Going on holiday tips on what to pack

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Going on holiday with my mum, son but this time with at the time 4month old.

what essentials do I need to pack?

any tips?

clothing?

bottles? Sterilising?
Sun sun creams?

please list!! I need help 🫶🏼

never done this before with my son.

I have purchased a holiday stroller, hotel has cribs and things to hire for the room.

Where are you going? How long for? Self catering or catered? How mobile is your mother?

My mum is 77, fully mobile.
1 week, 2hr flight to Balearic Islands, all inclusive.
x

Bottles? If dc is bottle fed, how could dc be fed at 4 months without bottles? Where is the holiday? Of course sun tan cream but better still, no sun! Keep light clothes on and a hat. Don’t go out in full sun but it really depends where you are going re clothes and nappies and washing machines!

she has expressed milk : bottles.

however will be introducing formula instant bottles with me. Do I take a sterilising thing with me?

I am ordering all in one costumes, legs and arms covered with hats.

what sun creams are best for babies?

x

At 4 months old, I would recommend that you keep your baby out of the sun instead of thinking about sun cream.

Cover them, hat, keep in shade..

Are there supermarkets nearby? Otherwise you'll need to bring all your nappies and milk with you

Also you can sterilise easily with cold water and a few Milton tablets, save bringing some elaborate steriliser.

My top tip for packing with little ones is get one of those over the door shoe storage things with pockets. In each pocket roll up a full out fit - T-shirt, shorts, socks, two per day. Use left over pockets for toiletries. Roll the whole thing up and tuck in your case. At the hotel hang it over a door - you then have to hand easy access to clothes and toiletries for the little one that can be grabbed with one hand while wrestling baby.

Sun shade for the buggy and a small pop up tent
sling to carry baby around the airport once you’ve handed the buggy in (you can often take them to the gate on departure but they come back to you in the baggage hall with the hold bags)
swim nappies
UV swimsuit

That is genius!

Hi Op

Firstly- don't stress or worry about it too much all will be fine you're going to Spain so you will be able to get everything if you run out. I travelled to Cuba when our youngest was 3 months old and honestly we managed just fine.

1. formula (if using)
2. nappies (take them out of packaging though and lay them in the case round the sides etc to save space.
3. I didn't take sterilising machine (space) but I packed the sterilising tablets instead then used the kettle to boil water and sterilised overnight in the bathroom sink.
4. sun cream ignore PP you will need this even if you plan on keeping DS covered and out of the sun aldi do a baby range which I found really good obviously go for the highest and I would say for a week with a small baby one bottle would be ample but maybe get 2 just incase....
5. swim nappies & a small inflatable with the leg holes and the canopy (b&m and home bargains do these much cheaper than what you will pay over there)

I used the 2 piece full suits for DS but I did strip him off a couple of times a day to his nappy and let him lay on the sun lounger and have a kick about etc still shaded with a parasol but he enjoyed being free for a little while.

For bed I'd suggest just sleeveless or short sleeved vests and a light weight sleeping bag. I would also forget any foot wear tbh as you will find yourself running back to fine stray shoes and socks otherwise.

Make sure you have some comfy footwear though for the naps I walked miles getting my DS's off on holiday for naps 😂once DC is napping I recommend a cocktail and an hour reading to allow yourself some chill time too. Most of all enjoy it and don't stress.

There’s a really good washing line on Amazon, great for swimsuits and t shirts or shorts you’ve rinsed through…
Take metal cooler style water bottles too, water stays cold in your room, beach or by the pool
Take an over door hook for the bathroom, so handy for hanging a dirty laundry bag on, toiletry bag, or towels, there’s never hooks in hotel bathrooms!
Plastic bags

One of those mini collapsible tents - I used one with DD in Spain at that age, perfect on the beach. I am short so could sit in there to feed her and lie her down to nap in it.
A dummy for the flights - mine never used one normally but managed to get her to suck it when we were stuck circling the airport and the pressure kept changing. She also sucked my finger :)
Buggy ended up being a waste of space and hassle, using a sling was much easier. I had a light cotton wrap one, watch videos on how to tie it properly. I put her in with big hat and socks, so no sun on her but just nappy so not so hot.

random non-baby specific items:
clothes pegs and a travel washing line
sunlounger pegs (so your towel doesn't blow away when you stand up or go in the pool)
4 plug extension cable then you only need 1 adaptor to charge multiple devices
portable fan

For sterilising, see if you will have access to a microwave, my preference is to travel with the microwave steam steriliser bags - they take up no space and are good for 20 uses. The cold sterilisation tablets are an option, but they’ve recently updated their useage instructions to include rising it off with boiled (or boiling, I can’t remember which) water, which kinda makes the whole thing a lot harder.

think about how you’re going to wash the bottles before sterilising too. I travel with a small kitchen sponge that’s used exclusively for babies stuff. And you may want to buy or bring some soap (whatever your choice of dish soap is).

re sun - it’s very hard to keep them fully out of the sun, but hat, sun shade are good options. They don’t recommend sun screen in under 6 months old, but the actual advice is that sun screen is better than sun exposure, but best is to avoid sun altogether. I use this one specifically as it’s ok for babies that have been discharged from NiCU (ie younger babies too). It’s about £12 from boots from my memory.
https://www.mustela.com/en/products/lait-solaire-spf50-tres-haute-protection

if she’s having expressed milk - you’ll need your pump parts too. And I usually travel with a cool bag and ice packs to keep milk cool out and about. Will you have access to a freezer or fridge there? Your resort may be able to accommodate you if you specific it’s for the baby.