Caribbean holiday with 3month old!!

[Newmum0113]

Please advise on your experiences with long haul flights and hot weather holidays!! [Smile]

Also, have I forgotten anything obvious??? Or gone overboard??

Baba sling
Bassinet
Spare sheets
2 grobags (1.5 and 1.9 tog)
7 sleepsuits
7 short sleeve vests
4 sleeveless vests
4 romper suits
2 day dresses
2 pretty dresses
And matching hats/cardigans/shoes

7 wetsuits with swim hats
1 strappy swimsuit
1 towel babygro thing
1 UV 50+ beach tent/travel cot
1 inflatable float seat

6 muslins
2 bibs
4 x 900g tubs formula
6 bottles and milk powder pots
Milton tub and sterilising tablets
Flask for boiled water
4 dummies and travel steriliser

Calpol
Calprofen
Calcough
Calgel
Saline nasal drops
Antiseptic eye wipes
Vapour plug-in
Thermometer
Nail clippers
Brush
Aveeno bath oil
Shampoo
Baby massage oil
Sponge
Towel

150-ish nappies
224 baby wipes
10 disposable change mats (re-use unless soiled!)
24 Huggies swim nappies
Nappy sacks
Sudocrem

I think that is everything!?!? I'm lost! This is taking up my entire 20kg allowance and I'm making do with using her 10kg allowance!

TIA

How long are you going for?

That's a lot of stuff.

Car seat?

Where are you going? As likely you can buy nappies there, most islands have huggies and pampers, branded swim nappies, and wipes too, the huggies unscented ones. You'd just need to make one trip to a supermarket, and travel only with supplies for a day or two. Also just bring one travel changing mat. Don't think you need grobags; a sheet will be fine unless you plan on sleeping with ac full blast. For clothes, some shorts perhaps?
You cam pack calpol in your hand luggage if you get the 100mil bottled. Don't forget 50spf sunblock

1. I would leave most disposable change mat and use the hotel towel Even if not soiled, you'll get sand, cream, ... on it. So take a couple and leave the rest at home.
2. if your baby is only 3 month old , I am not sure you'll get a lot of use of the inflatable float seat. She can't sit yet, maybe try it first in the bath at home 3)any medecine for diarrhea? During our first long haul holiday with DS1 he was terribly ill with diarrhea, and it wasn't from the food or the drinks which was extremely careful about, but from the water in the bath I gave him in the evening. There are some baby formula such as Similac. Ask your GP.
3. be careful with the sun-cream. On such a young baby it may give a rash. And maybe there is no need for the massage oil. That could be too many products (even natural)
4. keep the opened baby formula in the fridge. I had to throw away more than a kg, because it was full of ants (and we where in a 5*+). If you put it in the fridge, they can't get there
5. why do you bring sheets and towel? The maid will give you plenty if asked
6. medical insurance? I strongly recommend it

Enjoy your holiday!

Could you take cartons of formula instead of powder? We ordered ours from boots and picked up airside so we didn't have the hassle of security and as it was in hand luggage we knew it would arrive. I wouldn't bother with grobags as it will be too hot.

Good advice gordonpym, I agree leave the float behind. And it's worth taking your baby to a natural foods place and trying a couple of SPF creams on them re the allergies.

Also don't think you need matching cardigans and shoes. One or two long sleeved cotton tops/trousers are useful for evenings to protect against mossis as well as cold. Re insects, your baby is perhaps too young for deet sprays; could get a natural one like incognito, and a net for bassinet/pushchair.

Just remembered that we also took a factor 50 sun shade net to go over the buggy. We used this all the time as ours is a black out shade which we put on during the day when it was nap time.

You will also need a bottle brush and washing up liquid. To sterilise we bought sterilizing bags from boots. These has the tablets inside and all you needed to do was fill them up to the line with water. The beauty of these was you could hang them on a door handle out of the way.

Sandyposy is absolutely right about a mosquito net! I don't recall many mosquitoes, but of course there are some, so you'll need one.
My kids are bigger now, but I've always had a lovely time in the caribbean when they were little.
And I second the matching cardigan. Ditch one and take a lovely dress and matching sandals for yourself!

Mosquito patches/plug in?
Are you not taking a pushchair? I imagine a baby may sleep lots in the heat, and it would be nice to put her down somewhere safe by the pool so you can go for a swim/read in peace etc?
A good strong factor 50 (or whatever it's called) sun umbrella? (Same for a pushchair, factor 50 hood?)

As others have said, I think it may be too hot for gro bags.
7 wetsuits? Bit much maybe? Also wouldn't bother with a swimsuit, much easier to protect against sunburn with the wetsuits.

