Portugal with 10 month old baby

Bubble · Post by **Bubble** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:00 pm

Hello, wondered if anyone can help or give any tips.
We are visiting Carvoeiro in a couple of weeks with our 10 month old. Are decent nappies (ie Pampers or equivalent) easily available?
Also any ideas how we make up bottles of milk ie bottled water or boil tap water?
ANy other tips on travelling to the area with a small child would be greatfully received!
Many thanks

iane · Post by **iane** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:20 pm

I can give you a couple of quick pointers:-

Nappies - should be no problem - readily available all over the place - not sure about cost though (my daughter is nearly 14 now !)

Bottles - stay on the safe side and used the bottled water in my view - especially considering what little it costs compared to the UK

HipO · Post by **HipO** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:55 pm

Be careful if using bottled water and check out the sodium content. Many bottled waters contain far too much. I believe 15mg per 100 ml is the guideline, including what is in the formula. I would recommend using boiled tap water

Guest 999 · Post by **Guest 999** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:57 pm

Why do some places tell you not to drink the tap water, even boiled then?
Or are they being over cautious?
Some people even tell me Portuguese water is safer than UK water.
Who is right?

Hip0 · Post by **Hip0** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:10 pm

What places tell you not to drink boiled tap water? Boiling for 10 minutes will kill everything
Portuguese water may be safer than Uk water to the Portuguese, who may have built up an immune system to it. They may have problems with UK water. Likewise UK residents will have built up immunity to UK water, but have problems with water in Portugal. I wouldn't drink untreated tap water anywhere

And by the way these water filters you buy can greatly increase the salt content of the filtered water

guest3 · Post by **guest3** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:53 pm

i never had any trouble at all drinking tap water either in portugal or in uk, but considering that it is a 10 month old baby, i would recommend you to buy ready made milk for babies wich you could find at any major hipermarket, like intermarche

Graham · Post by **Graham** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:39 am

Bubble - my tips for the young 'un (we have been bringing both our boy's out from eight weeks old)

1. Use boiled tap water, NOT bottled water - you don't want to see the nappies after bottled water.

2. The sun is a major threat (sorry if this is obvious). We found the UV swimsuits that cover most of the body, along with a UV hat with neck guards very useful - you then only have to worry about the lower legs and forearms with frequent cream applications.

3. Nappies are easily obtainable in all the supermarkets

4. An electric mosquito repellant is a good idea if you want a peaceful night (they don't sleep to well when bitten!)

5. Portuguese love babies

- you can take them to any restaurant and (so long as they don't scream the place down) they will be treated like royalty.

Have fun

Graham

loretta · Post by **loretta** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:57 am

Hi Bubble, I was told by my health visitor not to give a baby bottled water as it contains too much sodium and to use tap water that has been boiled.
Like Graham said it is the sun that you have to watch , even in the shade it is quite fierce, and also if you are around the pool it reflects off the pool & floor. I always used a total sun block on my daughter.

Im sure you will have a great holiday

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:13 am

I can also verify the comment about the Portugese. Both times that I took my young son, he was fussed over wherever he went. Local people whether in restaurants or shops were so nice towards him that it made me realise how un-family friendly we can sometimes be in the UK. If I ordered food for him they would usually offer to blend it (using some strange sign language!!) or heat up his jars of food without any problems.

You will have a great time and promise to do it again.

(Nappies are v. expensive over there though - just open a pack and spread them out over your suitcase).

SAM SPARKLE · Post by **SAM SPARKLE** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:14 am

Am I the only one who is slightly disturbed by this, I mean bringing a babe in arms out to a hot country, having to endure the rigors of travel, the hassle of being on an aircraft, ears popping etc, (although this is not so much of problem these days, but still happens) not to mention the inconvenience to the other passengers of a screaming child who is probably suffering a great deal, strange surroundings etc, then upon arrival having to put up with a variety of insects, hot climate etc, I have flown many times and a screaming kid is no joke. Everybody is entitled to a holiday, but during the infants early years why not holiday at home, or go by car if you want to go further afield. To me it is just parents being selfish with little or no thought for their young. I have been in bars late at night in Carvoeiro and seen young children asleep while their parents knock back the booze, I have to say this really winds me up, I know that not everyone will subject their kids to this, but I just can’t understand why parents would want to treat their kids like this. I dare say the PC brigade will want to have a go at me for this, but sorry it’s the way I feel and nothing you can say to try and justify it will make me change my mind. Well, ok if the child/children are coming out to visit Grandparents who are to ill or frail to travel, would probably be the only exception.

kaycee · Post by **kaycee** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:40 am

I'm guessing SAM's post is intended to wind peope up? Is his/her suggestion that children don't travel outwith Britain until they are 'mature'. I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. Yes, I agree that there are places young kids should not go (i.e. Beirut), but Portugal for goodness sake. Get real. The locals rely on tourism, and without families there would not be any.

