Cruising with a 7 month old.

[WhiskersTG]

We’re taking a 2 week cruise with family which was booked before we knew about our baby who will be 7 months when we travel. I’m curious how to make up bottles on the ship - we will boil the water but is the tap water safe to use as NHS guidelines are clear that bottle water shouldn’t be used. I’ve seen that distilled water can be provided - is this safe to use for formula?

I also wondered about sterilising things on the go - what is the best way to cold water sterilise?

Anh other tips, tricks or advice?

Thank you! 😃

I did this 19 years ago. We took our steam steriliser with us and used it. We used the cruise tap water and boiled it. It worked fine and DS was happy. I also took some pre-made formula cartons just in case, they didn’t get used much and I took some home at the end of the cruise. I used them on off-ship excursions.

I would just take ready made formula cartons, would be much easier.

Contact the cruise company they may provide you with steriliser and anything else you may want. We’ve cruised with P&O and they are very good providing for babies.

We had a kettle in our room but it was Cunard, my parents went with a different line and there was no kettle, she's sticking to Cunard now

The water is safe to drink from your room and/or the buffet restaurant(s) and there is a kettle in your room. P&O used to hire bottle warmers and sterilisers for free (pre COVID - not sure post COVID so best to double check and you need to pre-book them before you get onboard). You will need your own bottle brushes etc to clean. Oh and even if your room has a fridge it may not be a cold enough temperature to store bottles once made up - your cabin steward should be able to store them for you as there are fridges for medicine storage in the crew areas.

There is no need to sterile bottles. Hospitals do not. You simply use very hot water and washing up liquid, clean them properly using a bottle brush and let them air dry.

I am a doctor, researched this a few years ago and never sterilised with DS 2. We had zero problems.

Personally I wouldn't bother sterilising at that age, but if you want to you can buy Milton sterilising tablets and soak them in the sink and use either pre-made cartons, or boil the kettle in the room.