What to dress a 4 month + baby in, in the Caribbean?

[Miffster]

DH has got job in Caribbean, on small island. Woo hoo! And eek! Will be moving in March 2011 when first baby is 3 months old. Temp will be a constant 28-34, humid in summers, air con in buildings all year round. Sounds marvellous but am thinking will be quite different living there with small baby, compared to honeymooning there!

Am thinking it might be hard to get cotton/summer stuff for babies (and older babies) when I'm still in UK in Jan/Feb/march whereas there is summer stuff for babies about now - some of it on sale! So now is a good time to strike and forward-plan. (The supply of baby clothes stuff on the small island is not great - all pretty twee and ornate American stuff)

I am only 18 weeks so don't know sex yet - but prefer babies in neutral/jolly colours/stripes and spots anyway rather than pink/blue princess/sailor stuff.

What should I get? Can anyone suggest gear for day/night/sleeping/ in house/in pram? will the baby need blanket or cotton throw at night? Any suggestions for shops, on or offline to pick up cool cotton summer bargains? Any tips for strollers vs. slings, long or short sleeves? (e.g: short sleeves will be cooler I should think but require constant sunblock application)

Or should I leave it all til later? Am tempted by the sales and worrying if I try to buy in autumn/winter there won;t be much stuff. It feels funny having to plan so far ahead!

Thanks for any help

We took DS on holiday to Ibiza when he was 5 mths. It was 25-30 degrees each day. We took loads of clothes and he hardly ended up wearing any of them because it was so hot.

He was just in vests all day (kept out of sun, under parasol, etc) and then shorts and t-shirt or short sleeved shirt to go out in evenings.

Cant remember what we put on him for bed time though - sorry.

I think you could get some shortie rompers and lots of vests and these would do for day and night. You could get a very light weight sleeping bag (you can just get cotton ones) if you wanted. maybe some of those little lightweight cotton trousers or shorts and t shirts too...
Good luck with the new life, how exciting!!

Thanks very much! Are baby vests the ones with poppers under the crotch, worn with bare legs?

Or are they like little T shirts, with short sleeves/no sleeves and stopping at the tummy, like grown up vests do?

baby vests are the all in one ones - yes the ones with the poppers! I think if you get some of those and some neutral cotton trousers or shorts, if its really hot they can wear just vest, or you can pop little trousers over the top (you can usually get 2 packs of shorts/trousers, have a look in mothercare). You can get sleeveless ones too with poppers under crotch - could be good to get some of them too! then get some little t shirts too, and maybe some little cotton cardigans for the evenings? You can often get nice sets with vest/tshirt/trousers/cardigan in mothercare or anywhere really. you can often get some nice patterened ones in tkmaxx with matching blankets which are cottony not wooly, so might be a bit cooler for evenings!

These muslins are fab as they are huge so good for covering the buggy is baby is sleeping www.bigmuz.com/ , much bigger than standard ones from Mothercare etc.

these are good and in the sale!

cheerful colours!

SO CUTE!!!

Am going to stop now, am getting broody

Oooh, thanks for the tips.

a nappy suncream and shade