What to take on your first holiday (10 mo)?

[Treesandbees]

Any experts out there? We are going on our first family holiday to Spain. I think I have thought of all the obvious stuff and it is only Spain so know I can get stuff there but just in case someone has a gem of an idea??

Watching with interest. Taking dd to Norfolk this month, not sure what to take.

Watching too. No helpful advice, but I'm interested to see what people say - taking DS to Pembrokeshire next month.

We're are going two hours drive away but I am planning to bring pre made formular and maybe even the bottles with teats (no longer bf) to save bringing steriliser etc.

Lots of vest and shorts

Pouches of organic food.

Medicine - calpol, teething sachets etc.

Monitor is handy (even if you don't use it any more at home) - so you can sit outside in the sun while they nap

Sunhats with ties. The ones with the neck flap are good. Suncream.

if there is a pool, an inflatable swim ring - dd loved hers. Swim nappies

if there is no pool, an inflatable paddling pool + couple of bath toys would be great, keeps them cool and occupied. We used a washing up bowl but dd was younger

Cool bedding, eg sheet sleeping bag if she is used to sleeping bags

If she is/will be mobile, you might want to take a few safety items eg corner covers in case of sharp coffee table corners in the room.

You can't get pre made formula in Spain I believe (though double check this I may be out of date)

A little tent with sun protection, you can get them in Argos and a few other places. Really handy for keeping the sun off. We also bought a little dinghy when we got there, for use in the pool, them filled with water for splashing on the poolside.

Be careful with those tents though. I was watching that helicopter rescue program and some lovely gps had put their gc in one to keep her out of the sun. The only problem was that it was incredibly hot inside the tent and she overheated and had a fit. They keep the sun off, but can actually be hotter than outside.

Bring some Milton sterilising tablets as then you can use them in anything you can find there like a sink/washing up bowl/large dish etc. or just wash thoroughly and then steep in some boiling hot water for a bit. At 10months that would be fine, and will save you bringing a steriliser.

A buggy shade extender is handy.

Lots of nappies - for some reason they are extortionate abroad. The small packs of pampers are something like £20!!!

I took a stick blender and some little pots for freezing stuff.

Bring lots of snacks, some cereal, a few pouches of food/fruit if they will eat them just in case you can't get to a supermarket on your first day or the hotel food is rubbish (if you're catered).

Travel blackout blind

A couple of small toys that can double as bath toys eg stacking cups

I took soooo many outfits when dd was little and she ended up naked, or just in her nappy or a vest as it was so hot. About 20 tiny outfits came home unworn!

Enjoy your holiday.

Thanks, some really useful advice! We've got MAM bottles which you can sterilise in the microwave so that's a tad easier. Tent thing tick, paddling pool is a great idea. Is formula expensive too? Good to know about the nappies as I was going to buy them there!

Most airports have a Boots or Superdrug airside (after security) where you can buy formula or food. You can often pre-order to ensure they have the right quantity of the milk you want, for you to pick up when you travel. It then counts as part of your duty free shopping rather than filling up suitcase. Check airport website for details.

If your baby is crawling be prepared for a tough flight! Make sure you have plenty of entertainment in your hand luggage - although DD found the safety card fascinating too.

Our tent was a fisherman's tent, so open fronted. I wouldn't put them in an actual tent in the heat.