What would you pack for 6 months away with a 6 month baby?

[islandbaby]

My 6-month-old DS and I are off to live on a pretty remote island in the pacific in a couple of months, and will be there for 6 months. The weather will range from being warm during the day and cool at night (first three months) to hot during the day and warm at night (last three months), with tropical rainstorms whenever the hell they feel like it.

There's a limited availability of baby stuff to buy for extortionate amounts of money there, so I'm trying to plan what to pack for the whole 6 to 12 month age period. Clothes are pretty simple to organise, but I'm not really that confident in what to expect a baby to need for that whole period in terms of developmental stuff, so am looking for some help.

What toys could I take that will keep his interest at that age? What crucial items did your child need at that age? I'm going to give baby-led weaning a go, as that will be easier on all of us over there.

Any help appreciated!

A nanny and regular deliveries of wine.
Sorry mine are too old for me to remember, but I wanted to be sarcastic wish you well

What an interesting challenge!

I'd say in terms of toys you need one or two plastic activity toys that play annoying tunes, some plastic stacking cups that might double as sand toys, and a couple of cuddly animals. Depending on how much space you're going to have, maybe some mega blocks or stickle bricks. Household objects and things from nature are always very popular toys.

If baby stuff is expensive have you thought if buying some reusable nappies to tAke? May work out cheaper and will dry quick in that heat

Fantastic, wish it was me! Can only give you advice from being a mum who travels all the time with wee one plus camping often wild camp. DS just turned one so I would say the survival stuff for 6-12 for me would be:

warmth...invest in some merino clothing either leggings or long t-shirt - cool and breathable in heat, toasty warm at night. none of my family leave home without it on any trip where weather changeable.
a cup with handles either with lid or without even my BF baby loved to learn to copy drinking and learning to pour through this stage.
as alarkaspree perhaps stacking cups as great for water play and 'knock down'...stacking maybe later!
my most valuable 'never went anywhere' without it item was a small wicker box in which I popped some v. small natural and interesting material objects, leather, metal, wood, fabric...the magic box was slightly changed each day with adding new simple everyday objects...spoon, tea strainer, keys, metal rings, ribbon, wooden thread spools, pine cones, fake fur and sparkly fabric squares... anything safe to chew, touch, bang or poke! Honestly better than any 'toy' bought and a magnet to all other children, amused him in countless travelling/waiting situations from trains to doc surgeries.
favourite small cuddly toys and a pure wool open weave blanket which can calm and soothe and offer familiarity wherever you are...no matter how manky or worn it gets!
my DS was completely baby led fed starting with play eating at 6months to full on using a fork aged 1 year eating all veg (garlic, herbs, onion inc), pasta, rice, pulses, meats, fish etc etc (he is 10.5 months corrected) so I would recommend it totally...messy, fun and slow! Take a good BLW book for yourself and perhaps just avoid any uncooked foods at start (we have been dangerously ill this way on a trip) if the climate and washing facilities for veg/salad not ideal. But I reckon see what the locals feed their kids...that should be indicator (bummer if its cow n gate cr*p cos of imported ideas from some daft western HV/midwife!!)
Books!!!...take 2-3 small hard page classics... my wee one has been read to/reading pictures since leaving hospital and the page turning, routine at bed really good (we dont have TV so books are big for us). Our classic favs have been Hungry Caterpillar of course, the touchy feely books, and the baby see range with sliding inserts or flaps. He now goes toget his own books off the shelf and turns the pages/flaps of these well worn, sticky, torn, scuffed favs!!
oh god teething and illness... in case expensive or cant find and NHS 24 is a distant memory... my saviours...a proper ear thermometer (braun thermoscan is a neat battery operated godsend to keep you from panicking) good teething ring, calpol sachets (several boxes) and a baby designed liquid gum anesthetic called ambesol. My neighbour gave it to me...god send doesnt come close! ...some arnica cream for when they start cruising and therefore bruising! Sun protection necessary? maybe buy and pack an all in one UV suit in a couple of sizes and sun hats with ties under chin if you're going to be living an outdoor type life with a (fair skinned?) baby.

