What to Pack in Baby’s Suitcase:

Beach Essentials for Baby

1. Baby Beach Bag. A special beach bag for baby is really essential, especially when bubs is still little!
2. Swim Diaper.
3. Baby Sunscreen.
4. Hat/Cover Up/Rash Guard.
5. Snacks and Water.
6. Pop Up Baby Beach Tent.
7. Baby Powder.
8. Water-Resistant Baby Beach Blanket.

Tip #1: Prep Ahead Have your diaper bag ready: Be sure to include wipes, diapers, sun lotion, baby powder, a change of clothes, and snacks! Easy travel: A jogging stroller with rubber tires is a MUST. They glide easily through the sand and (bonus!) your little one might fall asleep in it for an on-the-go nap.

• Diapers and wipes.
• Diaper cream.
• Baby wash.
• Body lotion.
• Sunscreen.
• Infant nail clippers (if you’ll be away more than a week)
• A first-aid kit: Pack any medications your baby might need, bandages, an antibiotic ointment, your pediatrician’s number, and outlet covers for baby proofing.

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1. Spray Sunscreen.
2. Puddle Jumper Floaties.
3. Baby Banz.
4. Inflatable Pool for beach.
5. Beach Towels.
6. Shovel/Pail (like the Sands Ahoy Bucket Set)
7. Sandcastle Set.
8. Small Portable Air Pump.

It’s OK to take your baby into a river, lake or the ocean from 2 months, but it’s very important to make sure they don’t get cold. Choose a spot where the water is warm and clean. Watch out for currents that prevent you from holding them properly. And don’t let your baby drink the water.

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.

Bring an umbrella or a sun tent to shade baby from the harmful sun rays. Lay beach towels on the sand so it won’t get too hot. Choose early morning before 11 am or late afternoon after 4 pm to go to the beach.

There’s no set age limit but it’s commonly accepted not to take them into the water until at least 2 months old and their immune systems have had time to build up. Time of Day: Babies skin is far more susceptible to the effects of UV rays than adults.

You can use any type of clean water — tap or bottled — to prepare liquid-concentrate or powdered formula. If you’re concerned about the purity of your water supply, talk to your baby’s doctor or your water provider.

When to Burp Your Baby If you’re burping a newborn after breastfeeding, the baby will typically burp less because they swallow less air. Most babies will outgrow the need to be burped by 4-6 months of age.

6 months

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months after birth. But by ages 4 months to 6 months, most babies are ready to begin eating solid foods as a complement to breast-feeding or formula-feeding.

Bananas may be introduced to your baby as early as 4 months old. Please remember that the recommended age to begin introducing solid foods is between 4-6 months old, with 6 months being the idea age. As always we recommend you consult with your pediatrician about introducing solid foods to your baby.

Bananas may be introduced as soon as a baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age.

What to feed

• Breast milk or formula, PLUS.
• Pureed vegetables (peas, squash)
• Pureed fruit (apples, bananas, peaches)
• Pureed meat (chicken, pork, beef)
• Semi-liquid, iron-fortified cereal (avoid rice cereal; instead choose a cereal made with oats or barley)
• Small amounts of unsweetened yogurt (no cow’s milk until age 1)

Wait until your baby is at least 4 months old and shows these signs of readiness before starting solids. Babies who start solid foods before 4 months are at a higher risk for obesity and other problems later on.

Most importantly, don’t give a baby rice cereal until they have the oral skills to move solid food from the front of their mouth to the back. This skill doesn’t typically develop until at least 4 months old. Until then, your baby’s tongue will push out any food that enters their mouth.

“Water is not recommended for infants under six months old because even small amounts will fill up their tiny bellies and can interfere with their body’s ability to absorb the nutrients in breast milk or formula,” Malkoff-Cohen said.

Adding rice cereal to baby’s evening bottle is a common practice by many parents who want to fill their baby’s belly in the hopes it will help them sleep more. But the AAP, along with other feeding experts, recommend against this practice, especially as it relates to the issue of improving infant sleep patterns.