Maternity leave can be a great time for couples to take a break after baby arrives whether home or abroad. I have so many teachers come to Bumps, Tinies and Wrigglers classes that are teachers or those that are just enjoying taking advantage of the cheap flights out-with school holiday times, so it can be a great time for many to enjoy a well deserved break.

Once you have chosen where to go it is just the beginning of the decisions, what will I need to take, what will baby need, what do we need for traveling? So many questions bounce around in our brains once our flights and accommodation have been booked so here is a helpful blog about what you may or may not need with you on your travels.

First big tip and the hardest!!

DON’T OVERPACK!

You will pack in so many outfits and clothes but in reality your baby will wear very little clothes. If you go abroad to a warm country and are on a pool or beach holiday then your wee one will spend their time in a vest, a nappy or a swimsuit and when it comes to bedtime a vest tends to be plenty.

SUNSCREEN

Make sure and take more sunscreen than you think you need if holidaying abroad as it can be a lot more expensive when buying brands. If you are in mainland Spain Mercadona has their own brand suntan lotion is really good and very well priced.

AIRPORT SHOPPING

You can do an online shop at Boots and pick up past security so it doesn’t have to be part of your luggage. You can order milk or nappies, suntan lotion and pick up air-side. Just be aware you do have to carry it to and from the plane. If you are buying formula abroad check the water you are buying as it should have a wee baby logo on it to show its sodium content is appropriate as it should be less than 20mg/L. Formula tends to be available from supermarkets and Pharmacies.

BUGGIES

Generally when travelling with kids under two you don’t pay for their seat as they sit on your knee but with airline companies like Easyjet and Ryanair you get to take two pieces of baby equipment on board free of charge, (travel cot, pushchair, car seat, collapsible or non-collapsible pram, booster seat and/or baby back carrier) If you choose to take your buggy with you to the plane please be aware that they put it in the hold and you don’t get it back till baggage retrieval so you may need an alternative for carrying baby from the plane. Many use a baby carrier to and from the plane to make life as easy as possible. If taking your buggy a Dimpa Bag from Ikea can be an easy way to transport it safely or if you know someone who plays golf the bag you get for a golf buggy can be fairly sturdy.

FLYING

Take more than one change of clothes for the plane for baby. If you experience a poonami at great heights or baby wets through or is sick it is very useful to have a few changes just in case!
When you are taking off and landing it can help baby if you feed them at this point. It can help them regulate the pressure in their ears, A baby can’t pop their ears by themselves so a feed or a dummy at these times can make it easier on them.

SWIM NAPPIES

Swim nappies are a fun one and you have to be smart, but I know you all are!! A swim nappy’s job is to keep poop out of the pool, not to be absorbent and keep pee in it like normal nappies. So unless your baby poops in their swim nappy you can rinse it out, dry it and use it again as swim nappies can be really expensive! If you have baby in a swim nappy beside the pool or travelling and they wee then it will go everywhere so make sure they only have swim nappies on whilst in the pool, otherwise normal nappies!!!

STERILISING

I have heard a lot of people chatting about taking sterilisers abroad and packing them in their suitcases and putting clothes inside them which is great but if you don’t have the luggage space you can take a very small packet of Milton cold water sterilising tablets with you and use the sink where you are staying. Once you have washed sterilised your bottles or water cups then seal them and they are good to go. Less stuff to take with you. Tesco do a pack of 56 sterilising tablets for £1.50.

A small bottle of travel wash is always handy for any poonami explosions or wee sicky bibs or just a freshen up of muslins.

SLEEP

Through the day it can be difficult trying to get your baby to nap and I have so many people put blankets over prams and buggies and this can be extremely dangerous. It can trap the heat inside and seriously overheat your baby but there is a product out there that is useful all year round and especially when in hot countries. The Koodi – sunshady is great o keep baby cool and out of the sun but also it helps at night when trying to block out any distractions when trying to get them to sleep.

Instead of taking a black out blind take a bin bag and some tape and just stick the bag on the window frame blocking out the light!

If you feed baby before you go out  going out for dinner then they can go to bed and you can go out for a walk before dinner so at nights baby tend to be in sleep wear.

Finally,

Remember it is not as hard as you think! We have babies all over the world. People will help and if you are worried about baby crying on the plane … Who cares, you don’t know them and you will never see them again (unless travelling with family and then they should be helping you!)

Enjoy your holiday!!