I am so excited that our family is going to be taking a late-summer beach trip to Wild Dunes. We’re going in September when Hayes will be a little bit older and hopefully I’ll be a lot skinnier! It’s also a lot cheaper to go in September.
We took Hudson to Florida when he was two months old, but only took him down to the actual beach once at night. He stayed up in the condo the rest of the trip. But he looked so cute!
oh my word, he was so big at 2 months!
This time, we plan to be outside a lot, but I need some help. I need help for suggestions for baby gear and some fashion advice!
Shelter and Staying Cool
So the plan is to get a good, full coverage tent. I was discussing this with my friend, Callie, and I think she found a good one. I don’t want a tailgate tent because I need for it to create some great shade for Hayes on all side. I’d like for it to not have a floor so Hudson can sit under there out of the sun, but still play in the sand. This is what Callie is getting and we may just get the same thing.
But does anyone have any other suggestions for a tent?
What about staying cool? I was going to bring Hayes’s bath seat (which is like a bouncy seat that doesn’t bounce for the tub) and clip on the portable stroller fan. My friend, Emily, did this for her little boy and it looked like a sweet rig. Any tips?
Mommy Swimsuit Fashion Advice
It’s no secret that my bikini days are over. If “over” is too dramatic, I’ll at least say that they’re over for the next year at the earliest. No bikinis for this mama. But I like two piece swimsuits because they’re just easier for doing what we need to do! I got a great tankini from J.Crew last year with a pretty forgiving top. But what about my hips, thighs, and butt? I’d wear sweats on the beach if I could!
I have always had the thought that swim skirts were for old ladies who had something to hide. But I saw these in J.Crew this year. Are my eyes deceiving me? Is this okay? Because if this swim skirt is okay, I’ll be buying one in every color. Am I allowed to wear this? I wouldn’t be swimming in it, but I’d definitely wear it while I sit and play in the sand with the boys. Help!
So tell me if I can wear this swim skirt. Then tell me, if you know, what the best way is to enjoy a beach trip with an infant while keeping the infant safe and cool and not staying inside the entire time.
Please and thank you!
Hey, y'all, I'm Erin. Thanks for stopping by! I'm a Believer, a boy mom and former event planner turned stay-at-home mom. I blog about our lives, my family, my faith, fun finds, and kitchen disasters. You can read more on my 'About' page 
Those tents are great at the beach. If you look hard, though, you can find them that have UV protection. That way, he can’t get UV rays under his tent. And, YES, PLEASE! on that skirt! I love that first blue one. So cute!
We have a small beach tent that our kids can play in and it is GREAT! That huge one for the whole fam looks awesome though. Definitely a fan that operates on batteries (and lots of extra batteries)!
I have a swim skirt bottom that I LOVE! It’s actually from Target and I wear it all the time..even over a one-piece swimsuit that I have. My fave swimsuits right now are from LimeRicki.com. They are very cute and affordable. Good luck!
We took an inflatable baby pool….it was great! Ellie played in the water with her sand toys under the umbrella. I’ve also seen lots of skirts this year. I say go for it! I should have…ha!
I don’t have kids yet & consider myself to be in somewhat averagely okay shape and I love those JCrew skirts! I never go without one anymore. I have three colors and wear them ALL THE TIME. I don’t like worrying about my behind hanging out at the beach/pool/etc. and I still think they look really cute.
GET IT!
Those skirts are adorable! I would definitely wear them, especially the ruffle one.
Can’t help you on the baby gear, but I did order the J Crew swim skirt (like the navy one). I am between sizes and normally size up for swimwear – I should have ordered the smaller size. I do love it though!! I also ordered a very forgivingly flattering one piece from Target. It’s strapless (optional strap included), polka dotted and has a rouched overlay. It hides the tummy nicely! I have get another one because I love it so much. Someone else was sporting the same one on the beach with me last week too! Hope that helps with swimwear!!
We were at Cape Cod for two weeks and I can’t tell you how many cute young moms wore this style. You will look great! Have a fun vacation!
