Logistics of going on holiday with a formula fed baby

[Heatherbell1978]

We're off to Madrid for a week next month when DS1 will be 6 months. When we booked the holiday I was breastfeeding and it was going well at that time so I didn't plan for him being formula fed when we go.
We are where we are though so I'm looking for tips for as little faff as possible! I'm thinking just using the ready to drink stuff so I don't have to make up bottles but can you buy that in Madrid, does anyone know? Or should I just take it with me but that'll be really heavy....

[Horispondle]

Marking place as I'm interested in people's advice also.

[Eminybob]

Are you going self catering/staying in an apartment? If so, the easiest option would be to take powder and make it up as you usually would at home. But if you're in a normal hotel that may be more difficult. If there is a kettle on the room it could still be possible though.

[Eminybob]

Oh but I would take pre made bottles for the plane!

[Goldensunnydays81]

I went to Sri Lanka for 2 months when ds was 3 months old and had to bring a lot of formula!!!! I brought a little travel kettle with me for making up bottles plus some pre made cartons for flights and long trips when we were going through security I had to open and test some of the milk cartons don't know if you still have do that tho!

[DropYourSword]

I agree, pre-made for the flighht, but should be fine with powder the rest of the time, right?

[NormHonal]

Is he fussy about which formula he has?

My Dc1 was vvfussy and when we went on holiday I took a stack of the ready-made cartons with us. Yes, it was very heavy. However, we were going somewhere far-flung, I imagine Spain has quite a lot of the same brands as here?

With hindsight I was being PFB and doing it again I would take enough for the flight and maybe the first day, then buy the rest over there.

If you're in a hotel then a travel kettle (if room doesn't have one), microwave steriliser pouch, bottle brush and travel cold water steriliser and Milton tablets are all a good idea.

[LittleBearPad]

Take ready to feed formula for out and about during the day but if you'll have access to a kitchen powder will be fine for mornings/evenings/night.

Don't take made up bottles to the airport as you'll have to taste them all. It's easiest to take some ready to feed cartons - you'll probably have to taste one, but can then put it into a bottle for the next feed.

All Boots after security are well supplied with formula (ready to feed and powder) so you can stock up there for the flight. You can also order and pick up there if you weren't planning to check your luggage In and so can't carry any liquids.
I don't think you can buy rtf formula overseas

[GotToBeInItToWinIt]

I lived in Madrid for a year and a half and have never seen the ready made bottles of formula, but they do have a lot of the same brands as us just under slightly different names (generally easy to tell which is which from the packaging). What brand do you use?

[GotToBeInItToWinIt]

Also, we went to Spain recently and pre ordered a load of aptamil ready made cartons from Boots international and had them delivered to where we were staying.

[Heatherbell1978]

Thanks everyone, we're staying in an apartment so we should be able to make up bottles ok. We'll be out and about a lot so I was hoping to use ready made stuff during the day but it sounds like I might need to bring them with me? I use Aptamil and I've never used anything else. We'll have cgecked in bags so perhaps I need to pack a stash in there. I'm guessing DH and I will end up with hardly any room for us!

[Artandco]

If you order from boots after security it won't be part of luggage weight. You just go online and order as many as you like and collect in boots after security and take on plane with hand luggage.

Take powder for in apartment.

Aptimal is milupa in Spain. But expensive at about 25 euros a tub

Tbh you won't need a huge number of ready made formulas anyway. At 6 months they can also have food and will need water in heat. So say 3 bottles from powder and x3 max a day ready made. They will have one in morning and eve at apartment, probably x2 eve.

[Artandco]

So:

Order 20 at boots to collect after security. Take 5 in regular hand luggage for flight/ travel

Take tub of formula in case

[LittleBearPad]

Definitely take your own powdered formula as well. It's not as readily available and it's much more expensive too.

[MuscatBouschet]

Good advice here. We took a 6 month old to a place without safe drinking water and just took a million ready made cartons. They had a machine for checking them without opening at Gatwick.

Sterilised with cold water Milton tablets. Bottle brush is essential.