Holiday abroad - no fridge - what do I do!?

[mollymay]

I've just booked our first holiday abroad to Minorca in October and already I am worrying about how we will get on.. Latest dilemma is that I will not have a fridge in our room and it suddenly occurred to me that I will not be able to keep dd's milk cool. Any clever ideas (apart from taken 21 mini travel cartons with me!)...

How old is DD? How much milk does she have and how often? Does she need formula or cow's milk?

If you use formula you don't need to keep it cool. I make up formula using a container with the exact number of scoops pre-measured into it (from Avent). You fill the bottle with boiled water and then only add the powder when you need it. Hence no problems keeping it cool, and also, as the water is at room temperature, you don't need to warm it either. HTH

Sorry I was a bit vague wasn't I? She'll be 17 months and has 3 bottles of cows milk a day...I was debating taking the ready made formula milk cartons but could take the formula powder I suppose ...Mind you, I'm staying in a hotel so no facilities to boil water....could I use bottled water?

Can you buy the fresh cows milk each day to give her? The hotel might let you keep it in their fridge or you could put it into a vacuum flask while it is still cold.

Won't they have a minibar to keep your milk in? Otherwise I doubt it will go off very quickly. YOu could give her the first bottle from milk in the hotel if they do breakfast - milk will be on the buffet, surely? Just tip it in the bottle! Later on you could order a glass of milk from a cafe or buy it in a shop, and I'm sure the hotel would either serve you some milk from their kitchen or let you keep a bottle/carton or too in the staff fridge. I quite often use tap water for my ds's formula! He's 11months.

RE bottled water, check the mineral content. My HV recommended Evian as being one of the lowest in sodium. You could check Evian's labels for the actual mineral content and find a cheaper local equivalent?

Using long-life cow's milk was suggested on another thread. When we were away (only Lake District but no facilities) we bought the milk as required and then threw the left-overs away. I worked on the principle that a pint of milk is cheaper than a carton of formula. But DS (18 months) will only have milk at bedtime. Might be a bit much for three times a day. You could maybe take a few cartons for the flights etc and then follow some of the other ideas for the rest of the time.

Aloha - you've done this before haven't you! Thanks for the suggestions.. no mini bar (unfortunately) but I might take a few cartons and buy normal milk when I can't pinch it from the hotel restaurant!

I've got a long cylindrical container made by Maws which will keep water hot or cold in a bottle (they claim) for up to 5 hours. under the lid at the top is small seperate tub dispenser into which you can keep the milk powder until you're ready to make up the milk. I found that if I didn't put the small dispenser in I could fit 2 bottles in the container and just measure out powder in 2 other sperate tubs. I got the container from mothercare. Another option is to take a cool box or bag, you tend to find that places like Minorca often sell frozen bottle water which you could use as ice packs which you drink, think you have to be careful with mineral content in bottle water. It might be good idea to take or buy some cling film my ds has a dairy intolerance and it stopped his food and containers getting contaminated with other foods also stopped them from leaking

If you need to boil water, why not invest in a travel kettle - they are an excellent little gadget.

As she is 17 months I am sure you will be able to buy milk wherever you are. In the heat she probably won't want very much milk anyway - juice will be fine and easier to keep. Keep it simple.

I would be surprised if you weren't able to get milk whenever you need it from either the hotel or the restaurants that you go to. Also, as mears says, a few weeks without the 3 daily doses of milk will not harm your dd. You may find that the change in water will constipate her for a few days and you may want to substitute the milk with juice. Also, as bozza said, uht milk doesn't need to be refrigerated until it's opened. Most hot countries have uht milk readily available everywhere. You could get it in single serving containers and pour one into each bottle.

Mollymay, When we were in Minorca a couple of years ago we found Chocolate Milkshakes went down very well. You'll find most restaurants do them and dd will ravish them. Have fun!

Mollymay,

Have always found hotels, especially abroad really accomodating when it comes to litle people.I'm sure they'd keep it in the fridge for you, bit of a pain I know to ask at reception when you need it, but at least it keeps cool and fresh. You buy a small thermos cool bag (will pack flat in your case) and an ice pack/bag and just ask the hotle to freeze these for you then keep the milk in your room in the bag. Have a great holiday.

Hi there

yes we've just come back from holiday and I had the same problem. I make up all my baby's milk with Evian and when we're out and about I take a bottle already filled with the Evian and I use a plastic container which holds the formula - just tip it in when baby's hungry - et voila! I bought a special formula container with special compartments and a "spout" which allows the powder to pour easily- I bought mine from perfectly happy people but the compartments aren't big enough for one 7oz serving - a friend of mine recommends the one made by bebisol - which is a french brand - don't know whether you can buy over here though. Happy holidays

mollymay, I especially agree with Aloha's tips...and would take a few of those ready-prepared formula packs as they're so handy when you're out & about. in France dd even drank UHT - ugghhh - far more available than fresh cows' milk, and she didn't seem to mind.

you're all brilliant...you turn a crisis into a mere inconvenience...no doubt I will have more panics before I go but I know where to come! 21stcenturygirl - where did you go in Minorca? I've heard its very children friendly?

Mollymay, we went to Arenal d'en Castell on the North side. They love kids out there and we found bouncy castles in most bars. Just one word of warning - everything shuts from 1pm to 5pm so not much shopping went on. Where abouts are you going?

21stcenturygirl - we're going to Santo Tomas..one of these familyfriendly thomson hotels....supposed to be really quiet...thanks for the tip re shops...I think we arrive about 11ish so will get what I need before then....

Oh Santo Tomas is lovely - the beaches are definitely a lot nicer on that side of the Island. We went JMC to Minorca but this year went Thomson superfamily to Tenerfie and we couldn't fault Thomson. The reps are excellent and love children. The only problem we found with Thomson is that youngest DD (aged 18 months) didn't like the Creche (even though she loves the Creche at our gym). We have also tried Thomson all-inclusive and the food was excellent.

we don't have a creche at our hotel so it won't be an option for us....grateful for the positive feedback though...

Glad I could help - have a wonderfuld time!!

We went to Menorca acouple of years ago when ds was 10 months. He never really liked milk so just took 8 small cartons of ready made formula for his breakfast, bit dear but v easy.

Menorca was v nice, and v child friendly. DS got whisked off to meet the staff in the kitchen in one restaurant to show off his teeth!!

We were there in may and it got v hot at times so would recommend sun suit or sun tent to get some protection.

Have a good holiday