Equipment
you may need to take for your child on your trip to Kefalonia
In this section I have tried to cover lots of
different options, basically it is there to help parents who are traveling
maybe for the first time abroad with a young child.
If you have your own private jet then you may like to
take everything, but if like me you usually fly with the travel company
then space and luggage weight is the all important factor. Try to
prioritize your child's needs, take things which will make you feel happy
and more secure.
You can always email me for advice or maybe there is
just something you wish to ask me, I
will always attempt to help and answer you to the best of my
ability.
I am not a professional travel writer ect, but I have
traveled many times particularly to Greece and usually with a baby or
children in tow over the past 13 years and as a
mum of four and an ex Child minder who has been around children and
had to arrange trips ect.. I think in a position to help other mums who
might not have been abroad with young ones before.
Page Section
Links
Sundries Sun/Sand/Sea
Pushchair Food
and Drink Contact Me Car
Hire Bed Time
The biggest item you will travel with is probably
your buggy or pushchair.
I took a rugged 3 wheeler which was great but
remember to take a pump and deflate the tyres before flying if they have
air tyres.
I would recommend taking a lie back buggy what ever
the age of the child using it.
If they get tired they can recline and will be more
comfy.
If you are planning sight seeing and getting out and
about then the 3 wheeler was perfect, it managed the rough ground with
ease and when folded it
fitted nicely in the tiny boot space of the jeep we hired secured with a
bungee rope. Obviously take the buggy of your choice. The pushchair does
not count as part of your luggage weight limit.
One thing to bear in mind as trivial as it may be a
buggy with swivel wheels are a good idea as some restaurants and shops are
tight for space you may have
to maneuver between tables and chairs.
If you do decide to hire a car check it will have a
car seat fitted.
We had a jeep for a fortnight and ordered the seat at
the time of ordering the car.
We took two buggy sun parasols , fitted one to the
car seat for when we were out and about and one for the buggy. They fold
tightly , weigh nothing and gives you piece of mind
while out traveling.
I would also recommend using a buggy liner or the
seat section of a foot muff as some buggy seat fabric seem to sweat and in
the Kef heat it magnifies.
Something to secure you buggy in the back of a jeep(
if you decide to hire one) our 3 wheeler bounce out of the boot space one
day when we hit a bump in the road we
did not secure it tight enough!!
A spare towel or table cloth sounds weird but you can
not always get out of the sun completely especially when out in a
car/jeep, we draped a towel over our baby just to keep the sun off a
little. It worked he never ever got sun burnt and we spent two weeks out
in the jeep touring from the summit of Mount Einos to lazing on the beach
at Xi (when we took our baby Xi to show him the place we named him
after.)
Sleep time may be a problem for parents of young
infants, not all accommodation supply cots or travel cots.
Try the pop up lightweight bassinets for the younger
babes, these are about £25.00 and look a little like a pop up moses
basket, they fold flat and weigh nothing.
Travel cots can be bulky and heavy but may give you a
secure item to place your little one in especially if you are worried
about them slipping on hard stone, marble shiny floors. Travel cots are
also handy if you have a balcony and wish to have the doors open for fresh
air, remember not all accommodation will have air conditioning.
A gro bag or babies sleeping bag (summer tog) maybe
an idea, it depends what time of year you are traveling, We found it got
chilly at night (sept).
A fold up bed guard is a good option if your child
sleeps in a bed.
If your child is not yet dry through the night every night try the pull up
pants designed for night time or try taking a protective sheet, you do not
really want to restrict your child's fluid intake as they may dehydrate in
the warmer weather, neither do you want to fuss about wet beds. My
children's beds did not have a plastic sheet on when we visited Kef, but
they were dry at night so not a problem, but may have been if they were
not dry at night and I had nothing to protect the beds.
If your child still uses a bottle take a bottle
brush.
If you are still sterilizing the bottles and do not
want to take your own
equipment, remember the weight limit then use the washing up bowl in your
apartment or purchase one over there and sterilize the bottles using the
cold water method and the Milton tablets, again remember you will have to
buy lots of bottled water.
You can make the bottles throughout the day as
detailed in the Airport section.
