Sun and Sand ~ not babyproof

We spent the weekend in LA to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday. We waited until the end of the week to make the final decision to go to see how my week at work was and my emotional IQ.

There were no specific plans for the weekend, other than my sister-in-law's request to spend time with us. Her friend was throwing a dessert party Saturday night and they were going out on a date for dinner beforehand. The entire family was having brunch on Sunday somewhere. No details were given except the time of the party.

So off we went and had a great, late lunch with Nana and Saba before heading over to play with Cousin Jonah, Doda Shlomit and Dod Dave. We spent a couple of hours hanging out with them before they left for dinner and then met them at the party. It was a nice day doing lots of things.

Brunch on Sunday was at a place called Back on the Beach Cafe in Santa Monica. While Nana had told us it was on the beach and Jonah could play in the sand, we did not really comprehend that it was ON THE BEACH. Literally.

Therefore the stroller with the sleeping baby was not going to make it to sit in the sand at the table. SO we turned around and put the stroller and car seat back in the car. We woke the baby as we put her in the Bjorn and carried the backpack diaper bag and sat at a table without any shade. In the sun. In the sand.

The only seats left at the table were the ones facing the sun, so we sat; with a 4-month-old who had no hat (we didn't know we were going to be here) and no sunscreen (too young) facing the hot morning sun. The diaper bag sat in my lap as the only other option was the sand at my feet, which were in socks and closed toe shoes.

We covered our daughter in a blanket to block the sun from her skin and face so she could at least see and held her as long as she allowed. The diaper bag was tall enough to provide a shade for her sitting on my lap, but that only lasted a few minutes.

I left the table when she got fussy, spit her pacifier into the sand, and needed a bottle. I discovered a shady area that led into an inside seating area; with no sand and no sun. More appropriate for a baby. So I sat by myself and fed her on the bench by the hostess stand. I sent my husband out to sit with his family and eat.

We were pretty angry at the lack of understanding, respect, and sensitivity. They have a child... Would they have sat with him at 4 months old in the sun? What was wrong with being inside? If we'd sat where they were at the table, we could have shielded her from the sun with our bodies, but then they would have had to sit facing the sun. It was not a good morning for us with family and the 1-1/2 hours we spent with them just made us upset.

When they went off to see the rest of the beach and the ocean, we left for home. Spending time with them was one thing; exposing our daughter to the hot sun and sand was another. We opted for the safety and comfort of our daughter over family. We do not regret it.