Blogging Baby Size Six: Things I've learned on a beach holiday with a two-year-old

by Karen Walrond (Subscribe to Karen Walrond's posts) Apr 21st 2006 1:05PM

1. At some point in the day, there will be a medical crisis involving some beach-related element in the eyes.

2. No matter how long you stay on the beach, trust me, it's not long enough for a two-year-old.

3. No matter how early you book a nice table at a tropical seaside restaurant for dinner, it's already waaaaaaay past your toddler's bedtime.

4. Regardless of how many times you warn your kid, she will, at some point, try to eat the sand.

5. If you turn your back on your two-year-old for any period longer than 2.43 seconds, she will use the time to open the sunscreen and then drop both the tube and the lid in the sand. Obviously, the tube will land open side down.

6. Always double-tie the ties on your string bikini. Because nothing -- NOTHING! -- is as amusing to a toddler as watching her mother clutch at her breasts trying to shield herself from other holiday makers.

Comments (27)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

thordora 4-21-2006 @ 2:28PM

I just wish I could WEAR a string bikini.

Jenna 4-21-2006 @ 2:35PM

String bikini? Are you serious? Never again.

Angelica 4-21-2006 @ 2:55PM

You must have had a great time! Sounds like you had a lot of fun, underneath it all.

Bonnie 4-21-2006 @ 8:43PM

Yep - brings back memories of last summer's family vacation with our toddler. And I hear ya on the mealtime comment. Man, resort restaurants don't open until late and are NOT speedy. We pretty much sat down to eat about the time our son would have otherwise been tucked in, and even though he did reasonably well, we were not really able to relax as much as we should have on vacation with a ticking timb bomb sitting at our table.

Karen Walrond 4-21-2006 @ 8:47PM

Jenna, Thodora, honies, ANYONE can wear a string bikini. All it takes is the total abandonment of all dignity. ;o)

K.

Kira 4-21-2006 @ 10:01PM

I can think of at least one more rule - you will leave at least one item at home that will become of earth-shattering importance once it's no longer available.

j. Zaino 5-19-2006 @ 2:12PM

As a Mom of an 11 and a 19 yr old I remember well. My best mealtime tip is order french fries or something for your child as you sit down. Than they can have desert as you eat dinner!!! Make sure vacation spot is family friendly!

carol chapin 5-19-2006 @ 2:24PM

My tip is : Wait for those beach/resort vacations until your kids are older! We bided out time when our kids were younger and waited until we could ALL enjoy such a vacation. Don't waste your money- hold out till the kids are older.

Lily 5-19-2006 @ 2:27PM

On 3 hour drive to a weekend at the beach my 3 year old daughter devleoped a blister on her chest. By the time we arrived she had a second on her cheek. It turned out to be chicken pox and she should NOT have spent the weekend in the sun! She's left with some deep scars where the exposed pox baked in the sun. A constant reminder of what I wish I had known! I hope this helps someone from making the same mistake. Enjoy the beach!

Tara 5-19-2006 @ 2:32PM

It reminds me of when our daughter was little and we lived in Hawaii. We took her to the beach for the first time and she ate so much sand that we could have built a castle out of her diapers for the next three days. Now we have another little one, I cant wait to interduce him to the pleasures of summer fun at the beach.

Debbie 5-19-2006 @ 2:44PM

My advice is go to waterpark resorts. We've been taking our kids to Great Wolf Lodge in the Dells....it is VERY family oriented and kid-friendly...it's everything there on site that kids love and I must admit that my husband & I have a great time as well!

Lisa 5-19-2006 @ 2:45PM

My son didn't eat sand - he almost ate a little crab. His dad caught it for him to look at, and our little guy popped it into his mouth. His dad or I had to fish it out before he swallowed it.

Maria 5-19-2006 @ 2:55PM

Ok .. I cant tell you how i just sat here and laughed so hard. Lets face it ladies that is the simple pleasures of being a parent. Cherish these times now, because soon your toddlers will be off and running there own lives, and were left eating that sand.

monica 5-19-2006 @ 2:59PM

Kids love the beach - at least the majority do. I think it's a great choice!!! Most beach resorts also have spas and places o relax!!! Great for mom:)

Paula 5-19-2006 @ 3:13PM

Speaking about bikini's I personally not wear one. I am too old and have too many extra items not meant for sharing with strangers.;) Now my 20 year old daughter is having her 1st baby and she is wears one and is planning on wearing one all through her pregnancy. I told her to be sure to put stuff on your belly to help with the stretch marks. She laughed and said ok Mom. I suppose I should not be the one going to laugh but I know what I speak of.:)

Paula 5-19-2006 @ 3:18PM

Maria I couldn't agree more. My daughters ages 25, 24 and 20 are having kids of their own. We did cherish the moments and really have found memories of the beach trips. We live near the coast so we went often.
Now our Grandkids are going and making memories but my daughter can't wait for them to "grow up a bit". I have been telling her that they will and you will be saying where did the time go.

Teriza 5-19-2006 @ 4:17PM

It gets easier the more kids you have. I have six kids and I think it's nothing to take all six of them with me everywhere, even to amusement parks, the beach, etc. Not just that, I'm a single mom! LOL Forgot to say that for awhile I had four, that were 4 and under, then it was five at 6 and under, then finally six and 9 and under. And to think, next year I will have six kids in five different schools!

denise 5-19-2006 @ 4:22PM

with 6 kids now ages 27,25,13,14 16 and 10 we didnt do many beach vacations i remember after the birth of my first my husbands friend wanted to go to the beach i had a 2 week old baby who i was breastfeeding a puffy body and a husband who was a jerk and still is i had a very lousy time he insisted i wear my bikini because all the other girls had them on i had a 2 week old to deal with i was pretty much left sitting on the beach while he had a good time vacatios are much easier now string bikini what the hell is she trying to prove after my kids it was 1 piece city

Tami 5-19-2006 @ 5:02PM

Just got back from a beach resort with an 11 1/2 month old- went well except she couldn't stand the sand or the water- had to sit with her on the beach blanket the whole time ;( Could have been worse I suppose...

Maggie Welch 5-19-2006 @ 5:28PM

Wow, if any of that ever happened, I don't remember. I just remember how wonderful it was to be with my children. I worked at the time and it was a treat to be with them 24/7. Went to the beach for the first time when my girls were 1 and almost 3. Those are special memories. The one year old is now 26, an age her older sister did not make it to.

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