That travelling with a formula fed baby is really hard?

[Bells3032]

Unless you go self catering somewhere in the UK.

Travelling with all the formula, bottles and something to sterilise the bottles with. Someway to heat and store water. Let's not include the buggy, the cot and all the extra stuff needed for baby. And a room big enough to accommodate everything.

We thought about going on a cruise out of Southampton so we could go somewhere warmer and have access to baby clubs etc without the stress of flying. But they all have showers and not baths unless you book the most expensive cabins which are a fortune.

Just don't know where we can go that's suitable and doesn't cost the earth

We did several French caravan site holidays. Great pool areas for kids. Chuck your stuff in the car and go. The caravans usually had a shower with a sunken floor and plug so you could use it like a baby bath. Travel cot and high chair were provided. I took pushchair, bedding, steriliser , bottles, powdered formula, nappies and some ready made formula for travelling.
Biggest issue was the toddler & young child trips when we stayed in Disney Paris hotels / and disicovered that the French have UHT milk- big problem. So the next time we took frozen single pints of British milk and they defrosted slowly enough that we managed for about 4 days using a cool bag in the bathroom and chilling opened bottles in cold water in the sink.

www.amazon.co.uk/Cow-Gate-First-Infant-Newborn/dp/B016IOST2M/ref=sr_1_8?crid=21AVGYDEGRK38&keywords=ready+baby+bottles+milk&sprefix=ready+baby+bottles+milk%2Caps%2C46&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1643063541&sr=8-8 These are 200ml OP.

I understand OP, it's really overwhelming. I understand why you are struggling as , the bottles linked don't come with teats etc but you could either sterilise a few bottles to put in hand luggage or get the disposable ones. You are looking at going probably when they are taking the most milk which makes it trickier. Definitely look at ordering the milk to the airport if you fly. Cold water sterilising is easy, as are the microwave bags if you have access to a microwave. I waited until baby was closer to a year so only having 3 milk feeds a day, but it was still a lot of milk so I took powder and made sure we had a kettle, I used bottled water but checked the mineral content as some are not suitable. Because she was older I was able to judge when she would have a feed more easily which made planning ahead easier. I took ready made on the flight though.

Took baby to North Africa when he was 4 months old.

Travelled with aptamil 1 litre formula bottles and lots of the small cartons

Makeshift cold sterilising with a tupperware on top of a muslin in case of spillage that fitted 2 bottles with mini milton tabs

Baby wouldn't sleep in travel cot at apartment so I fashioned together a bed made of the baby gym mat we took for him to stretch out on (attached) with a pram mosquito net over it in a very lightweight sleeping bag. He was cool and safe from bites and as we slept on mats on the floor he could see me so was fine.

I did take the travel kettle and a flask to keep heated water for bottle when out and about. I would ask for a cappuccino cup in cafes as it was the perfect size but I also had a plastic soup beaker from poundland that did the trick too and didn't take up too much room as the bottle fitted inside

Used a Paddling pool for a bath and he was too small for a highchair anyway so the buggy came everywhere

We took the DCs on lots of cruises as a baby. Just used the shower, never worried about there not being a bath. Cruises are the best holidays ever, we used the nursery etc and the kids always loved it. We're still going on cruises and the kids are teenagers now. We didn't bother sterilising after 6 months but we went to Disneyland Paris when DS2 was 5 months and we just used Milton tablets and bathed him in the sink

It’s not a barrel of laughs, but it’s perfectly doable - we’ve done it loads including several trips to Australia.

• for the flights, order ready-mixed formula bottles from the chemists past security at the terminal (or depending on the flights you might be able to take the unopened bottles through security)
• sterilise your bottles before you leave home and cap them and they’re good for a while, so take the empty bottles in your bag
• Take a cold-water steriliser for the holiday
• Also take 2 empty thermos flasks
• pack powder formula and a compartment dispenser pot
• when you’re at the hotel set up the steriliser, and boil some water and let it cool, and chill it in 1 thermos for out-and-about
• then when you’re out on hols you can either take hot water in the other thermos, or get some in a cafe, and make up your bottles with the hot-shot method.

BATHS: We’ve used sinks in the past, or held the babies in the shower (being careful as they’re slippery when wet!)

