First time abroad with baby - advice/tips please!

[yorkshiregirlie97]

Hello!

We are heading to Cyprus in June & Tenerife in August, I am racking my brain daily about what to take for our little boy to help keep him shaded etc! He will be almost 1 when we go to Cyprus.

I was hoping for some advice as it's our first time taking him somewhere so warm.

I know the basics such as suncreams, hats, sun protective swimsuits etc. I've bought a large muslin blanket/thin blanket for out & about on a night time.

What did you all dress your little ones in for bedtime? I'm conscious that it will be warm so obviously don't want him overheating but at the same time concerned about possible mosquito bites! Although we have been to Cyprus previously & didn't get bitten but just incase..

I'm basically just wanting any advice at all about being abroad with a little one as it's my first time & hoping people on here will know tips I maybe haven't thought of 😅 so any advice at all welcome - thank you!!!

Best advice.
Don't overthink it - enjoy it :)

We brought a Babyzen yoyo stroller with an umbrella and baby sling for the airport. And a bottle of baby paracetamol.

Unless you bought a mosquito net I don't think there is much you can do about mozzies unfortunately. I've been away a few times with my two and they've never been bitten if that puts your kind at rest at all? Mosquitos LOVE me though so I'm their mozzie repellent 🤣

I have a 10 month old and a 2.5 year old and these are things I found helpful when going on holiday with them:

Buggy- umbrella / quick closing one (not one that comes in 2 pieces)
Carseat if you are doing lots of driving. If its a coach transfer to hotel i honestly wouldn't bother.

More hats then you need (they always get lost!)
More dummies then you need
Clip on fan for buggie
More forumla (if FF) then you need
Swimming nappies, they tend to be soooo expensive there!

Basically, bring lots of everything! 🤣

We've recently come home from Tenerife and one thing I found really useful was having lots of towels for after swimming. It was about 23/24 when we went and windy, so not warm enough for them not to feel the cold. I also brought a fleecy lined swimsuit for my little one because the water was FREEZING. You probably wont have this problem as you are going during peak summer but it's something to bear in mind.

With regards to what they slept in, I think it depends on the average temp and how effective the aircon is. Just dress them how they would sleep in the UK and bring a sleeping bag / blanket. If its very hot they can sleep in a nappy! It will probably be shorts and tshirt pjamas unless over 21 at night in which case probably just a nappy.

For the plane - lots of little new toys to keep them busy.

Like Mumchp suggested- bring calpol/neurofen and maybe a first aid kit?

Oh!! And passports!!! A friend of mine didn't think and had to cancel her holiday because she didn't realise/notice her bub didn't have a passport 🤭

Have a great time! I'm very jealous

Things I use for my 4 and 2 year old (and travelled with them a few times yearly since eldest was 12 months)

• pram fan (one with spindle legs to wrap round - Amazon)
• pop up beach tent - even for round the pool/on the terrace/balcony. Get one from Amazon but make sure you check for uv protection.
• depending on age, travel booster seat like this https://amzn.eu/d/hATWXl3 it has a pocket you can store cups/bibs/cutlery
• disposable bibs
• some uk snacks you know they like; organic bars, raisins, Pom bears etc for the plane/restaurants whilst you’re waiting to eat
• if they’re little like 6m+ take a range of cups - open cup, tomee tipee, camel bak - my little one went on a water strike one year and only drank from one cup
• these!!!!!! https://amzn.eu/d/ba0NlyU I know it sounds mental but trust me!!! Hours of fun for everyone
• Readable sticker books
• glow sticks or light up wand things for any late nights - save you money from the looky looky men haha.
• also I highly highly recommend dock and bay towels!

*re usable not readable

The snuz shade for the pram we only discovered with our second baby but it was a game changer! Sooo good for nights too when you could go for dinner and he could go to bed as normal in the pram and because it was dark inside he wouldn’t wake up til he was lifted into bed (a younger baby than yours though)! We went first time round with my son at a similar age and he was up enjoying the night time entertainment most nights 😂 I was very paranoid about the sun. I found weirdly that sooo many of the ‘sun safe’ swim suits didn’t actually cover their full legs and arms. I just hunted and hunted until I found a full length one on next and used that. It made me feel a bit less paranoid when he was in the water.

We bought a little boat from the shop there and he sat between our sun loungers in the shade a lot of the time playing with toys in that. A little car and he was happy! Child’s farm sun tan lotion is really good for babies. I had the rocket to shake the pram for him to sleep and didn’t like it much at home but actually found it really good for daytime naps. That and a little clip on fan that we ended up buying there. Sorry, all very random but just all the things I can remember!