If you use formula milk and do not want to take the
tins try the pouches in the boxed formula or buy it out there. Just
remember you will need enough for a days supply on your departure day,
allow for delays ect..
If you do not want to chance buying baby food on
holiday take packets of dry food and take out pre measured amounts day to
day. Kefalonia has some lovely Greek dry baby food which is made in the
same way as dry food you buy here .I think they were made by Milupa my
baby loved and we even tried buying once home but with no success.
Baby drinks like juice, or just plenty of bottled
water.
You can buy dried baby drinks these are granules
which you make up with cooled boiled water.
Take a few small plastic bowls for baby food and
plastic spoons.
Food bags are also good for storing dirty things like
spoon and small bowls.
You may like to use disposable bibs, this takes away
washing stained bibs and having to carry around yet more soiled smelly
things.
Obviously keeping your little ones safe in the sun is
high on most parents list. The all in one sun suits were great, they have
a sun filter build into the fabric and are so soft and comfy and they dry
quickly when they have been for a paddle! Our baby was 10 months old the
last trip we made to Kef and he wore one of these suits everyday- all day,
and in the evenings wore the original shorts and tee set
For the sun protection I found using Sunnies I think
they were by Pampers and were wet wipe type cloths but pre loaded with a
high factor sun screen, much easier than fighting a baby/child with thick
lotion which has to be rubbed in and also I found some creams stained
clothing.
If your baby/toddler likes the water try an
inflatable swim seat, it may give you a little freedom in the water not
having your baby clinging to you, you obviously don’t leave
them or let them fend
for themselves ect but at least you may have an arm or two free.
Swim nappies or Aqua nappies are a great idea if you
have a youngster who like the water. These are slightly padded waterproof
pants or nappy shaped garments and come in a wide choice of designs, no
worries about a floating escapee from a nappy in the pool!!
Rock shoes as some of the beaches have shingle and
small pebbles.
Good sun hats which fasten are a bonus. Caps are fine
but may blow off if your going around in an open top car.
A child's small fan which clips onto the cot or buggy
may be a good idea. These retail at around £8.00 - £10.00, we never had
one but you may like to try it.
Buy lots of dummies here if required as they can be
expensive in Kefalonia.
A soother holder.
Reigns or a wrist strap for out and about.
A favorite toy or two.
Calpol sachets for well really anything, you just
never know.
I would also recommend some dyoralite or something
similar suitable for the age of your child these are uses to replace salts
ect lost when you have a tummy upset.
Pack a packet of plasters, useful for everyone.
I have found some modern and well stocked Chemists in
Kefalonia so do not worry if you need to visit one.
These sold everything from make up to baby
milks.
One hint as babies and children have vaccinations in
the early years make sure your child has a two week space between any
vaccinations they are due to have and your holiday, just incase of a
reaction.
Bonjela if they are of teething age.
Babies/children's protective sunglasses, these can be
brought from around £5.00, we use them and need them in the sunshine why
not the kids? as the light is bright in Kefalonia ,it seems to be a
sharper light, the clarity is different than a sunny day in Britain, hard
to explain.
Small hand held battery fan for coach trips
not every bus or coach will have air conditioning you may only be
10 minutes from the airport, or you may have a longer journey and in the
heat anything which helps cool you and the child down can only help.
You may wish to pack nappies in your case so you need
not worry about purchasing them once on holiday, they do sell well know
brand of nappies in the super markets and chemists.
Mosquito burner and tablets, these devises plug in
and are a deterrent to mosses and other flying pests.
Insect repellent suitable for child's age.
Light blanket just for night time to keep on the
buggy your child may get chilly at night and you may wish to stay out
longer walking around the shops or strolling along the beach, harbour or
relaxing having a meal outside, if your child is tired and uncomfortable
for whatever reason then they will let you know, whereas if they are
settled comfy and warm you never know they may just go to sleep in the
buggy and you have time to yourselves. What's that??? This is where a
reclining buggy helps the number of times we have been out and about( not
just on an evening) and seen a baby or child sat upright in a lightweight
buggy trying to get comfy and their head is wobbling to and fro and they
can not settle comfortably and they get grumpy ect.
