All-Inclusive Holiday with 6 month old baby?

[Sparkles23]

We are hoping to book a last minute holiday to the Canaries in the next couple of weeks with our 6 month old baby, we will be booking all inclusive as we are on a tight budget (as I'm on mat leave).

We have never been on an all inclusive before and I'm just wondering if it's a good idea with a young baby. He is weaning at the moment and a very good eater, I know it may vary from hotel to hotel but in general/ your experience do all-inc hotels provide baby food? We will be going a minimum of 4 star but as we've never done all inclusive I'm not quite sure how it all works! I will of course bring some with me but was just wondering if anyone else has been in same situation at an all-inclusive hotel and what did you do and if you have any advice?

I do normally make up his purees and am v fussy about what he eats so I was thinking another option would be to get one of those manual things (not sure what they're called!) for mushing/pureeing food, do you think this would be ok and has anyone done this?

Also I will also have to make up his feeds but we will make sure we get a hotel with kettle/fridge. Would tap water boiled be ok for this (as I'm aware mineral water isn't suitable)?

Also finally (sorry!) with regards to taking a baby on a plane, do they generally allow you to bring cartons of formula and baby food on-board? If not I would just buy some in Boots once we've gone through security but would be taking a risk in case they run out of his brand (I know it's not the end of the world if I have to give him another brand but would obv prefer not to!).

Sorry I've waffled on a bit but any advice would be fab, thanks for reading!!

Hi Sparkles, firstly they won't let you take more than 100ml of milk through security and you have to sample it in front of them (yuk) if its in a bottle. Boots sell the cartons on the other side so you will be ok. A lot of hotels are really good with babies as regarding warming milk etc but you might find food a little limited, although there are always yoghurts, pastas, fruits etc on all incs.We always take a mini kettle unless we know for sure there is one as it can be a pain going down to restaurant all the time. Take sterilizing tablets(boots) just to make sure as your little one is so young. The best thing we ever took on holiday was an inflatable bath, this also doubled up as a paddling pool as our little one actually caught e-coli from a toddlers pool, we now only use adult pool as they have more cleansing agents in them-not so good for the skin but better than spending a week in hospital when you get back.All incs normally also have a microwave for you to use in restaurant and the water in the restaurant is safer to drink than the tap water in your room,also bottled water is easy to use.I would recommend that when you are chosing your hotel you check the baby facilities on tripadvisor as you get loads of info on there. Hope I haven't forgotten anything and hope you have a fabulous time. Oooh nearly forgot, if your baby uses a dummy they are brilliant for stopping screaming due to ears during take-off and landing and if not sipping water etc from feeding bottle also keeps the ears popping for baby. Have fun!

I wouldn't worry too much about food at 6 months, they take everything they need from milk at the age.

However cereal/yoghurt/fruit/ steamed veg/ chips/pasta/ bread will all be readily available and ideal for your lo to chomp on... Maybe read up on baby led weaning, as it would be much less hassle

Thanks both so much that's really helpful!

I didn't realise they applied the 100ml limit to milk as well, I'll just buy it on the other side of security, I'm sure there is no way they could possibly run out of all milk in Boots!

I will definitely look up on TripAdvisor first, we are hoping to get somewhere with a fridge/ kettle and it didn't even occur to me I could bring a travel kettle, that's a good idea.

Cheekey that's shocking that your poor lo caught e-coli from the toddler pool, poor thing I hope they made a speedy recovery. Think will avoid the toddler pools.

Definitely going to explore BLW, I'm sort of going to combine the 2, started him off on puree and he's doing well so going to introduce the odd carrot stick etc.. I need to read up I think!

I remember my first holiday away with baby - I packed half of baby food aisle into the suitcase! Then felt a fool on arrival - they do sell baby food abroad! And of course mashing a banana or ripe peach requires no special equipment.

But if you're going at least 4 star, ask if the hotel chefs there can prepare something fresh (and salt free). Try Lykia World - got a creche too if you want any time off...

In terms of taking formula through security, store it as water + pre-measured powder separately, then if you have to taste it, it's less yucky!

Thanks Swiddle! Lykia World looks perfect!! I think that may have to wait 'til I'm back working though, not looked up price but bet it's above our budget boo! Good idea about measuring the powder out, I guess I could ask the cabin crew to fill the bottle with water on board.