Traveling to Cuba with an 17 month baby

Terrilynn - posted on 04/24/2009

Not to sure what to do about the milk either. Didn't really think about it and the doctor's didn't really say anything on it either. May have do switch to formula and bottled water for those 2 weeks. Thanks about the OFF bug spray idea for baby, I will have to see if the walmart up here has it.

Christine - posted on 04/22/2009

Actualy i just checked on the internet...the compagny OFF makes one for the entire familly !!!

Christine - posted on 04/22/2009

i dont remember the name, its the same one that we use but its for baby.... i will go to walmart and check that out or ask the pharmacist for one with a citronelle base.

I will keep you up to date if i buy something soon, and do the same please.... what are you planning to do with the milk, are you gonna give her the milk from there ?

Terrilynn - posted on 04/21/2009

What lotion did you find? I am taking my daugher to Sri Lanka in May and would really like to know what I could use for my 15 month old daugher.

Jen - posted on 04/20/2009

Quoting Christine:

Thank you very much... its actualy going to be my 5th time in Cuba, but first time trip with the baby !!! i was just scared of the milk there.... and was wondering if there was anything i could bring to replace milk....powder milk?
I asked for bugs because they are always after me, but i found out there is a lotion for baby....
I will definitely use the mug, thanks for reminding me !!!
As for the airplane i have to make sure of what i could and cant bring in my bag.....

If you choose to go with the powdered milk make sure that he likes it before you leave. My mom used to give my brother and I powdered milk because it was cheaper at the time. I know my daughter will pretty much drink anything because I went to my grandparents house and they drink 1% and she drank it so who knows.

Christine - posted on 04/20/2009

Thank you very much... its actualy going to be my 5th time in Cuba, but first time trip with the baby !!! i was just scared of the milk there.... and was wondering if there was anything i could bring to replace milk....powder milk?

I asked for bugs because they are always after me, but i found out there is a lotion for baby....

I will definitely use the mug, thanks for reminding me !!!

As for the airplane i have to make sure of what i could and cant bring in my bag.....

Jen - posted on 04/20/2009

I can't help you about in Cuba itself, but I can give some suggestions for the plane ride. We traveled in September when Savannah was 9 months and still on formula. Security allowed me to have 3 bottles (1 pre-made, 2 with water) in the bag, a sippy of juice, and a couple extra water bottles. They check the juice with a piece of litmus paper that they just place over the opened cup. I'm not sure with regular milk how much they would allow so you could call the airline security and ask or send them an e-mail from the website. I think security is pretty lenient with children, but all places are different. I chose not to use the stroller in the airport because we brought the car seat for the plane. Instead we used our baby backpack and my daughter could not have been happier. If you do take the stroller then most airlines let you check it at the gate. Make sure you have toys to play with if you have any lay overs and for take off make sure you have plenty of snacks to keep his ears popping. My daughter ate almost a whole bowl of cereal puffs on our 5 hour (including layovers) ride. Good luck and have fun.

Laurie - posted on 04/20/2009

When we went down to Mexico in December with our son who was 12 months at the time, we either filled his bottle with the milk set out for cereal in the morning or asked the kitchen staff at the buffet to fill his bottle from the milk in the fridge. It was probably 2% but that is not a problem for a week's vacation. We also took a large insulated travel mug and filled it with hot water from the tea dispenser which was just short of boiling. We used that to warm up the milk to the temperature our son likes his milk at. If the water wasn't there we again asked the kitchen staff to fill our travel mug with hot water from the kitchen. We never had any problems - the kitchen staff was very helpful.



As for mosquitos - I don't recall there being many mosquitos or any bugs in Cuba when I was there in 2005. The sun is brutal though so I would tend to pack lots of loose flowing shirts to cover baby's tender skin as well as use sunscreen.



I haven't tried baby clubs - but you will probably want to take advantage of them at least sometimes as a baby sitting service if nothing else so you can have some adult time with your husband.



The one special thing I would recommend would be bring your own insulated travel mugs ( a big one) for drinks. Assuming it's all inclusive the glasses tend to be on the small side and it it eliminates running back and forth to the bar to get refills - even if it's just lemonade or something a little stronger. Keeps your drinks cold longer also.



In cuba the help are very poor for the most part and there is a serious shortage of the consumer goods we take for granted so I would take some small packages of scented soaps, shampoo, candies, small toys for their kids, and any other little things that you can leave as tips for the staff that clean your room for example. This would be in addition to small money tips ($1/day range in US currency) - but the tips are usually very small compared to most other countries which is why the little presents are usually greatly appreciated. My Dad kept a roll of quarters in his pocket and tipped the waiters that brought him drinks a quarter every time he got a drink for instance.