Watching thread with interest. Taking 7 month old to Florida in two weeks [cant flipping wait face]

Seven wetsuits! What are they for?

And btw, don't feel embarrassed about the extra "fluff"
I've packed loads of hats, sunglasses and pretty dresses. I'm thinking I won't have a chance to have lovely pics of her first holiday ever again so why not?
wether she will keep any if them on is another matter
she also has her own allowance with Virgin ,,,praise The Lord!!

Passport for the baby?

Shoes?
Strappy swimsuit? Are they for you?
that is an awful lot of clothes/stuff. My 3 kids don't use the 20kg allowance BETWEEN them! I think we are just more seasoned travellers though.

Seven wetsuits? I took DS to caribbean at 7 months. Think he had 2 wetsuits for a fortnight. they dry in 20 seconds.

You wont use a strappy swimsuit, she'll get sunburnt

Dont take shoes. It will be hot. DS didn't have anything on his feet the whole fortnight.

Dont take changing mats. use a towel.

We used a 1 tog grobag. even with aircon it's warm at night. wont be below 20 deg in the room i'm sure

Just take one grobag. If she soils it just rinse in sink, hang outside/out window/balcony, it will be dry within the hour.

nail clippers? just cut them before you go.

Bassinet? Does hotel not provide a cot?

Most islands will sell nappies and wipes and formula.

Instead of all those swim nappies taking up room, buy one reusable swim nappy. They dry in seconds and are really good. Buy two if you really want. that'll be much less bulky and heavy than huggies disposable swim nappies.

And a spare memory card for your camera, because you'll do zillions of pictures! You'll have a great time!

Hi all thanks for replies

Her bassinet is her bed, it's what she's used to, and it has a built in f50 sun shade and comes with a mosquito net.
Car seat is coming with us right up to the plane on the buggy, so isn't included as luggage.

Yes have f50 sun cream already, just forgot it on the list

She has a massage with the oil every night as part of her routine

She has 2 reusable swim nappies (splash about) but she poos a lot!

I've tried buying dioralyte sachets at the chemist but won't sell them to me for her. I have GP appt tomorrow to get sth as a precaution.

We always have aircon on all day and night so thought better to take grobags and not use it, rather than wish I had taken them?!

Spare sheets are for the bassinet and towel for the baby as she poos a lot and I dont want to be charged for her pooing on their towels!

7 wetsuits was the cut down version! It was to have enough for wet/dry/covered in poo or sick/have one spare. Plus they're all so cute!

I'd actually removed the strappy swimsuit just after posting for that very reason!

gordon that's great advice about the tub in the fridge! Thanks! She can sit up unaided for quite some time! She's also able to pull herself to her feet sometimes, and loves to stand - she does it flat footed as well, no tippy-toes!

Passport and medical insurance are DHs responsibility so all sorted!

Bottlebrush & liquid! Great I missed that, thanks!

I've been told nappies etc very expensive out there!

Also heard someone has ordered their stuff to be delivered to boots the other side of the gate but wasn't sure it would work?!?

fizzy I'm a seasoned traveller, just new to travelling with a baby!!

And her nails need cutting every two-three days!!!

Thanks again everyone. Let me know if you think of anything else!!! X

I second your choice to bring the nappies you need. Yes there are certainly shops there, but they may be not so near. If you are in a resort, you may be quite far from big shops, and the tiny ones for the locals may not have what you're used to. They mainly sell drinks, biscuits, rice and some fruit and veg. . And it really depends which island you're going to. What you find in Curaçao or Guadeloupe is one thing, Dominican republic, Jamaica, Isla Margherita another.

I assume this is not an Easy Jet flight with just a walk on bag! What a massive planning exercise. I think this is why we went to France in the car. I am not into that much preparation. Have a great time though.

Me again. Just pondering what Baby George's packing list will look like for Australia in the Spring!

Your list looks fine OP. You are taking a pushchair, arent you? Your DD will fall asleep often in that heat, & it will be no fun carrying her around either. Take as many nappies as you can, nappies are expensive in the Caribbean and you probably wont want to keep going to supermarket to get them either. Mosquito net & SPF 50 absolutely essential. Maybe less clothes..clothes dry in minutes out there, not like here. Id still be taking the pretty outfits for holiday pics tho

insect repellent with DEET - you are going to a dengue zone.

she mustn't ever be in direct sunlight, although obviously you need the coverups and sunscreen as well.

"She can sit up unaided for quite some time! She's also able to pull herself to her feet sometimes, and loves to stand - she does it flat footed as well, no tippy-toes!"

At three months!!!