Beach Baby Basics

This past weekend, we visited our good friends Amy, Big Jim, Avery and Evan in Seaside Park, NJ. It was my first trip to the shore. The weather was beautiful - we couldn't have asked for a better weekend for my first beach trip.

To provide yet another public service, I decided to take notes on my first shore visit. If your mommy and daddy are about to take you to the ocean for the first time, just follow these simple rules and you'll have as much fun as I did!

Hire a wagon driver to take you to the beach. You don't want to waste any extra energy and tire yourself out before you even get there!

When walking on sand for the first time, remove your shoes one at a time so that the feeling of the sand between your toes doesn't shock you.


Give in to the fact that your feet will have sand on them the entire time you are there. There is no use in trying to brush them off or keep them clean. Relax and enjoy the soft texture!

Once you have given in to the sand, let your daddy help bury you to prove that you are no longer wary of the warm, soft, harmless sand.



Play nicely and share all of the beach toys that your friends bring.

Going into the big blue ocean for the first time can be scary. Make sure your daddy holds your hand and don't be afraid to retreat to the sand if you are nervous!

Tell daddy to hold you tightly and quickly pull your feet up if the water is too cold or if the wave is too overwhelming.

Once you realize that the waves are actually quite fun to play in, grab daddy's hand and let the cool water wash over you and enjoy the ocean!

Don't forget to take a big, thick and cute towel to wrap yourself in when the water gets too cold and makes you shiver.

Hire the wagon driver for the return trip - you definitely won't have the energy to walk back to the house.

When traveling anywhere around the beach, it's a good idea to pack sylish sunglasses to protect your beautiful eyes from the sun.






After spending the afternoon wading and playing in the sand, the grown-ups will inevitably want to go to the boardwalk. Insist that they push you in a comfortable stroller so that you can squeeze in a quick cat-nap while they try to win soccer jerseys and eat fish sandwiches and clams.




While you sleep, the grown-ups will act like kids as they race around the go-kart track. Then one of them will lose the lead he had as he waves wildly to the camera.


Upon waking, the grown-ups will buy you ice cream. They say they are stopping at the ice cream stand for you, but you know that they are the ones who really want the ice cream.

Don't forget to take a bib so you don't get chocolate ice cream on your cute dress.


If you're a boy, though, don't bother packing a bib. We know you'd rather wear the ice cream instead of eat it!















When experiencing your first boardwalk ride, take a good friend who is familiar with the ride.



Always sit in the front so that you can get the best view!


Let your dady think that he is helping you when playing boardwalk games. When you win, he will act very proud and tell everyone that he won a toy for his child.

Choose your toy carefully (I recommend any toy from Blue's Clues), and hold onto your toy tightly for the rest of the night.

If the grown-ups take you back to the boardwalk on the second day, try to catch another nap in your comfortable stroller. You never know how long the mommies and daddies are going to want to play there, so it's best to grab sleep while you can.


You will probably spend most of the weekend at the beach or on the boardwalk. When you are at the house, though, make sure you are friendly to those walking by and greet them from the porch.

Last, but not least, make sure you thank your hosts for a WONDERFUL weekends. Amy, Big Jim, Avery, Evan, Big Big Jim, Lois, Riley and Oliver - we had a blast spending the weekend with you. Thank you so much for inviting us!!