Going abroad

[eatplaysleep]

As our holiday is getting closer I am getting more and more anxious about it. I have a 21 week ds and would appreciate any advice about going abroad with a baby. We are staying in an all inclusive hotel so was hoping to use the bottled water given to boil and make up feeds but have since read that I need to be careful of mineral contents. Am also concerned that despite ds being a great mapper/sleeper when put in cot, is not so good when out and about so may end up in hotel room a lot. He will just fight sleep/ be too nosey and reluctant in buggy unless absolutely exhausted and I keep walking!

So far in preparation I have bought:
Travel kettle
Mozzy net for travel cot
Sun parasol
Pop up tent
Mini fan
Sterilising bags
Baby sun cream
Uv swimsuits
Swim nappies
Swimming ring
Giant muslin to put over pushchair IF he naps

Anything else you suggest?

Also was thinking about ordering in nappies and formula to collect from boots at airport as guessed then it wouldn't count as baggage allowance. Anyone have any experience of doing this? Also it's an early morning flight but guessing shops in airport would be open 24hours?!

TIA

[PisforPeter]

Ring Boots & check re ordering. I did it at LGW and it worked well for me. We took DD to Greece aged 4 months and it was one of the easiest holidays we have had with her. Not yet mobile, naps a lot etc, not yet weaned etc. Just boil the tap water in the hotel for your bottles.
Bring a few toys too!!
And bring calpol, you can't just buy it in the supermarket abroad.
Have a lovely time .

[chipsandpeas]

a lot of all inclusive hotels will have a kettle in the room - might be worth checking it out then you dont need to take one with you

[PisforPeter]

Good point, you need to manage your luggage weight.
Also instead of me having a handbag, I brought a carry on suitcase to hold all DD's clothes etc so I could still bring all my usual clothes & mags for me in my suitcase

[eatplaysleep]

Ooh yes forgot I have bought a new cal pol ready and teething powder. Any toys in particular that we're useful?
Great point re kettle- I will check.

Thanks for tips and reassurance- keep them coming!

[PisforPeter]

It's a couple of years ago now so I struggle to remember!!
Just some favourites, something that rattles, we had some linky teethers from ELC that we're good as we attached them to the buggy too.
I promise you it's a really lovely age to take them away, you are doing right thing by planning everything with the formula etc.
You need very little clothes just vests & a hat & them some swimming kit.

[PisforPeter]

Sorry for spelling mistakes, I got distracted with the German goal!

[ilovepowerhoop]

www.babycentre.co.uk/x554972/how-can-i-manage-bottle-feeding-while-we-are-on-holiday - tells you about formula feeding abroad. It would be ok to use bottled water but choose one with a low sodium content

[yourmyforever]

I'm off to Portugal in a couple of weeks with my 4 month old and something I have bought in preparation but have actually already got some use out of is a 'snooze shade' it was £20 from mothercare and can be used on most prams/buggies. It effectively keeps the sun off the baby in the pram but works as a blackout so it stops my nosey son from resisting sleep when we are out and about as he has nothing to look at! Ive already used it on a couple of days out and it's worked everytime as soon as I put it over he drifts off to sleep! It may help with your sons naps when your out and about too instead of restricting you to your room!

[Happy36]

Sounds like you are well prepared.

I would advise having a daily "routine" and trying to stick to it as much as possible as it will make life simpler for your little one and also for you overall. Don´t try to stay out later than "baby curfew" even if he´s doing well - you will end up paying for it! Have a lovely holiday.

[Oriunda]

What country? Italy and Spain both sell mineral water specifically for babies (usually a picture of baby on the bottle). A lot of restaurants will have microwaves too. A snoozeshade is a really good investment as totally blacks out the buggy and filters out all the sun rays too. I still use mine when we go out in the evening when we're away and DS is 2.6. We put him to bed in the buggy after following normal bedtime routine, cover him with the snoozeshade and then go to dinner. He sleeps the whole way through.

[eatplaysleep]

Yes it is spain so will look out for the baby pic thanks you! Snooze shade might help so will take a look. He's such a good sleeper in his room ( which doesn't have a blackout) but not great anywhere else. Prob doesn't help he's started sleeping on tummy so can't really do that is his pushchair. Yes will try to find a routine that suits him whilst we're out there. Am happy to go to room early if necessary although would be nice if he snoozed in pushchair for a while on some nights so we can enjoy evening with rest of the family (big group of us going) as he usually goes to bed between 8 and 8.30

[CityDweller]

I second the snooze shade - that's how we got DD to start napping in the pram.

Will he sleep in a sling? Also useful for getting through the airport, on to plane, etc...