In Britain we have many wonderful beaches and there are no worries about lost luggage or
airport strikes.
britain's top beaches
There was a time when British beaches were nothing to be proud of, but now things have changed
and it's much cleaner and safer to enjoy our 11,000 miles of coastline. This year the annual
Good Beach Guide has for the first
time identified over 500 British beaches with superior water quality for swimming. They are
graded by the Blue Flag scheme,
and to be eligible for the award a bathing beach must pass rigorous tests for cleanliness,
safety and
environmental protection. Every baby and toddler loves the seaside and these clean and safe
beaches mean there's no need to drag the travel cot all the way to France or Spain, so it's
fun for mum too!
our guide to the countries best beaches
Sandbanks, Dorset
A family friendly beach that benefits from a safe swimming zone, golden sands and
nearby crazy golf and children's amusements.
Watergate Bay, Cornwall
At low tide, Watergate Bay turns into two mile long stretch of sandy beach break heaven. It
also benefits from some excellent restaurants with family friendly facilities.
Holkham, Norfolk
With its dunes and beautiful wildlife, Holkham is a world of discovery for little ones.
Croyde Bay, Devon
The lovely sand at the beach makes this a top venue for locals and holidaymakers.
Holy Island, Northumberland
As well as gorgeous beaches there is also a thriving community with a busy harbour, shops,
hotels and inns
Walberswick, Suffolk
A wide variety of flora and fauna makes Walberswick popular with ramblers and visitors alike.
A major attraction for children in summer is crabbing by the harbour.
Whitesands, Pembrokeshire
Against a backdrop of sweeping countryside, Whitesands is perfect for a quiet family outing.
safe in the sun
Keeping your baby cool in summer is never easy, but there are plenty of steps you can take
to make sure they stay protected from the sun. Keep them covered up with loose fitting
cotton t-shirts and wide brim or "legionnaire" hats along with baby UV protection sunglasses.
Babies under one should stay in the shade and a sun protection cabana filled with a few of their
favourite toys will keep them cool and protect their skin.
Sunblock is of course the most important item in your beach bag so make sure you have ample sun
protection for you and your baby. There are many sun protection creams specifically designed for
babies and most of these products have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 40. Good examples
are Nivea Children's Sun Sprays and Soltan Kids Suncare range. The ultraviolet rays are at their
strongest between 10am and 4pm, so limit your time in the sun during those hours, and when you are
out of the shade make sure you re-apply sunblock every couple of hours.
fun at the beach
There are many ways to entertain your child at the seaside. They'll relish all the new sounds
and the soothing breaking of waves. It's also a great opportunity to indulge their natural delight
in knocking things down. Get a bucket and spade and help your baby build sandcastles. Then show
how there's nothing wrong in pushing them over and starting again.
Take care not to let your baby play on hot sand, which may hurt their delicate feet, but carefully
let them get used to the sea at the water's edge. Babies will naturally get a little sand in their
mouth as they crawl about, but not to worry, a small amount shouldn't do them any harm. You can even
try collecting seashells; your baby will love playing with them and they will remind you both of
your time at the seaside.
Toddlers can get involved in building more elaborate sand castles. Constructing turrets, bridges and moats will keep them entertained for hours. You may even find yourself part of their creation as they try to bury you in sand while you sunbathe. Ball games are also great fun: soft tennis, football and volleyball will have them running around to their heart's content. If it's too hot for games they can even use one of our metal detectors to search for buried treasure!
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