Packing for a beach holiday with bumpkin

Hello

I'm making a list of what to pack for a beach holiday DH and I are going on with DS (16 months old) for one week in November (and I'm 17 weeks preggo).

I'm drafting up a list of what we'll need to pack ...

So far, I've got:-

• bucketloads of suncream
• hats for everyone
• swimmers for everyone
• extra towels
• sunnies for everyone (though at the moment, DS has more interest in trying to eat his...)
• baby panadol (teething...)
• five toys that can get wet and sandy and not be ruined and which don't need batteries etc
• three bottles (DS still has a bottle in the morning and before bed, and occasionally overnight during growth spurts)
• sippy/straw cup for DS and water bottle for DH and me
• baby bowls, spoons and forks
• little tubs to pack snacks
• beach tent of some variety (I have vampire skin, and burn when I look at pictures of the beach...)
• moisturiser
• zantac and pramin (in case morning sickness hasn't gone away yet)
• preggo vitamins
• three changes of beachy clothes each
• one warm outfit each
• one sleeping outsit each
• disposable nappies
• an umbrella
• camera with spare batteries
• normal handbag stuff
• normal nappybag stuff
• normal toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothbrush & paste, hairbrush, hairties, razors, etc)
• craploads of books and magazines
• a bunny rug of some variety which DS can nap on, in the shade, when he gets pooped out

I'm planning on NOT taking:

• portacot (there will be a cot there)
• highchair (there will be one there)
• carseat (shouldn't need one)
• raincoats (unlikely to need them, and will take up too much room)
• cloth nappies and wipes and liners, etc
• food (there's apparently a coles nearby)
• anything even remotely work related...

We are undecided about taking the pram ... I am leaning towards yes, because DS is too big for our carrier, and by the time we go I'll be about 23 weeks pg and will *not* want to be carrying my beautiful boofa around too much ... and am guessing DH will be fine with it, but it's not fair for him to have to do all the lugging either ... and at any rate, it can be very convenient having DS in the pram, under the shade cover, and the bucket underneath is handy ... but am I overthinking it? Will we actually spend much time walking around, as opposed to sitting on our bums on the beach?

Bringing me to my next question ... what is realistic for DS at the beach? we've bought him a little bucket and spade for him to play with, and he loves the pool and the bath, so we're guessing he's going to love the ocean (when it's warm!!) but I'm not so naive as to think DS will happily play with his bucket and spade and cars for three hours while DH and I read our books and have a proper swim ...

What is realistic?

And my other question for those of you who have travelled with babies or small children: what am I forgetting? What is on my "not bringing" list which I actually *will* want? And what is on my "yes" list which I don't need?

Any practical advice would be muchly appreciated :D

Thanks!

Hey hun

How exciting :D

We've done a bit of beaching with the kids... let me see if I can help...

Take the pram. For all the reasons you've listed, take it. Added bonus that if he gets tired while you're out and about, he may just close his eyes for a minute if he's in the comfort of the pram.

I forget where you decided to go - are you flying? If so, the pram isn't counted as "excess" for most airlines, but check their websites. Travelling with a bub you get extra baggage allowance, as long as its baby stuff.

Why won't you need a carseat? Are you not driving anywhere? Remind me where you are off to and I'll revist that one because...

Yes, its not going to happen that you and DH both will get to kick back and relax on the beach. At least one of you will need to be with DS all the time, because he's most likely going to be so excited to be at this BEACH thing that he won't sit still! So plan for that - he might need to go for lots of exciting beach walks and rockpool rambles. Has he got some comfy walking sandal type shoes? Something that can get wet - guaranteed he will be jumping in and out of the water, shoes or no shoes!

Also have a think about what you are going to do if he gets bored at the beach. Where else can you go?

I always overpack on clothes. My theory is - if a child vomits in the middle of the night, do you have a backup of everything, in case you need to do the emergency change without time to wash/dry? So I took two sleeping bags, loads of clothes, just in case that happened. And it has happened, a few times.

Are there going to be washing facilities there? The other thing that is highly likely is that you come back from the beach with one change of clothes wet and sandy, put the second on, then you've only got one back up. Maybe consider packing some extra clothes!

Towels - do you really need towels? What does the place you are staying at provide?

Hamilton Island (your island in the sun :D)

Good point re extra clothes ... particularly for DS!!!

We have bought DS and me some thongs (DH already has about 3 pairs, but DS and I didn't have any) so they can get as wet and sandy or muddy as he likes.

There's a kids club that he can go to for a bit here and there (DH and I really want to go snorkelling one day, and obviously that won't be safe for DS! paddling yes, snorkelling in the great barrier reef, not so much...)

