We have just embarked on our first family holiday with 3 children - yikes! Luckily my parents also came too so we even got a little time to relax between us all!
Grace was 10 months old when we first took her away which was a fairly easy age. She was sleeping through the night, eating well and not yet crawling which meant there was no worry of her getting into mischief around the poolside! We had a fantastic holiday with relatively little stress.
With Jake being only 4 months there were a few things less to worry about as he isn't yet weaned which kept things fairly simple on that front. Below is a check list that you may find handy if you have your first summer holiday with baby this year. Obviously what you pack may well depend on the type of holiday you are going on, but if it's a hotel/apartment with a pool and sunshine for a week or two, hopefully you will find this useful!
What to Pack
It is essential you get this organised in plenty of time before you go away as the application can
take up to 6 weeks for baby's first passport. Your baby's birth will need to have been registered in
order to apply for their passport and a copy of their birth certificate along with the certificate
detailing the parents names and occupations will need to be sent with the completed application
form which you can do
online here if applying in the UK.
The passport office will send you your completed application in the post and you will need to
return it with two copies of your baby's official passport photos (one of which must be signed by
your doctor, teacher, etc), the two birth certificates as mentioned above and a cheque for the
passport. The current cost of a baby's passport, as of this date, is £46.00. Remember though, if
you tick the online box asking for your documents to be returned special delivery (recommended
for safe carriage) then you will need to add another £3.00 to the cheque. This is an easy thing to
forget and can delay your application if you don't remember to add it on.
Tip: Young babies can be notoriously difficult to photograph for their passport photo so if you
can, take them to your
local photography studio (most will do passport photos). You will then be
guaranteed a suitable shot and will save a lot of time and money trying to get a decent shot in a
booth (something I found almost impossible to do with my first born)!
- Stroller/buggy - this was an essential piece of kit on our holiday as was perfect for at the airport and during the day and evenings around the resort or when we went for a stroll. It also means baby can sleep in it when out and about.
- Parasol - to clip onto the stroller. This will help shield baby from the harmful rays of the sun when moving around.
- Baby Carrier / Sling - perfect for carrying baby around in if they won't settle in the buggy.
- Lightweight scarf - I picked up a gorgeous large white print lightweight scarf from Fat Face at the airport. I got it because I liked it but it was actually a lifesaver as I could drape it over the buggy if needed and also was perfect for snuggling Jake in in the evenings without making him too warm. I used it all the time and highly recommend. Also great for privacy when breastfeeding.
- 4 Baby bottles, milk powder, sterilising tablets, travel kettle and large plastic jug/container to sterilise bottles in, formula - I am still mix feeding and for those who are solely breast feeding you can obviously do without the above but may want to take a breast pump if expressing. If you are mixed feeding or bottle feeding you will need the above items. As we couldn't drink the tap water, we got bottled water from the hotel which we then boiled in the kettle before using for feeds. We used tap water in the container with the Milton sterilising tablets to sterilise the bottles and dummies.
- Dummies! You may not use a dummy/soother for your baby but if you do then don't forget to pack them and have them handy for the plane. I found they helped Jake with the air pressure during take off and landing. Alternatively you could try feeding your baby during this time to ease any discomfort.
- Pack of 24 nappies (to be getting on with), 2 pack of wipes, barrier cream, 2 muslins, baby blanket - make sure you have plenty of nappies for the journey, including a change of clothes in case of accidents. Also remember that flights can sometimes get chilly with the air conditioning so have your scarf or baby blanket handy. If you are travelling from a cold climate to a hot one it might be worth dressing your baby in a vest so you can strip them down to it when you arrive at your destination. I recommend 2 packs of wipes as I got through mine very quickly and although you can easily get known brand nappies at the local supermarket when you run out, we struggled for wipes and found the ones we did buy to be too highly perfumed to use.
- 4 lightweight long sleeved babygrows or 2 pairs of pyjamas for an older baby - I am really glad we packed these as although it was warm outside in the evenings, our room was cool and air conditioned so Jake slept comfortably in his long sleeved babygrows.
- 4 short sleeved / short legged baby grows - we had these as back up in case the room was warm for sleeping but they still got used in the early evening when still warm for dinner before changing baby for bed.