You can totally wear the skirt! I have a few friends that wear them and they look super cute.
I’ve seen lots of happy beach babies in Bumpo (Bumbo?) seats in the sand… Is he old enough for that? {Man, I know very little about babies!}
I think swimskirts are super super cute in theory but I’ve yet to find one that doesn’t give me major muffin tops – but I hope you have better luck, b/c I think they’d be adorable with the right fit!
when i was at the beach on june, i saw a lot of families with small children with tents. the children seemed content and i rarely heard any fussing. on second thought, a lot of people, even those without children, had tents because it was incredibly hot.
regarding swimsuits, those swim skirts are adorable and i would definitely buy them especially if they hide your problem areas. i find that when i’m in a swimsuit that covers the areas that i have problems with, i have a better time and i’m not as self conscious. i have a halter style top and boy shorts from target that i have had for YEARS that I swear by. i also have a matching skirted bottom that i’ve also worn for years.
We used a tailgate tent, but it was kind of a pain to set up at the beach. I think that beach tent is perfect. Also, those skirts are adorable. I said goodbye to the two piece for good this year. I’ve lost all the weight, but things just don’t look the same, and I’ve come to terms with that.
Your upcoming beach vacation sounds fabulous! I’d definitely go with a floor-less tent and I second the suggestion to bring an inflatable pool. And yes, pull the trigger on the skirt suit. I’m 5’1″ and just can’t get away with it, but I have stylish friends who wear them while chasing their kids all over the beaches of Cape Ann here in MA.
I say the swim skirt is a go!
I am lucky enough to live at the beach, and YES, you will certainly be in style with one of those skirts! I always see a number of young Mom’s in them and they always look adorable!
I know that I just about never comment on here… but I couldn’t help myself this time because you crack me up! Erin first things first.. I’m sure that you could still pull off a two-piece on a bad day, secondly… I would even wear those skirts! I think they are adorable and do not look like an “old lady” at all!! (I especially love the ruffle on the second one!) You are beautiful and are going to look great in whatever you wear, but I can’t wait to see pictures from the weekend, and I hope you end up buying those cute skirts! Miss you!
Those swim skirts are so cute and feminine. Doesn’t look to “old” at all!
I am planning on bringing my 14 month old a small plastic pool to play in at the beach. In case the water is too rough or cold or she is just not feeling it, I know she will play in a pool. So my husband and I will fill it up with ocean water and sit her next to us.
In terms of a swim suit, I like that skirt. I am going with boy shorts. They are comfortable and don’t ride up – always a plus!
You can totally rock the swim skirt! I love the way they look!
Swim skirts are awesome! I have 2 from Land’s End and they are fabulous as they do a good job of controlling the muffin top. You will need more then one as they take forever to dry.
Sounds like a fun vacation. I think the tent loos great. We always use our tailgate tent and then hang large beach towels on the sides to create more shade. But your tent seems better than our system.
I always brought Hudson’s actually bouncy seat down to the beach because he liked sitting in it so much. That way he could be upright and look at all the other people playing and swimming. I would think with a 2 year old and a 3 or 4 month old you will probably only get 2-4 hours of beach time in total. Unless you plan on them napping and eating on the beach. We find it eas to get out for a couple of hours in the AM and then head in for lunch and nap and then go back out in the late afternoon. That has been our experience.
I am going to be honest on the swim skirt. I think they actually make people look bigger than they are. I would just wear your cute tankini and then find some cute Terry shorts that you can wear when you are not swimming. The swim skirts look cute on someone who is a size zero but on those of us who are normal sizes I think they draw attention to the very parts you are trying to cover. Just my opinion. I am sure you will look great on the beach!
I love my tankini with a skirt! I got it from Land’s End last year. I’m 30 and single and I don’t feel old in it…my friends told me that they would ban me from the pool if I wore it but once they saw it on me, some of them ran out and got their own. Go for it.
