Some tips here on taking a baby on holiday

[Willsmum79]

Before going on holiday, I was anxious about what to do, take out, cope with a 7-month-old. Now I'm back and 'been there, done that' sort of thing, I thought it would be helpful to offer some friendly advice on taking a baby on holiday. Obviously everyone has there own way with things and what works for one, won't for another and of course it all depends on where you are going. But my experience is based upon going to a European destination (Madeira to be precise!)

1. Allow for two bottles (I used cartons) during the flight (mine was 4 hours). Babies get thirsty too!

1. If in doubt, you can pre-order milk at the airport (Boots and Superdrug offer this service). You get it airside of security.

1. If going for 2 weeks, order two tubs. My LO ended up having an extra bottle a day and two tubs AND cartons just saw us to the last morning!!!

1. Take cartons in your hold luggage too. I allowed for 1 a day and made sure I had 2 cartons for the travel home on the flight. When in your destination and you've unpacked, I put these back in the hand luggage so I didn't accidentally use them.

1. European culture on weaning is different than in the UK. If traditionally spoon feeding, Madeira (not sure of others) did not have baby food except fruit puree as such in supermarkets. So take a hand blender and some food containers for their dinner etc or take jars/pouches with you. Luckily my LO does a mixture of spoon feeding (lunch) and 'BLW' (tea) so we went 100% down the 'BLW' route and it worked out fine. In fact, we're doing more of it at home now!

1. It's hot!!!! My LO wore just vests during the day but as time went on, he was better off in just a nappy. We took 12 vests and 5 outfits for him and it all fitted in our hand luggage. He wore only 3 outfits if out in the evening.

1. At night, my LO wore just a nappy and a 1.0 tog sleep bag. It was enough!!!

1. Take factor 50. I am aware that a lot of people and research says it is no better than 30 but it gave me extra piece of mind. He still tanned in it (on arms and legs in buggy) but it was very gradual! I also had a pocket sized one for when out and about.

1. If LO takes off his/her hat, spray their heads when in the pool. It worked a treat for my LO (and would HIGHLY recommend Soltan dry invisible spray!!!)

10. Use a sheepskin liner thingy-bob (lol) in their buggy. It apparently keeps them cool when hot, warm when cold. My buggy is black and that and the material made my LO clammy and hot. if not, a white cotton pillow case can work just as well.

11. Nappies!! I took a few out for 2/3 days and bought out there. Luckily Madeira's supermarkets (Pingo Doce) do their own make which are just as good as Pampers. 88 nappies were about 13 euros. I took swim nappies with me but they were on the shelves in the shop. I took huggies and boots own. preferred boots own. They had a tighter seal round my skinny little monster and were stronger (it took a lot to rip the sides). If I am honest, because he was in pool a max of 20 mins, we reused swim nappies later on if I was confident he hadn't weed in it!

12. Wipes I bought out there.

13. Take calpol, nurofen, teething products and don't forget dummies if you use them and bibs!

Can't think of anything else! If I do, I will add.

Please, please, if anyone has any other tips - different or extra - please share. There could be something that I could learn as next year LO will be 19-months-old and a WHOLE different ball game!!

11. Take plenty muslins! Work for sweaty heads too!

Thanks Willsmum, watching this thread as off to France next week with our 4 month old .

Curious to know if I will be able to breastfeed her during take off/landing given they have to face away from you...

Did you take a buggy? And did you check it in or take it to the gate?

Thanks Willsmum, there is such alot to think about when going abroad with baby for the first time and I think you have covered most things here. This will be helpful to me when I go to Turkey :@)

We took 8mo DS Spain-UK-Spain last month, shorter flight but same rigmarole, managed to get by on just hand luggage too

I'd also include:

12: take a favourite toy/nu-nu on the flight as something familiar - although DS is a curious bean and was busy playing with the belt buckles and trying to open the tray table a lot. It also helped him fall asleep in a different house (actually 3 houses in 4 days! we have a lot of family!!).

13: Not sure why Madeira's shops didn't have any puree other than fruit...? But on a tangent, take along a familiar bowl/cup/spoon for feeding (if not BLW).

14: take a pack of disposable bibs, much easier than washing cotton ones or rinsing plastic ones.

Hope that helps, too.

Katie I flew with DS at 4 months old and fed during takeoff and landing no problem.

Going away next week with 7 month old so I am glad of these tips thank you!

If you're still sterilising I have found the microwave steriliser bags brilliant, providing obviously you have a microwave.

katiegolightly I have found that the cabin staff are very sympathetic about breastfeeding on take off, they tended to turn a blind eye to the facing forward rule. I haven't done it but have travelled with women who have.

And I held on to my buggy until the last minute, I never checked it in.

I have travelled on holiday with all my children of varying ages from about 4 months.

For sterilising I took Milton tablets. Washed bottles and things in the sink at night and then used the sink for sterilisation.

As for the buggy, I took it straight through to the gate and as our flight was gate - bus - plane steps, we were able to take it to the steps and in Madeira collect it at the steps too. but on return to Leeds/Bradford, we had to carry LO all the way to the carosel (sp?) and it was one of the last things to be put on (poor service there!)

We panicked thinking a two part buggy wouldn't be allowed but it is - just make sure you get a tag for each part (chassis and seat). The car seat was tagged and put through at oversized luggage desk. It was so, so very easy.
We did see one family use the sling once through security. If I was to do it again, I would take both as you don't know when you'll get the buggy at the other end.

Oh and yes to the facing forward rule being turned a blind eye. They know babies can be screamers and prefer they were settled if that means feeding. I gave LO a bottle on landing into Leeds/Bradford.

Do you know if the turning a blind eye rule applies to toddlers too? My DD is 17mo, and we'll be going on a 12 hour flight next week. I'm getting a bit scared at the moment. I've been given advice to bf on take off and landing. As that'll help them with the air pressure changes. I'm not worried what people think even though I don't bf out of home anymore. I'd rather have a settled toddler. Just hope the flight attendents will be reasonable with it!

Oh that's assuming she'll feed ofc. She might just decide it's the best time to have a tantrum.

Sling very handy for the airport. Extra sun shade for the buggy (not a parasol, they are pointless).