But mostly he'll be with us, and we'll be playing on the beach or by the pool ... the books are mostly for when he's off to bed, and we're relaxing in the apartment.

We've rented an apartment with two bedrooms and a living area and a (very secure) balcony.

Towells - there will be towells there, but I *love* towells, and I hate using the same one more than once before a wash ... as in, I'll use it once for my body, then once for my hair, then once as a bathmat (I don't wash them after every individual use!) but I won't use it twice for my body ... I'm a bit funny about towells, and unless I'm at a hotel where I can just ask them to send me more up, I always run out in the first five minutes ... and when I'm at the beach etc, I'll normally swim more than once a day, so I end up having more than one shower a day - thus the lack of towells!!

And no, we won't be driving anywhere - there's a shuttle bus from the airport to our accommodation, and then everywhere is either walking or buggy ... I'm guessing the buggy won't fit a carseat?

Aha! All is making sense now.

I am now leaning towards maybe not pram. You can hold him in the little golf buggy - they are literally the buggies you see on golf courses.

There are a few little day trips (half day) you can do around the island but I can't think of many that would be suitable for DS. So maybe no to the pram! And yes, definitely no to the car seat. Are you flying directly into H.I.?

I'm glad you're going to do some snorkelling :) You'll love it.

When we stayed at H.I. we basically wandered to the shops, bought food, wandered to the beach, had some drinkies, had some dinner, had more drinkies. Didn't do a whole lot - but that was before kids of course!

As for towels... I'm pretty sure even the apartments are run like hotels? Or are you staying in one of the (very few) private apartments? I'm sure that most of the accommodation (in fact most of the island) is owned by the same crew, so I'd be thinking you'd be able to get more towels? Up to you - but they are bulky to pack!

Take a snaplock bag with washing powder. You can buy it there but it's exxie and rubbish. Saves having to take to many clothes.
Take your pram. It's hilly.
If DS likes a particular snack take some. The coles might be small and not stock everything you're used to.
Maybe a wrap instead of a bunny rug? It will take less room and won't be so hot to cover the stroller/lay on etc.

:hello: nutter!!

how exciting, Hamilton Island is Amazing!!!

just a side note about the grocery store, unless its changed since i was there, its pricey!

but ive herd of people doing say coles online and getting it delivered from the main land.... not sure how it works or if its worth it but might be worth a look at?

and the fish andship shop is the BEST!!! calamari fingers...mmmmmmmm!! :D

have a blast!

I'd take the pram. If it's hot you wont want to carry even for short trips and it's good to carry all the stuff on your list.


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I'd definitely be packing some snacks - you will need them for the airplane trip anyway and a couple of muesli bars for you and DH won't take up much room.

Did you have books for DS?

I'd take the pram unless it's a real pain with the airlines. So handy to put stuff underneath, you and DH can go for a decent walk with DS in it (there's only so much lazing around I can handle, still need to be a bit active).

Just wanted to pop in and say it sounds amazing!!

Hope you enjoy your holiday... Sounds like it will be so much fun for you all. Everything on your list is sounding really good... As for the pram I would personally take it if you and DH don't mind the extra baggage, but it isn't a necessity! And big yes to the extra extra clothes for DS. I bet he's going to love it! Ohh I went to Hamilton Island a few years back with hubby and such an awesome time... Beautiful restaurants & so much to do, but yes a very pricey grocery store!

Enjoy :)


Sent from my iPhone more than likely while I should be doing something else!

In your carry on make sure you have a change of clothes for all of you! If DS (or you) vomits or he (not you) has a nappy incident on the plane you will need this - or if your bags get lost in transit.

I would take the pram and no you will not get to chill out at the beach while DS plays happily as he will probably do a runner. He may actually hate the sand or be freaked out by the waves so don't be surprised if he doesn't want to hang out there. I would see if you can get a portable dvd player and some dvds of shows he loves and some books for him as well.

thanks for the ideas!!

books for DS are definately a plan - but we'll also just take ones that can get wet and sandy!! None of the "That's not my ..." variety ...

we'll almost certainly take a laptop and some music etc, but DS doesn't watch telly, and DH and I don't watch much either, so might not take many DVDs.

and in summer, my fan (the old fashioned spanish-eque ones) come everywhere with me ... might pack two ...

and yes, snacks for the plane are a good idea. and clean tops for the plane .... or clean everything!

I've also heard you can order through coles online, so I'll check that out :)

I'm thinking the pram is a yes ... it can go on the back of the buggy, and I'm sure we'll want to do some walks - and given how hilly it looks, we won't want to be doing that while carrying DS!!