When we decided we wanted to go to the beach before Baby H 2.0 arrived, we knew it would be an adventure. Vacationing at the beach with a toddler while pregnant is not an easy task. Thankfully we had a successful trip to the beach with Annabelle and my 8 month pregnant belly. If you’re planning a trip while pregnant with your toddler, here are Tips for Vacationing With a Toddler While Pregnant.
Tip #1: Bring help.
My Mom is a huge fan of the beach and always wants to go with us when we visit Destin. We told her if she bought a plane ticket to Georgia we would take care of the rest. To be fair, we didn’t bring my Mom to watch Annabelle. However, we knew she loves to play with Annabelle and the extra set of hands would be a huge help.
Tip #2: Stay cool in the pool.
Take a trip to a place that has a pool. Our condo was right on the beach, but June in Florida is pretty hot. During the afternoons when the sun is hottest we hung out in the pool. At 8 months pregnant, nothing feels better than feeling weightless. Strap your toddler in a float or put on swimmies and cool off together. It was easy for me to pull Annabelle around without the added weight of my pregnancy belly. Plus, she was happy to spend time with her Mommy.
Tip #3. Take advantage of nap time.
When the toddler sleeps, a pregnant Mom should sleep (or rest) too. It isn’t safe to stay outside in the heat for too long during pregnancy. Make sure you’re spending some time indoors during the day.
Tip #4: Play on the beach in the evening.
There’s nothing more beautiful than a beach sunset – especially when you’re with family. We realized a little late in our trip that it was easier to eat dinner early/late so we could enjoy time on the beach playing together. We didn’t have to worry about the crowd, blazing sun, or needing to break for nap time.
Tip #5: Be flexible.
It’s hard to plan a lot to do on vacation when you never know the mood of your toddler… or yourself. Take it easy and be flexible. If the pool at your condo is suddenly closed because some idiot tossed a glass bottle into it, then head to the beach early in the day for optimal playing time before it gets too hot. Get your little one to sleep and when she wakes, go out for an early dinner somewhere fun. After you eat, go hunting for seashells – or head to the ice cream parlor. Be open to anything!
You are so cute!!
I love how her legs are crossed on the bed! Last summer, my husband’s family all rented a big cabin at Bear Lake in UT…there was 24 of us….all the cousins were 12 and under (and there were a dozen cousins, two of which weren’t 2 yet). It was definitely interesting to vacation with all those kids and be flexible. But, it was so fun! Part of the fun was watching our little boy have fun!