Travelling with a 1 year old
 

Hi- We are going to have our first beach vacation with our one year old...would love any advice from those of you that have done this...he is now walking FYI.

Any tips, suggestions, etc would be greatly appreciated!

Sarah

Sarah - we have a 13 month old. She has been many places so far. We went to Nevis for a couple of weeks in May and that was great because we were staying in a house. With a little one a villa rental is always easier. That way you can actually talk / watch TV, etc. without disturbing your little one. Spending a night in a hotel with a baby or toddler is never fun as you have to be quiet or they do not sleep.

We are actually headed to St Barths for 2 weeks over Thanksgiving. We rented a villa there on the beach with a pool.

We are going back to Nevis again in the spring and again staying in a villa.

Next year we are thinking of returning to the Turks and Caicos for Thanksgiving as they have many condo-type accommodations.

Do you see a trend here with what I am writing :)

I would recommend staying somewhere you can get a villa or an apartment style accommodation. It is always a plus to have a kitchen available when traveling with a child. Before we had a little one, we stayed at Blue Waters on Shoal Bay West in Anguilla. The beach is fantastic, and the water is calm, perfect for a baby. The accommodations all have kitchens - they are apartment style and the buildings are 2 story. There is a bedroom and a large living / dining room area and then a patio or balcony. They also have 2 bedroom units. I would definitely stay here if we were to return.

I would look into the Turks and Caicos. The beaches there are fabulous and have very calm waters. A lot of the accommodations on Provo are condo-style so that would be great as well.
Have a wonderful trip! :)

We spent a week last March in Jamaica in a villa at Silver Sands with my 2-yr.-old and 8-month-old grandsons, who loved it. The price was reasonable, the surroundings gorgeous, the beach beautiful, and the villas fully staffed (which meant a real vacation for all of us). The beach was perfect for the children, the water calm and no sharp dropoff. We were even able to find a villa with a fenced-in pool. See their website: www.silver-sands.com

We've been taking our daughter on beach vacations since she was 6 months old. Here's a some suggestions: 1)bring a float which most sporting goods places will carry, one which the baby can sit in. 2)Make sure you bring or know where you can rent a beach umbrella. A maximum sunscreen 45+ because their baby skin is so delicate. They shouldn't sit in open sun for more than 15 minutes (hence the umbrella). We try to set up in shade wherever we can. I would be absolutely diligent if not paranoid about the sun. I don't want my kid coming back to me later in life and say how I started her nice carcinoma. 3)An appropriate bug spray always on hand. Beaches can be buggy early and late in the day. Nothing worse than a sunburnt and/or bug-bitten baby. I've seen some and it is horrific. 4) Swim diapers. Keep some regular diapers in your pack too. I agree with the villa vs. hotel assessment as well. Unless you can rent a suite in a hotel. Otherwise, you are at the mercy of the baby's ability to sleep with noise. You can also feed the baby more efficiently in a villa. A few sand toys and you're set. Have fun.

There's a tent that One Step Ahead sells and the thing is amazing! It's very compact and pops right open. Our son napped in it on the beach (we put it under an umbrella for extra shade).

Another One Step Ahead item we like is the travel stroller. It's folds up and can be slung over the shoulder and, best of all, it's only about $34 so if it gets destroyed, who cares! Steering is OK (it's no MacLaren) but it serves its purpose well.

Also, we bought a very lightweight car seat from Target. It's a Cosco and it's nothing you'd keep in your car permanently, but it's fantastic for traveling because it's so ligthweight. Also, it's FAA-legal. If you haven't purchased a plane seat for your little one, bring the carseat with you all the way to the gate anyway because you might get lucky and if there's a spare open seat, you must have a car seat for your child to use it. Even if they tell me the flight is completely booked I bring the seat and gate-check it. At least three times they've told me the flight is overbooked, but we end up with an extra seat anyway.

Bring twice as many diapers on the plane as you think you'll need and don't forget a full change of clothes.

Have a drink (or pacifier) ready for take-off and landing (to pop ears).

We usually bring a few sippie boxes of Parmalat with us (it's milk that doesn't need to be refrigerated) in case we need an emergency drink in the middle of the night or first thing in the AM before anyone else is awake.

Bring plenty of Motrin (and perhaps some Benedryl).

Have a great time!!

3T: Great suggestions. I'd add that when we can book seats ourselves over the internet, when the seating availability allows and when the baby was still flying free, I'd book seats for myself and my husband on either side of an empty seat. Even if seats fill up, you can always switch seats with the one inbetween. Most of the time, no one books that seat in between so you end up with an extra seat for baby.

Thank you so much! Your suggestions are very helpful and I appreciate any additional suggestions.

Take care-

Sarah

People with young children tend to go either for resorts with condo/villa type accommodations, or all inclusives.

As the father of three children, I'm a big fan of the first option, I like the convenience of having the space in a condo, plus a full kitchen to store a few things, give the young ones a nap in peace etc.

As it happens, I am in the tourism business in Grand Cayman... and Grand Cayman is a leader in the Caribbean at offering condos and villas... and we don't go in for all inclusives :)

I am considering a carribbean getaway for our family - with 16 month old/toddler

my wife is always worried about medical resources in the event our son needs it - somewhat neurotic

any tips/information to ease her worries on this issue?

