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Writer's pictureEmily

What to Pack for 0-6 Month Old Baby's First Beach Trip

Updated: May 21, 2020

We just took our first vacation as a new family - myself, my husband, and our 3-month-old son (oh, and one of our three dogs). It was a road trip - a 5.5-hour drive to the beach. I started planning my packing list about a week in advance because I was super anxious that we wouldn't have what we needed to take care of our baby boy while away from home. If you ask my husband, he would say that I packed the entire house. I definitely did pack a lot of stuff for baby, but for the first time, I barely packed anything for myself! Funny how things change when you become a parent, hehe.


As I was making my packing list, I was searching the mommy blogs, Facebook Groups and discussion boards for recommendations on what to bring for a baby on a beach vacation (like, what I would really need and what I wouldn't), and it was honestly pretty hard to find good feedback on this. So, here's my experience on what I packed, what I actually used, what I didn't, and what I wish I had packed for our first vacation to the beach with baby. I've linked to the specific items I purchased or that we have (from Amazon, because I'm an Amazon junkie), in case that's helpful.


Absolute essentials for going basically anywhere:

- diapers

- wipes

- bottles

- formula (unless you're EBF)

- pack-n-play

- swaddles / sleep suits

- burp rags

- onesies and other outfits

- car seat & stroller

- portable changing pad


What I packed and used every day on vacation:

- bath chair & shampoo, soap, hair sponge, lotion and hair brush

- baby SPF swim outfit (although our LO was only out on the beach with us for a few days and a total of a few hours all week, under a massive tent... I was pretty nervous about him getting overheated and mostly kept him inside. I did have super cute baby sunglasses and a sunhat for him for extra sun protection, though!)


What I packed that I didn't use much on vacation (even though I use these at home all the time):

- too many clothes/outfits

- ErgoBaby carrier

- Boppy

- dishwasher cage

- most of our first aid stuff - i.e. NoseFrida, nail file, baby tylenol, gripe water, etc. (though I'm glad I had it all, just in case)

- mittens and socks

- video baby monitor

- black and white baby book

- a baby beach tent

- baby sunscreen (I know you're not supposed to use sunscreen on babies under 6 months old, but I wanted to have some just in case! I never did use it, but I'm glad I had it)


What I wish I had packed for our vacation:

- bottle brush (the dishwasher on vacation wasn't amazing, so I ended up trying to hand wash bottles but I couldn't reach into the bottoms easily to clean inside the bottles)

- knee pad for bath time (my knees were KILLING me during bath time, even using a folded up towel, especially after I got sunburn on them - ouch!!)

- more formula (I had to go to the store to get more a few days in)

- pack-n-play waterproof cover and sheets (I honestly don't even own any of these yet, that's next on my Amazon shopping list!)


Here's a picture from one of the few beach days we did (ignore my husband's awesome beach outfit - ha!):




He and I even squeezed in a little date night for ourselves, thanks to having family members with us that offered to watch babe for the evening!!




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UPDATE AS OF MAY 2020:


I honestly feel like I "failed" at our first beach trip, only because I spent so little time out on the beach with babe. I was too anxious and too nervous about it all (overheating, sunburn, getting off schedule, etc.). Looking back now, I realize that I had some "baby blues" or maybe even a little postpartum depression going on in those first 6 months. That certainly didn't help. I'm so glad we ended up going back to the beach when he was a little older (last month, at 10 months old) and things were so much better!


You can see my updated post about that here: What to Pack for 6-12 Month Old Baby's First Beach Trip


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PS - if you're interested to know where we stay in Destin, FL, we own 6 beachfront vacation rental properties where we always stay. We have become so spoiled staying beachfront! You can learn more and rent on our website: www.beachblissdestin.com


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