Our Holiday Packing List!

Hey All!

A few of you have asked me to post my holiday packing list for Arjun.  Remember though that it depends on the age of your child and also the destination and duration.

 

This packing list is for our holiday to Dubai for ten nights when Arjun will be 7.5 months old.

We didn’t take a car seat as the hotel provided us with one.

Here goes ...

 

Hand Luggage (we use a carry on suit case plus Arjun’s change bag)

Changing

·         Nappies
·         Wipes
·         Vaseline (we have been using this instead of nappy rash cream)/nappy rash cream
·         Nappy bags
·         Portable change mat
·         Change of clothes x 2

 Feeding

·         Bibs
·         Muslins
·         Sterilised bottles – we will be taking 4 for a 6.5 hour flight
·         Formula – we take ready made for convenience
·         Gaviscon – Arjun has reflux
·         Beaker with water
·         Meal pouches – with some extra incase of flight delay/late check in
·         Spoons
·         Arjun snacks – we will take some biscuits and Organix sweetcorn rings and carrot sticks
·         Weaning bibs

 Medical

·         First aid kit
·         Bonjela
·         A few Calpol sachets
·         A few Nurofen sachets
·         Ashton’s and Parsons teething powder

 Comforters

·         His blanket (that smells like home)
·         His favourite book – Animal Farm
·         His favourite teddy – currently Henry Hugglemonster
·         A surprise toy – one that he hasn’t seen yet
·         Water filled teether – his favourite at the moment

 Other

·         Antibacterial hand gel
·         A spare plastic bag for keeping dirty clothes/bibs/muslins in
·         Tissue

 
Check in Luggage

Medical

·         Gaviscon
·         Calpol sachets
·         Nurofen sachets
·         Baby talc
·         Infacol
·         Thermometer
·         Bonjela
·         Ashton's & Parsons teething powder
·         Waterproof plasters

 

Changing

·         A change mat – the Poundland ones are brilliant (My Golden Little Nuggets)
·         Nappies
·         Vaseline/change cream
·         Nappy bags
·         Wipes

 Swimming

·         Baby float
·         Swim wear
·         Swim hat
·         Swim nappies
·         Sunscreen
·         Towelling robes
·         Swim toys

Bath time

·         Bath wash – we use Simple
·         Hair brush
·         Face cream – we use Weleda
·         Towels
·         Nail cutter
·         Cotton buds
·         Massage oil
·         Toothbrush
·         Colgate

 Feeding

·         Formula cartons

·         Bottles
·         Feeding bowls – although with pouches you can feed from directly
·         Spoons
·         Beakers
·         Snack pots
·         Wipes
·         Muslins
·         Bibs
·         Weaning bibs
·         Ready made pouches – although Arjun is on solids, we will be taking pouches for convenience. For example sometimes Preetam and I don’t have lunch on holiday (after a hefty breakfast) so taking a pouch would be easy as Arjun would still need to eat.
·         Baby snacks – biscuits and baby crisps.  We will use fresh fruit when there.
·         Steriliser – we use a cold water steriliser with Milton sterilising tablets.  Hotels are generally happy to provide you with a steriliser provided you ask in advance.  I just prefer taking our own.
·         Milton sterilising tablets
·         Bottle brush
·         Fairy liquid to wash bottles and bowls – I take a little in a travel sized bottle

 Sleeping

·         Sleeping bag
·         Blankets – that smell of home

 Travel

·         Snooze shade
·         A few favourite toys
·         Baby carrier
·         Travel pushchair – our one is the Baby Zen YoYo

 Clothing

·         Short sleeve vests – we barely used them last time as it was so hot there was no need
·         Sleeveless vests – I just love how cute these look with shorts!
·         Short rompers – perfect for the heat. I'm taking five this time for ten days. I wish I had more but can't justify spending more on summer clothes when he's only going to get to wear them in Dubai!
·         Baby grows – we only used these for bed time
·         A shirt - he'll probably only dress semi smart one night for our anniversary!
·         T Shirts - plenty to pair up with shorts/trousers
·         Polo shirts - for slightly smarter wear
·         Dungarees
·         Cardigan/Jumper for the breezier nights
·         Shorts - taking five pairs
·         Joggers – for lounging in the room
·         Jeans – for the cooler nights
·         Chinos
·         Going home outfit
·         Pram suit for coming home
·         Socks
·         Sun hats – I love fisherman hats!
·         Shoes – even though he can’t walk, I’m a sucker for cute things!
·         Laundry bags

