Hello everyone!

I've traveled to Kauai a few times in the past years but now my husband and I are traveling with our daughter (13 months old @ the time of the trip). I could use some help on any advice on where to get supplies for her (diapers, food, laundry detg, high chair etc). We're trying to decide what we should take with on the plane, what we should send over to the condo before we arrive, and what we should buy on the island and where is the cheapest place to do that. Previously we've shopped at Safeway and Wal-Mart. We will be traveling in mid January and staying on the south side at a timeshare/condo for 10 days. I know it's a few months away yet, but as it's the first long distance trip we've gone on with her, I'm a bit nervous about having/getting what we'll need for her. Thanks in advance for any advice and humoring a nervous mom!

On the way to Poipu Beach, you will pass a shopping center with everything you need, including a gigantic and pretty nice K-Mart. I'd have a list in hand, and make a stop on the way to the condo. It's not too long a drive either, if you need to go back during the week.

http://www.kukuigrovecenter.com/shopping.html

I have rented from Ready Rentals twice and have been very happy. Yes, it is expensive,but IMO, worth it. Items are set up before you arrive.

http://www.readyrentals.com/

The only thing I would bring is a car seat and maybe some sort of shade tent. I bought diapers at Walmart.

Kauai is a blast with kids! Havefun!

Do make sure you protect your baby from the sun. Even under an umbrella at the beach, she can get sunburned from the reflection off the water, so keep her arms and legs covered and use a hat and sunscreen.

You should not have any trouble finding places to buy baby stuff.

The worst part is the flight over--even for the adults---and there's no way to stop at a rest area and take a break---hopefully you live on the West coast and hopefully your child will sleep part of the way. Have your child drink something from a bottle on takeoff. It seems like when the plane rapidly gains elevation, the babies are very uncomfortable--I always think it bothers their ears but I could be wrong about that--something sure bothers them. There seems to be a lot of crying at the beginning of the flight---don't get discouraged.

I always feel sorry for the parents who can't comfort their child on the long flight. I also always feel sorry for me if I am sitting near them (so sorry to say that).

I don't think you need to send anything over in advance. Could the car seat double as a high-chair during the trip. Do you want to take a stroller with you?

For diapers, food, laundry detergent, the Safeway WalMart you've used before should has everything you need.

The advice about baby/sun is good. Make sure you have clothes, hats, umbrella, etc. that can cover her up even along with the sunscreen.

Thank you all so much for your input so far!

We're thinking about getting a car seat from the rental car place as she'll be traveling in my arms on the flight and it would be one less thing to carry with. Anyone done that before?

Haven't shopped at K-mart, may have to try that. Anyone know how prices compare K-mart vs. Wal-Mart? I've heard sometimes Wal-Mart can be more expensive?

We don't have a rash guard for her as they're not being sold where we live right now. Thought about buying one when we get there or trying to find one online before we go. We do have a terry cover up, just probably not something she's going to want to wear while playing in the water. Sunscreen's on the list to bring and get more of once there. We do have a few hats for her and even a pair of sunglasses! Not sure if she'll wear them, but have them anyway We'll probably buy an umbrella once there, unless someone has a really good recommendation for a shade tent or something they think is a must and reasonably priced?

As for the flight over, we're coming from the Midwest so it's going to be a bit of flying. The airline we originally booked with cancelled one of our flights and now we travel to Seattle and have an overnight and then to Kauai the next day. Both flights will be around 4 hrs each. Not sure if that will be good or bad for her. Hopefully the sleep may give her a better start at the day once on Kauai. LindainOhio, I understand about being a passenger on a plane next to a fussy baby, I've been there myself. I just hope she does well and then we won't be a pain for anyone by us.

We are bringing a stroller for her. It has a canopy on it and we bought an extra collapsible sun shade for it because most strollers don't give enough shade anyway.

Thanks again!!

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I hope she sleeps, because it's definitely longer than 4 hours from Seattle to Lihue -- it's 5 from San Francisco.

I generally hate K-Mart, but I needed sunscreen so stopped there and the one I mentioned in Lihue is actually quite nice, and huge. Also, in Hawaii, every store carries sun gear - the KMart had pool toys and 1000s of different sunscreens (I exaggerate, but only a little), etc. I'm certain you can find some sort of baby sunshade there.

