Cruising with a 6month old

[billystrikes2]

Hi everyone. Looking for tips for cruising with a 6m old. Departing Southampton and going with p&o. He's also got an allergy to cows milk and possibly egg too.
Need advice on;
Wether to use their travel cot or take my own?
Wether to take bottled water (for bottles) with us or buy on board.
What baby gear is a must have?
And any other tips you can give! Xx

Anyone out there?

Use their travel cot, but maybe take your own thin travel mattress and sheet (take a standard cot fitted sheet and a travel cot size fitted sheet if you have one as they just use loose sheets and have different types of cot).

Speak to them on arrival and they should help you with allergy advice. I would take a few bits of your own food to give them for times when you just want to go in the buffet (I wouldn’t feed an allergy child from the buffet, there is so much cross contamination and everything is covered in butter!). Also handy to be able to feed them when you are in port too. You can take your own margarine/yogurts and keep them in the fridge in your room, or pick them up easily from port (fine if you are ol with soya as they seem to be the most common in shops in Europe, although Carre Four have a good selection of DF foods).

There are often water machines on board you can use (which I would use when boiled) but if you use bottled water make sure the sodium content isn’t too high. Many European brands have a little symbol of a baby or a bottle of its ok to use for babies.

I used to sterilise bottles in a lunchbox using boots tablets and took one of those thick drying pads you can get from B&M for £1 for the bottles to dry on.

I’m sure there are other tips, but I can’t think off the top of my head. Any questions let me know though, I Cruise with an allergic baby and it’s not always easy!

I don’t think you can cruise with a child under 6 months, so make sure he’s already turned 6 months at that point.

Take a small baby bath or inflatable boat thing to bath him in, as you’ll likely only have a shower.

I admire you! & [wine}
You are one brave person, let us know how you get on.

Bring items suitable for swimming in an outdoor pool if you're intending to use it. There was young baby on our cruise who was having a fab time up there. You should be greeted by your cabin steward shortly after you arrive so it's worth letting them know about allergies. Could you call or email p&o to check what water they have available on board and if it's suitable for babies? We got through far more than we anticipated due to the heat and busy days.

Top Tip - Don’t bother with a baby bath: just put two flannels over the shower plug hole.

Check the status of swimming as most lines don’t let any babies in nappies (even swim nappies) use the pools (even the children’s pools often ban non-toilet aged children as it’s not usually chlorinated water). Some do provide small pools specifically for babies, or have splash parks.

P.s. having done land based holidays and cruises with a baby I think a cruise is by far the easiest options. Some ships even have baby toys and things you can hire (buggies, sterilers, bottle warmers etc)