- Cool Summer clothes, shorts or little dresses - also make sure you take a few warm outfits in case the weather changes and for travelling home in if going back to a cooler climate.
- All-one-sun protection swim suit, swim nappies, hats and Factor 50 sunscreen (as shown in photo).
- First aid kit - to include any prescription medicines and syringe, pain relief medicine - I packed a small bottle of Calpol just in case, a thermometer, antihistamine cream, rehydration powder sachets (incase of diarrhoea or vomiting), insect repellent, plasters, calamine lotion for soothing heat rashes etc and emergency contact numbers in case of any more serious problems (hospital nearest to you, ambulance etc).
- Baby monitor - in case baby is asleep indoors and you are out on the terrace.
- Plug adapter - for the monitor and kettle.
- Travel cot? We organised one to be set up in our room prior to arrival but it is worth checking ahead to save you having to bring one unnecessarily.
- Toiletries - travel sized baby bath bubbles, shampoo, baby powder and lotion.
- Meals - if baby is weaned remember to pack some jars or tubs of baby food (home-made or ready prepared). You should be able to restock at the local supermarket when you've arrived.
- Feeding equipment - plastic spoons, pots, plates, bibs etc.
- Teething ring, rattle, a few toys - Jake was too young for these but if your baby is slightly older you may want to pack some to keep them amused. Remember that baby is entitled to their own hand luggage for the flight so you could pack all your essentials in it for the journey.
- Night light - if your baby is used to a night light, you may want to pack this. We just left the lamp on in the other room and the door ajar for our children though.
- Camera! Whatever you do, don't forget to pack your camera. You will want to record all those special memories of your baby's first ever holiday!
- Grandparents! If you have a good relationship with your parents then definitely pack them! We had a wonderful holiday with mine and the children loved their company. It might mean you also get a few hours off too :)
I think that about covers it! However, if you think I've missed anything off the list or have any tips yourself, please do leave your comments as I'm sure many would find them useful.
I will be posting photos from the holiday soon...!
We have just embarked on our first family holiday with 3 children - yikes! Luckily my parents also came too so we even got a little time to relax between us all!
Grace was 10 months old when we first took her away which was a fairly easy age. She was sleeping through the night, eating well and not yet crawling which meant there was no worry of her getting into mischief around the poolside! We had a fantastic holiday with relatively little stress.
With Jake being only 4 months there were a few things less to worry about as he isn't yet weaned which kept things fairly simple on that front. Below is a check list that you may find handy if you have your first summer holiday with baby this year. Obviously what you pack may well depend on the type of holiday you are going on, but if it's a hotel/apartment with a pool and sunshine for a week or two, hopefully you will find this useful!
What to Pack
It is essential you get this organised in plenty of time before you go away as the application can
take up to 6 weeks for baby's first passport. Your baby's birth will need to have been registered in
order to apply for their passport and a copy of their birth certificate along with the certificate
detailing the parents names and occupations will need to be sent with the completed application
form which you can do
online here if applying in the UK.
The passport office will send you your completed application in the post and you will need to
return it with two copies of your baby's official passport photos (one of which must be signed by
your doctor, teacher, etc), the two birth certificates as mentioned above and a cheque for the
passport. The current cost of a baby's passport, as of this date, is £46.00. Remember though, if
you tick the online box asking for your documents to be returned special delivery (recommended
for safe carriage) then you will need to add another £3.00 to the cheque. This is an easy thing to
forget and can delay your application if you don't remember to add it on.
Tip: Young babies can be notoriously difficult to photograph for their passport photo so if you
can, take them to your
local photography studio (most will do passport photos). You will then be
guaranteed a suitable shot and will save a lot of time and money trying to get a decent shot in a
booth (something I found almost impossible to do with my first born)!
- Stroller/buggy - this was an essential piece of kit on our holiday as was perfect for at the airport and during the day and evenings around the resort or when we went for a stroll. It also means baby can sleep in it when out and about.
- Parasol - to clip onto the stroller. This will help shield baby from the harmful rays of the sun when moving around.
