Hi All,
Just back from our 11th trip but first time with our 6 month old baby! We had a wonderful relaxing time ! We are blessed with a baby who loves to sleep though :-)
We stayed at Kajane in Ubud and Sun Island Villas (formally Aston Sun Villas) in Seminyak. We were upgraded to a 2 bedroom villa which was just so awesome !!!!
Bubs got SO MUCH attention which he loved. Restaurant and villa staff just adored him and all wanted turn cuddling him even male staff which was a bit weird at first ! At the villa we would go to the main pool for a few cocktails and the girls would take bubs for a little walk around, one day I found him in the day spa with three women LOL he smelt so lovely I think they might of given him a little massage!!
It took a while to walk anywhere as everyone wants to say hello to the baby and touch its head. Same conversation with every person -
"Helloooo Babeeeee"
"Boy or girl"
"How old"
"Ohhh so BIG !!"
Few tips etc -
* Flight - We flew with Jetstar because babies are free till they are two years old, you don't have to pay any tax - nothing ! until they are two or if you want them to have their own seat. We had a seat with basinette and bubs slept the whole way ! we took our own blanket to wrap him in.
* Baby luggage - We took our own portacot and bedding, portable highchair - (BUMBO chair) and stroller and this was not included in our luggage weight. Am glad we took our own portacot as the Bali ones were not up to my standards!! we also needed one with a flat base so we could hook up our movement and sound monitor.
* Baby wipes - those that are non fragranced and alcohol free (Pigeon imported)are around 45,000. There are a few Indo wipes but very fragranced so not so good for sensitive tooshies and faces although bubs would smell very pretty :-)
* Baby Food - We took over a few Raffertys Garden packets as they travel well. I planned to buy food over there. Heinz Baby Food Jars were 30- 35,000 for most small jars and around 20-25,000 for the gels/oatmeals. Matahari in Kuta Square had a great range. Bintang Supermarket in Seminyak only have the sweet jars no vegie ones.
* Rice Cereals - Many different brands of rice cereals and baby biscuits ! not that we used any, was fascinated by the extensive variety like 20 different biscuits for babies! I saw a fish flavoured baby cereal.
* Carrefour - Sold out of all Heinz baby food except the gels and a sultana/fig one. Was not impressed !
* Nappies - Didn't need to buy nappies but saw some similar Huggies to those in Aus, they have a display nappy so you can check it out.
* Baby bath - saw them at Matahari, Centro, Carrefour and Bintang Supermarket very cheap and good to use for washing bottles etc as well. We bathed him in bottled water every night, Hubby has bigger biceps from lugging the huge water tank home :-)
* Stroller - We took a stroller that had zip on UV shade which was FANTASTIC !! make sure your stroller has a bar or sturdy underneath so someone can help lift up and down steps and steep footpaths/curbs. We left our normal pram at home - jogger pram as no way would it fit in the back of a Bali taxi !
* Mozzie Net - We took our own and had it over the cot at all times. I got eaten alive by mozzies as usual, bubs got one tiny bite on the last day.
*Driver - We only went to Ubud and then back we used LuvtheNTs recommended driver, will have to look up his details ! He was great and forward facing carseat which was safe and secure. Our bubs normally is rear facing so thought he was the king facing forwards in the car :-)
*Bubs activies - We took our own playmat and a few toys so bubs felt more comfy. We also took our jolly jumper and attached it to the bali hut that was on our rooftop at the villa !
Happy to answer questions !! Thats all I can think of at the moment, still have holiday brain :-)
Bali is an easy and wonderful place to take a baby !!