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Taking baby abroad - advice needed!

18 replies

CalFairy · 19/03/2024 13:55

I’m MOH for my best friend in June and her wedding is abroad. My DD will be 4 months old at this point. I’m starting to have complete anxiety about taking her away, what we’ll need and if it will all be okay - particularly because it’s a wedding I’ll be involved in rather than just a family holiday!

  • Any recommendations on travel prams to buy? We have an Ocarro which is too bulky to take and might get damaged.
  • Do I need to take a car seat for the taxi to and from the airport?
  • Are we best booking somewhere that has a kitchen (microwave, fridge, kettle etc) rather than room only. DD is combination breast and formula but phasing into exclusively formula.
  • What did you take in terms of formula and sterilising? Any other essential items/tips on what to take with us too?
  • How was your baby in the heat? It’ll be about 24-25c and feeling scared about her overheating.
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DappledThings · 19/03/2024 14:05

I only did it with a bf baby so didn't have to think about bottles but anything before weaning, so 4 months, you only have to think about milk so that's easier.

How far are you travelling by taxi? We were on a coach so no car seats but I kept DS strapped to me in a sling. You can book a taxi with a car seat but would need to do so in advance.

Temps will be fine. That's no warmer than an English summer. Just stay in the shade and keep a hat on.

It's a good time overall to go. Babies are still nice and portable at that age.

sobermum23 · 19/03/2024 14:06

Hello! Can't answer most of your questions (as my baby was BF and we haven't been anywhere hot!) but on two points -
I have the ocarro and we got the Mamas and Papas Airo for travel. I love it. Like a mini ocarro - and fits in overhead storage but some airlines will put in the hold. It's really light - I now keep it in the car and use anytime I go anywhere. It is only forward facing though - I used it on my baby at 5 months and it felt weird at first but was fine, so depends how you feel with that.
I probably would take a car seat - we went away to Belfast and hired a car. Were assured they would have a car seat and when we got there they didn't have any! Then tried to fob us off with one that looks about 10000 years old, eventually they found one from another company but was a pain! So probably safer and more straight forward to take your own. They are so delicate at 4 months still I didn't want to risk it!

sobermum23 · 19/03/2024 14:08

Also not sure where you are going but re- car seats. We got a shock in Italy as they literally don't do them. It was impossible to book a taxi with a car seat! So would need to check local laws etc! We found using public transport quite straightforward though but worth looking into wherever you go!

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CalFairy · 19/03/2024 14:08

Also forgot to add - did you take a travel cot or use the one provided by hotel/apartment?

OP posts:
CalFairy · 19/03/2024 14:11

@DappledThings @sobermum23 We’re going to Croatia and taxi will be about 30 mins so will look into transfer options. We originally planned the trip for just me and DP so had thought just a taxi!

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Noneyerbuisness11234 · 19/03/2024 14:18

I done it with my first born and going away in 3 weeks with my 4yr old and 5 month old I have mam bottles can steralize in microwave I booked an apartment even though we're all inclusive I have the mama and papa buggie for holiday bringing the formula with me as they do it there but it's made different due to heat and my son didn't take well with it have umbrella for pram sun hats high sun cream I found it easier with a baby when my son was that young as he was a good baby he slept in vests most nights and I plan to do the same with my daughter this time hope u have a good holiday x

InTheRainOnATrain · 19/03/2024 14:19

-YoYo pram with newborn pack not the bassinet
-Yes to car seat, make sure you can belt fit it
-Up to you, we’ve done hotels and been fine
-Ready made formula, bottle brush, washing up liquid and milton cold water sterilising or a plug in electric one with adapter (enough formula for 1.5 days in hand luggage, the rest split between 2 checked bags in case one goes astray)
-24-25 isn’t hot, that’s like typical summer in the SE of England, just keep baby in the shade and I know not officially recommended until 6 months but I also used baby sunscreen on their feet as it’s often a struggle to keep them fully shaded whilst walking around
-Use the hotel travel cot, take your own sleeping bag

Blue2020 · 19/03/2024 14:20

DS was 6 months when we went to my brothers wedding in Turkey

  • we went to mamas and papas to try popular travel pushchairs, but we just were not sure about them. In the end I risked ordering the Ergobaby metro deluxe online. It’s more comfortable with padding for the baby. It can lie flat which we liked for his daytime naps while out or by the pool (and he took so many naps with the heat).
-negative- it is a bit faffy to fold/unfold and I had to use two hands. We still occasionally use it now (DS is 11 months old) if we need a compact one for a nap in a restaurant or shopping in a shopping centre. I have no regrets, I love it.

I can’t say about the car seat, we had a transfer it was all booked through jet2. If it was a general taxi then I would have taken a car seat with us.

-we had a room in an all inclusive hotel. It had a kettle and that’s all we needed. DS was exclusively on formula by a few months old. We did both powder and readymade. For the powder we took a foldable bucket, sterilising tablets. Then put bottled water in the kettle and took the nuby rapid cool flask. We took reasymades too incase we were out for the day and for ease really.

-I think it was about 28c. When we went. We kept him in the shade a lot. We used a snoozeshade on the pushchair and a little fan too. We also went back to the room that had aircon multiple times in the day. When he was outside he would nap a lot due to the heat. We took his playmat and a few small toys so he had a nice break in the room. My suitcase was just full of his stuff. We also gave family members a few items to help- nappies or formula. Also I know they say not to use suncream before 6 months, but take some baby suncream just incase? It’s worth having on hand.

