The clothes
We prefer cotton which helps to better withstand the heat and anything that requires little or no ironing! Whatever the length of your stay (one, two, three weeks, or even more...), count 7 outfits , so 7 bodysuits, 7 tops (t-shirts or blouses), 7 bottoms (shorts, pants or skirts), 7 pairs of socks, 2 cardigans (or sweaters), 2 pajamas . In the best case, this will allow you to go 7 days without doing laundry ;) but given that babies often get stained, having 7 outfits will save you from doing laundry every 2 days.
The first aid kit
Prepare a first aid kit especially for baby to avoid any confusion with your own first aid kit. Put in it his usual medicines and care: Doliprane, Vitamins, Dolodent or Camilia, physiological serum... Then add everything that will be useful in case of an injury:- biseptine
- sterile compresses
- microporous adhesive tape
- a bag of sterile adhesive sutures (hopefully you don't need these, but just in case, they're very useful!)
- bandages
- a solution to overcome possible diarrhea (Ultra Baby type)
- a soothing cream for mosquito bites (such as Baby Apaisyl)
- a tube of Biafine
- a thermometer
Don't hesitate to stop by the pharmacy to get specific advice about your holiday destination. Finally, don't forget your health record : it will be invaluable if you need to see a doctor on site.
What you need to protect him from the sun
It is important to protect your baby from the effects of the sun. So, don't forget to take with you:- a hat or a bob
- a pair of sunglasses
- a suitable sun cream (special for children)
Childcare equipment
For walks
The pram or stroller seem essential and I'm sure you've already thought about it! But if you can, also take your baby sling which will be very practical to calm your baby close to you or simply if you don't want to take the stroller to do some shopping or a little walk.For sleep
For sleeping, you will need a travel cot . If your baby is really small, the carrycot of your stroller should do the trick!For the toilet
For bath time, invest in a sponge bath seat if you haven't already done so. You can put it in the bathtub or even the shower, leaving your hands free to soap and shampoo your baby. If you have room, you can take a small inflatable bathtub . For changing, don't forget to take your travel changing mat . It is rare to find a changing table in a vacation rental or hotel. We often have to be very creative when changing our baby on vacation . The supports will be diverse and varied (the parents' bed, in the carrycot or stroller, on the beach towel, in the back of a car, on a bench in a restaurant, etc.). In all cases, the travel changing mat, preferably waterproof, will seem essential to you to protect the support but especially your baby.
For meals
If your baby can already sit at the table, opt for the "comfort" version of the baby chair booster : this takes up a little space but you can also place it on the floor so that baby can sit at a low table, for example; or the "nomadic" version: more compact, it folds up and is therefore easy to transport.The diaper bag
The diaper bag will be particularly useful on vacation: during the trip and for all your outings! Preparing the vacation suitcase should not make you forget the diaper bag. We have also written a dedicated article that can help you put together your special travel diaper bag here: the essentials of my diaper bag ;)What to plan before departure
Logistics side
Consider, if possible, taking out an assistance contract , paying for your trip with a bank card that covers last-minute cancellations. Ask the owners of your vacation rental or the hotel for a detailed list of available baby equipment : this will allow you to get rid of certain things (like the travel cot for example!) or on the contrary give you time to find what is missing.
Health side
Plan a visit to the pediatrician before leaving . This will be an opportunity to take stock and give you the necessary prescriptions to take with you. Check the vaccination schedule carefully : if the date of a vaccination is approaching, it is preferable to have your baby vaccinated before leaving, especially if you are going abroad, but do not do it the day before. Vaccinations are often followed by a risk of fever within 48 hours! Now you are ready to start preparing for this first vacation with baby! And you may already be thinking about traveling to your destination: by plane, train or car, find our advice in the second article in the series "First vacation with baby": here. Otherwise, I have two little tips that I would like to tell you about just below ;)
Little personal tips
Tip #1
For a few years now, I have gotten into the habit of always carrying a natural and very effective stain remover with me: solid Fuller's Earth, or more precisely Marseille soap stain remover with Fuller's Earth. Less well-known than its powder version, this one looks like a small soap, is very easy to carry and use. Just wet the stain and the soap, then rub! Don't forget to rinse with clean water. You can buy it ready-made in stores or make it yourself from Marseille soap flakes and Fuller's Earth of course, by adding water and essential oils of orange or grapefruit.
Tip #2
Second little tip that I also really like: "the suitcase in the suitcase" or valisette ! It is a small canvas bag in the rectangular shape of a suitcase with a transparent top (in this case, mine is made of a small net and measures 53 cm long, 40 cm wide and 10 cm high). It allows you to separate baby clothes from ours in the suitcase . Once you arrive at your vacation spot, all you have to do is take this little bag out of the suitcase and put it on a dresser for example. I found this very practical little thing at Muji a few years ago. They call it a "garment bag" and they still sell it: here !
