Figure out where the baby will sleep. If flying, staying at a hotel is easiest because you can request a crib when you book your room. Hotels cribs come with sheets, but feel free to bring your own sheets, blankets and baby bedtime toys. If driving, many parents may opt to bring along a portable crib or playpen for the baby.
Make a decision regarding a car seat. If you are driving, a car seat is the only legal choice. When flying, car seats are not necessary, although some parents like to use them on a plane for peace of mind. If you rent a car at your beach destination, all major car rental companies can also rent you a car seat for a reasonable rate. Most rental car seats are the newest models, so do not worry that the rental car company will saddle you with last decade's broken-down model.
Pick clothing for baby that is easy to wear and wash. Most condominiums and hotels will have a laundry room in which to wash baby's clothes. If this is the case, pack about half the clothes baby will need and do laundry at the beach. If your accommodations do not have a laundry room, consider driving to a public laundromat nearby. Otherwise, you will have to pack clothes for baby for the entire vacation, including several extra outfits for when baby inevitable spits up on his clothes. Do not forget to pack a baby swimsuit!
Decide how you will transport baby. If driving, you can opt for a larger stroller, but if flying, you may want to use a compact umbrella stroller. A good choice no matter how you arrive is a baby sling. Slings do not take up much room and allow you to carry baby close to your body.
Think about the baby's feeding needs. Depending on the age of your baby, she may need formula, bottles, spoons, baby food, nipples or bibs. If you are breastfeeding, you may want to bring along a breast pump and a small cooler for expressed breast milk. If your baby uses a high chair, a smaller alternative is an infant seat designed to help babies learn to sit up. Place the infant seat in a regular chair, and you can feed baby this way. If you stay at a full-service hotel with a restaurant, you may be able to persuade the restaurant staff to let you borrow a high chair to keep in your hotel room for the duration of your vacation.
Consider baby's health needs. At the beach, baby sunblock, swim diapers and a full-coverage hat are essential. You might also want to bring along gas drops, infant pain reliever, diaper rash cream, a thermometer and baby shampoo. If baby is teething, infant gum-numbing gel and teething rings can be a lifesaver.
Bring only essential everyday baby items if possible. Call ahead to your hotel or condominium and find out if there is an appropriate store nearby. If so, you may only want to bring a few of these items and purchase the rest at your destination.