- Baby Carrier / Sling - perfect for carrying baby around in if they won't settle in the buggy.
- Lightweight scarf - I picked up a gorgeous large white print lightweight scarf from Fat Face at the airport. I got it because I liked it but it was actually a lifesaver as I could drape it over the buggy if needed and also was perfect for snuggling Jake in in the evenings without making him too warm. I used it all the time and highly recommend. Also great for privacy when breastfeeding.
- 4 Baby bottles, milk powder, sterilising tablets, travel kettle and large plastic jug/container to sterilise bottles in, formula - I am still mix feeding and for those who are solely breast feeding you can obviously do without the above but may want to take a breast pump if expressing. If you are mixed feeding or bottle feeding you will need the above items. As we couldn't drink the tap water, we got bottled water from the hotel which we then boiled in the kettle before using for feeds. We used tap water in the container with the Milton sterilising tablets to sterilise the bottles and dummies.
- Dummies! You may not use a dummy/soother for your baby but if you do then don't forget to pack them and have them handy for the plane. I found they helped Jake with the air pressure during take off and landing. Alternatively you could try feeding your baby during this time to ease any discomfort.
- Pack of 24 nappies (to be getting on with), 2 pack of wipes, barrier cream, 2 muslins, baby blanket - make sure you have plenty of nappies for the journey, including a change of clothes in case of accidents. Also remember that flights can sometimes get chilly with the air conditioning so have your scarf or baby blanket handy. If you are travelling from a cold climate to a hot one it might be worth dressing your baby in a vest so you can strip them down to it when you arrive at your destination. I recommend 2 packs of wipes as I got through mine very quickly and although you can easily get known brand nappies at the local supermarket when you run out, we struggled for wipes and found the ones we did buy to be too highly perfumed to use.
- 4 lightweight long sleeved babygrows or 2 pairs of pyjamas for an older baby - I am really glad we packed these as although it was warm outside in the evenings, our room was cool and air conditioned so Jake slept comfortably in his long sleeved babygrows.
- 4 short sleeved / short legged baby grows - we had these as back up in case the room was warm for sleeping but they still got used in the early evening when still warm for dinner before changing baby for bed.
- Cool Summer clothes, shorts or little dresses - also make sure you take a few warm outfits in case the weather changes and for travelling home in if going back to a cooler climate.
- All-one-sun protection swim suit, swim nappies, hats and Factor 50 sunscreen (as shown in photo).
- First aid kit - to include any prescription medicines and syringe, pain relief medicine - I packed a small bottle of Calpol just in case, a thermometer, antihistamine cream, rehydration powder sachets (incase of diarrhoea or vomiting), insect repellent, plasters, calamine lotion for soothing heat rashes etc and emergency contact numbers in case of any more serious problems (hospital nearest to you, ambulance etc).
- Baby monitor - in case baby is asleep indoors and you are out on the terrace.
- Plug adapter - for the monitor and kettle.
- Travel cot? We organised one to be set up in our room prior to arrival but it is worth checking ahead to save you having to bring one unnecessarily.
- Toiletries - travel sized baby bath bubbles, shampoo, baby powder and lotion.
- Meals - if baby is weaned remember to pack some jars or tubs of baby food (home-made or ready prepared). You should be able to restock at the local supermarket when you've arrived.
- Feeding equipment - plastic spoons, pots, plates, bibs etc.
- Teething ring, rattle, a few toys - Jake was too young for these but if your baby is slightly older you may want to pack some to keep them amused. Remember that baby is entitled to their own hand luggage for the flight so you could pack all your essentials in it for the journey.
- Night light - if your baby is used to a night light, you may want to pack this. We just left the lamp on in the other room and the door ajar for our children though.
- Camera! Whatever you do, don't forget to pack your camera. You will want to record all those special memories of your baby's first ever holiday!
- Grandparents! If you have a good relationship with your parents then definitely pack them! We had a wonderful holiday with mine and the children loved their company. It might mean you also get a few hours off too :)
I think that about covers it! However, if you think I've missed anything off the list or have any tips yourself, please do leave your comments as I'm sure many would find them useful.
I will be posting photos from the holiday soon...!
