In Reply to: advice posted by bali mad on Wednesday, 5. October 2011 at 18:42 Bali Time:
just buy it over there. An expat on this forum recommended the Johnson & Johnson mosquito repellant lotion as it is DEET free, cheap and very effective. You can buy it in the supermarket in the baby section - it comes in a small aqua green bottle. It is a watery solution rather than a cream which makes it very easy to apply. I actually used it myself too, it has a nice light fragrance & is not greasy.
All toiletry items are much cheaper to buy in Bali than at home so I usually find it easier to buy those things after I arrive - shampoo, conditioner, body wash & moisturiser for the whole family. The exception to this is sunscreen - make sure you bring from home as it is expensive to buy there.
The only other thing I would suggest is taking your own cereal from home if your kids are fussy. The range available locally is limited & the imported stuff costs a fortune. I always pack a small container of Weet Bix as my little girl doesn't usually want a cooked breakfast & gets tired of Cornflakes very quickly!
Although most restaurants are reasonably family-friendly (except for the more upmarket places), I would recommend going to the beachfront restaurants which have tables & chairs in the sand. Take along some beach toys (bucket, spade etc) and the kids will have something to keep them occupied while you have a drink & wait for food (you will soon discover "Bali time" where service may not be as prompt as what you are used to!).
Colouring books, pencils etc also come in handy when you are eating out. My little one always asked the wait staff for one of their pads & a pen and then went around pretending to take orders!!
Have a great holiday, your kids may take a day or two to adjust - the weather, the culture shock & the traffic can be overwhelming for the little ones - but I am sure you will end up with little Bali addicts like mine!