For all we know SAM could be one of the really fat people who are also very annoying on plane journeys, where does it end?

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:45 am

Ah Sam I am afraid you might have put the cat amongst the pigeons with that reply.

I can't agree with you though, do you mean that just because you have had a baby, you can no longer have a nice holiday which will include your family? biy unfair on new Mums who probably would look forward to a nice holiday away from home in the sunshine, hubby there to help look after little one when he would normally be at work and Mum would have to cope all one her own all day. I think that is a bit unfair.

When my girls were tiny we travelled quite a lot, and yes there are times when the plane would make them cry, but you soon get to work out how best to cope with that problem, and I really don't think being in a different country at that age will have any effect on one so small.

I am so glad we were abloe to travel with our girls from an early age up to the present time, they are now 23 and nearly 21, as their attidude to others and to travel is so open and enjoyed by both, it has given them a wonderful outlook on the world and other nationalities and cultures.

Children adapt so quickly to change that you cant exclude them from holidays because of the sun, insects, food, water etc. as long as you are careful and sensible they will come to no harm.

I think your reply was a bit selfish and based on your dislike of crying children on planes. but I do agree with you about parents taking their children out late into smoke filled bars, even on holiday there are always babysitters to be found.

Hope this hasn't upset you, but it is how I feel about the subject.

SAM SPARKLE · Post by **SAM SPARKLE** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:00 am

Maybe you guys should read my post again, The point I was trying to make was that by all means have a holiday but to travel to a hot country with a babe in arms seems to me selfishness on the part of the parents, for god's sake the kid won't remember the holiday in later life , all you have done is put the kids though needless discomfort, and if you think it is ok to do this then fine, but I cannot agree. I have to say it only seems to be the English who subject their children to this. So, to reiterate my point,do you think its ok to subject your very young children to travelling abroad to hot climates and all that that entails?

enjy59 · Post by **enjy59** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:41 am

Sorry Sam but I just cant see your point atall.My son has been flying to Portugal since he was six months old and has NEVER cried on a plane, he would either sit and watch people or go to sleep.

OK you might say I was a lucky one but I think it has alot to do with how relaxed the parents are and how prepared they are.Making sure baby is not over tired or hungrey before you get on the flight is always useful.

As for not remembering ..............my son whos now 10 loves looking at photos of himself as a baby on holiday and thats his way of remembering.

Not all parents want to sit in smoky bars and clubs and drink you know!!
We took him to resturants early in the evening where he was always so welcome.Then a walk around the town and back to the villa to bed .We would then spend the evening in the villa which was hardly hard work.

During the day he was covered up and had loads of sunscreen etc etc .Never went into midday sun , took him down to the beach late afternoon/ early evening.....................
Its just a matter of common sense.

I wonder if you cried and annoyed anyone when you were tiny?????
Thats what babies do sometimes, plane or no plane!

OK thats my rant overwith!! Before anyone says anything I know my spelling is awful

Happy friday to all
Susie

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:10 pm

Ive read Susie's post and I would think most parents are as sensible as she.
I can't speak from personal experience(we couldnt afford to go abroad when ours were little..and usually trundled round in an old caravan

)
But my 6 year old grandson has been travelling by plane since he was about 10 months old..
and that first flight was to St Vincent in the Grenadine Islands..(his other grandmother had died..and property had to be sorted)...
we offered to have him but they didn't want to leave him(think it was about month)..
anyway...just to say hes been travelling everywhere since..America several times..Cyprus..Greece..
But they are sensible couple and have always made provision for his comfort..
hes more travelled than his gran & grandpop..and his new sis will no doubt be the same

P.S. Wish you a lovely hol Bubble!