Long Haul Hot Holiday with 6m DS - advice please

laurahester

I would take some milton sterilising tablets and a milton bucket for sterilising bottles etc (you could put nappies/clothes in bucket for packing so it doesnt take up room). I would suggest sterilising bottes even if you dont here as he will be exposed to different things and the last thing you need if for them to have a bad tummy.

Be careful when making bottles - some bottled water is not suitable because of the high levels of minerals etc (e.g. sodium ions). Im not sure what the best brand is or whether you should just boil local water. When we've been to Antigua before we've never worried ourselves about putting bottled water into kettle for tea but not sure whether this is advisable for the baby.

Thats a lot of nappies to take - how many do you usually use in a day? For swimming why not buy a water nappy - we use a konfidence aqua nappy with a konfidence neoprene nappy on top so no need for swim nappies. Would save space and we've never had any problems with leaks due to the double layering.

Definately try to get the bulk head seats on plane. Even if you dont want to use the bassinet it gives an area in front of your seat for your son to sit on the floor. The last thing hes going to want is to be held for the whole flight.

butler_helen

We can book the bassinet 30 days before travel, which is a pain as it's ages away. I'm hoping we get one as he's already a nosey baby who likes to be able to see around. At 6 months he might want to be able to wriggle and sit and play. With bad luck we will be cooped up in middle seats or something.

However there are 5 adults so plenty to share the entertainment!

I will get a bucket and Milton tablets.

Swim nappies we usually use are ok for holding poo but not wee, are the ones you mention of for both?

trolleyrun

Hand luggage: spare outfit for baby and yourself in case of "mess". Nappies, wet wipes and nappy bags (wet wipes don't count as " liquids" for going through security). Dummy, bottle, favourite nibble toy (for ears and teeth). Food suitable for baby. Noiseless toys.

Please remember that whenever the seatbelt sign is on, baby needs to be strapped in (on the lap with extension seatbelt). It doesn't matter if baby is asleep or "doesn't like it" - baby must be strapped in safely.

Hold luggage: swap pack, so put some of each person's clothes in every bag. That way, if a bag goes missing, you'll all have something to wear.

Regarding milk for baby, I'd recommend using powder, as it's easier to make up and weighs less than ready made cartons.

I second a sling, as depending where the aircraft parks in Antigua it can be quite a walk with a wriggly (and hot) baby. The terminal itself is quite small, but the walk to/from the aircraft can be far.

Try not to stress too much. Baby will sense it and it'll stress baby too.

Oh, and bring calpol or similar, especially in hand luggage in case of pain.

butler_helen

Excellent ideas thank you! I've just put calpol on the list. Also noiseless toys as his favourite is the vtech talking bear and a squeaky scrunchy caterpillar... not great choices.

onlyroz

We forgot to take swim nappies on a trip to the caribbean when our daughter was 18 months - she spent the fortnight waddling around with a waterlogged regular nappy squeezed into her swimwear.

I wouldn't expect or require a swim nappy to contain wee, and most resorts are happy with this. Just remember to change it to a regular nappy when you go for lunch or you'll end up with embarrassing wet patches in the restaurant (we did that once with our son - just went straight from the beach to a cafe without changing him out of his swim nappy, and then wondered what on earth that gushing sound was half way through our fish and chips... :eek::o:rotfl:)

Counting_Pennies_2

butler_helen wrote: »

I'm not planning to wean until we come back, so he will be 6 months 2 weeks old when we start anything other than milk. Or at least that's the plan!



Be prepared he may have other ideas. Go prepared for basic weaning of mashed bananas and maybe take a few pouches with you just in case he starts getting over hungry or not sleeping as well.

Thank you for the ideas, we are buying a new pram to travel with. I'm thinking the maclaren xt - has anyone used this?

This is the pushchair we took with us, it was brilliant, still running strong 8 years on

I will definitely check with boots for baby food, I hadn't thought about water though. I was planning to buy a new travel kettle and take sterilising tablets. However he shoves anything and everything in his mouth in the UK, so we don't sterilise. I'm not that confident abroad in washing his stuff in their water etc.



I would be more concerned about boiling up their tap water for milk solution than washing his clothes in it. I would not for a minute concern myself over washing the clothes, but I would be about boiling their tap water for bottles. When we were in Fiji we bought Evian at the airport on arrival in the country and boiled that.



Nappy wise I was thinking 10 nappies a day and 30 swim nappies - seems a lot by volume but I'd rather not have to go hunting for such a basic item.


I would check with the hotel, I am pretty sure you will be able to buy Pampers or Huggies out there

Please see my responses above

gingin_2

It used to be the case with pushchairs that despatch would take them straight from the plane entrance down to the hold, I used to be cabin crew and that's the only way we've done it. Take a couple of changes of clothes for the plane and an extra blanket, something to lay on the base of the bassinet and plenty of teething items to chew on.

Get good travel insurance, my son was always prone to ear infections after a flight and we had to make a few doctor's visits overseas that we claimed back on.

Mine always wore loose short sleeved body suits ( the ones with no legs) during the day, evening times it would be similar. Ideally baby is young enough to sleep so you can enjoy a meal while they are in the pushchair, so just take them out in something you can put them straight to bed in.

Belle24

I took one of these for a ten day holiday with a 7m old purely to save space but as fairly regular swimmers back home we've had our use out of it.

http://www.mothercare.com/Bambino-Mio-Swim-Nappy/LD6894,default,pd.html?dwvar_LD6894_color=Pink%20Spot

As for clothes my DD was in short sleeved rompers, vests or easy dresses by day and to be honest not too dissimilar for evenings with a light cardi. I took half of what I expected to go through and did a wash mid way through, though I did know in advance that there was a washing machine.

For the flight we did a mix of familiar favourite toys and some new to keep the interest, the sort of tether toys that can be clipped onto the side of buggies were really useful.

Have a fantastic time!

valk_scot

butler_helen wrote: »

Evening all,

I won't be steralising bottles but I will be bottle feeding him whilst there, so no problems with food, except it using the weight limit up!

.

If you're currently breastfeeding, don't stop till after the holiday! It will save you endless hassle and worry. I kept on breastfeeding my DD till she was 17 months old just so that I'd have milk on tap over our second summer holiday with her and I was very glad I did. She spat me out like an old bit of chewing gum vey shortly after that though, lol. Which was fine, I was getting bored of it too. But the convenience of breastfeeding while on holiday is one of the side perks that isn't mentioned enough in the planning, I think.