Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Egypt with 18 week old

122 replies

Margot1029 · 11/01/2023 11:39

Anxiety ridden mum here 😂
Going to Egypt in March when my son is 18weeks old.
I am wondering / panicking about how I wash, sterilise bottles over there. Can I use their tap water to wash the bottles? Can I use their tap water to boil and use to
mix with formula? Been told not to use bottled water?
I’m at a point where I either want to cancel or actually considering buying single use sterile bottles and litre cartons of formula, as just seems easier?
please help!

OP posts:
Choconut · 11/01/2023 18:55

We went to Egypt for 3 days, DH got ill on the plane home, I was ill as soon as we got home, we were so ill for a week that it's completely put me off ever going back. It's the only place in the world that I've been to that I wouldn't go back. I have no idea why you would take a tiny baby there, Jordan, Turkey, Dubai maybe - but Egypt?? what were you thinking??

CorvusPurpureus · 11/01/2023 18:57

I live in Egypt. I'm never ill. Many of my colleagues have babies, lots of them born here 😆. You'll be absolutely fine.

That said, I'd use bottled water to make up formula.

Tap water is actually safe in Cairo (we cook with it, eg rice & pasta, & drink from the taps if say, middle of the night & CBA to go downstairs to the water cooler), but it's more heavily chlorinated than you'll be used to.

Will tend to give an adult the squits if consumed in quantity & you aren't used to it - also it tastes a bit bleach-y.

I wouldn't risk it here in Cairo for a baby or in Sharm for anyone...

Sharm is, erm, not the best place to form an opinion of Egypt. It's tacky, touristy & the locals think/know you're a mug. Far nicer places in Egypt to holiday. Sorry OP.

fairgame84 · 11/01/2023 19:06

Im taking DD to Tunisia when she's 8 months old. I'm taking ready made formula as she will be weaning by then so won't need as much. It's unlikely she will be breastfeeding by then as that would be my preference.
The hotel has a microwave so I'll take my microwave steriliser, otherwise I'd take the medela sterilising bags.

If I wasn't taking ready made then I would use bottled water as per nct. www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/getting-out-about-your-baby/going-holiday/holidays-baby-your-guide
It's not ideal but better than their tap water.

Cellotapedispenser · 11/01/2023 19:14

Sorry to pile in with the negativity but DH went there pre DC. We thought we were being so careful avoiding ice and salads but got the most violet D&V we've both ever had. Had to get a doctor to inject us just so we could function. I've traveled to SE asia, many other countries in Africa and have never experienced anything like it. Plus many men were vile to me. I would be extremely cautious about taking a child under 10 there.

Actually feck it. I would never go there again to be honest. Pyramids and valley of the kings and diving was amazing but we were treated like prey most of the time so no.

Crimsonripple · 11/01/2023 19:15

Why on earth would you take a baby to Sharm? Everyone gets food poisoning! I really find people who do this so fucking clueless!

SummerWillow · 11/01/2023 19:29

I went to Egypt with a large group. I was literally the only person who did not get diarrhoea! I spent several days alone. The only difference appeared to be I was vegetarian although I avoided the salad. In fact I remember eating very little which probably has something to do with it!

Snowinsummer · 11/01/2023 19:29

Don't go to Egypt. A family member works in insurance & it's one of the worst places for D&V

Bijou23 · 11/01/2023 19:30

Margot1029 · 11/01/2023 11:39

Anxiety ridden mum here 😂
Going to Egypt in March when my son is 18weeks old.
I am wondering / panicking about how I wash, sterilise bottles over there. Can I use their tap water to wash the bottles? Can I use their tap water to boil and use to
mix with formula? Been told not to use bottled water?
I’m at a point where I either want to cancel or actually considering buying single use sterile bottles and litre cartons of formula, as just seems easier?
please help!

March is a lot cooler weather wise, not burning hot but still a little heat is bearable. Only use bottled water wherever u go they sell the massive ones what are cheap too! We've been loads of times as long as you are careful with water/food/washing etc u will be fine. Hope you have a nice holiday wish we could go again!

Original poster
Margot1029 · 11/01/2023 19:31

Can I please point out to all the people jumping to conclusions that I’m thick as shit….. this holiday was booked pre pregnancy? I was asking for opinions on what others had done, and am considering cancelling on what people have experienced. Not a lot online hence coming to a forum. Paid in full so didn’t want to cancel but will if needed.

OP posts:
Paq · 11/01/2023 19:42

You'll be fine. You've had good advice on this thread. Bring a good first aid kit just in case and take sensible precautions.

Bionesque · 11/01/2023 20:29

yaflouloci · 11/01/2023 11:50

They have babies in Egypt.

Show quote history

They have babies that have a certain inbred immunity to water-born pathogens. Not a UK baby, who is at significantly increased risk.

EddieHowesBlackandWhiteArmy · 11/01/2023 20:37

We took DS when he was 13 weeks old, we took a travel steriliser and Milton tablets, we used bottled water but the main difference was i breastfed so we only had to sterilise the pump I would use on occasion (fridge in room so was able to store BM for overnight say). Would I do it now? Probably not tbh but I was a lot younger and more carefree. As I’ve got older I see danger round every corner! So in short, it’s doable, we had a lovely holiday, were anal with hand hygiene, alcohol gel etc but none of us got unwell and baby was so portable and slept a lot so lots of chilling out time too.