My husband and I took our daughter, who was 8 months, at the time. We rented the car seat from the car rental company. She sat in our lap from the flight from Baltimore. She did fine. It can be uncomfortable having a baby in your lap for hours so I walked around wth her every so often. It wasn't too bad.

What about a crib? We always made do and 'created' a high chair when traveling, but the crib is a must.

Maybe the condo has one? We actually bought a travel crib to take with us (checked on the flight when it was free to do so), and it was cheaper than renting one for a week.

Get her to wear the hat, so it will become a habit for her. Try to take enough sunscreen and other necessities, because Hawaii prices are much higher than elsewhere (for the most part). Ask your pediatrician to recommend a sunscreen, because some with higher SPFs can be irritating to baby skin.

Have fun! We took our babies to Hawaii a few times. It is perfect for childplay!

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I always thought so, too, but on our last trip (last month), the same sunscreen I buy at home was exactly the same price I pay at home.

soinlove, I think you're forgetting the time change. The flight from Seattle to Hawaii is *6* hours (on a nonstop), but there's a 2-hour (backwards) time change.

Good to know, sf. I haven't had the pleasure of visiting Hawaii for. Few years. Thanks for posting.

I made an error on time for the flight. It's around 4 from here to Seattle, and as mentioned; around 6 from Seattle to Kauai. Oops.

Great to know about the sunscreen pricing, thank you! I'll have to make sure to see if our pediatrician has any recommendations on what to use for her. We will have to start working with her and her hat again soon. She wore it during the summer months around home but hasn't had it on in a while, thanks for the suggestion. As for a crib, the condo has one that we will be using.

It's great to hear others have traveled with little ones and had a great time. We were a little nervous but figured we'd give it a try! Any other suggestions on things to bring for the flight over that will make a it easier on her/us?

Thanks again for all the help!!

I always wait and buy sunscreen upon arrival. It is never more expensive and often cheaper than here in Seattle (especially in the winter when it's hard to find here anyways).

Oh and I have never traveled with kids myself (have none) my ideas are just general from going to Hawaii luckily often.

I actually vote for sending a box ahead. We deal with severe food allergies, and with the upheaval of traveling, it is better to have some stuff that is normal! You can ship a large flat rate box from the postal service for $14, it arrives in 3 days. Everything is 25-30% more expensive in Hawaii, so keep that in mind. We hit Costco once we get off the plane, and go from there. We bring our own car seat, since the rental company ones may not be clean or recently updated. Airlines allow you to gate check them without charge. We travel with a stroller, either for riding for carrying the diaper bag and toys!

Hi, it has been a few years but we went to Maui with our then 14 month old, 2 1/2 year old and 4 year old. It was wonderful! We had 2 of those car seats with the wheels on them that convert to strollers. They were key because the kids just snuggled up and slept. We were able to wheel them right off the plane without waking. Once there, we rented from a company called Baby's Away. We rented a double jogging stroller which was key for long walks and heading to the beach. We also rented beach toys and a huge bucket of baby toys for in the room. It was quite a hit! The hotel provided 2 cribs for us and we bought diapers and food once there.

You will love it!! It was surprisingly easy with the 3 kids! Enjoy!

We got a nice small, very portable shade tent from walmart. this is similar:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sun-Stop-r...ana-I/16437927
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Ro...helter/3661081

And FWIW, I would seriously consider having a car seat on the plane for the baby. That is a VERY long time for you to hold the baby, even switching off between you both. Also, it is much safer for the baby to be in a seat than in your arms.

Now I'm nervous about the car seat from the rental company...may have to try and look into what they provide. We can't put her in a carseat on the plane because she doesn't have a seat. We didn't want to pay $600 for her to have a seat and end up using it only half the time if she wants to sit with us anyway.

We don't have a Costco membership, would you say it's worth getting before we go? DebitNM, thanks for the ideas on the shade tent.

$600? Is that a for a baby? Often you can get a under 2 seat for a lot less. Did you just assume that a seat for the baby would be the same as your fare??

Here's some info for you, including bringing a car seat. You can always bring a car seat in the hope that you will have an extra [unassigned] seat available to use it. A ticket guarantees a seat, but you might still luck out without a ticket. Also, read the tips about how to get the best possible seats that may give you a better chance to get an empty seat in your row.

http://www.babycenter.com/404_should...-child_7297.bc