Traveling when you have young children is not always straightforward. This fact motivates many parents to start planning early as soon as a trip opportunity arises. While there aren’t many places to travel that are kid-friendly, most parents choose locations where their young children can be kept safe and occupied while adults can also have a good time.
One such location is the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island in Florida! This area is a simple choice for family vacations with kids, especially toddlers, as it offers sunny and enjoyable vacations with lots of time spent seaside. Here are some suggestions on organizing a family trip and what to take for a fun-filled, stress-free holiday with a toddler if you’re planning a beach vacation or thinking about it.
Advice for traveling to the beach with young children
1. Prepare in advance and pack early
The time leading up to your vacation might fly by. You can maintain control of the situation by planning. This preparation includes choosing the resort you’ll stay in, the excursions you’ll take, and the things you’ll pack. To avoid forgetting anything significant for the latter, make a packing list at least two weeks before your trip. If you are traveling to another country don’t forget that food and culture are different, make sure you pack food that your child likes to eat such as baby formula that is easy to prepare and has high nutritional value. The benefit of making a list is that, if you plan, you’ll have enough time to rush out and acquire whatever you realize you forgot once you start packing.
2. Head out early or late
Timing is crucial if you’re taking a toddler on a beach vacation or just to the beach. You’ll need to carefully prepare for the time of day you and your family will visit the beach. It is simply not a good idea to travel during the height of the day when the sun is at its fiercest. Consider going when the sun is often a little less harsh, such as early or later in the day. Your kid can enjoy the sand and surf during these times without being too overheated.
3. Organize downtime
Planning is essential if you want to fit in all the activities you want to do while on vacation, but it’s also crucial to schedule some downtime. Before going back into the action, utilize this time to relax and do something calm with the kids or to take a nap (let’s face it, you’ll need one). Toddlers will also benefit from downtime because they typically don’t enjoy focusing on one activity for extended periods. The rest will be appreciated.
4. Put away the gadgets
You’ve undoubtedly already learned that young children and excessive screen time don’t mix well. Even though giving them a device can occasionally seem like a fast remedy, it frequently leads to further meltdowns as the day continues. A vacation can be the ideal time to put the devices away (turn them off or leave them at the resort) and even start establishing a screen-time limit for everyone once you return home.
5. Observe how your child behaves
Planning is necessary when going on vacation with a toddler, but it’s also crucial to occasionally let them take the initiative. To put it mildly, toddler moods can be unpredictable and frequently depend on various circumstances, such as how much sleep they get and how at ease they are in their surroundings. A strict timetable when all kids want to do is play in the sand would undoubtedly be ineffective. Let them keep doing whatever it is they’re loving. Change your schedule as much as you can to accommodate them. Sometimes the day will go precisely as you had intended, but if not, go with the flow.
6. Drink plenty of water
Staying hydrated is necessary when enjoying the sun, sand, and sea. With toddlers, this is especially true. Running around in the sand or even close to the pool can make them thirsty. Bring plenty of water or juice in a bottle or sippy cup, as well as extras, just in case.
7. Enjoy yourself at the resort’s waterpark or pool
A resort can be a toddler’s paradise. Your toddler will probably be able to have some very fun times that are a lot less sandy (less clean-up afterward) than the beach tends to be if your resort has amenities like these. Let children spend as much time in the water as you feel comfortable with, keeping in mind that experiences at resort pools don’t occur every day.
8. Bring something with you to help you relax before bed
Having resources to aid your youngster in winding down for bed after an exciting day out is helpful. For this reason, bring a book or a toy with them; it will make it easier for them to settle down and ensure that they are well-rested for the activities the following day.