Taking your baby away on holidays for the first time – examined…
From Aisling O’Donoghue at Baby Travel Shop

Taking your baby away on holidays can be very daunting, all those questions about how to make it easy, comfortable, safe and fun for everyone. We look for the answers.

Being organised is the best way to ensure a pleasant trip. Make a list well in advance. Below we have looked at some of the basic products recommended for taking a baby on holidays.

Sleeping:
• Babies temperatures need to be controlled, a lightweight sleeping bag is highly recommended for warmer climates and you should consider a 1 tog or 0.5 tog.
• If the hotel/apartments are providing a travel cot, always bring a fitted sheet with you as hotels often use a bigger sheet around the mattress, which can lead to the baby wrapping itself in the sheet.
• Black out blind, this is the miracle product for any family travelling. You can keep that early morning sunshine out of your room everyone will get a longer nights sleep.

Out and about/Beach
• Babies need to be fully clothed when in sunny climates, you need to ensure they wear a hat all the time and sun protection clothing on the beach or at the pool.
• All exposed areas need to be covered in sun cream minimum 50+, but ideally a baby will not spend too much time in the sun.
• Cooling down in the pool with Mum and Dad is safe and fun for all with a swim ring.
• The hood on most prams is not sufficient to keep the sun fully off the baby, so don’t leave home without a Sunshade (modern day effective parasol). The Rayshade is highly recommended.

Feeding:
• Never expect to be able to get your baby formula abroad so bring enough for the entire trip. Considering the restrictions on weight allowances, sachets of pre-measured formula work well, cartons of pre-made for flights are convenient.

Sterilising:
• If you have an apartment with a microwave the steriliser bags are excellent and you get 20 uses from one bag.
• Another excellent option is the Milton steriliser tablets.

Travel:
• The Car seat bag so your car seat doesn’t get damaged during transit.
• Baby Carrier – to keep your arms free when travelling through the airport and give the baby comfort when boarding and disembarking the plane.
• Buggy bag – prevent your buggy from being damaged during transit, so just take it to the door of the plane and put the buggy into the bag.

Product list:
• Grobag sleeping bag
• Fitted sheet – buy at any nursery shop
• Black out blind
• Sun hat and outfit
• Suncream
• Swim ring
• Sunshade
• Formula – enough for entire trip
• Microwave steriliser bags
• Milton tablets – available nationwide
• Car seat bag
• Buggy bag

For more information visit: www.babytravelshop.ie