Packing for long stay with 8 month old

[Remy87]

Hi everyone! We are planning a 6 week trip abroad with baby who will be 8-9 months when we’re there and rapidly realising I don’t know what we’ll need and how they’ll change while we’re there! Any tips on what we should pack / other advice? We are driving so do have room to play with and are staying in one spot. I’m thinking things like travel high chair… some sort of play mat…swim stuff etc. Any advice gratefully received!

The Ikea high chair has removable thin metal legs and a solid seat with tray and might be better than a travel one. Pretty cheap and loads for sale secondhand on marketplace etc.

Where are you going? Personally I'd just buy stuff when I get there. Presumably there's shops there.

Definitely recommend the Mamas and Papas baby bug floor seat or similar. I have used it at home and in a campervan as a play table and to eat from. You can strap it to any chair so much better than taking a full high chair. Plus the insert comes out so I still use it at home for my 2 year old.

Depends on where you're going.

Can you buy things like swim nappies there? Maybe pack one or two reusable ones and take a couple of packs of disposable ones.

Have a good first aid kit with you - digital thermometer, calpol/neurofen, some rehydration sachets, bite cream. Bath thermometer. Obviously have travel insurance for the whole family.

Clothes, very much weaather dependent - will it be warm days, but cold evenings? Or if youre off to Scandinavia then pack for freezing temperatures.

Don’t overpack toys, just a small play mat or blanket plus a few familiar rattles/teethers is enough. At that age, they’re often more interested in whatever random household object is lying around anyway

To follow up my original comment of buying when you get there - I would take medications you regularly use (ie Calpol) from home but Google what the local equivalent brand name is so it's easier to get more if needed. The same for formula milk if you need it and nappies.
Take a couple of packs of nappies but Google brands available there so you can probably get ones that you know work for your baby.
Has your baby slept in a travel cot before? Maybe get one of those in advance so baby can have a few practice nights in there and not be totally freaked out by it on the first night and take that.
But basically just take familiar things like a favourite blanket and a few toys but unless you are going to somewhere remote just buy when you get there.

Swim nappies can be difficult to get hold of.
Your own brand of formula if relevant
Baby will be partially weaned. I'd also suggest the Ikea chair as it's super easy to clean and stow away and has straps for safety. If you are traveling around you just don't know what sort of kitchen chairs you might be trying to attach a travel seat to. You'll need plastic spoons and bowls etc
Baby weaning ideas - handy to have some suggestions as if you are travelling around batch cooking and freezing portions isn't going to be easy. Equally if you are somewhere hot, your go to spaghetti Bol may not be appetising.
First aid stuff, extra large picnic blanket, babies start to crawl and are woeful for putting sand in their mouths
Very high factor sun cream; sun hat, sun shade for a pram. Babies under 1 should not tan. Sun goggles possibly if somewhere with a lot of glare like snow.

Going somewhere cold, different set of stuff like snowsuits hat etc.

Oh wow, six weeks with a little one sounds like such an adventure! Honestly, I’d say don’t stress too much, babies need way less stuff than we think. Travel high chair and a simple fold up play mat are clutch. Toss in a few favorite toys, swim gear, and maybe a lightweight stroller for quick trips. You’ll figure the rest out on the fly. And hey, if you forget something, chances are you can snag it there. You got this mama, it’s gonna be a trip to remember!

@bobturner the OP said they're staying in one place so I expect it's more visiting family than having a 6 week "adventure' 😂

Teething gel

are you flying or driving? Don’t stress it, you can buy anything you need there presumably unless going somewhere very remote?

Sounds like an amazing trip! We did something similar with our little one around that age and a few things were super helpful. A travel high chair that straps to any regular chair was a lifesaver. We also brought a foldable play mat for clean play space and blackout covers to help with naps. If you’ll be around water, swim diapers a sun hat and a rash guard are key. We also packed a baby carrier a few small toys and a basic first aid kit just in case. Since you're driving you’ve got room to bring what helps with routines. Also if you ever need reliable transport for part of the trip we used seattleblacklimo.com and had a smooth experience. Hope you have the best time

Thank you all this is so helpful ! And good to know that others have done it! I am starting to get nervous about the drive…! We’re going to be in Italy so yes I assume some things can be bought out there / we can amazon prime if needed! @AnotherJaffaCakePleasewe have one of those bug seats how do you strap it??? Ours is v old model so maybe doesn’t but possible I am thick 😂

@Remy87 I'm sure Italy will have an equivalent of Argos, John Lewis or a giant Tesco 🙂

First - check what your accomodation can offer. Ask if they can provide things like cot, high chair, playpen etc.

We had a travel seat which you could put on a normal chair, worked really well. No grandparents had the space for a spare high chari so it travelled with us for around 2 years.

I assume you have a washing machine, so take a normal amount of clothes and maybe get some stuff if she outgrows them.
Unless you are in the absolute middle of nowhere with no car, you will be able to buy everything like nappies, toileteries, food etc. Bring some toys and maybe budget to get some if you think you need more varietly.
Have some basic first aid like you would have at home and health insurance.

The one thing I was cautious about was safety, we stayed at a cottage when DD was 8/9 months and I was glad that it had proper stairgates, no fancy cluttering itemes everywhere, the owner really was good in providing a baby proof house.
DD was mobile already so we had to make sure she couldn't hurt herself.

When we did a long trip with our little one, I felt like I was lugging half the house 😂.
The best tip I got was to think in terms of a ‘survival kit’ — just the bare essentials that save you in a meltdown moment (spare sleepsuit, wipes, travel cutlery, tiny first aid bits). There are even fun online checklists and giveaways floating around (like a ‘Survival Kit’ one) that helped me cut down what to pack.