Toddler beach/travel related questions

[persa]

Twin 2.5 yr olds, 30+ lbs each, two beach trips coming up (#1 driving to South Padre, #2 flying to Jacksonville/Amelia Island) and could use some recs. 

1) sleeping options-they're in cribs at home but debating one of those regalo or joovy folding cots vs the intex or other brand inflatable mattresses. Thoughts? Would get an electric pump if we got inflatable
Intex: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OHF2FM/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Regalo: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H1MRJO/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_11?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1
Joovy: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015ZL8JKG/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_12?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

2) Sun covers- debating the EZup vs Coleman tents or open to other suggestions. Also need affordable umbrella recs, one that's a decent size but easy to bury in the sand. Want the umbrella as a secondary space for them to sit under while playing in the sand.

2) has anyone done a blow-up pool at the beach? A mom of multiples suggested it, she said they just filled it with ocean water and put an umbrella over it and let the kids splash around. Does that sound crazy or brilliant?

4) Water fun/safety: I was debating a life vest like this for the ocean and maybe an inner tube like this for the pool. We also have puddle jumpers.  Also should I get them goggles too? I vaguely remember my daughter liking goggles in the ocean to keep the salt water out of her eyes. 

Thanks in advance!!

[puppylove64]

For age 2.5, I would buy cheap small beach umbrellas and try to stake them in wherever they end up playing. I get umbrellas at 5 below here for $5. It is a dollar general type store. My kids never play where I put the toys. They play and then I move the umbrella to them.

My kids have played in blow up pools at the ocean, but honestly it is just more junk to carry. I would tell them they can only splash and kick around in the really shallow parts of the ocean. If they want to go farther they must have an adult and puddle jumper. I don't let them play in floats alone. And usually they just play in buckets of water with sand toys under umbrella.

[thebreakfastclub]

When I've vacationed in Florida, we just rented umbrellas and chairs. They came with a wheeled caddy.

The last time we went, my 2.5 yo got a toddler bed and bedding from a rental company. They do delivery and pickup, so it was very convenient.

[simpsongal]

We bought a cheapo, tiny pool (e.g., 3 ft) for the beach and I'm glad we did. DS was a little nervous around the big waves, so he didn't want to go in the water. And having the pool allowed him to play a little farther from the ocean's edge.

[jeaniebueller]

I wouldn't want to haul and blow up a pool at the beach. Just have them wear life jackets or puddle jumpers and accept that going to the beach with kids that age is anything but relaxing.

[persa]

May 15, 2017 12:32:35 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

I wouldn't want to haul and blow up a pool at the beach. Just have them wear life jackets or puddle jumpers and accept that going to the beach with kids that age is anything but relaxing.

They have those quick pumps that can inflate them, no way would I do it myself.

[Deleted]

I have the Regalo cot. The only time I've used it was when we went to Aruba and Ben was 2.5. He slept on it fine. Also on that trip he decided he was afraid of the ocean so he literally did not go near it for two weeks. We spent most of our time at the pool. I had a little float that I put water in for my six month old to splash around in but he wasn't sitting independently yet so it wasn't used much. I'd try a blow up pool provided it's not that windy.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I think bringing a blow up pool to the beach sounds like a giant pain. Just bringing up the water to fill it sounds exhausting :-)

I live just south of Jax, and in this area we often get little tidal pools at the beach. They're perfect little kid sized areas to splash around in the water. Your hotel can probably tell you what time of day you're most likely to get them.

Whatever sunshade you bring, I'd make sure it's big enough for the whole family to go underneath it. Having shade can make the beach so much more pleasant.

My kids would fight wearing a hot life vest at the beach. When I take my kids to the beach by myself, I just don't allow them to go in the water any deeper than their knees. If DH is with me, we will take them out deeper, but I'm not comfortable doing it alone. A life vest could give something of a false sense of security, too. I'm not sure they'd keep a kid's head above water if they were being battered by waves.

Also -- make sure you read up on rip currents and teach your daughter what to do if you get caught in one (swim parallel to shore).

Oh, and I'd definitely bring goggles. My kids insist on them any time they swim. If your kids want them, it's much easier to already have them than to have to run out and get some.

[lala]

I would see what the rental you are flying to has - hopefully they have enough beach gear or there might be a rental company. Same for pack n plays or cribs.

We are huge fans of the sportbrellas and we take 2 to the beach. I don't think we could fly with them, though.

At 2.5 we weren't using cribs anymore, so I'd use the beds. (We didn't use rails either)

We don't use floatations devices at the beach or goggles. My kids use goggles daily at the pool but never have at the beach.

[lala]

Oh and we've never brought a baby pool. I've seen people do it and I think it's s giant PITA and unnecessary.

[persa]

Those peapod things look so small though,especially for how expensive they are. My boys are 90+ percentile for height.

[jeaniebueller]

Oh, and bring baby powder to get the sand off of them at the end of the day.

[jorja]

1. No advice here. My 2.5 year old still does a PnP, lol.

2. We have the Coleman beach tent and like it, but it's kind of a pain in the ass to set up. We used it more when she was younger.

3. I wouldn't bother. More shit to carry. Just let them play in the surf.

4. I'd do a puddle jumper everywhere.

[huskymom]

For the beach, we do just backpack chairs and toys. We have a big beach blanket that folds up tiny made out of a parachute type material. Puddle jumper for the pool. neither of my kids will go in deep enough at the beach and floatation devices make me nervous with rip tides/undertow. We have a sportsbrella which is cool but we usually forget it. You couldn't bring it on a plane anyways.

We like going at low tide as well for the tidal pools. Never brought a blow up pool.

For some reason we have always skipped travel between 2-3 for the most part. Maybe bc of the sleeping arrangements! This summer we'll have DD2 (3) sleep in a bed with her sister when we go to Maine. First time sharing a hotel room with them, eeek! We've always had suites.

[maple]

1. Sleeping options: If you're nervous about them falling out of a bed, I'd just put a mattress on the floor (or even couch cushions--that's what I slept when travelling as a kid) rather than buying something new.

2. Sun covers: Whatever you do, buy something not too heavy to lug around. We have a big, heavy sun shade (like people use at a farmer's market) and it is such a pain. It does a good job of providing shade, but it's not worth it to haul it from the car to the beach.

3. Pool: I wouldn't do this because I hate having extra stuff in general and specifically having to carry it around while travelling. (Noticing a trend in my answers?) Just dig a hole and the kids can have fun trying to keep it full.

4. Safety/fun: We've never done life jackets at the beach. We just give them very specific rules about what they can and can't do. My kids like goggles at the pool but no so much at the beach. We use noodles for the pool, which are fairly easy to transport and as an added bonus can be used for noodle fights out of the water. I'd definitely bring shovels and buckets. At that age, playing in the sand and water were really the highlights for my kids.

[Deleted]

We live about 5 minutes from the beach.

1. The regalo cot is great! We've used it for several trips.
2. We have a pop up tent from Costco - like this but it was cheaper - www.costco.com/Lightspeed-Outdoors-Newport-Sun-Shelter-with-Detachable-Blanket.product.100294421.html. PERFECT for the sun, easy to travel with. We took it to Hawaii and it was super easy.
3. Don't bother with a baby pool. Buy a bucket or dig a hole.
4. If you're worried, get a puddle jumper like this: www.amazon.com/Stearns-Puddle-Jumper-Basic-Jacket/dp/B00HN98OLI/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494899883&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=puddle+ju