ibiza with one year old. all advice needed, please...

[mamaesi]

OK so I am taking my one year old to ibiza for 6 weeks.
I have heard nappies are expensive, but I cant possibly bring enough. Renting baby stuff will also be so expensive considering how long I will be there.

I am thinking of shipping a cot, maybe car seat

No point in shipping. Expensive and takes weeks to get there.

Get quotes for renting stuff and also spend time researching costs of buying - check and see if ebay may be has an Ibiza page?

Check the T&C of your airline but yet, you should be able to take a car seat and buggy with you on the flight although I would also check that your car seat is legal in Ibiza first.

You will check the car seat in and then hand the buggy over at the gate.

No idea on organic milk. Sorry. Are you visiting people you know? Surely they can help in getting stuff for you>

nappies etc are more expensive if using popular brands. When we went to spain when the kids were younger i used their local brands (very cheap) as the kids were in and out of the pool all the time so were hardly on them!.

To be honest it may be cheaper to buy a cheap cot and buggy out there - in Italy i paid 17 euro per night to rent a cot! You can get a cheap one for about £60. You could always use a bed if going on your own?

When we go on holiday we go the car boot and get a cheap buggy for £10 and leave it there when we have finished!

Are you staying with people as they may know how to buy second hand stuff locally before you get there?

As DC is over 1 then you are probably looking at normal milk - i would have thought most countries do their own organic milk ranges but you'd still be okay for milk if not.

No idea on car seat - wouldnt worry about legal side as i don't think their is one! - whenever we go to spain we've never taken one as the only journey has been the bus and noone has one - they are expected to sit on your knee! Check with airline about car seat as i've never seen anyone at airport with one - only prams.

The problem is how do I carry the car seat from the plane while pushing the buggy and getting two suitcases???

I am staying with someone ho has rented a summer place so she knows nothing about the island.

Yes i think i might just buy a cot there but i have no idea how to find a cheap one.

Firstly will you need 2 cases if you are staying with someone? Surely they have a washing machine?

If you are down to one case then get a trolley at the airport and when you get car seat and case at baggage reclaim you can try and shove it either with one hand or put buggy on trolley too and put one year old in a sling and carry.

Why don't you go to the trip advisor forum for Ibiza and ask if anyone knows where to get the bits you need? Usually these forums are very helpful.

I have taken all my dds to Ibiza at some point, heading off next month with a 5,3 year old and 4 month old but only for a holiday. I bring my own formula obviously not an option for you. Nip on to Chat or the expat pages and ask what your particular brand of milk is marketed as in Spain. I always buy my nappies there, just the local brand. There is a chance that whoever your friend is renting from will have a travel cot there. If not get the details of the person/company renting, e-mail them asking for directions, details of the nearest large supermarket, telling them you are looking for a cheap push chair and see if they have any ideas.

If you're staying there for 6 weeks, to be honest I'd just bring the bare minimum re clothes, no huge amounts of toiletries, suncream and buy it when I'm there. Seriously own brands in supermarkets are just as good, same with clothes pick up anything you need for the baby in a big supermarket, and obviously you will have a washing machine. Good luck, enjoy.

you'll probably need to go to a big town to get supplies. We stayed in Portinatx last year was lovely, but the airline lost one of our suitcases and there was nowhere near by to get stuff. Would have had to hire a car.... the only thing you might want to take is swim nappies (rewashable are easiest for that length of time) as i did notice not many europeans seem to use them on the beach (ewww!)

phone airline as i can't see they take a car seat a travel cot plus buggy for free). I would take minimum stuff... also are you paying to take 2 suitcases? as your dc is under 2 you won't be paying for a seat for him therefore he wouldn't have a luggage allowance and yours is only likly to be 20kg max i would think.... just wash stuff out there. Do the people you're staying with have kids too?

I am the only one with a kid staying at the house. I think bringing my car seat will just be too much. Might have to rent one with the car, but its expensive.

The quotes for pushchairs are 20 euro per week at the cheapest point! One person quote me 240euros for the whole 6 weeks! No one seems to know where to get a cheap second hand one there. Will have to buy one here and bring it I guess. Am flying BA and I am allowed 2 bags.

Local brand nappies? I thought nappies were pretty much universal...not sure what you mean by that?

Am also wondering what toys to bring..how to entertain her and keep her safe in a non-toddler proof house with a pool. Any suggestions?

OK flying BA allows you 2 bags but you don't need them. Take one and wash your clothes.

Did you go to the trip advisor website and ask these questions on the ibiza forum?

i second the trip advisor thing it's a great forum.

TBH i think you're amazingly brave going away for 6 weeks on your own somewhere where theres no other children!

Toys wise - i would prob take a few favourites(dolly etc) and try and get all the beachy stuff out there, some books for the plane, then go to a supermarket and get paper and pens and a few cheapy bits....

safety wise - don't take your eyes off her basically... make sure doors to outside are shut at all times if the pool has no fence. Might be hard if you are with other adults without dc who won't be so vigilant.

by local brands i mean the shops own brand like their tesco equivalent etc. They were fine and 1/3 price!