That is always a difficult one. Some islands will have better medical facilities than others. I lived in the Turks and Caicos and went to Dr. Menzies, (menzies medical) in Provo. I have also lived in the USVI and there are many american Drs. there. Fortunately we have never needed medical attention when on vacation with our daughter. We am traveling to St Barths in 2 weeks with my 14 month old. I would suggest that if you rent from a villa agency or stay in a hotel that you get the name of a Dr. from them. There are many ex-pat Drs. living in the Caribbean. I have a good friend in Nevis who is a pediatrician from the states. You just have to ask for the info. If you decide which island you will be visiting I can see if I know anyone. GL

Jumping onto this post: do you need a passport or is a birth certificate OK?

My first choice would be Moondance Villas in Negril. Great location, beautiful villas. There is shade and plenty of room to spread out.

To suggest limiting yourself to expat doctors is suggesting that doctors who are Caribbean nationals are somehow less qualified. Sorry, but utter nonsense.

I know several doctors from the Caribbean here in Cayman who are known to be world class in their fields.

Oh, and medical care of a very high quality is available here in Cayman.

To answer the other poster, as of Dec 31, 2006 US nationals need a passport to re-enter the USA from the Caribbean. Everyone should have a passport, particularly in the age of insecurity we now live in, but that is just my opinion.

Tom - I was not trying to suggest that at all. I know many Drs who are from the Caribbean and I know many medical students who study down there. From the posters comments they seem that they might be more comfortable knowing there are ex-pat Drs. People fear the unknown...

Tom, I read MIM04's, post, and didn't see him/her saying to limit the doctors to expats. It seems like the post was trying to reassure pixal so they could have a "comfort zone". I have also been to Dr. Menzies in Turks and Caicos, and he was excellent.
Like everywhere, there are good doctors and bad doctors. Having said that, some islands have better care than others, and there are other things to consider. No matter how good the doctor, sometimes the facilities are not up to "american standards" Even those that are, still send sick and/or pregnant patients to Miami. Even in the Caymans, alot of pregnant women come back to the States to have there babies, for example.
There are other things to consider. Sometimes there are language barriers and heavy accents from these doctors. For example, Dominican Republic, they mostly speak spanish, no matter how great the doctor, they might not understand what they are saying!! Facilities there are not up to "American standards" Jamaicans have sometimes a heavy accent, and they could be hard to understand. One of the reasons to suggest expats is to feel more comfortable.
Most caribbean doctors can handle general stuff, a cut, a cold, a broken arm. If something is serious enough, most will send patients back to Miami, including the doctors in the Caymans.
Tom, I read alot of your posts, and in general you always give great advice. But sorry here, if you are promoting your island by cutting down someone's else's post is irresponsible.
I guess I'm guilty myself, since I just attacked you Tom!
Pixel: I have a just turned 4 year old, and she has traveled all over the Carribean and Mexico with us, with no problems. We will also be spending 2 whole months in Turks and Caicos, I'm I'm completely comfortable in taking her! The only place I've had problems with doctors are in the Out Islands in the Bahamas, and I took my toddler there too! One piece of advice, take the phone number of your pediatrian, call him from whatever island you choose if needed. Also tell your pediatrian that you will be gone and where. Your pediatrician will probably put you at ease. Toddlers travel all the time.

Many places are now requiring a passport. I'd definitely get one for your child/children and remember that both parents must be physically present to get a child's passport (or you need all sorts of notarized documents).

One more note: When I suggested the change of clothes, you might consider bringing one for the grown-ups too. A friend was traveling to the Carribean recently and her son got sick all over her so she ended up buying a new outfit in the airport during her layover. You can imagine how stylish that was.

blamona, pixelsherpa was asking about "medical resources", so to reply referring to availability of expat doctors was implying that a lack of expat doctors means a lack of resources.

I wasn't trying to promote my country, just defend it.

In that vein, you then said "Even in the Caymans, alot of pregnant women come back to the States to have there babies, for example." Ignoring the typos, that is inaccurate. Very few expectant mothers in Cayman go overseas to deliver, the facilities here are excellent. In Cayman, as with other smaller islands, the only time it is necessary to go overseas for medical treatment is for specialist treatment where an island of our size (only 45,000 people) cannot support certain specialist medical services. However, with hundreds of births each year, delivering babies is one area that is well supported, as I am sure it is in many other Caribbean countries.

Sorry, this has gone off topic... I'll stop now.

Tom - For some reason you will not accept the fact that I was NOT trying to imply that. I really wish you would give me the benefit of the doubt here. I really do not appreciate that.

You normally give good advice on this forum, but for some reason you are taking this personally. My family lives in the Caribbean. I have lived in the USVI and the TCI and I will be moving to Nevis. I know a lot of great Drs. who are from the Caribbean and are NOT expats. I just know that a lot of americans are more comfortable using Drs. who are expats. Period. That is it, not trying to imply anything at all. I was just trying to offer someone advice as this topic comes up a lot.

Blamona - thank you for your comments.

I'm defending this because yes, I do take this personally, I have family who are highly qualified specialist doctors who are MORE qualified than some of the expat doctors here.... I guess you are right, some Americans prefer expat doctors, it just grates with me that such should be the case, it is not exactly PC on their part.

I apologise to you for misreading your comment and accept your clarification... and will drop the subject now :)

Thank you Tom. I appreciate that. I agree with you about the Drs. though. I do know some Drs. personally who are from the Caribbean region who are better than some I know in the US. :)