We took the baby carrier thinking it was a good idea but it turned out because I was all hot and sweaty the pushchair was the best place to keep him cool.

we used the hotels travel cot. It was ok, did the job. It was a risk though not knowing what it was like.

sobermum23 · 19/03/2024 14:24

CalFairy · 19/03/2024 14:08

Also forgot to add - did you take a travel cot or use the one provided by hotel/apartment?

We have used a few travel cots as provided in accommodation - but always taken our own sheets. They have fitted every time so seem pretty universal. Just felt nicer using our own sheets (and they aren't always provided in self catering anyway)

Blue2020 · 19/03/2024 14:24

Oh yes, he mostly just wore a nappy and then a short sleeved romper. We took far too many clothes that he couldn’t wear because it was too hot. For the wedding he had a loose shirt and shorts.

VivaVivaa · 19/03/2024 14:24

You can rent various travel strollers. For instance: https://baboodle.co.uk/products/babyzen-yoyo-stroller?variant=44267420287146

Might be worth doing and seeing how you like it before committing £££ to buying new (fwiw I think the yoyo is great for travelling but not great for a day to day stroller unless you are purely walking on very flat pavements, can’t handle anything approaching off road).

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mitogoshi · 19/03/2024 14:24

I travelled a lot with mine due to circumstances but I breastfed and co slept. I used a carrier when travelling mostly but had a cheap reclining buggy for evening ms when out. I didn't take a car seat at that stage unless renting a car, but our budget meant we used public transport not taxis!

pambeesleyhalpert · 19/03/2024 14:25

Bugaboo butterfly for sure. Have a look at babymoov UV tents they're great. Portable fan for pram/restaurants

mitogoshi · 19/03/2024 14:27

Oh and to adapt a reclining buggy just put the head cushion designed for car seats into it, anyway at 3 months old they are five without the cushion (my double one said from 3 months, but I used from birth with the cushion.

AnnaBegins · 19/03/2024 14:45

It's a great age to travel with baby as they need minimal "stuff" and should sleep on the plane!

I would definitely get a sling for the airport and in case baby finds the wedding overwhelming and just wants to be cuddled - something like a connecta or integra folds up small, is light, and will last you a long while.

Definitely recommend mam bottles due to the self sterilising in the microwave, or just take a few milton tablets.

mindutopia · 19/03/2024 14:53

She will be absolutely fine. It's actually the best age to travel because they aren't yet mobile and still sleep a lot - and there will be two of you, so you can at least free up your hands for things like using the toilet, etc. I took my youngest to Spain for a week on my own at 8 months and it was also fine - but more work because it was just me.

No suggestions for a pram - I just used my same one as I used at home, got a buggy bag for it, and it got checked on the plane. I'd just look for a cheap secondhand one off Facebook marketplace, but one that can still lie flat or mostly flat.

Yes, bring a car seat, just the infant carrier sort that you can strap in with the seat belt, doesn't need to be fancy. It can be checked or possibly used on the plane if you buy an extra seat.

Get a sling - it made the airport and plane and just moving around when somewhere wasn't pushchair friendly so much easier.

Yes to somewhere with a microwave, kettle, fridge - I wouldn't travel anywhere with children with those basics - doesn't need to be a full kitchen. If anything for your comfortable and convenience as you won't want to do every meal in a restaurant with a baby.

Take formula with you (you can pre-order to the airport, but if powder, just buy it and pack it from home, much easier). Take milton's and sterilise in the sink.

The heat will be fine. It's that hot here in the summer the past few years, so will be totally fine. Bring layers (as it will get cooler in the evenings/indoors), stay in the shade, stay inside during the hottest parts of the day. We were in Spain and it was hot, but manageable. We went out most in mornings and late afternoons/evenings, and we stayed in the shade during the heat of the afternoon. Lots of regular feeds to keep baby hydrated.

mindutopia · 19/03/2024 14:55

As for sleeping, I co-slept with mine so they always just slept with me. But I did use a travel cot for a safe place to put them down. I just used the one provided and brought my own fitted sheet.

Donimo · 19/03/2024 18:26

No advice for prams we just took our normal pram.
Car seat you can check it in if you take it. Make sure it can be fastened with a seat belt though. Most airlines let you check in 2 of the following baby items- pram, car seat, travel cot. We have always either taken a car seat or hired it as we have always gotten a hire car.
Sterilising we have used mam self sterilising or a microwave bag sterliser (but this obviously requires a microwave). You can also use Milton tablets in cold water.
Formula and any other essentials (calpol) I would do a boots order to click and collect in the terminal if you are short of space in your suitcase.
Sleep- always used the cots provided but took my own lightweight sleeping bag (mine always sleep in a sleeping bag) and sheets.
Snoozeshade is great we also used this in the evenings to put baby to "bed" in the pram at a wedding and to go out for a quiet meal. I remember a wedding when my eldest was about 4 months and by 8pm both my husband and I were on the dance floor with baby happily sleeping in the corner.
Definitely take a sling on the plane so much easier to take on and off and also for baby to sleep on you.
Temperature is fine too

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