{"id":516,"date":"2015-11-15T07:27:13","date_gmt":"2015-11-15T07:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/the-beach-and-baby-travel-bible\/"},"modified":"2022-08-08T23:21:03","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T23:21:03","slug":"packing-for-the-beach-with-a-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/packing-for-the-beach-with-a-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"The Beach and Baby Travel Bible"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s easier than packing for a beach holiday with your pet tiger, I suppose, but there\u2019re still some challenges. And by challenges, I mean: suitcase space. Once I\u2019d packed all of his stuff, I just squeezed in one sandal and a swimsuit for me.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s different depending on the baby\u2019s age, obviously. This time last year we went to Europe for a month and all we really needed to pack was some clothes, a few colourful toys and my boobs.<\/p>\n

This time he was 13 months old, eating normal food and tires of toys in 20 seconds. And so, here\u2019s how we chilly Melbourne cats packed for our magic trip to the One&Only Reethi Rah<\/a>, Maldives with our teeny, non-verbal little buddy:<\/p>\n

What I packed for baby<\/h2>\n

Swim pants (I prefer these over swim nappies, although I packed a few swim nappies too) plus a full body UV 50 rashie\/swimsuit because sunscreening a baby is about as easy as pushing toothpaste back into the tube. (I like the Babes in the Shade ones as they\u2019re cute and don\u2019t feature angry animated sharks.) Sandals and walking shoes, a wide brim UV 50 hat with chin cord, and a cap. Assorted shorts and t-shirts and onesies\u2026 enough for one outfit a day and a few spares. (Special nod to Pure Baby\u2019s little summer onesies.) I packed several Bonds Wondersuits because we adults had the air con at night, so these PJs ensured he\u2019d stay warm.<\/p>\n

Regarding his food, I read reviews of the One&Only Reethi Rah saying they\u2019d cook and puree anything you wanted for your baby\/toddler, but being me, (a suspicious and anxious overpacker) I packed enough food for pretty much every meal, every day, just in case. I could just bring it home if required. I took Weet-Bix for breakfasts, rice crackers, dried fruit etc for snacks and a heap of pouches. Not ideal nutritionally speaking, but you never know what you might be up against so make like a boy scout and for the love of apple puree be prepared. As it turned out, every meal he ate was prepared by the hotel, from delicious porridge, to pasta, fish and veges. It was unreal.
\n
\nI packed two bottles, spoons, plastic small bowls, plates and bibs plus a full tin of formula because I knew there\u2019d be no way to heat up milk even if I could get my hands on it. (But boiled water from a kettle, yes.)<\/p>\n

I always call ahead and book a cot and highchair (and some pool toys) for the room, and in this instance, being a sand-covered island, they said I wouldn\u2019t need a pram; everyone gets around on bikes with baby seats. I ignored them and packed our travel pram. And didn\u2019t use it once.<\/p>\n

I also took:<\/p>\n