Check to see if there are any rental places for the baby gear, that way you won’t have to bring everything. Last vacation to the beach we rented a tent, full size crib, swing, high chair and even a bucket of toys for the beach. It really wasn’t that expensive.
Adorable swim skirts! I wear one with a tankini top and I love it. We use a bouncy seat at the beach for the babies and I bring a squirt bottle with cold water in it to spritz them with to cool them off a little. A clip on fan is a great idea too.
We just got back from the beach! We bought a small tent with floor from One Step Ahead. They had a few different ones that look great! We brought a battery operated fan to the beach since it was so hot. Grayson hated the sand so we also brought a small inflatable baby pool and he sat in that and played with his toys. We also bought a beach cart by Wonder Wheelie or Wonder Wheeler…can’t remember which. Itnfolds up like a stroller and held everything we had…great purchase!
Yes to the swim skirt. Another option is a sheer wrap. My issue with those was that you have to tie them somewhere, exposing skin. I found that it was most flattering to tie it in the front sort of on the side.
Also, I had a lot of luck with swimsuits from Landsend Canvas, though I ordered a million of them to try on and ended up needing to re-order in a smaller size. It was surprising, since when I was purchasing I was 8 months from delivering. (Did you know you can return to Sears? I’m sure you did, but I thought I would mention it.)
This is a great one-piece. I liked the paisley and the navy, it looks like they are pretty much out of the paisley:
http://canvas.landsend.com/pp/SwimEssentialsVneckHalterTankSwimsuit~203361_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::DOB&CM_MERCH=IDX_Sale-_-Women-_-Swim-_-1pieceSuits&origin=index
I hear you on the two piece, it is difficult to get that thing down. I did prefer the tankini I purchased.
This top is super flattering:
http://canvas.landsend.com/pp/SwimEssentialsHalterTankiniSwimsuitTop~219664_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::GE1&CM_MERCH=IDX_Sale-_-Women-_-Swim-_-Tops&origin=index
I got it with this bottom, which has great coverage in the rear:
http://canvas.landsend.com/pp/SolidBikiniBottom~219663_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::AQJ&CM_MERCH=IDX_Sale-_-Women-_-Swim-_-Bottoms&origin=index
There actually is a skirted bottom, but the J.Crew one has more coverage:
http://canvas.landsend.com/pp/SkirtedBikiniBottom~219665_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::GB9&CM_MERCH=IDX_Sale-_-Women-_-Swim&origin=index
My daughter was born in July, 2010. We did actually head to the beach last summer and have been quite a few times this year. For baby gear, this was helpful for naps on the beach:
http://www.kidco.com/main.taf?p=4,5
I got mine off of Craigslist.
If Hayes likes a swing, last year my girlfriend actually took her travel swing down to the beach with her and it worked great for her son (our children are 2 weeks apart). My daughter never cared for the swing, so last year she just hung out under the tent in my lap, but it was hot for both of us and we didn’t ever last too long. This year she has enjoyed playing in the tide pools with a bunch of toys, but it was a challenge to keep her out of the sun and I’m not sure how feasible it would be with a second child.
I’m not a doctor and I’m not sure what your pediatrician would say about this, but I wasn’t shy about giving my daughter a little water last summer if she was sweaty, which really seemed to help cool her down.
Have fun on your trip!
We took a beach tent too and it was great for a little one to stay in the shade. It was similar to the one you have shown, but wasn’t as big. (I think it was from Safety 1st). Also they have some great portable fans (battery powered) that you can find in the camping section of wal-mart. We discovered them when our power was out before we had a baby, but they were great for the beach and the pool with a little one. I have several friends that have have used them too. We also took a baby pool last summer when ours had just turned 1 and he loved playing in it! We took it this year (when he was almost 2), but we didn’t use it as he loved running in and out of the ocean and playing in the ocean made pools. Last year my child didn’t mind the sand at all – he got in and out of the baby pool and would be covered head to toe and would crawl and play in it – this year it took it a little while to warm up to it. But once he got used to it, he LOVED playing at the beach!
