Holiday with newborn

[Sprat12]

We are going on holiday to Portugal in a month with our newborn DS. He will be just over 2 months old. I think I am about there with essentials to pack, but can anyone advise on what I may have forgotten?

Aside from the standard clothes, sun hats, nappies, bottles, formula (which is being ordered and collected at the airport once we are through security), I've also got sterilising bags, sun cream (though won't be in the sun much with such a wee one). I've ordered a lightweight apron for the carry cot, a parasol for the pram. Calpol, gripe water, saline nasal spray.

Will we need a bug net for the evenings?

What the bloody hell do you do about swimsuits for little ones, are there waterproof nappies? (Can you tell I'm a FTM?!)

Anything else I need to panic order?

On answer to your question about swim nappies, they don't hold liquid just poo o would have a swimsuit for baby that covers a lot of them to protect from the sun.

Also would have light easy to change/ comfy clothes such as rompers easy to pack and comfy for the warm weather.

We always found a sling handy for juggling things at the airport and if DC gets niggly on the plane.

You need something like this for swimming and swim nappies www.marksandspencer.com/sea-life-all-in-one-swimsuit-and-hat-set-0-3-yrs-/p/clp60523884?color=BLUEMIX

A fan to attach to the pram can come in handy - you can get ones with foam blades so no risk of baby hurting fingers! We had one a bit like this: www.oliversbabycare.co.uk/product/dreambaby-portable-stroller-fan-black/?gclid=CjwKCAjw7vuUBhBUEiwAEdu2pCvFkPOqpZmcr1K3IsRkLRz2XP40bb1OOu-TTcW0O5MGB3yWdaSEKRoCg-0QAvD_BwE

We also used one of these (not essential but did come in handy!): www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/koodi-sun-and-sleep-travel-cot-with-black-out-blinds-b7214.html

A passport? Some friends of ours didn't think about- turned up at the airport in a sleep deprived state and realised that they didn't have one for their baby yet!!

formula (which is being ordered and collected at the airport once we are through security)

do they deliver to airport?

Yes we've got passport sorted - well it's in progress, we have a fast track appointment for next week ☺️

Re: formula, there is a boots in the airport so you can pre order the ready made bottles and the boxes of formula to pick up once you are through security which is handy as that way I can feed on the plane and not worry about the excess weight in my suitcase.

Thanks on the swimsuit link, looks great I'll definitely get that or similar ordered

We always had a black cool net for the pram which was excellent.

great idea about the formula and bottles.

Airports are just horrible so bring enough milk for the security queue which could last a couple of hours. Cloth sling for the queue.

Small coolbag for water/formula. Sunshade/sunblock cream. Light sheet to cover pushchair.

I'm in same boat, so wondering OP how are you taking the carry cot on the plane?

Second the recommendation of all-in-one swimsuits. I'm also a big fan of short 'rompers' like these for hot weather and small babies: www.laredoute.co.uk/ppdp/prod-350203226.aspx?dim1=1&dim2=1&cod=Google-PPC-Shopping-10312116623-104202847658&gclid=CjwKCAjw7vuUBhBUEiwAEdu2pMZAEA0s1zqVnQzr6AoZk08SRH4MQAiGxDonjJgA4fu2DnP0MGQyoRoClLAQAvD_BwE

Easy to take on and off and are nice and cool. I think I mostly packed those for sun holidays when ours were tiny.

As it's part of the pram I had just assumed that it goes in the hold with the rest of the pram. A friend of ours is a pilot and he advised that we will wheel the pram up to the steps, take baby out and then the pram goes into the hold last after all of the bags. Baby just stays in your arms / sling while on the plane

It depends who you fly with and from where. Bear in mind it is nit always returned as soon as you disembark but in the baggage hall, which can be a walk.

We are flying Ryanair, and friend is a Ryanair pilot so fingers crossed we should be ok.

Valid point about length of time to return though, will definitely take the sling with that in mind

Brave! I just wouldn’t dream of taking such a small baby. The six week colic stage tends to kick in for a lot of them and doesn’t pass for a while! Sunblock is not recommended for babies so you will need a full UV shade. Parasol probably won’t cut it

If you can - go on local Facebook group (or buy new) a simple stroller that lays flat. It's going to be so much easier than a carry cut pram (and less costly if it gets bashed about in the gold which is fairly inevitable)

Also baby needs first lot of jabs at 8 weeks old. They can be poorly after those as they’re given 8 different immunisations at once. I wouldn’t delay them and take a tiny baby that hasn’t been immunised on a plane or abroad.

Thanks for replying OP. Yeah I was planning on doing what others have said and taking the collapsible stroller instead of the carry cot as it seemed a lot of faff.

With regards to immunisations, my baby slept lots on the first day of immunisations and then was a bit groggy the next day but nothing horrendous. They are allowed calpol for them.

We took DD to Portugal at 4 months. My tip would be to get a direct transfer to your hotel. DD screamed for the whole 1 hour journey so the idea of being on a coach with her around the various hotels doesn't bear thinking about. I also got a 2nd hand umbrella style buggy so if it got kicked by airport staff, it wasn't the end of the world. The holiday worked really well for us. We went in October though, so watch out for hotter temperatures in July. Oh, and the staff in thehotel were really against us taking baby in the pool, even the indoor one, and tried to put us off taking her in with the rest of the family. They thought she was too young to be in the pool.

Jabs are booked before we go so no concerns there.

We have an apartment with a pool so no concern on hotel rules, and we are also hiring a car straight from the airport so if he does scream it will be just DH and I that it will affect.

Good call on the extra stroller though, I'll have a look into it

I took DD at this age and she was great. She wasn’t in the pool though. I think even though it will be hot there the pool water might not be warm enough for such a small baby…

I brought the car seat onto the plane and there was an empty seat beside me. I had to hold her for taheoff/landing but the rest of the time I had her in the car seat (attached with the plane seatbelt)

Definitely get a bug net, I would invest in a sunblocking mesh cover for the pram. Easier for baby to nap etc and you’re not stressing about the sun

it’s been mentioned above but suncream is not recommended under 6 months. You need to keep baby out of the sun

if you don’t already have one I’d recommend one of those toys that clips onto the pram with things hanging off it - kinda like a portable baby-gym

We took a 9 week old to Greece. Easiest age ever! You can get little mozzie repellent natural patches which stick to their clothes.
we took a lay flat pushchair with a uv sunshade and a sheepskin liner. We also had a usb rechargeable fan for him.
huggies do packs of disposable swim nappies but too be honest he hated the pool it was way too cold for him.
Take a sling if you have one for the airport as it can be a bit of a wait till you get your buggy back. Most airlines let you take two pieces of equipment free of charge like a car seat and buggy.

Have a lovely time :)

For those who took car seats, are you allowed to take them on the plane as cabin luggage? I've read on EasyJet's page that car seats are only for toddlers on planes who have their own seat but can be taken as luggage, I'm assuming it would have to go in the hold though? I'd be worried about the car seat getting bashed about in the hold.