Baby's first holiday

[daiseyduck]

My little girl will be 7 and a half months when we go on holiday very soon. 4 and a half hour flight to Turkey.

What are some things that I need that will make life easier?

Private jet and a nanny.

Snacks.

We used to swear by "non-non-drowsy" medicine when flying with our DC as babies, but that was a long time ago and fortunately these days drugging your kids has rather gone out of fashion.

What do you normally do to make life easier? Do that. Honestly it’s not an age I would worry about too
much.

Not sure if you mean the flight or the holiday but if you can fly business, do that. My son was overwhelmed by the airport and having a quiet lounge to go to was a lifesaver whilst we waited for our flight (not sure the busier priority pass would cut it, we used Cathay as was flying BA but the BA lounge tends to be busy too). That said he was older and more aware and more mobile (21mo, I was also pregnant). It also meant priority checkin (eg any time not just 2/3 hours before the flight, priority security, priority boarding, extra checked luggage (we needed to take a travel cot as the place we were staying didn’t have one), extra hand luggage (we could take a pushchair on the plane and even though it was slightly over dimensions it was allowed on), variety of food in the lounge DS could pick at and the staff treated him like a prince, food on the flight, a bit more space on the plane (we flew BA short haul so had the middle seat without paying for it). Just made it a bit easier with less waiting about. DS slept one way and played with the seat buckle the other so don’t bring loads of toys. Something to suck for take off and landing (breast, bottle, sucky pouch depending on your situation).

For when you get there, again don’t worry about toys, baby is young and the experience will be exciting enough. Where will she sleep? Do you need a car seat? Otherwise it’s just the same but in another country. But nappies there as they take up space.

For the flight, some calpol (sachets) for her ears and if she uses a dummy/bottle or breastfeeding be prepared to need to do those things to help her swallow and sort out her ear pressure if she gets unsettled during take off and landing.

Decent high factor suncream. Ultrasun factor 50 is amazing.

A good sun parasol tor the pushchair....maybe even a lightweight folding pushchair that isn't your best one to take on the plane.

One of those clip on portable fans for the pushchair.

Swim nappies - double up, you need disposable for the base layer and then a neoprene one for over the top. Plus a decent coverage swim/sunshine. A variety of sunhats.

If you've begun weaning I would consider lots of pouches, I've not been to Turkey so no idea whether you can buy decent baby food there but have heard horror stories of food poisoning and gastro bugs so would stick to pouches for a 7mo.

Feed as you set off, if she's a reliable napper try and time it so she'll nap after feeding too
Take a new toy she's not seen before. Our little one was 5 months when we flew but we took a crinkley book, some plastic baby keys/teether and another rattling baby toy thing, that kept her entertained the whole holiday.
Hold them up so they can see other passengers and smile at them.
Book an aisle seat so you have more room to stretch if they fall asleep on you.
If they're eating food spread the snacks out over the flight
Good luck! And remember everyone on that flight is probably thinking what a great job you're doing and remembering taking their own children away at that age

Definitely bottle/dummy ready for takeoff! And maybe a cartoon or movie downloaded to iPad/phone for the journey, even better if you can time it for when she normally naps. The little sterilising tablets for bottles for when you get there, a lightweight pushchair for getting around in, and maybe some little snacks to keep her occupied and some teething, fidget toys for her to play with in the airport or on the place. If it’s any help, we did our first holiday with our son abroad when he was 7 months old and it was an absolute breeze, had one of the nicest and easiest holidays ever! Oh and don’t forget things like suncream, bonjela, swim nappies etc. Have a lovely time 😊

Our little boy was a similar age when we first took him abroad and we had such a wonderful time, I think it’s a lovely age for a first holiday! Just trying to think back to what helped for us:

Bottle/dummy for taking off and landing to prevent their ears popping and plenty of snacks/pouches etc plus an iPad maybe with pre downloaded films or something to watch on the plane.
Any baby swim gear including swim nappies etc as they’re quite expensive
Enough nappies to get you by until you’re able to buy them there
If your baby is weaned, suction bowls/plates (we found this a lifesaver, we were all inc and sat our boy in the high chair at mealtimes with a selection of different things on his little plate stuck to the tray!)
Parasol pushchair attachment for when they’re in the pushchair to keep them shaded
Clothing wise I would go for little romper suits, I took a shit load of clothes for our boy but it was just too hot!

Have a wonderful time!