EddieHowesBlackandWhiteArmy · 11/01/2023 20:39

Should say, we didn’t eat outside of the hotel so limited our exposure to wider Egypt in that respect.

georgiesmash · 11/01/2023 20:47

fairgame84 · 11/01/2023 19:06

Im taking DD to Tunisia when she's 8 months old. I'm taking ready made formula as she will be weaning by then so won't need as much. It's unlikely she will be breastfeeding by then as that would be my preference.
The hotel has a microwave so I'll take my microwave steriliser, otherwise I'd take the medela sterilising bags.

If I wasn't taking ready made then I would use bottled water as per nct. www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/getting-out-about-your-baby/going-holiday/holidays-baby-your-guide
It's not ideal but better than their tap water.

How much formula are you taking? You'll need a lot and it's heavy... my 12 month old still has 5 x 7oz a day despite having three meals

PinkDaffodil2 · 11/01/2023 20:52

If you booked it pre-pregnancy hopefully you’ll be able to claim on your insurance - presuming you took our insurance at the same time or have annual multi trip insurance.
I’d be very anxious about taking a formula fed baby anywhere that the tap water isn’t safe - it would spoil the holiday worrying about making up bottles I think. Even if you were breastfeeding I’d be hesitant - I’ve passed out once while feeding DD when I had norovirus which was a really scary experience. Turns out even if you’re really dehydrated your body keeps prioritising milk!

fairgame84 · 11/01/2023 20:54

georgiesmash · 11/01/2023 20:47

How much formula are you taking? You'll need a lot and it's heavy... my 12 month old still has 5 x 7oz a day despite having three meals

Show quote history

No idea yet. DS was only on 3 bottles a day at that age so I'll see what DD is like. If its too heavy I'll do a mix of bottled water and powder and ready made.
Or I could send some over by courier to PILs house before we go.

Eatentoomanyroses · 11/01/2023 20:56

Lord no. I wouldn’t take an 18 week old on holiday period let alone there.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 11/01/2023 21:02

This thread is scary. I wouldn’t take a baby to sharm.

DH and I went to Sharm. We were careful, no salads or ice. Drank bottled water. We did eat out, but carefully.

I was violently sick on one day, but it was over quickly. DH had the runs as we were leaving for the airport. We both had dodgy tums for about 2-3 weeks after we came home.

But we loved the holiday. We did scuba diving and snorkelling. Beautiful.

Bobbybobbins · 11/01/2023 21:22

I wouldn't take a baby. I went pre kids and had an amazing holiday but had a very upset stomach. IMO it's too risky with a baby.

minopd · 11/01/2023 21:54

I have spent a lot of time in Egypt. I would not take such a young child there for a holiday as a tourist.

Completely different if you were moving there or visit g family.

ravingbathtime · 11/01/2023 21:58

I really don't want to be a downer but I went to Egypt, in a 5* resort. I only had bottled water. I used it for brushing my teeth as well. And I was so so so ill. I was poorly while I was there and had diarrhea for 4 weeks afterwards. Nothing would stop it. I was on Imodium all day. Went to docs and had to give a sample etc. it was awful.
I wouldn't ever go back. I don't know what made us poorly but both DP and I were so poorly.
I'd be reluctant to take a baby.

I feel so bad saying that because you said it's already booked etc

Snugglemonkey · 11/01/2023 22:03

Reading the title, I was preparing to say it would be grand, but with a bottle fed baby I wouldn't. Too many points of vulnerability for me.

StillWantingADog · 11/01/2023 22:09

Honestly I wouldn’t go.
i had an absolutely horrible bug there as did my ex dp. The kind that would make me unable to care for a baby.

Bearonthestair · 11/01/2023 22:11

Not a chance I would bring such a tiny baby to Egypt. Especially formula fed. You can take all the precautions in the world and still fall very ill over there.
Please be aware of how quickly a small baby can dehydrate. It can be fatal. It's not a risk I would take.

TheCraicDealer · 11/01/2023 22:15

I read your thread title and went, “no way” before I even read the other responses. I wouldn’t take a bottlefed baby to that part of the world that young, too much room for error with sterilising EVERYTHING with only bottled water and making up formula. Even when you were bathing them, I’d worry about them licking or swallowing water. I accept that’s probably irrational due to the small amounts involved but I wouldn’t be able to relax.

DH and I went to Sharm about eight years ago and the attitude to hygiene was just not what you’re used to in the UK. We must have been lucky as we were both fine and I didn’t take any of the precautions like avoiding ice, salads and brushing teeth with tap water. But I still wouldn’t risk it with a baby that tiny, sorry OP. Tummy bugs at that age can be really serious and I wouldn’t want to be in that situation so far away from home, not understanding the language etc.

We took bottlefed DD to Florida when she was five months old and had a ball, so please don’t let it put you off travel with a baby generally. They really are very portable, but I would stay within Europe and N America personally.