Help with Baby issues
 

We are leaving in 7 weeks for a 2 week trip to Austria and Italy. We will be traveling with our 7 month old. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions (besides leaving our baby at home) regarding the cleaning of baby bottles, nipples and spoons? Thank you

I guess at 7 months it's too late to recommend breastfeeding, huh? Just kidding, but that does simplify the feeding situation anywhere you go (future parents/travellers take note) and Europeans are much more tolerant of it in public than Americans. As for bottles, nipples, etc, the tap water in Western Europe is very safe and a quick rinse or soap and water wash should be fine. seven-month-olds do not need to have everything boiled or sterilized. Once they start crawling on the floor and eating lint that's all over.

I guess at 7 months it's too late to recommend breastfeeding, huh? Just kidding, but that does simplify the feeding situation anywhere you go (future parents/travellers take note) and Europeans are much more tolerant of it in public than Americans. As for bottles, nipples, etc, the tap water in Western Europe is very safe and a quick rinse or soap and water wash should be fine. seven-month-olds do not need to have everything boiled or sterilized. Once they start crawling on the floor and eating lint that's all over.

Alternate suggestions: Playtex nurser bottle with disposable bags or teach the kid to drink from a sippy cup in the next 7 weeks and buy one of those new ones with the no-splatter top.

If your baby is eating solids, just buy baby food as you go (there are some nice organic brands in Europe, like HOPP). Restaurants are incredibly nice about heating food and bottles. We kept our baby's formula powder in the hotel and took only what we needed for the day in one of those nifty containers which hold milk portions (Avent makes them). You can use Evian and Volvic water for baby's bottle (avoid Vittel, Contrexville; anything too mineral-y). Try to sit outside at restaurants and thus avoid the smoke. And, yes, no will will bat an eye if you breastfeed. Have a great trip!