Most definitely you can wear a skirt! It makes bending down and moving (and well…walking around) so much easier! You don’t have to worry about anything! Those are super cute! Lands End also has some pretty cute ones!
The swim skirt is adorable, and I saw a skinny minnie college girl rockin’ one at the beach a few weeks ago and she looked chic and comfortable. Go for it!
I say rock the skirt! Definitely easier to handle in sand than a pull over dress. I’d also look into a beach cart or wagon with wheels big enough to manuever over sand easily… that way you can make less trips getting set up and making sure you have everything you need.(when we took our girls, one was 2 months, 1 was 2, this was the most frustrating part for me…dealing with all the stuff needed!!) Definitely plan to get most of your beach time in the morning, a lot of times the beach is quieter so there is plenty of running space for little ones and doesn’t interfere as much with afternoon naps (we are borderline obsessive on getting those afternoon naps in no matter what or where at our house, haha) I love the idea of taking a baby pool down with you, although I haven’t tried it myself!
Hi! As I’m not a mother, I can’t offer advice for baby beach stuff, but my cousin tooker her 8 month old twin daughters to Florida a year ago, and we’ll be meeting up with them again in 2 weeks, and I can send your question to her? or you can find her here: http://ferrariflies.blogspot.com/
As for the J.Crew swim suit: I LOVE mine! I’ve bought the swim skirt option that last 3 years, and it’s amazing, and so cute!
just back from the beach with a baby…we used a smaller tent with uv protection (onestepahead.com) and took a cheap baby pool on the beach. we filled the pool with water and put the tent in the pool. great sun protection and my daughter stayed very cool. I gave her a bottle in it and took it out of the pool for her to nap in and was shocked she lasted almost 4 hours on the beach(she’s 7 months old and sitting, but not mobile. The pool was just big enough to fit the tent, so completely portable and easy to blow up/unassemble. The tent fold up into its own bag. We clipped a fan on the tent when it was out of the pool….sounds like a lot, but very managable!
I love Wild Dunes! You guys will have such a nice time down there in September. I bet the weather will be perfect! That tent looks perfect! I was telling Callie that we had just been to the beach with a bunch of moms and the tent that works well had these built in sand bags to help keep it anchored. I think she said that tent did. It looks so nice. I say go for the bathing suit with the skirt! You won’t enjoy yourself unless you’re comfortable…at least that’s how I am! The good thing is that you have some time to shop and maybe you’ll score something on sale!
The tent is the way to go, we had one for our first trip. I did forget to reapply sunscreen to Hudson when he took a nap in the tent b/c I was thinking oh he is in the shade….bad mommy
We got one with the floor and it was great for naptime and all just ended up hanging out in it. I think the bath seat and fan are a great idea also! Good Luck!
I live in florida, so I definitely recommend the clip on fan. I would also pick up something called a chilly pad. It’s basically a shammy type cloth that you get wet, and lay over or under baby. Then as the water evaporates it keeps baby cool. I got mine at dick’s sporting goods for about $15 i think.
We went with our whole family this summer to the beach, and my sister brought both her boys around the same age as yours. Bear was 2 months old at the time, and we set up one of those tents (it was the best). We also would soak a beach towel in cooler water with ice and set it on the sand with Bear on top. He stayed cool then entire time like that and never complained or fussed. When we felt like the towel was not cool enough, we would just resoak it. Worked like a charm!
Her oldest who is 2 never stopped chasing sea gulls/ throwing sand around long enough to come join us under the tent…unless he wanted something to drink!
Love both the skirts too!
Check out onestepahead for great beach stuff for babies. I love the tent you showed.
I would be careful to take his bath ring to the beach as the sand may never get out of it. I definitely have seen clip on fans, etc.
Could you get a tankini and get a skirt to go with it just in case you don’t like it especially in the water, you can take it off? you’ll look great in whatever though.
I got a tent from One Step Ahead that Was perfect for my 4 month old this summer!!! Check it out at http://www.onestepahead.com. It is really compact and folds up into a thin circle that you can carry on your back!!
yes!! most definitely! I have some that I play in!
