First holiday as a mum HELP

[Hymencowell]

Hi everyone! I am a first time mum and my baby girl 4 months old we go away to Cyprus in July she will be 7 months and I am dreading it!! I don't know what I need to bring!! It feels like I'll have bags and bags of stuff I'm
Panicking about it! Can anyone offer any advice on what essentials I have to take ?! What's it going to be like
on the plane? Will I have to keep her inside in the afternoon because of the heat? Arghhhh help

Yes you will need to keep her inside. Cyprus in July can reach 100 degrees.

Take factor 50 and cover her in in. Hat and those UV suits. A sun deflecting cover for the buggy/push chair.

A butty box and Milton tablets for sterilising.

Can you hire a cot? Do you have access to a washing machine?

Swim nappies.

Plane is fine - it is only 4 hours. Feed on take off and landing or give her a dummy so her ears can pop. Take more nappies and changes of clothes for the plane than you ever think you will need incase of poo or sickness.

Cyprus is very like the UK so don't panic and if you do forget anything you can get it there.

If you feed her formula you can order the cartons to collect airside to feed onboard.

In a way it is easy as she won't be very mobile yet.

Yes, you will have to stay indoors between 11 and 4 or at least in total shade outside the main midday time. Get UV suits for a bit of a splash in the pool and lots of swim nappies. Otherwise loose cotton clothing.

UV 50 suncream, large sunhat and DD loved her babybanz sunglasses. Get a UV sunshade for the buggy/pram.

You may need lots of nappies, we found DD drunk more when it was warm and had lots of explosive nappies due to this. I would take nappy sacks with me, the UK is the only country I find who actually sells them, I never saw them anywhere else.

Some toys to entertain her but please nothing with lights or sounds during the flight. Most likely she may nap off. Her favourite blanket or cuddly toy if she has one.

Shade or cover for buggy, beach umbrella

Will you be able to get a high chair locally? She'll probably be snacking on little bits of bread, fruit, full fat Greek yoghurt will be perfect, steamed veg and you might want to take a few pouches if you are thinking of using purees, otherwise you can probably get what you need in the way of solids there, maybe take a few rice cakes.

Don't forget baby spoons and bibs and of course formula if you are FF.

There's a disposable steriliser tablet kit that comes with a bag to put the bottles etc. in and you can reuse the bag so no need for a big tupperware (that's what we used, or even the kitchen sink!)

If you are BF you won't need to sterilise dummies or water cups at this age though so you'll get away without any sterilising kit.

Umbrella strollers are great, there's a thread about Maclaren and similar recently.

It will be fine. I have travelled with all of my DC from being just weeks old and transatlantic from the age your DD will be. Priority is to be sure the cot will be provided at your accommodation. Take a lightweight pushchair with a decent large UV blocking parasol. Other than plenty of clothes and the usual happy gag stuff, I would take:-

Bottle or sippy cup for water- make sure you choose low mineral content bottled water when you get there. She will need plenty of extra fluids.

Steriliser- you can get travel steriliser bags. Have tablets in and you just fill with water and hang somewhere in the hotel room.

First aid kit- thermometer, Calpol & Ibuprofen sachets,rehydration sachets, plasters etc.

Hypoallergenic factor 50 water resistant sun cream. A UV suit and 'legionnaire' style sun hat with a flap at the back.

Travel wash or some washing powder tablets- you can then hand wash stuff and hang it out to dry.

Pre-packed finger foods- for the journey and handy for when you are out and about.

Feeding spoons-handy and easy to pack for the journey. If you use them, baby foods in Europe and pretty much the same and can be bought from shops and pharmacies.

Really, don't worry. Just be sensible with the heat, fluids and food and it will be fine. You will be able to buy anything you forget or run out of in Cyprus anyway.

My DS was 7 months the first time we flew with him - similar length flight. It was fine. He fed on take off and slept the rest of the journey. He was sick on me on landing so maybe take a change of clothes for you in your hand luggage.
We used to order formula from Boots inside the terminal and pick it up after we'd gone through security. We never bothered with sterilisers on holiday, used to clean bottles really well then boil them in a pan.

She is FF so could I just take enough formula for the flight then buy some when I get there? Can I take the pre made bottles in the airport?

Also- buggy wise do I just buy a cheap fold up stroller?

Check with your aiine about formula. I have taken the boxed cartons and empty sterilised bottles. That wAs fine.

You'll need a good sun shade for your pushchair. A few cotton wide brimmed hats, the ones that tie under the chin are best as then they can't swipe them off!

Loose cotton clothes- so think like a shirt materiAl as it's looser rather than t-shirt material. Loose trousets and long sleeved blouses. Take agew sets and some laundry detergent to hand wash as it will dry in a flash!
You can buy everything there- lots of lovely fresh fruit and veg, nappies. I would take a tin of powder formula in my case. Switching formula cAn upaet tummies.
We have been in hot places with bBies and. Big shady tree is perfect for the hot afternoons.
Have a lovely time!

Get a cheap fold up but that can let baby lie flat!

You can take formula for the flight but you may be asked to open it at security. That's why we used to buy cartons of formula inside the terminal as it's after security.

Which part of Cyprus are you going to? We found a fantastic large supermarket in Paphos that sold all the things we needed, nappies, formula, jars of baby food if you need them etc. The think we did have to buy is an extra sunshade (there was also a Mothercare in Paphos old town, don't know if there still is) as it was a lot hotter than we expected even in May and the parasol didn't cut it. As I am a bit obsessed with clean I always had a pack of milton wipes with me for highchairs.

Fantastic! We are going to papos! Thanks everyone feel so much better x

Hope you have a wonderful time, we've been there 3 times now and love it.

If you need premade cartons, you can buy them airside. You can pre-order them from Boots, for reassurance they haven't sold out or anything