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How to have a happy holiday
Maternity Information Guide 2007/2008
If you’re organising a holiday there’s a few issues you need to consider, either while pregnant or with a new baby in tow.
Laura Bury outlines what you’ll need to have a happy holiday.
So you’re tire of being cooped up in the house, Sudocream and dirty nappies coming out of every orifice and you can think of nothing better than escaping in pursuit of the sun for two weeks of heaven.
Fortunately, babies don’t have the same pagan worship of the sun that some adults do, as a baby’s skin is very sensitive. When choosing your holiday, it’s very important that you work this into the location you choose. Picking a locale that’s warm and breezy is essential, so try to avoid inland areas as they tend to be quite humid. Areas that are extremely cold should also be avoided.
Needless to say an area with a hectic nightlife is not the most suitable place for you and your baby as their sleep (and yours) may be interrupted. Coastal resorts that are hot during the summer will provide the ideal clime in autumn or spring.
Aisling O’Donoghue from babytravelshop.com recommends choosing a baby friendly location with either crèche facilities, experienced babysitters or kids clubs. By checking with your hotel or resort in advance to see if they supply highchairs and cots, you can lighten your load which will make a huge difference when travelling.
Before you go:
Make sure you have your child’s and your own passport sorted well in advance of your departure. Since October 2004, all children, regardless of age, must have a passport in their own name. Passports issued to parents with their children included before this date are still valid. Children under three years of age can apply for a three year passport which costs €15. Everyone, including babies, must have two identical passport photographs when they apply.
Its important that y ou put your child on your travel insurance as hospital care in other countries can be very expensive. New regulations were recently put in place in airports which may make your experience a little more stressful when departing if you’re not prepared. According to these regulations, certain items of hand luggage cannot be brought onto flights. Liquids must be brought in containers of more than 100ml and then must be carried on in clear plastic bags of no more than one litre. Luckily for new parents there’s no need to find and fill 20 100ml baby bottles for the journey, as baby food is exempt from these regulations. Passengers are allowed to bring baby food and bottles through special screening points at the airport in the quantities needed during their trip. Although be prepared to have a good gulp of your baby’s formula, as passengers may be required to demonstrate the baby food they are bringing on board is for the stated purpose.
Baby sanitary items are also allowed on board so thankfully you will have a chance to change a nappy or two on board if needs be. Over the counter liquid medication is not allowed so leave the Calpol in your check-in luggage.
Getting there:
Trying to keep a young child or baby occupied in an enclosed space for a number of hours may seem like a mean feat but with a bit of forward planning there should be no problem in reaching your destination free from stress.
When booking your flight ask to be seated in the bulkhead row. It’ll give you more room to manoeuvre and some airlines, if booked in advance, will supply airline bassinets which can be attached to these seats. This is extremely helpful when you have a small child.
If it’s not possible to get bulkhead seats, try to get an aisle seat this will make it easier to change your child’s nappy mid-flight, for boarding and accessing the overhead compartments.
“Airplanes are particularly claustrophobic for children so the less time spent waiting to take off the better” points out O’Donoghue, and recommends boarding the flight last. Similarly, when disembarking, unless you are near the front of the plane, it may be easier to wait until all other passengers have left before attempting to leave. This will reduce the chance of you forgetting something, due to trying to negotiate bag, babe and pushy passengers, and will also allow the cabin crew more time to give you a hand if required. She also suggests making a list prior to packing to ensure you have all the necessary equipment on board with you, as it could be disastrous if you find you’ve run out of nappies or forgotten you wipes half way over the Atlantic!
Keeping boredom at bay on the flight will end up being your number one priority for older kids, so O’Donoghue recommends bringing your child’s favourite toy or blanket, crayons, colouring books and if possible, a portable DVD player. To keep the kids entertained, she also suggests a novel game: it’s a good idea to bring small new toys and giftwrap some of them, introducing them slowly and when they’re bored with one, put it away and introduct another.”
Veteran parents who travel with kids regularly recommend trying to organise your journey to coincide with your child’s natural sleeping pattern. If your child is a bit restless, try putting a drop of lavender oil on their blanket; it’s a commonly used and effective homeopathic remedy to help ease your child to sleep.
It can be quite painful when the change in cabin pressure causes your ears to ‘pop’; if you time your child’s breastfeed around the time that the plane takes off and lands, it will help to ease the pain your child may be feeling and provides a welcome distraction from the intimidating noises. The effects of cabin pressure on your ears is worse when you have an ear infection so if you child has a severe ear infection it may be wise to delay your trip until it clears up.
Fun in the sun:
A baby’s skin is much more sensitive than an adult’s and this is why it is imperative that you protect them as much as possible when in the sun. Babies under six months should not be in direct sunlight and be indoors or in the shade between 11am and 3pm. When children are in the sun you should apply a waterproof sunscreen of at least SPF 15+ and if they are playing in water, remember to reapply sunscreen after towelling. You should only use sunscreen on babies where they are exposed, for example their ears, face and hands, while sunscreen should be used liberally on older children and reapplied regularly. By dressing them in loose, long sleeved clothing and wide brimmed sunhats you can protect them against sunburn. Don’t forget to protect their eyes with 100% UV blocking sunglasses and use a sun filter on the windows beside your child while driving. It is imperative that you keep your child hydrated, bring a large bottle of water out with you and keep it underneath the buggy, in case you find yourself in the wilderness with not a Spar in sight!