Hey Erin! I love your blog and your boys are ADORABLE! A great way to beat the heat at the beach is by using a Frogg Togg Chilly Pad. Basically, it’s a towelish type of material (variety of colors available) that when wet provides a great cooling relief from the scorching heat. The best thing about the pad is that it stays dry to the touch and don’t soak anything that comes into contact w/ it. When the cooling effect wears off, you simply re-wet again and you are good to go! There’s a Frogg Togg website and they are also available at our local sporting goods stores.
Enjoy your vacay!
We took this to the beach last year and it worked well.
http://www.kelty.com/p-516-sunshade.aspx?category=tents-shelters
Left it up over night and it stood up to the wind. My friends always take a small blowup pool for the kids to play in. They fill with beach water and that way the kids can play in the water but without being in the ocean and without you chasing them all the time.
I like the swim skirts! I have one that matches one of my suits and I really love it. Some might say it’s not fashionable, but so what? Looking good is largely related to feeling good, so if it makes you feel good, I say go for it! It’s not always what you wear, but how you wear it, that matters.
p.s. You are beautiful and a million moms would kill to look like you after 2 babies! Promise!!
for starters…yes, you can absolutely wear that skirt. Secondly, we live by the beach in Florida, and here are my essentials: hats, sunblock, and a tailgating tent. I don’t think you have to go the full tent route, Hayes won’t really be moving around…you know what I mean? And the tailgating tent offers plenty of shade. I think your idea of taking that bath thing is absolutely genius….
Love the tent! We used a tailgate tent, but at our beach they provide a service where you can rent a tent while you are there, similar to the one you have above, and they even put it up for you each day. That’s something you should look into, you and TC will have your hands full! We also loved a small blow up pool. It was great for the girls to play in the water but still be able to be under the tent. And with the two little ones, the hottest part of the day is usually during their nap time, which is when we’d head up to the house and missed the totally hot part of the day! Take LOTS of snacks and drinks, our 2 1/2 year old seemed to eat non-stop while on the beach!
Good luck and have fun!!
Check out LL Bean for tents. There are really detailed reviews on most of their products and they have great warranties/return policy on everything if you get it to the beach and hate it.
Also, check out Athleta for cute swim suits and cover ups. They have some really cute stuff that’s a little more mom friendly (covers up well and stays put!).
I saw the ruffled skirt in person at the pool the other day and it was *adorable*. I wear skirted suits all the time – they’re kind of sporty, or at least that’s what I tell myself
Sitting in the sand and bending over all the time to pick up a 30 lb toddler? Coverage, please!
We didn’t do a tent this year since we actually had no babies…full fledged toddlers aren’t going to do much sitting in one spot…so I can’t offer any advice on that front.
I think those jcrew skirts are super cute and am never sure either if I should try it. it does look really cute /not matronly on their models! the tent is a great idea, and instead of a kiddie pool, we brought a blow up toddler sized boat float (from walmart). it was the perfect size for filling with water and carrying back to our site. my toddler played in it and use the water for his sand castles and it was easy to dump and start over if needed. the other thing is you won’t be out there very long at a time. definitely leave things set up for after their naps. it is so much easier! the bath tub with a fan sounds great to me! I am going to do that if we go back to beach with our baby, too!
I’m all about a skirt to cover when not in the water…those are cute! And my bikini days ARE over. HA!
We used a large canopy for Amelia last year but I like the look of the tent you have pictured. Maybe we will find something like that once we get to FL. I’m just praying she likes the sand. Last year, she was NOT a fan.
I was thinking a little pool of some sort would be good for her too…she could get in and out of it easily and it would help keep her cool.
I don’t know about you – but I’m counting down the days until our beach vacay!
We recently went to the beach with our boys 2 & 7 months…be prepared to be tired! We have the LL Bean shelter, but we didn’t bother taking it this year because our oldest didn’t want stay at the beach for more than an hour or so. I hope y’all have a fantastic time!
