trips is our “schedule”.  Our beach trip schedule is as follows:

 

Get up

Eat breakfast

Go to the beach

Eat lunch

Swim in the pool

Dinner

Night walk on the beach

Sounds pretty wonderful, doesn’t it?  But when we are in Hilton Head this summer, the majority of our day will be in the exposed sun, playing in the sand, and feeling that “I’ve been in the sun all day” exhaustion.  I can’t wait!  Since beach safety goes farther than good sunscreen, today, I want to share with you some of my favorite tips for keeping your children safe at the beach.

Invest in a beach umbrella.  Sometimes, those fun beach chairs may come with an umbrella.  Bonus!  Even though you want that golden tan, you and the kids will still appreciate some respite from those hot rays.

Put a wide-brimmed sun hat on your baby.  Those little faces have a hard time with sunglasses, and we don’t want sunburned baby noses!  As a mom, putting sunscreen on the little faces makes me nervous-I’ve had to console my share of watery eyes because it got in their eyes.

Dress your child in a rash guard.  One of our twins, who at age 11 is a tad self conscious with his shirt off, LOVES wearing one of these.  And as his mom, I am totally fine with it.  I don’t have to fret {as much} that he is being overexposed to sun. AND, so many cute little kid swimsuits can be purchased with a rash guard top and even SPF built in to the material.

Pack your bag with plenty to do!  Beach buckets are an obvious MUST.  Also, take along some of their favorite books, shovels, even fun bath toys that they like to use to squirt you!  Older kids will enjoy paddle ball, even a kickball, etc.  I’ve even seen some parents bring small baby pools down to the beach.  It keeps their little one contained, and you can even place it under the umbrella mentioned above-win win!

Reapply their sunscreen often.  You’ll be glad you did!  And, add some bottled water to the cooler or your beach bag. Just because you are playing in the water, doesn’t mean you won’t get thirsty.

Know your child’s limits.  Feel free to go back to the condo, or beach house to rest.  Enjoying the beach in the morning, stopping to rest for lunch and a nap, and then enjoying the pool in the afternoon is a great way to spend a beach day!

Do you visit the beach with your family?  How do you keep your children safe?