Summer is finally here, and hopefully you have already made plans for an amazing family vacation. But if you are like us and tend to plan trips last minute, maybe we can help you with some ideas.
Where should you go? The beach? A city trip? The mountains? A hotel or vacation rental? With so many options available, choosing the right destination can feel overwhelming—especially when traveling with a baby or small child.
Here are some of the things we have learned from traveling with our little ones.
Beach Vacation
Beach vacations are always fun—the sun, the sea, and plenty of sand to play with. For many families, the beach is one of the best destinations when traveling with a toddler or baby.
The most important thing when going to the beach with a baby is protecting your child from the sun. If your baby is under six months old, sunscreen is generally not recommended. In this case, sun-protective clothing is often the safest option.
Even when using sunscreen, try to choose natural products and always check the ingredients carefully. While sunlight provides valuable vitamin D, prolonged exposure to direct sun can be harmful for both children and adults.
We always bring a small pop-up tent to the beach. It creates a cool shaded area where our child can nap and rest away from the sun. It is also a great place to keep drinks and snacks cool.
We also prefer arriving early in the morning, around 9 AM. This allows us to enjoy the beach before it gets crowded, and our children are usually ready to head home by the time the sun becomes strongest.
Make sure everyone stays hydrated. Fruits such as organic watermelon are great snacks that help keep both parents and babies hydrated during hot summer days.
To keep your children entertained, you can play simple games like a treasure hunt. Bury colorful objects in the sand and let them search for the hidden treasures.
When it's time to leave the beach, organic baby wipes or baby powder can help remove excess sand from your child's skin.
Nature Vacations
At the Organic Baby Formula Shop, we absolutely love spending time in nature. Whether you are planning a camping trip in the mountains or simply going for a scenic hike, nature vacations can be wonderful for families.
One advantage of nature destinations is the natural shade provided by trees, which can help reduce direct sun exposure. Still, it is important to use sun-protective clothing and natural sunscreen.
One potential downside of outdoor adventures can be mosquitoes and insects. Instead of using chemical repellents, we prefer natural alternatives that are safer for babies.
For example, we like using products from California Baby. Their bug repellent spray uses citronella and lemongrass—ingredients that smell pleasant to us but repel insects effectively.
Nature also provides wonderful learning opportunities for children. Activities like bird watching, spotting fish in lakes, or identifying wildflowers can be both fun and educational.
City Vacations
City trips can also be great when traveling with children. The key is choosing a destination that offers family-friendly activities such as parks, playgrounds, beaches, amusement parks, or child-friendly museums.
If you choose a city vacation, it can be helpful to plan your schedule ahead of time and book tickets online to avoid long waiting lines.
Where Should You Stay?
Both hotels and vacation rentals have advantages and disadvantages when traveling with children.
Hotels
Hotels often offer convenient amenities such as pools, restaurants, room service, and organized activities for children.
However, hotel rooms are often smaller and usually do not include a kitchen. For families who prefer preparing their own meals or baby formula, this can be less convenient.
Vacation Rentals
For many families, vacation rentals are the preferred option. They usually provide more space than hotels and often allow you to cook meals, which can make traveling with children easier.
Having extra space also helps children feel more comfortable and allows them to play more freely.
If you choose a rental property, make sure it is child-friendly and safe.
Shipping Baby Formula to Your Vacation
No matter where you decide to stay, we are happy to ship any of our organic formulas directly to your vacation address.
With the fast and free shipping offered by the Organic Baby Formula Shop, this means one less thing for you to pack.
Speaking of packing, we created a helpful vacation checklist for traveling with babies.
You can download our packing list PDF here.
Happy summer vacation!