Traveling to bali with a baby

You have not experienced logistical hell until you’ve travelled with a baby. Wherever you’re going and whatever age the baby is, he or she will always need more apparel, equipment and paraphernalia than any other member of your travelling party. The days of grabbing your passport and running out the door are over; say goodbye to spontaneity and hello to exhaustive checklists. But for all the stress and spilt milk, holidaying with a baby can also bring untold joy (especially with all the ridiculous outfits you can make them wear).

Bali is a great place to take kids – there’s a wealth of family-friendly villas, restaurants and activities and above all, the Balinese people love babies. Walk into a shop with your baby and be prepared to be swarmed by staff cooing and chirping at your child. It’s a sight for sore eyes – especially if you’ve been stuck carrying a sweaty, grouchy baby all day. Here are some tips to make your first Bali trip with baby an easier one, as hard-earned by the TLN team.

#1 Go onto Bali Baby and rent everything

On our most recent trip, Bali Baby was an absolute godsend. It started off with a search for carseats to hire and quickly spiralled from there. You can get everything you need from Bali Baby, from airport transfers with carseats to baby baths to strollers to swim vests to toys. They’ll deliver everything to your villa for you, and collect it all after you’ve checked out. What this means: no need to uproot your entire house and bring bulky toys or equipment (they even have baby monitors).

Read also: These Canggu hangouts are a kid’s dream come true

#2 Order food from Mini Munchers

Hell hath no fury like a hungry baby who needs a pumpkin puree five minutes ago. Enter Mini Muncher, who will deliver your choice of freshly made baby purees, toddler and kids meals or snacks to your doorstep. Prices start from AUD3 per meal, and the food is all organic with no nasties or preservatives. For my 11-month-old we ordered the aforementioned pumpkin puree, sweet potato and spinach puree and pumpkin, brown rice and chicken puree (do you sense a theme?) and he ate every last drop.

#3 Cover every last inch of them with mosquito repellent (and sunscreen)

Bali mosquitoes did not come here to play, and they are everywhere. Dengue aside, the combination of heat and sweat makes mosquito bites even more sore and itchy for little ones, and any broken skin from scratching runs the risk of infection. Keep a citronella spray handy (20 drops of citronella oil + half a cup of water), load up on baby-friendly mosquito repellent (we like Buds Mozzie Clear Lotion) and make sure they sleep with a mosquito net.

Read also: Villa Suami is a haven for family stays

#4 Go for a carrier over a stroller

Unless you’re ideologically opposed to them, baby carriers are a much easier way of carting your child around the island. Pavements can be inconsistent and not in the best nick, roads can be narrow and the terrain rocky. Keep your hands free and your baby close to your chest (just be prepared for the sweat).

#5 Finally, plan small

If your family is anything like mine, they love an itinerary. But babies follow a special schedule all of their own making, which can change at the drop of a pacifier. (Unless you have one of those extremely good babies on an excellent routine, in which case, hats off to you.) Keep your days open-ended and relaxed, plan to spend a lot of time in the villa (why else did you book it?) and don’t stress out about missed appointments. If you must, plan for one activity a day that can happen between naptimes and leave plenty of time for getting ready and an impromptu splash in the pool.

These family-friendly villas are waiting for you in Bali.

Bali has long been our go-to destination for trips with friends, a solo voyage, a weekend away with someone special, but it’s also one of our favourite places to bring the family to. Travelling with young nomads is no easy feat, but we find that although no trip goes without a hiccup, there are small things that can be done so that everyone has a great time throughout. So after our last trip with little ones in tow to Bali, we created a checklist that would help parents.

#1 Book a late flight

This way, your child can sleep through the flight. There’s less “work” involved in entertaining them and if you’re flying long-haul it’s less likely they’ll be jet-lagged. Dress them in pyjamas and they (and you) will feel much more comfortable.

#2 Arrive at the airport early

We adults may never get it, but kids love airports. Go early to allow ample time for checking in and getting through security. The last thing you want is the stress of rushing. Let the kids run around to tire themselves out and they’ll fall asleep as soon as you board the plane. Truth.

#3 Two words: Drink up

No, not you, your kid! The most daunting part of a plane ride for kids is during take-off or landing when their ears pop. This is when you normally hear kids crying. So pack formula and a baby bottle or a juice pouch in their carry-on – swallowing liquids will help normalise the ear pressure. Or breastfeed if you’re still nursing.

#4 Pack light 

Some airlines don’t give babies their own luggage allowance so pack as light as possible. Most villas or hotels offer laundry service for a reasonable fee, so pack clothes for only half the trip, wash and re-use them. If your kid has sensitive skin, bring your detergent in a Ziploc bag.

#5 Always have spares

Kids are walking-Murphy’s-Law executors. If there’s something that can be spilled, it will be. Pack an extra set of clothes in your hand-carry and extra clothes for the rest of the family just in case the airline loses your luggage.

#6 Activity time

Pack a few different games and books to keep them entertained – sticker books, colouring books, favourite stories, puzzles, magnet games, cards and any other of their favourite toys. Take out one at a time, only taking the next one out once the current option has lost its charm.

#7 Don’t delay disembarkation

Use the restroom, change their diapers and be ready for touchdown just before landing. Try to get off as soon as the plane lands. This way you avoid queues at immigration. Or you could book the VIP service that gets you in the fast track lane through immigration.

#8 Make some calls

Ask the villa or hotel to provide as many items as you will need. Call or email ahead of arrival and ask if they have baby essentials available for guests, like a bottle steriliser, bottle warmer, travel cot, baby bathtub and stroller – most villas in Bali do. This way you won’t need to lug everything with you, just the items you’re sure they don’t provide.

#9 Check out Bali Baby Hire

Bali Baby Hire has everything you can need to keep kids safe while travelling: infant/toddler car seats, pool safety fences, stair safety gates. They also provide airport transfers and hotel change transfers with baby/toddler car seats. We don’t know what we’d do without them.

#10 The Babysitters Club

Hire a babysitter so you can have a date night. To help your child familiarise with the sitter, hire the sitter during the day to play for a few hours while you’re there then the same sitter can come back again at night. This way baby won’t feel too agitated about being left alone with a stranger.

#11 Stock up on their favourite foods

If your kid is a fussy eater (there’s always one in the family), many Bali villas will offer a grocery buying service. Ask them to stock the house with food your kid will need such as milk, cereal and fruits, to save yourself the stress of running around finding shops upon touchdown. 

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Do babies need visa for Bali?

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