This was my packing station for our Jamaica vacation. It was the first trip for our twin baby girls who are 9.5 months old. I started organizing and packing about 6 weeks prior to our trip. Below are some of the tips and ideas that worked best for us!
The List:
An Umbrella Stroller - There are so many fancy strollers on the market today that you might cringe at the thought of your baby in a $14 umbrella stroller - but I swear by these. The are small, portable, and lightweight and will fit in every taxi cab the world over.
A Stroller Bag - This isn't really necessary if you take my advice and go with the cheap umbrella stroller, but if you insist on bringing your designer model, you will want to protect it from the dangers that lie in the belly of the airline. I like the Right Start for such bags.
A Cooler - This is a great idea! Another find from the Right Start. $29 will buy you a stroller cooler that has adjustable straps to work with any model of stroller. It is the perfect size to stash a few bottles, snacks for baby, and even some after-sun care cream. This will save you a few trips from the resort pool back to your room every day.
Baby Food - So far on our vacation, the resort staff at the Ritz Carlton Montego Bay has been great at preparing food for our little ones. We've requested mangoes, papayas, bananas, and sweet potatoes and asked that they be mashed. I'm sure any other hotel or villa would be just as accommodating. We found that having our own baby food along was key on our travel days. The best part about the baby food available on the market today is that it can come in pouch varieties instead of glass jars. We used the pouches on the airplane and simply squirted the baby food into their mouths. Easy!
Sound Machine - My twins have fallen asleep every night to the sound of the ocean on a sound machine. A sound machine is a good idea even if you don't use one at home. You never know what outside noises will be audible in your hotel room and it is certain that your babies will need to take a day time nap and a sound machine close to their crib will help drown out any other noises in the room.
Baby Wipes - You can buy these in the Caribbean but you might not find the same quality you are accustomed to. I bought 5 of the small packs with the plastic closure. Slightly more expensive than buying one large bag, but less of a chance of the entire pack drying out if left open and the smaller packs can be divided and one thrown in the cooler, diaper bag, my beach bag, dad's backpack, etc.
Diapers - These are also available for purchase in the Caribbean but I suggest bringing enough for the first few days so you have time to source them when on the island.
Swim Diapers - These are much harder to find in the Caribbean so bring enough for your entire stay.
Diaper Cream - Bring a large tube because you will find you are using more. The Caribbean is hot and humid, making it the perfect environment for diaper rashes to thrive. Add in the fact that your little one will likely be spending a few hours a day in a swim diaper and you could end up with a serious rash. Plan on using the cream often and in larger quantities than you would at home.
Baby Powder - This is one of my favorites. Not only is powder good to keep heat rashes at bay and to help baby not feel super sticky, it works miracles at gently removing sand from babies skin. Your little ones skin is far to fragile for an exfoliation treatment that comes naturally when we rub sand off wet skin. Instead, dust the sandy area with baby powder and it will dry up and fall right off without any friction.
Baby Food - So far on our vacation, the resort staff at the Ritz Carlton Montego Bay has been great at preparing food for our little ones. We've requested mangoes, papayas, bananas, and sweet potatoes and asked that they be mashed. I'm sure any other hotel or villa would be just as accommodating. We found that having our own baby food along was key on our travel days. The best part about the baby food available on the market today is that it can come in pouch varieties instead of glass jars. We used the pouches on the airplane and simply squirted the baby food into their mouths. Easy!
Sound Machine - My twins have fallen asleep every night to the sound of the ocean on a sound machine. A sound machine is a good idea even if you don't use one at home. You never know what outside noises will be audible in your hotel room and it is certain that your babies will need to take a day time nap and a sound machine close to their crib will help drown out any other noises in the room.
Baby Wipes - You can buy these in the Caribbean but you might not find the same quality you are accustomed to. I bought 5 of the small packs with the plastic closure. Slightly more expensive than buying one large bag, but less of a chance of the entire pack drying out if left open and the smaller packs can be divided and one thrown in the cooler, diaper bag, my beach bag, dad's backpack, etc.
Diapers - These are also available for purchase in the Caribbean but I suggest bringing enough for the first few days so you have time to source them when on the island.
Swim Diapers - These are much harder to find in the Caribbean so bring enough for your entire stay.
Diaper Cream - Bring a large tube because you will find you are using more. The Caribbean is hot and humid, making it the perfect environment for diaper rashes to thrive. Add in the fact that your little one will likely be spending a few hours a day in a swim diaper and you could end up with a serious rash. Plan on using the cream often and in larger quantities than you would at home.
Baby Powder - This is one of my favorites. Not only is powder good to keep heat rashes at bay and to help baby not feel super sticky, it works miracles at gently removing sand from babies skin. Your little ones skin is far to fragile for an exfoliation treatment that comes naturally when we rub sand off wet skin. Instead, dust the sandy area with baby powder and it will dry up and fall right off without any friction.
Disposables - Not just diapers and swim diapers, but go for any other item that can be purchased in a disposable variety such as changing pads, bibs, place mats, etc. Airports are very dirty and you don't want to end up packing any of the germs you come in contact with back into your diaper bag.
Sunscreen - We brought two kinds with us - the cream plus the face stick - and used them liberally. Despite our best efforts, our little Sophie has been teething and thus the constant flow of drool from her mouth took the sunscreen off her chin area and she did end up with a pretty bad sunburn so be sure to pack some after care lotion too.
Tips for Twins:
- Instead of bringing the bulky double stroller, try two inexpensive umbrella strollers. You can purchase a connector from HERE to make them a double stroller if only one adult is available to push, or break them apart into two to squeeze into smaller spaces, such as narrow bathroom stalls.