I replied on twitter, but I’m not sure if you can read my replies if you’re not following me, so I’m adding here too.
I love a good swim skirt. I have one from lands end that is similar to the first one you showed. Mine is attached to the bottom, so not exactly removable, but I think with a flattering top it’s still really cute. The shorter ones aren’t quite as matronly. I don’t know why, but I’ve never felt entirely comfortable just roaming the beach in bathing suit bottoms. I’m too self conscious about my thighs and, ahem, shall we say-grooming oversights. A short one gives me just a little additional coverage to make me feel more secure. The downside, for some reason mine makes me want to pretend I’m an ice skater, but that’s probably just my repressed adolescent dreams
I had decided my bikini days were over, but after I lost about 5 lbs and was working to lose more, I decided to roll with it. I do wear a skirted one, but I realized that I probably wasn’t going to look better with age, so I might as well enjoy this body while I can. I look back at old pictures of a younger, thinner, cuter me and wish I’d “worked” it a little more. I don’t want to feel the same way at 40. I don’t prance all over the beach or the pool, but I’m giving it a shot. Plus, it looks so much better once it’s tan! I wouldn’t have done it last summer immediately after childbirth, but go for it if you’re inclined, but just a thought to say never say never
Have you been back to the beach with Hudson? We had so much fun with Monroe this summer, but it was such a wake up call that my relaxing days are over. He was great about staying close, but his little 14 month old self was all over me. I was covered in sand! And, boy’s bathing suits pick up so much sand. I felt so sorry for him. One afternoon I was “that girl”. I just let him wear his swim diaper (we use a reusable one, so at least it was cute and I wasn’t pulling a redneck pamper on the beach move!) and a swim shirt. He looked like he had on a little speedo, but the clean up was so much easier. I purchased one of the one piece iplay suits on zuliliy for next year. It seems kind of goofy, but that sand really is a bear!
Also, my favorite beach tip. BABY POWDER. Bring some with you in your beach bag. Shake it on when you’re ready to pack up or put your shoes on. The sand will come right off! I used it on the baby too, but had to be careful not to get it in his face with all of the wind.
We had a little baby tent last summer at the beach (we took Monroe to North Topsail in June when he was about 8 weeks old. I avoided the beach from 10-2 (well, I ended up avoiding it several days all together because I had a kidney stone-right after childbirth that was a cruel joke life played on me!), but he did really well just laying on a towel under an umbrella. The baby tent got so hot i couldn’t imagine putting him in there. Your option looks much cooler, but you might also think about one of those pop up tents you often see tailgating. They’re nice because they’re roomy and open, but they’re usually large enough that they provide tons of shade in the middle. We saw a few people with them at the lower height (before you extend the legs) and they were even more shaded and still roomy enough when you’re sitting in chairs. THey’re really easy to put up too. It can be difficult getting a tent together when it’s so windy. I wouldn’t recommend those umbrella tents-they look like an umbrella staked on it’s side. It’s a nice idea, but such a bear in the wind. That’s what we went with this year and we wished we’d just gotten the shelter type pop up one. Plus, they make a lot of room for older children to play under.
I second the idea of bringing, or buying, a small blow up pool. You can fill it with ocean water and keep hudson close to you for times when you don’t feel like being right in the ocean. It’s cool to rest your feet in when you’re hot and great for rinsing your feet when you come up from the ocean. Two words-cheap and awesome!
Sorry, I wrote a novel. I’m also making mental notes for our trip next year
Those skirts are adorable and you could totally pull them off, but make sure you check out the Lands End stuff too. Everything they sell is flattering and they are have an end-of-season sale right now that has killer prices!
I have huge thighs (i know, TMI) but I can’t stand those swim skirts because they cling and make me more unconscious about the areas, so I wear cotton sundresses on the beach over my suit. Also, I’m sure those J Crew pieces aren’t made with control because those models usually seem so skinny, but the skirts at Lands End are made for control. That’s just my two cents.
