Dubai - instant formula bottles

[Squadge]

Hi - does anyone know if you can buy instant bottles in Dubai? Ideally we would like to get SMA Extra Hungry Milk(250ml) or the local instant bottle equivalent. Many thanks!

[Aquilla]

We managed to pick some up at an "English" supermarket at one of the two big malls (either Emirates or Dubai Mall?). Sorry I can't even remember the name of the shop but possibly Waitrose? Very hard to find outside the west! And much dearer than here. You might just want to pack some powder in the bottom of a presterilised bottle and then add half and half boiling water and bottled from cafe or whatever? Probably not NHS recommended but it's what we did

[Squadge]

Thanks v much Aquilla. Good to know they are sold there as we use instant milk at home as never got on with powder formula but obviously not really practical to take 10 days of liquid on flight. Also think instant bottles safest option as nervous about sterilising regular bottles in hotel room. Will google Malls and shops that you mentioned and have your powder suggestion as back up plan ... Thanks. Other option is to order milk to be delivered to airside Boots at Gatwick ... But again nervous in case delivery is not there for us to collect ... Has anyone used boots airside order service??

[Aquilla]

How old is baby? Yeah, overseas hotels don't tend to have kettles outside west. I remember using coffee machine as a makeshift steriliser in Hong Kong! Remember, our sterilisation recommendations are very strict compared to other countries. Really not necessary beyond six months (and before) as long as you're not an idiot. Take some fairy liquid in a little bottle too.
No, have never used the pick up service but never bought more than 8 premixed bottles or so.

[Kelly1814]

I love in Dubai and ready made formula is very expensive! But pretty easy to get hold of. The sma hungry baby milk is available in small cartons. Costs about 1.50 GBP for a small carton.

Spinneys supermarkets are very common, they are our version of waitrose, and they sell them.

Are you coming on holiday or to live? Very happy to try to help sort this for you!

[Squadge]

Thanks so VERY much for all the advice :-) it is really kind of you all and much appreciated. We are only going to Dubai for a 10 day holiday so will probably order ahead for nappies and wipes etc (thanks charleybarley). Kelly1814 - it was a huge relief to read that the small ready made cartons are available and big thanks for your generous offer to help ... If I could just trouble you with one more question? Please would you let me know if the instant bottles are available ? If not, we will pack disposable pre-sterilised bottles to decant the little milk cartons into. Dd is five months old so we don't want to risk not sterilising but equally want to avoid the faff of sterilising whilst on holiday (thanks again Aquilla... Your coffee machine experience sounds like hard work so appreciate the warning:-)...)

[butterfliesinmytummy]

You can (or at least you could years ago) get travel sterilizing kits, plastic bags with strings that you hang on a wardrobe door handle or hook, fill with tap or bottled water and drop in the provided sterilizing tablet. It's cold water sterilizing on the go, they come in packs of ten. We did this in Dubai actually when dd1 was tiny.

[Isthiscorrect]

Ds is 18 now so a long way past this, but many of my friends here in Dubai have babies ;-) I know for sure all main supermarkets sell pampers nappies and wipes and other makes, couldn't say for sure as I have no need to look but it's all western brands. Spinneys are everywhere, also we have Carrefor and Geant, French supermarkets. Indeed we actually have a Waitrose. Where will you be staying? Really unless you are going super super local (unlikely but not unheard of) then the shopping malls and shops are just like the UK. It's expat lite here, M&S, Debenhams, Boots, Next. Zara, Laura Ashley. Honestly any hotel will supply a kettle and quite likely a steriliser.

[Kelly1814]

Hi squadge, sorry for the delay in response! You may be able to get the disposable bottles here, but they are not in standard places, so I wouldn't rely on them. Yes we have lots of shops here and you can get many things, BUT they can be hugely expensive. And Dubai is notorious for things being here one minute and gone the next.
Also, do you really want to spend your Holiday schlepping round the (enormous) malls trying to find what you need?
One tip I have hear do of is people pre ordering formula to boots at an airport duty free, then picking it up before they get in huge plane. Loads cheaper than Buying it in Dubai, less hassle...might be one to think about?

[Squadge]

Thanks so much for the great advice! I'm resigned to the fact that instant bottles might not be possible (kelly1814 - you are so right that hunting high and low in the shops will not be fun). An order collected airside from Boots sounds less hassle and then use the sterilizing travel bags (butterfliesinmytummy - good to know these worked for you as I have a box which I bought after a power cut before Xmas as a "just in case" measure but have never had to use and so was unsure if they were practical). Nappy-wise it sounds like it will be no problem to travel light and buy once we arrive in Dubai (thanks isthiscorrect). I REALLY appreciate all of your help - the thought of bottles are no longer stressing me:-)