Turkey with a 7mo. What do I need to take?

[junglebums]

We're taking our 7mo DD on holiday for the first time in two weeks. It's also my first beach holiday!

I'm completely confused about what to take and was wondering if anyone had any tips on what to take? I'm still breastfeeding and giving one FF a day. DD has 3 solid meals now but is a picky eater with a small appetite who refuses to drink water or juice.

I'm starting to panic!

If you're in a touristy area they have pretty much everything you need. Jars of food are available but a bit pricey. If he's 7 mths, presumably you no longer use a steriliser. If you want to sterilise stuff, you can take a jug and some sterilising tablets and do it the old fashioned way. How about a travel kettle? If you're in a hotel, the staff will fall over themselves to help with the baby. Turks WORSHIP children! Your child will be adored! I like those long sleeved, long legged sunsuits which have the added advantage of rinsing out and drying quickly so that you use fewer clothes over your trip.

Hi -we went last year with a 5 month old - and agree Turks LOVE children - it was really nice - although baby was grabbed off me -in a nice way - a couple of times which was a bit alarming!
Turkey in got a lot going for it in general -where are you going?
you can buy sterlising bags from mothercare - which have the tablets in them - bit pricey but easy to us
nappies -if you are ok with other brands the turkish ones were fine and not too pricey
I guess for one formula feed a day you could take a box of formula powder
if you do any finger food - resturants will do you things and turkish food very suitable eg hummas, pitta type bread that kind of thing - you could take some of those pouches as they would be lighter than jars
Only thing we found is that neither the apartment or villa we stayed in had baths - and getting a baby bath was quite a performance - so consider getting your baby used to showers maybe
2nd a long sleeved sunsuit
I would look at a sun tent - it was great for my baby to have naps in - on the beach - have to say my baby preffered the swimming pool rather than the sea which he found a bit alarming
oh and I did a bit of breastfeeding in public and no one batted an eye

Thanks, some really helpful suggestions. Time for some shopping I think!

You can only get certain brands of formula in Turkey, Aptamil is one but I can't recall any others, so you may want to take some with you. Buy your nappies and wipes there, Pampers are Prima out there but I used Molfix, Can Baby and Evy Baby and they were all very good. Take some nappy sacks though as they don't have them.

You may want to try an get your baby to drink some water as it will be very hot, if she will then make usre it is bottled water as tap water has a high mineral content that may upset her tummy.

I used to breastfeed my baby everywhere, on the beach, in restaurants, on the bus etc. and no-one ever took notice.

If you do want a baby bath you can uy them in the big supermarkets or you can get a big washing up bowl and use that instead, otherwise you can use the sink if you are in an apartment or villa but take a plug sa they often don't have one.

A UV suit is a great idea and make sure you take plenty of high factor baby sun cream. Get a sun canopy for your buggy and use a sarong over it held in place with a couple of clothes pegs to keep the sun off your baby if it gets too hot.

As the others have said Turks love babies so your DD will get spolied out there.

I lived in Turkey when my DD was a baby an we always go back as we love it so much there. Have a great time. Where are you going?

We're going to Fethiye. We're staying in a resort so hopefully the shops there will have a good range of baby supplies.

We're planning on giving bottled water to drink but will boiled tap water be ok to make up bottles with if necessary? I mainly breastfeed but do give a bottle at night sometimes.

Don't use boiled tap water for bottles, just boil the bottled water. The tap water has a lot of minerals in which could upset you baby's tummy.

Baby-friendly mosquito repellant, and maybe a net to go over her travel cot.
Not sure what the temperatures will be like, but be prepared to go out earlyish in the morning, spend the middle of the day in the cool shade or back indoors and then out again in the evening. Cafes tend to have lots of shade.
We always took DS out asleep in his buggy while we ate out.

Boil table water for bottles.