As far as bringing baby on the beach. We used to roll Walker right down in his stroller and he’d sleep under our tent in the stroller. I’d strip him down to just his diaper and he would just hang out. We also had the blow-up pool that he loved to play in. He just couldn’t stand sand on him when he was that little – it would aggravate him like crazy!
I’m not sure what the trend is at your beach, but we were all down at Indian Beach in NC for the week of the 4th and we counted no less than 16 of those canopy tents on the beach in front of our condos. And people would set them up at the beginning of the week and leave them up all week long. We didn’t get one because we spent most of our time at the pool because the ocean was so rough, but everyone said you could get them at WalMart for about $120. Those little tiny pop up tents get too hot and are miserable. You can lay a huge blanket under these and just let Hayes lay on it and put the pool under it too and you still get the breeze coming through the sides!
Have fun!
We brought our mini portable swing. It made nap time much easier and he enjoyed swinging.
Those skirts are so cute! I actually bought one to match a new swimsuit this year and I love it! I can’t do the ones that are attached, but this one had a little bit of length to cover and could be worn in the water if I wanted to do that.
Ordering the skirt suit now! I’m in love! I need to text you a picture of the tent, it was super easy to get up, C LOVED running around in it, D had tons of room to stand up in it, and it has spf 50, so the babes will be good to go in that area! Wish we lived closer and you could just come borrow it! Can’t wait to see what you get! xoxo
Check out Athleta’s Oceanside Short–they come in some really cute patterns or solid colors. Last summer i bought a brown pair and matched it to a tankini top at Kohl’s. They are soo comfortable and so very forgiving! I get lots of compliments and everyone asks where i bought them. This spring I ordered a black pair and and absolutely love them. The swim skirts are cute, but I just feel more comfortable in swim shorts.
Swim skirt is cute for the beach over the top of your 2 piece
Have an awesome trip!
Definitely check out One Step Ahead. There Sun Smarties clothing and accessories are great! And everything is on sale right now! The terry romper is my favorite-perfect for after swimming! I went to Hawaii with the family I nanny for and “my” baby H wore the romper, hats, and swim suits.
One Step Ahead Sun Smarties
I don’t comment much but wanted to chime in on the skirt. In general, I’m not a fan of them–someone else hit the nail on the head in that they usually make everyone look bigger than they are and highlight the “problem areas” so to speak. The one exception to that is if you wear the skirt but show some skin elsewhere–the J.Crew model looks awesome because the skirt highlights her flat stomach (which I don’t have either, after two kids). I do think the skirt could be a possibility if you wore it with a great halter top that showed some cleavage (i.e. the *good* part of what pregnancy brings!). I know everyone raves about Lands End but I can’t help thinking they make everyone look frumpy and like they’re wearing the equivalent of a housedress (you know, like our grandma’s wear) to the beach.
But take what I say with a grain of salt because I wore a string bikini when I was eight months pregnant!
YES to swim skirts!
Love the skirts. But I’d really like to see them on a real mom model before I bought them. The JCrew models are skinny and air-brushed.
Check out limericki.com for bathing suits. They have a real cute skirts with pretty matching tops. I have two of the ruffled skirts and they are perfect to wear while playing with young children.
There are REALLY cute skirts out this year…and really cute bunched at the waist tankini tops. I also prefer to stick with solid black after I have my babies!
As long as you are comfortable and happy you can wear whatever you want! The skirts are super cute too.
I’ll put in another plug for the lands end two piece suits. I had a baby #2 last year and just bought my second suit from le. Even my much younger, much hipper mom friend has a couple. They are great for the beach/pool with kids because they are very supportive and so well made that they stay in place. So when you’re dealing with little ones you never have to give a second thought that things will stay where they belong! I lug kids, bages, etc to and from the pool and never once have to “tug” anything back into place. Let us know what you decide!
We just got back from the beach and I noticed lots of babies sitting in small (very small) blow up wading pools. I can’t remember how old Hayes is so I don’t know if he will be sitting by the time you go to the beach, but if he is, it looked like a nice ‘cool’ way for the babies to play.
