When a baby becomes part of the surf trip quiver, you're gonna need to pack more than just board shorts. This is especially true if the surfari is in a foreign country, where your usual baby things might be more difficult to find. Here's what tops our packing list of surf/ocean specific items for your beach baby:
Diapers and wipes. It's typically better to buy these upon arrival. Save space in your suitcase. But if you're traveling abroad, you might find yourself spending more time tracking down these baby-bum essentials than actually tracking down a swell. Plus, if baby has sensitive skin, there's no guarantee of finding the same brand as back home–or even a suitable alternative. The same goes for reusable swim diapers; we couldn't find good ones in Australia. Once we ran out of the ones we packed, we ditched the diapers all together. Praise the travel gods that our daughter didn't make number two on the beach.
The best way to pack diapers and wipes? Put them in your surfboard bag. Just as you would protect your boards with towels or bubble wrap, we padded them with an unopened pack of diapers, too. The airline agent said it was fine. It was considered "acceptable packing material," but of course, it's always up to the discretion of the agent.
Sun-protective gear. As mentioned in a previous post, a hat, long-sleeve swimsuit and sunscreen are must-haves for the beach. Pack extras of each in case they're misplaced, or you run out of sunscreen. You'll probably use way more 'screen than usual–since we all know a good surf trip means you'll be at the beach all day, everyday.
Cooler. Keep your kids' surf snacks chilled with a freezable cooler. We love the PackIt foldable lunch bags because their compact and foldable features make them easy to pack or to carry on the plane. Freeze it overnight, and it's good to go for several hours. To add more chill-time to your cooler, bring reusable ice packs from home or buy ice from a convenience store when you arrive. We always look for places with refrigerators/freezers for this purpose. But if you're staying at a hotel, then ask management to leave your cooler in their kitchen freezer. We usually keep it in a ziplock to protect it from germs and things–and we write our name on it.
Carrier. With boards, a beach bag and a cooler in tow, baby carriers prove to be especially awesome in these situations. They free up your hands and for some babies, they're key to those on-the-go beach naps. We like the Ergo Omni 360 because it grows with baby and is made with breathable mesh material–particularly nice when it's hot out.
Life jacket. This might be a pain to pack, but for obvious reasons, it's worth it. Downsize on other items to make room in the suitcase. We have a Puddle Jumper life vest for surfing and swimming. It's really not that bulky, so bringing one is no big deal.
Reef walkers. If your little is on the go, then reef walkers are perfect for strolling the sand (which can get too hot for their tiny feet) or for exploring the tide pools. Our daughter wears her Kakaako Kasuals reef walkers everywhere, even indoors! They're lightweight and barely take up any space in our suitcase.
Umbrella/beach towels/beach chairs/sand toys. Lastly, it's always a good idea to check if your lodging provides the bulky beach items, like an umbrella, beach towels, beach chairs and sand toys. These topped our list when booking a place to stay in Australia. You can always message the host beforehand if it's not mentioned in the listing. Our host provided most of these things but found extras left behind by previous guests, like this umbrella (pictured above) haha.
Being properly prepped really helped us to maximize our fun and enabled us to adventure in a more carefree manner. There's a line between being ready and too-ready–somewhere between roughing it and glamping. But with a little planning and research, you'll avoid being stuck without essentials or turning into a sherpa lugging loads of unnecessaries.
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