BABIES PASSPORT,
your child may need its own passport, my older children are already on
mine when the new requirements came out
and were under the age of where they need one of their own but my
baby was not on my passport so he has a passport just like mine and his
dads!! Photo too, silly really I think as he now looks nothing like he
did now he is 22 months to how he looks on his passport photo aged
7 months.
Take out adequate travel insurance for your
family
TRAVELLING TO KEFALONIA WITH CHILDREN AND BABIES
In this section I have
tried to give a little insight and give ideas to help you when you embark
on your lovely trip to kefalonia. Getting there is where it all begins!!
AIRPORT AND ARRIVAL
BABIES
The airport is probably the first stop you will make on your holiday.
British airports cater to some extent for things you may need, but the
best advice I can share with you is to go prepared.
If baby is bottle fed then take a couple of the small ready to feed
cartons with you, these are great and convenient and can be served without
heating, but if your baby does not like the milk at room temperature and
you do not want the hastle of finding airport staff to warm the bottle
then try taking a slimline thermos flask full of boiling water and make
your babies bottle( pre sterilized ) if required already filled with a
small amount of pre boiled cooled water add the boiling water to the
cooled water and you should have a bottle at the right temperature for
your baby. Practice one day at home to find out what the correct
measurement of water is right for your babies size feeds, I found that for
a 7oz bottle I would have 4 oz of the cooled water and add 3 oz of the
boiling water.You can buy milk powder containers which have sealed
compartment for pre-measured powder, these can also be used for dried baby
food. Personally I would take a days milk supply with you and have it to
hand, in your hand luggage, even though you are not flying far you can not
predict a flight delay or when you arrive the shops may be shut , remember
that most British traveler's will use bottled water while on their
holiday, so if you have your supply it is not a problem for you.
If baby is on solids then the jars and tins of baby foods are convenient.
You can try making dried baby food by mixing it with the hot water from a
flask in much the same way as I have hinted for the milk feeds, again for
the same sort of reasons as above eg baby likes warm food ect..
Always have a good supply of nappies and wet wipes in your hand luggage.
Take disposable bibs so you wont have to worry about washing smelly bibs.
Take extra dummies in a clean food bag if required. Even if your baby does
not have a dummy normally just take one for the take off, remember they
can not suck boiled sweets as recommended for us( regarding the change of
pressure in the aircraft)
Pack some spare lightweight clothes and a cardi a sun hat ,depending on
your flight times, you may arrive at night and need a cardi or in the day
and need a hat.
Keep insect repellent suitable for babies handy as you may wish to use it
when you arrive, especially if it is in the evening.
Even keep sun protection near to hand
If your baby sleeps quite frequently then ask the check in staff if you
can have the use of your pushchair until you board, a baby can feel heavy
when your struggling with bags ect--.
Take something familiar, a soft toy, soft baby book, just for back up.
TODDLERS
The trip with a toddler can seem daunting but if you go prepared it will
help take the strain off a little. Take non spill drink cups with you
theyre handy for travelling where ever.
If child is under two you will have to supply their meals they will not be
given one on the plane.
Try a small packed lunch with things they like and a couple of juices,
(airport drinks can be exspensive)
Wet wipes and nappies if they still use them will be better packed in hand
luggage.
Spare clothing too as they may get sticky ect.
Small packet of sweets for take off
Keep some insect repellent handy for evening arrivals, they wont want to
be bitten as soon as they arrive.
Again sun protection is handy if packed in hand luggage.
Hat or cardi, really its not much different travelling with a toddler as
opposed to travelling with a baby, you may like to ditch the buggy at the
check in desk and use reigns or a wrist strap for the rest of your
duration at the airport.
Let them take a familiar toy or book to amuse them, if theyre calm and
happy the bet is you will be too.
KIDS
Depending on the age it generally should be easier than the above cases.
I always travel with wet wipes when the kids are in tow.
Let them take a book or a toy, my kids take hand held games, it keeps them
quiet!!
If they demand they take their pocket money or spending money then put it
into a money belt or bum bag handy for their game boys too.
Hat or cardi
Insect repellent and sun lotion depending on your time of arrival.
I let my older children keep their mobile phones on them just incase we
lose them in the airport!!
Needless to say they can not have them switched on while flying.
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