What fun! I still wear those types of bathing suit bottoms and my ‘baby’ is 7! Pair it with a tankini top like this one http://www.target.com/Merona-Tankini-Swim-Top-Black/dp/B004NSHHLK/ref=br_1_9?ie=UTF8&node=1264689011&sessionID=179-3540390-7783636&searchSize=30&searchView=grid3&searchPage=1&sr=1-9 and it will cover up the tummy, this is how I do it, plus I have a terrycloth dress cover up, it’s a tie-at-the-neck kind so it’s cute and does the job.
When my oldest was little (10 years ago) we didn’t have these nifty beach tents, I just had him under an umbrella; those look awesome! I did have a spray bottle mister that I would keep him cool with.
Absolutely wear a skirt if it makes you comfortable! I love J Crew’s suits and have several one pieces that I can wear to chase after my two boys. I also just saw a couple very cute one pieces and skirt options on Ann Taylor Loft.com – on sale no less!
Have fun!
I love Lands End. My favorite swim shorts I use are listed below
http://www.landsend.com/pp/3034SwimShortswithTummyControl~191498_59.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::CHW&CM_MERCH=search-_-swim+shorts&origin=search
http://www.landsend.com/pp/BeachLivingAdjustableTunicSwimTop~203490_59.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::BLA&CM_MERCH=IDX_Swimwear-_-Women-_-Regular&origin=index
This is one of my favorite tops.
I have had 4 kids so a little different story for me, but I am about a size 8 (although hopefully after my tummy tuck in 6 months, I will be much smaller).
For me, I feel comfortable about my body and then can enjoy myself. And with 4 very active kids, it allows me to run and play with them all (ages 7, 6, 3, and 2).
And similar to another comment, when I wore a navy short and tankini flutter top to a swim party recently, several friends that went out and bought them the next day!
Happy shopping and have a safe trip! I am not so brave to take a trip with all 4 yet, hopefully someday.
I haven’t read all of the other comments, but we always bring a blow up baby pool and use buckets to fill it with ocean water. It keeps our toddler cool and entertained and you could put Hayes’ bath bouncy in the pool. Also, this is the swimsuit I got this year for my new “mom body,” and I’ve been very pleased with it. http://www.target.com/Merona-Polka-Dot-Bandeau-Shirred-Swimsuit/dp/B003BMQHJ2/ref=br_1_20?ie=UTF8&id=Merona%20Polka-Dot%20Bandeau%20Shirred%20Swimsuit&node=13706071&searchSize=30&searchView=grid3&searchPage=1&sr=1-20&qid=1312293810&rh=&searchBinNameList=target_com_brand-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Cprice&searchRank=salesrank&frombrowse=1
You can wear it with or without the strap and it is very flattering. Have fun!
I’m late to the game but yes those skirts are great!!! There is no grandma lookness to them at all
I had my second son in March, and we also went to the beach in September of that year. I ordered 2 swimsuits from Lands’ End that summer. This summer I ordered a new suit with a cute ruffled swim mini from LE as well. I loved the swim mini. It was the perfect length, and the ruffle was so cute. I returned it because I got a bikini top to go with it, and it didn’t fit correctly. I have since ordered two more from LE, and I love them both!
GAH! Hudson was so cute at 2 months!
Just read this post, but baby pool is great. Bring a bicycle pump to beach and inflate and deflate it there. Also, you have to have a beach cart. I think Target has them online. Finally, bring wet washcloths in a ziploc bag with a few ice cubes. Its esp. good for sand in the eyes, cooling down the baby etc. I wear a swim skirt and I love it. I got the mini swim mini from Land’s end in black. Have a fun trip!
i don’t have any advice, but my two are very close in age to yours and we’re going to the beach in september so this post has been SO helpful!
can’t help you with the baby gear, but you should most definitely get the skirt suit, I think they look great and if you are comfortable you’ll be able to enjoy the time with your family
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