Monday, August 25, 2014

BEACH LIST for summer trips with your Busy Baby Bees

Daddy, Sonny & Zadie's Bathing Suits all in a row















My husband and his family have been vacationing in the same beach town since he was born. When they decided to continue the tradition this summer, I felt like we had to be a part of it, especially since we now have twins to share the fun. So once we committed, excitement was overrun by something much more pressing: the anxiety related to having to pack for three people!

One of the keys to preparing - probably the most important key of all - was creating LISTS. Lots, and lots of LISTS. Not only did it help keep track of what we needed, it also made sure we didn't forget ANYTHING. {Side-note - I did forget to bring one thing, the camera for the monitor. OOPS! Yup, we ended up buying a monitor at the nearest store but that was the only thing that we forgot. Oh well, at least I brought half of it!} I even made a separate list the night before and stuck it on the back door so we wouldn't forget anything on our way out in the morning. 

Months out, I created a "TRAVEL LIST" on my iPhone notepad (isn't technology awesome?) so I had it wherever I went. This helped me prep for an earlier trip - our first family plane trip to Florida - and I edited and altered it to prepare for the beach trip versus a pool trip. 

These lists are for two babies (specifically, we have twins). They were about six-months-old when we went to Florida and eight-months-old when we went to the beach. 

Beach List:
- Bathing suits: 3 for each baby
- Sunscreen: talk to your doctor about preference
- Bucket hats: 2 with velcro straps (helps stay on in the wind)
- Sunglasses: 2 pairs each from She La La (link
- Swimmy diapers 
- Scented plastic bags for dirty diapers
- Towels: 2 beach towels for each baby
- Toys: washable & toys that didn't let sand in 
- Diaper Tote: Size 2 & Size 3 diapers; wipes; triple paste (new favorite paste!)
- Sippy cups: 1 per baby
- Milk/formula bottles: 3 per baby (I love Dr. Brown's)
- Small cooler for lunch with spoons: yogurt; fruits; veggies
- Cover ups/terry cloth robes - 1-2 per baby
- 1 large tent
- 1 outdoor washable blanket 
- 1 beach cart - we have the Nantucket Buggy (link)
- 2 beach umbrellas (Our tent ended up breaking so we used 2 umbrellas)

Night Time List: 
- Sleepers: 2 for each since we were able to do laundry
- Onesies: 4/5 for each baby
- Pacifiers: As many as I could find!
- Pacifier attachments: 2 per baby 
- 4 Bebahs: (The comfy toys that are attached to small blankets that they snuggle with at night)
- A box fan  (we all sleep with sound)
- 2 Pac N Plays
- 2 Pac N Play Mattresses (we found this best simulated a crib environment)
- 2 Pac N Play mattress sheets
- 4 hooded towels + wash cloths
- Monitor: don't forget the camera, cords & monitor screen

Toiletries:
- Baby Soap (we love the brand Baby Magic)
- Baby Q tips 
- Tylenol
- Baby Nail Clippers
- Aquafor 
- Extra mini sunscreen
- Extra Triple Paste AF* (recently discovered this gem for bad diaper rashes - works great)

Daytime List:
- Stroller: We decided to bring our City Mini based on what we would be doing with the babies (walks, etc)
- Diaper Bag: I brought two. One, I kept in our bedroom, and the other I kept in the main room where the play-mat was set up
- Dr. Brown bottles
- Formula
- Food: jarred veggies, fruit; Yo baby yogurt; puffs
- 2x Bumbos for easy feeding
- Outfits
- Baby spoons (2x for each)
- Multiple bibs: some for food & others for bottles & drool
- Play Mat: with dangle toys
- Blanket to lay next to play-mat because we are ROLLING
- Books: KINDLE full of children's books + charging cord
- Toys: squishy blocks; crunchy fabric books; tiny beach balls 
- 2x Ergo Baby Carriers {we have 2 & used them everyday to carry the babies to & from the beach}


In the infinite expanse of the internet, I was surprised and frustrated when I couldn't find a cohesive vacation packing list for a new mom heading to the beach with babies. Hopefully, my list helps you and your Busy Beach Babies!


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