How to Prepare for a Day at the Beach with a Toddler

Thank God it's Summer time! And what better way to experience this season than to take a trip to the beach? The beach can be a fun experience for the entire family. Having the right items and familiarizing yourself with the beach you will be visiting can really make the time spent there joyful and less stressful. I will list here some information you may want to acquire before the trip and some items you will need to think about bringing to make your day at the beach fun and successful!

Familiarize Yourself With The Beach You Will Be Visiting

It's important to know the area you will be visiting well before heading out. Search Google or Yahoo for information you will need to know before leaving. Some information you may want to gather is:

How much are tolls to get to the beach if any

I live near a beach called Sanibel, not too long ago the toll to get to Sanibel was $6 one way and $6 back. That's a bit outrageous! You may be able to find a beach not to far from the one you want to visit with no toll at all!

Where is parking available and how close is it to the beach? How much does parking cost?

Many public beaches have pubic parking however the availability of these spaces may be minimal. Since you are bringing your small child(ren) you won't want to park miles away from the beach. It's too much for even two parents to handle. If you can't make it to the beach early enough to find a public parking spot, at least know where the closest parking garage or lot is and the price of parking.

Where public bathrooms and showers are?

Although you can probably get away with quickly changing your toddler on the beach, you and whomever else tags along will need to use the potty. Many restaurants require you to make a purchase in the restaurant to use their rest room. Searching this information early can save you from doing the dreaded "I've gotta' pee" walk.

Is there a playground near by? Are there other attractions for my little one to explore?

Let's face it, some toddlers have short attention spans and will get bored easy. Keeping your little one entertained and offering them something new to do every now and then will make the day much easier.