Kids are always excited to go to the beach.

Then you get there, and it takes approximately twelve seconds for the whining to begin.

Here are five things you can do to keep the whining, crying, and discomfort at bay.

1) Cut the liner out of boys’ suits.

Grown men might need that netting in there to support their junk.

But your three/seven/eleven-year-olds don’t need it. The only thing that liner does is trap a whole ass load of sand in there which will lead to the next issue.

Cut that liner out before you get to the beach.

2) Lube up.

Even after cutting that liner out, if you are spending a lot of time in the sand and water, chafing can be an issue.

Board shorts can be rough on the inner thigh area for boys. For girls, the crotch area and the strap area of their suits can sometimes cause problems.

Coating all those problem areas with Vaseline can seriously cut down on the chafing issues.

There is also a product called (affiliate)BodyGlide which also works great. Swimmers, runners, and triathletes use it (I use it all the time). It comes in a stick like a deodorant, and you just apply it to the areas where your suit rubs on you and it really cuts down on the chafing. It’s more expensive than Vaseline, but it’s less messy, and it’s more water resistant.

3. Two words. Baby Powder.

Baby powder (get cornstarch since apparently baby powder now gives you cancer) takes sand off of everything. Sprinkle it on feet/legs/stomachs/butts/wherever, give a little rub, and the sand comes right off.

This massively cuts down on the meltdown factor if you have kids who cannot handle any sand discomfort.

Don’t have powder?

Use flour. It does the same thing.

4. Swim shorts aren’t just for boys.

Number 7 prefers to wear swim shirts and shorts often at the beach. It can be tough to find swim shorts for girls, so we cut the liner out of a pair of running shorts for Number 7, and she wears a dri-fit shirt in the water. They dry super fast, and the sand doesn’t stay stuck anywhere.Here she is in her favorite swim ensemble. (Also easier to put on than a suit).

 

5. Bring a change of clothes.

We inevitably have one kid who needs to get out of his/her suit immediately while there are other kids who are nowhere near ready to leave the beach. Bring something that each kid can change into easily, and you will be able to extend your beach time. (In the picture above, Number 5 had reached her limit much earlier than the others — I powdered her up and covered her with a towel while she threw on that dress, and she was good for at least another hour).

There you go. Remember these tips and your next trip to the beach should be a little bit easier!

Have other tips? Please share!

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