Holiday with an 8 month old

[Hoplittlebunnyandpleasepleasestop]

hi all
im off on holiday to an all inclusive this summer. My DD will be just shy of 8 months.
those who have gone abroad with their LO’s this age, i guess im looking for the good the bad and the ugly lol as to how you found it.

im extra prepared and already bought most things apart from clothes as will buy nearer the time for size, so not really worried on that front.

im definitely worried about the flight - its 4 hours which isn’t the longest but also not the shortest. I guess im worried I’ll be one of the mums who is pacing up and down with a crying baby for 4 hours if her ears are hurting. Someone said to me give them a bottle regardless if they’re due one as the plane as taking off - is this what others would recommend too? And if DD didn’t want to take the bottle would a dummy suffice? Does calpol work if all else fails or is the popping of the ears a different type of pain for babies?

another thing I’m concerned about is the heat. We’re off to turkey so inevitably it will be hot. I have pram shades and fans. I’m not a huge sun fan myself and the heat bothers me quite a bit so I’m usualky one of the first people in the canteen when the lunch is out and I don’t usually leave there until around 2ish (I don’t spend the whole time eating lol) as I like to hide out and miss the hottest time. If it’s busy I get out of the way and usually go to the lobby or the room for a bit. So I’ll do that with DD too and happy to go back down to the pool around 3ish when it’s a bit cooler. I’ve also got a shaded pool float for her and will be getting the UV50 swimsuits that cover everything apart from their wee toes! Hats and sunglasses I have as well.

also routines - how did this play out for you? My DD knows when she wants to go to bed and she has a big bottle in her sleeping bag and then falls straight to sleep. Do you go up to the room and miss the night? Or do you get LO down in the pram and just get back into routine when home?

i guess on top of my concerns I just want to know how people found holiday’ing with an 8 month old really. Would you do it again? More stress than it’s worth? Etc

the holiday was actually booked a couple of years ago as it was meant to be our last family holiday as we’d started to all go away with friends and partners. Partners then got added on to the booking over those 2 years and then I fell pregnant and DD was added onto the booking. So really had it not been booked in advance I wouldn’t have really wanted to travel with her being so young but I can’t get out of it now and plus I’m secretly excited for nan & grandad to whisk DD off for a few naps while I have some time to myself!

oops just realised it’s a long post sorry. And thank you in advance to those who read and comment.

I took my dd to the Caribbean when she was 8 months old and it was great.

We were visiting family as opposed to a ‘holiday’ holiday so it was a bit different but we had a fantastic time. The flight was fine, I took plenty of changes of clothes (she was a sicky baby) and lots of little toys and new books for her. I was still breastfeeding so I think I fed her for take off and landing for comfort and to stop her ears popping, but a dummy would be fine too.

Routine pretty much went out of the window, she slept wherever we were!! Pram, sofa, beach, anywhere!!

It’s definitely easier taking a baby away than a toddler-you’ll be fine!!

@Imnotarestaurant Oh wow the Caribbean! What a lucky little girl!
thank you so much that’s really reassuring. Probably panicking over nothing!
I did think routine will be a bit out the window. I guess I’ll have to just let go of the reins on that front!

Aw how exciting! You sound really well prepared, maybe a portable black out blind for the day naps if that's not on your list? Apparently the shape of the inner ear tubes (??) at that age mean the ear pain on the plane isn't so bad, my GP said it doesn't start to hurt them until toddler age.

I found for travelling something like these are helpful: Calpol Sugar Free Infant Suspension Sachets Strawberry Flavour 2+ Months, 12 x 5ml https://amzn.eu/d/dqjJsc2
So can take a couple of sachets in hand luggage in liquids bag and spares in suitcase rather whole bottle, just take a spoon/small syringe and can give easily. We have given on descent when our little girl was screaming, seemed to help more as distraction as does take time to work but was more willing to keep dummy in after - she likes the taste though haha. We get and take the brufen sachets as well and liquid anbesol in case get caught out by teething.

Also if takes a dummy then it defo helps on take off and landing, and also general comfort. If due a bottle then can do that also. Dummy clip is essential though as floors in airports, planes, transport aren't always the cleanest, and then don't have to be searching under plane seat when got loads of baby paraphernalia in the way, especially if baby is lap sitting rather than own seat.

Lastly trial the suncream on a small latch of arm or leg to make sure no reactions, especially if already allergy prone.

Oh and allllll the snacks for the journey, ideally their favourites so don't get hangry! And planes get really hot in summer so we usually take a vest/short sleeved body suit for flight and change when on board.

Oh and agree with portable black out blind, we take a black out curtain and hang it up, don't want early summer morning sun wake-ups!

We bought a cheaper stroller just for holidays and UK travel that would lie flat and we didn't mind getting sandy. The Joie nitro is good for this. We took our own baby car seat too though not sure how you will be transferring.

To protect your car seat if taking and pushchair then these are great, make sure get the right pushchair one ie umbrella style etc.
JL Childress Gate Check Bag for Car Seats for Newborn and Above (Red) https://amzn.eu/d/2CLsqDB
When you see the scuffs and rips the other side you will be glad of some protection. The bonus of taking the car seat as well is you can put a bag with nappies, wipes etc strapped in for extra luggage on the sly! And will be hidden by the protective cover hehe.

Oops ended up doing 2 essays 😆

We went to turkey last October with our almost 7 month old ds. It was hot about 27-29c.

The travel pushchair was great. He took naps in them in the shade because it could lie flat. (Snoozeshade or large muslin over half of it plus a mini fan). We also took a few breaks through the day to go back to the room with air con where ds would play on his playmat or on the bed and he perked up then.

To be honest he had gone down to about 2-3 naps a day before we went. While out there due to the heat he slept quite a bit so there wasn’t a set number.

In that first month 6-7months he was on bottles and then occassional puree so we took the pouches. When I got back we moved on to cooking food ourselves and finger foods. In a way I’m glad we didn’t have to worry about the food for him at the time.

The flight out was a day flight and he was very awake. He had a short nap but otherwise he wanted to play, a bit of walking around, we had family on board so I would occasionally take him to them for 10 minutes. Coming back it was a night flight so he slept the whole 3hrs until I needed the toilet, then he was sleepy but awake on dh for the last hour.

All in all it was a great holiday. We went for my brothers wedding otherwise we wouldn’t have attempted it. We are about to go for a short European break next week, a 2hr flight this time with ds who is now 1 yrs old. It might actually be harder this time now he’s more aware and wants to move about more.

I hope you have a great time.

Thank you all so much for your replies really appreciate it. the information is super helpful and glad to know some of the bits I have already are good and useful!
sounds like I just need to chill and enjoy it!
thanks ladies! Xx

It’s going to be 40+ deg in summer in Turkey and if you don’t like the heat, just go to Spain earlier when it’s not so hot. No-one will enjoy it.

What a ray of sunshine you are. Already said in my post that the holiday can’t be changed and was booked prior to having a baby.