Tips for sun holiday with a toddler

[halfpasteleven]

Off to Spain on Monday. First sun holiday for DD who is 3.
I have sticker books and small toys and snacks for the plane.. just wondering if I'll need anything else? Sweets for take off?
I'll apply suncream with a make up brush..
Any other tips for the holiday itself? It's a typical sun holiday not AI but has restaurants/shops on site. Pools,playground etc
Her older brother (9) will also be with us and DP.
First holiday for us since Covid so very excited!
Also, what's the best way to bring back all the dirty clothes we will have? Do people just wrap them in a black bag then pack it into the suitcases?
Thanks in advance for any help.

Take outfit changes for you bith
take way more snacks than you think you will need
suncrean with a brush? Why?!
dirty washing - the same way as usual?

I pack one case with dirty washing and anything that's still clean in another so it's easier to dump out once home. No black bag.

The make up brush for sun cream is just a daft tik tok thing.

Take at least two uv suits, one to wear and one to dry, hats, high factor everywhere else. If you are on the beach sprays are easier for too ups. Pop up shade tent for £10 from decathlon

Download Bluey or whatever the latest thing is to an s

! To an iPad and bring headphones for the plane.

You can buy anything you forget there, it's Spain. Have a great time!

iPad and headphones.
Just pack dirty stuff in the suitcase no need for bin bags. Everything will need washing anyway

All in one sunsuit saves putting on loads of suncream.
Bring washing powder or a tube of travel wash and wash as you go. Tiny clothes dry fast in the sun.

Yes you can buy anything there but if you don't hire a car resort shops can be very expensive. I always packed plenty of nappies and saved a fortune.

We've just come back from an AI in Greece with our three year old. Sticker books were great - I bought 4 before we went and had one for each plane journey and then brought the other two out at various points in the week. We tended to have a couple of hours downtime in our room after lunch (out of the sun) so that was prime sticker time. But yes, also iPad! I downloaded a lot of episodes of Peppa on Netflix. We also took our own bucket and spade which I was very glad about as the shop in our resort had run out!

Agree with the full length UV swimsuits (with the hats if possible). Some kind of towelling robe is also really useful. We have a shark one from John Lewis that has a zip and a hood so is super quick to put on after a swim.

I also took a tube of washing stuff (can't remember the brand but the stuff you use in a sink). DS is potty trained but not always 100% reliable especially when distracted so I wanted to be able to wash out any soaked underwear and not taken it home like that. We also used it for my and DH's running/exercise gear as we both took turns to to go the gym/go for a run/have a tennis lesson.

We went to Aussie and nz over Christmas with the dc (5 and 3).

we took enough night time pants for dd to last us a week or so then bought them there.

same with toiletries (but we were away for 7 weeks so made sense).

you can buy roll on sunscreen - I just discovered this in boots.

Ipad for the plane (with headphones) plus drawing books - with the twist up crayons to save any No pencil sharpener nightmares.

take your own toothpaste. I bought “different” toothpaste for the dc. Packaging was different but otherwise the same. And they initially refused to use it.

I am so confused - why are you applying sunscreen with a make-up brush?!

Glad it’s not just me who’s confused about the sunscreen with a make up brush.

(Empty) water bottle to drink from on the plane.
Small people, plus slight turbulence and open top cups are not a great combination.

I forgot the most essential item for us. Lots of plastic bags for DS as he often gets travel sick on the plane/in a car.

Plan a siesta for the hottest part of the day after lunch. Swimming, beach or other busy activity in the morning, lunch then nap (even if they don't nap at home it's a good way to avoid the sun). Take audiobooks, iPad and indoor activity and plan to be in the room a couple of hours. Then back to the pool/beach/activities for a few hours. Snack, shower then dinner. We always took little books or toys to the tables so we could relax a little rather than eating and rushing off.

Bedtime out the window, enjoy the cool evening and fingers crossed for a lie in!

Hat at all times, start practising now so they are used to wearing it. Toddler sunglasses are good too - if you're going to the pool or sea the sun reflects and is a lot brighter that way.

Relax and enjoy! :-)

So many great tips- thank you all!

I find it's quicker to put on sun team with an old/cheap make up brush- DD is a wriggler when it comes to putting on suncream so it works well for us. We have the roll on suncreams too but the brush seems to get in to the skin quicker.
I'll definitely get some washing powder too for the sink.

Think I've everything else sorted so!
Thanks to you all again.

Dirty laundry goes in one or two cases- clean clothes and products and anything else goes in the other two suitcases- so when home I open and put away two and leave the other two aside to wash

Ipad with headphones for the plane and stuffed downloaded to Netflix. Empty sippy cup through security refilled in the airport.

Suncream with a brush?! Sounds faffy and unnecessary. Roll ons also take longer than regular lotion too. If you’re struggling with it I’d probably get a rash vest and bikini bottoms if toilet trained, or UV suit if not. So less skin exposed to slather.

We use packing cubes so I’ll designate a particular colour for dirty stuff to try to stay organised.

Genius.

Buy an UV suit - hat, rash vest, capri pants. And then you barely have to do any sunscreen application, make up brush or not.

I'd never take a toddler on a sun holiday without them. So much less stress.

And talc to get sand off.