Here’s a handy list….
1. Buy a few cotbed mozzie nets. They are great for putting over beds and buggys, but were also great for putting over windows at night if you need to air the room.
2. Take your room thermometer and a selection of sleeping bags with different togs.
3. Take your own brand washing liquid if you LO has excema issues.e.g suncare
4. Try and time a feed for take off and landing. Take a lolly or sweets that older ones can suck.
5. Get to the airport in plenty of time.
6. You can take liquids and bottles through security. So bottled formula etc is ok. They have special trays for you to put them in and be ready they may make you try them.
7. You can take your own car seat and buggy – and were allowed to keep both until we boarded the plane. I took some large bin bags and sellotape to wrap around the car seat to protect the covers.
8. When booking flights – look carefully at baggage allowance with children.
9. Patch test suncream before you go so you know if you LO will have a reaction. It also gets them use to it being applied daily.
10. Get your LO used to wearing hats and sunglasses before they go away. Makes your life much easier. Mothercare ones have chin straps to help keep them on.
11. We took all our formula with us. For UHT formula, many places have restrictions on what you can buy – so we bulk ordered from Mothercare online in advance.
12. Read NHS guidance for the water to use for LOs – for formula and drinking water. Especially if they are under 6 months.
13. An inflatable swim seat is great for the outdoor pool, together with a couple of bath toys to keep them amused, it can buy you lots of time!
14. A cheap buggy is really handy and means you don’t need to lumber a heavy and bulky (and expensive) buggy with us on holiday. One that allows the baby to lie totally flat is great and can double up as a changing table!
15. Swap the usual baby changing bag with a small rucksack – much more portable for hols.
16. Old fashioned string buggy bags for £6 from Boyes – great for throwing in toys, hats, glasses etc
17. Let dad handle the explosive bum at 30,000 feet
18. Take your own bedsheets so their bed smells of home
19. Beach towels act as great black out blinds. Take pegs to attach them to blinds or curtains
20. Swimming mats make an easy portable changing mat if you don’t already have one
21. Buggy parasols can be handy but have a good look round to get the right one for your buggy.
22. A damp cold muslin is great in the buggy for hot days
23. Take your own baby monitor so you can relax in the evening
24. Spread your clothes out across suitcases in case one goes missing!
25. Take a few cheap toys. For older kids some activity books bought new for the holiday. A kindle/iPad with loads downloaded from CBeebies in advance. Comics at the airport, stickers, colouring in books, a billion snacks
26. Calpol
27. Straws, so that you can drink from glasses/bottles more easily when you’re on the move.
28. Few favourite snacks!
