First holiday abroad with a toddler

[JustMe9]

Hi all,

I need some advise of you wise people what should we take on holiday, what things to consider/ to remmeber befire going on first holiday abroad with a 2.5 year old boy! He is very active very energetic and we are going to spain all inclusive holiday for 7 days. Do we take a pushchair? Do we take any medicines just in case...? Anyone could share their wisdom as to what we might need Id be very grateful xxx

Take one of those lightweight foldable pushchairs. They will sell all meds out there but if there’s something he needs in particular bring it obviously. Hat if he’ll wear one. If still in nappies my recollection is they only seem to be sold in bumper packs (like 48, not pack of 12), but that may have changed.
Other than that you can get anything out there that you may need/have forgotten.

Yes to pushchair!

I take all suncream and medicines. They're much more expensive in Europe and it means you have them to hand.

Spare set of clothes in hand luggage.

If you can get a hand held fan with a water spray, it really helps cool them down.

I definitely second taking a pushchair (if he still naps make sure it lies down) ensure it has sunshade cover, they have them that cover the majority of the opening of the pram.

A sun hat which has a long bit at the neck part, to keep the sun off him. A good uv protected swim suit and swim nappies,

I took/take calpol, periton, and the calpol ibuprofen, just because I know he is fine with these.

Other than that you really can get everything you need out there, I wouldn't go mad on nappies if he's still in them (line to bottom of the case and then one layer on top of your clothes before you close the case)

Some stickers, colouring book and snacks in hand luggage for the plane....and enjoy !!!!!

Sachets of medicine (bring down temp, diarrhoea, rehydration, plasters etc.)
Suncream 50* & after sun
Water bottles
Fan
Light weight foldable pushchair (light cloth/netting to cover whilst napping)
Sun glasses
Sun hat
Cooling forehead strips
Sucking sweet for landing/takeoff
Dry crackers for emergency stacks
Stinky blanket or favourite teddy (unwashed - smells like home)
Wrap up a few known toys to unwrap on the plane (colouring book - crayola do a magic pen book that does mark sufaces)

Thank you all - really helpful xx

Bucket and spade?

Oh and water wings/rubber ring

Yeah bucket will take up too much space so we will have to buy something when we are over there lol

Water wings - defintely!!! on my list :)

Definitely 3 UV swim suits with hats. DD is in the morning until night. Make sure suncream brand has been tried at home first.
Snacks for the plane! Especially for take off and landing.
We take buggy and buggy bag. Preorder nappies for collection from boots airside and just before handing it over at the plane chuck the nappies in the bag with the buggy so you don’t have to carry them on the plane.
Calpol/nurofen sachet for the plane.

I'd take a light weight buggy, we bought a cheap 2nd hand one for DDs first abroad holiday at about the same age as I didn't mind if it got lost/damaged.

Nappies, swim nappies, sun protection and any comforter he has. We spend most of our holidays in the pool so decent UV swimsuit, hat and factor 50, waterproof sun cream are a must.

Also, take plenty to entertain him on the plane. Snacks, toys, colouring, tablet and headphones- whatever he likes and something to suck for ear popping. Its a long time confined when they're little but we've never had trouble with DD as long as she had plenty to keep her attention.

I recommend a thermometer, Calpol and Calprofen too. We ran round the Isle of Wight like loons a couple of years ago as DS2 was clearly running a temperature and finding an open pharmacy with a sick toddler on a Sunday is it something I never wish to repeat.

Yeah - this would be my worst nightmare - to go on a holiday (which we saved for a long time) and have to deal with a sick toddler :( Fingers crossed it wont happen x

Try to get Aldi sun cream. It's got a 5 uv rating whereas Nivea etc, which is 3 times the price, only has a 3

If you are buying medication make sure to double check the dosage. Sometimes it can be different to home so you may need a lesser amount particularly paracetamol products.

I dont think we are going to do a lot of walking with the pushchair anyway :) I just want one so he could have his naps in a pushchair during the day

Our hotel had a toy swap box full of buckets/spades/inflatables so wouldn't necessarily worry about buying those.

Do a nappy change as close to boarding as possible, having to do a toddler nappy change in plane toilets isn't fun. It wasn't fun with a baby either but at least they fit on the changing table!

I second buying a cheap buggy for the holiday, although we took our normal one this year and it was fine but I'm not precious about it getting damaged.

Dark blanket or groblind if your child wakes with the sun and your room doesn't have blackout curtains

We continued to take light weight fold up push chair on holiday for DS til he was around 5 - so useful if you want to walk further than they can manage, they can take naps at any time, including if you go out in the evening .

DS was just turned 2 when we first flew with him and I was quite concerned as to the noise the plane makes when it takes off as he used to get upset at loud noises - but it was fine - he was so amazed we were up in the air. Flight to Spain isn't that long so you should be OK - just take plenty of activities and they'll probably sleep part of time anyway.

There is a Richard Scary book about going on a plane ride, good to look at before you go.

Dress in comfy clothes for the plane and take a spare top for you and full change for him

Run him like a maniac before you get on the plane, find an empty ish gate and literally run to the pillar and bunny hop back, run to the window and star jump back. You want him nicely exhausted before you board.

Take a sippy cup with a valve for take off and landing. The valve will stop spilling, but having to suck hard will equalise his ear pressure. Also take a lollipop in case the drink isnt wanted.

Consider reins if he is a bolter

Soft sand shoes are useful as the paving around the pools can get really hot and they can be worn into the pool

Find out if the resort provide beach towels

Find out if you can launder clothes at the resort, and if you can take a little baggie of washing powder

Take lots of snacks

Dont forget the lovie/blankie and a spare

Oh and little ones can get scared at take off and landing, so treat it like a fun playground ride.

Now we are getting ready for the zoom, are you ready dc, here we go, are we zooming yet, we are up in the sky, look at how fast we are zooming...hold on tight

And on landing
Ready for the big bump... is it yet...is it yet...bump...here we are... hold on tight

Then you can also talk about how he has a special strap (seatbelt) and he gets one just like the grownups because he is a big boy and can be trusted to not open it unless Mummy says so.