 Other bits that you may need (depending on your little one/destination):

·         Pacifiers
·         Breast pump
·         Nipple cream
·         Breast pads
·         Feeding cover
·         Bath support
·         Car seat

And, don’t forget baby’s PASSPORT! :)

I hope you find this useful! Let me know if I’ve missed anything! x

 

Baby Brain Weekly Memoir: 23rd January

Hello all! 

I've done quite a bit of writing yesterday/today and it was heavy writing so I'm going to keep this post short and sweet (she says!) 

So this week we had our Lohri party which I posted about. In summary it was brilliant. I was so pleased with how everything turned out!! 

The day after we were knackered especially as Arjun was up every few hours - I think he thought the party was still happening!  But nevertheless we woke on Sunday and soldiered on. We woke a little late for Arjun's swimming lesson but Arjun went for a walk with Bruno and his daddy in the baby carrier instead. It gave me a little break - I had my feet up and enjoyed my breakfast. We don't use Arjun's carrier often - we really need to start! 

After that we went to see our friends, Amit and Vaishali and their newborn baby, Josh. Josh is the smallest baby boy I've seen since Arjun was born and he is so adorable! I can't believe Arjun was ever that small! I had a long cuddle and baby Josh fell asleep on me - bought back so many memories and he felt as light as a feather compared to my little tanker now!  Arjun really enjoyed being at Josh's house as several of our friends were there and they're all so great with babies!  He got plenty of play time and attention!  It was so sweet watching Josh and Arjun interact - they were mimicking each other!  I had a lovely time, it was very relaxing especially with so many pairs of hands to help with Arjun! 

Monday to Wednesday we pretty much stayed indoors. I had a pretty tough day on Monday where it was taking hours to settle Arjun for his naps. He fights his sleep so much that we end up in overtired land and then it's just a huge battle. Monday night it took us four hours to settle him at bed time - he went to sleep at midnight! :( His teeth were also bothering him which was really hard - I found water filled teethers give him comfort. He hasn't actually got any teeth yet! All in all, not the greatest timing especially following the tiredness after the party. 

Arjun was kept entertained for a while with his latest new thing - a sensory tent bought for him by his Sav Masi (thanks Sav!). He was intrigued and spent a while in there whilst playing and watching TV. 

We went to music and movement on Thursday morning where he really enjoyed himself as usual. He's so interactive with the other babies and parents now. You see a noticeable difference every week. It's a shame it coincides with his nap time and we kind of have to rejig things to ensure sure we make it. He loves it once he's there though! 

After music and movement we went to our friend Reets who also has a baby. It was a nice chilled out afternoon where Arjun was pretty content playing by himself whilst baby A slept. Had a little bit of a terrifying experience whilst there; Arjun was having his snack of sweet corn rings and almost choked on one. I panicked and froze. I knew what to do but just couldn't move! He was struggling to breath and his eyes were tearing, thank God Reet was with me as she took control and did exactly what you're supposed to - put him on his tummy over her knee and gave him a few firm blows on his back and it came out. I was so scared! I knew he was going to be ok but I was pretty peed off at myself for just freezing like a useless lemon! :(

Writing my blog post about my initial days post birth was actually really therapeutic and almost immediately it became apparent that it was going to help me on facing my fears. I decided to take Arjun to Toys R Us as I had to pick up a gift anyway. Where usually I'd have left him at his grandparents, he came with me. He slept through anyway but I went in with total confidence - I felt like a new person. It was really strange. I wasn't my usual panicked self. I was cool calm and collected and it was totally fine! 

Yesterday Arjun had his first taste of mummy's most favourite food - pizza!  I made him pizza bread on whole meal bread with a thin layer of tomato purée, grated cheddar cheese and some basil and oregano seasoning. He absolutely loved it! There wasn't even a crumb left! He also started holding his own beaker yesterday - it's so cute watching him grow. But it's all happening too fast! :( 

We spent the afternoon visiting Chico - Arjun's best friend! 

What have you been up to this week?x