As for you...6-12 months stage...a camera or a diary! they change so much and great fun if more tiring than ickle baby sleeping/eating.

What a great experience...feel free to keep a blog for us stuck in UK dreaming of other places mums! Good luck!

Oooh... now there's an idea - a blog would be great! I would definitely be interested in reading it.

Bibs
Sunblock
Couple of bath toys
Lightweight sleeping bags
Cot sheets
Toothbrush and baby toothpaste
Some little shoes that don't need proper fitting for when baby starts to walk - e.g. crocs
Lots of books
Blocks / stacking cups / rings
CDs of fun nursery rhymes etc to sing along with
Maraccas / xylophone / tambourine
Good luck!

They don't need many toys at this age so that's in your favour! They will play with whatever is around.

I would take however...
some baby books- "that's not my..." and similar
stacking cups
a nursery rhyme book (for you really to read to him)
drugs (!) do they sell calpol and nurofen over there?, oh yes, a thermometer too!
sudacrem for nappy rash
really good baby carrier- baby bjorn and then rucksack/similar for when he's bigger
some soft baby shoes- the leather soft ones for if he starts walking and wants to outside/on rough surfaces

Enjoy!!

God, thanks for this. I needed a place to start thinking at, as it's quite a big job getting my head around packing for 6 months!

I hadn't even thought about shoes.

There's loads here for me to get cracking with, starting with a medical kit I think.

I probably will write a blog, as I lived on the island (Easter Island) for a while before and found it a good way to keep people up to date. It's a strange little place, and there is always something out of the ordinary going on.

Thanks again!

I would choose a ring sling rather than a rucksack type, personally. I think they're more versatile and they pack down to practically nothing.

I'd take something musical (tambourine and drumstick to bash with or xylophone), stacking cups, a couple of cuddly toys (WASHABLE!!!), a little car or other vehicle (pref wooden/plastic as sea and sand may not agree with metal ones), a soft ball, a rattle, some kind of teething ring (DD liked the gel ones) and plenty of books. I think at that age, they will happily play with a pan and a spoon or any old plastic bottle so you don't need to worry too much about toys - medical stuff and practicalities are probably more important. Actually, the bottle reminds me that DD at that sort of age loved a small plastic bottle, half-filled with water with a drop of food colouring and some washing up liquid. She found shaking it endlessly fascinating. It was one of those little ones from a travel kit. When it got a bit manky I just washed and refilled it. Glitter might be nice in there too.

I travelled for a month with my 4 month old round Europe.

I found things that had multiple functions great.

The best was my iPhone! You can get some great apps/songs/audiobooks/iBooks for kids. And mumsnet for you!!!

Have fun!

Marking place as I have a tropical baby (but Indian ocean rather than pacific) - will share my thoughts when the boob vampire is satiated.

I would say that you don't need half of what you think you will, and, although I haven't lived on a island paradise, I have lived in pretty basic conditions abroad with 2 small kids and 'western' society leads you to think you need this this and this but in fact, kids will make a toy out of anything in nature and if you have a beach near by then you will have the perfect playground, every day will be a little bit different, as nature and the sea changes it, shells and sandcastles ( you don't need an actual bucket, old food containers are perfect and free), small stones in old plastic containers with lid on securely, drift wood, and of course all the rubbish that is washed up on the beach. My son is an adept beach comber now!!! sunscreen is probably an essential, although I'm sure you will get it there, but as you say it will be expensive. A good hat, although at that age, def one with chin strap to keep it on, my two both ripped them off ceaselessly at this age. Books are heavy, I wouldn't bother, if you will have internet access there then print off stuff to look at off internet, or take on memory stick and print there, or just tell stories draw in the sand, take maybe a pack of coloured thick pencils and do your own. we just left Portugal and drove to Germany, for an indeterminate length of time, and whilst everything is available here, we have no money to spend, we came in a small car, 2 adults, 2 kids and a dog, so it was literally what we could fit in, DD was 7 months when we left and we really didn't bring much for her, just clothes, we probably needed more as the weather is slightly worse here than you will be having!! People have kids there, do as they do.......