BUGGY: get a compact stroller - something like the baby zen can be taken on the plane so is very handy for the airport

ON THE PLANE: If the baby is little wear a carrier and then if you nod off they can sleep on you.

Like I said I’ve done it lots of times from when the babies were 3 months old - don’t feel you have to compromise your travel plans. You could also consider Eurotunnel if you don’t want to fly. It’s all doable! And however bad it might feel on a flight, it WILL all be over. Our flights to Australia were obviously really long and took organisation but it’s just one day and then it’s over. Then you can settle yourself into your holiday accommodation.

I took my own microwave steriliser if there was a microwave
Or used the cold water steriliser tablets (Milton) that came in a sort of travel plastic bags.

Hotels will have kettles. But also ready made is great for the plane part.

A basin/sink is fine as a baby bath when they’re little
Or we used a plastic box when camping!

Not one bit helpful but this is a big reason why I breastfeed ! (I don't mean this as a dig btw fed is best etc) I had to pump milk for my daughter to be tube fed while we were in nicu and at home for a while , we had pre sterilized bottles and teets packaged ready to use , we also had to use small amounts of fortified special formula to add to breast milk from the hospital that came in little bottles and I'm sure I've seen bottle of normal formula like this in boots too , for my pump parts we sterilized them in Milton you can use any tub with a lid so I'm sure that would be be easier to travel with .. But honestly I don't know how people mess around with sterisers and bottles at night , it was a nightmare , you all must be super women honestly !

Not difficult at all. Order milk to collect at gate from boots, bring sterilising tablets brush etc job done. Much easier than bringing a toddler!!

@fromthebirdsnest erm thanks but unfortunately my milk never came in properly. I tried hard and pumped every three hours and fed for weeks and she kept losing weight and I got a few ml per day from pumping. Thanks for making a point about that. Believe me life would be easier breastfeeding than making up bottles in the middle of the night

Aptamil sells pre-measured formula tablets in Boots. I think 1 tab = 1 ounce (but check this!) A few packs of those, a couple of bottles and a small travel kettle and you're sorted. For sterilising we used the cold water tablets and just bought a plastic tub in the nearest cheapo shop when we got there. No idea what we did for a bath, probably just a 'man wash' with a flannel at the sink as the chlorine in the swimming pool keeps them disinfected anyway 😜

A cruise wouldn't be my first thought as a baby friendly holiday

Milton tablets definitely- buy the Milton tub and a load of the tablets and the baby bottles which can be sterilised just in the microwave

Why do you need to heat and store water?

Bottles: look at the sterilizing bags you use in a microwave to sterilize bottles, ideal for holidays where you have access to a microwave. For the airport and flight, I took bottles with boiled water in and added formula when needed. DC took it at ambient temp as there was so much going on to watch!
Getting around: we bought a small inexpensive, very lightweight buggy when we got to holiday destination, and used a babybjorn carrier for the rest. Some locations, UK included, have baby kit hiring services where you can have everything delivered and picked back up at the end of the holiday. Pricey but saves hauling stuff.

@Bells3032 kind of off topic, have you got a perfect prep machine for night time feeds? Well any feeds really, it's awesome. Obviously not for travelling but a real help at home.

Ignore the random ever so helpful breastfeed your baby comment

@waffle we are planning to get one but can't use powder til she's 8 weeks old apparently due to her being a premie. Think that's why it feels so overwhelming to be planning out so much formula etc

Ah, I didnt have a premature baby so hadn't realised that. I did plan on breastfeeding though and it didn't work at all. I gave myself so much grief and guilt about the bottle feeding, I regret being so hard on myself. Go easy on yourself, once you get the prep and get into a routine with formula it's easy. And someone else can feed at night to let you sleep!

Mam bottles sterilise in about 3 minutes in the microwave. They also have a box to put a dummy in which sterilises quickly as well.

Def try to get on a holiday before you have a toddler... that's when the real fun begins

Can I say really kindly - park worrying about this just now. Everything is overwhelming at this point and it seems like going ot the supermarket will be as challenging as climbing Everest.

For sterilising either micro bags or a bag and Milton tablets covers that. Then premade formula, or the sachets/tablets of formula that you add water to and access to a kettle.