My hubby and I are going for Umrah with our little munchkin IA next week. I know it would be scorching hot and I was kind of nervous about taking my little one with me this time.
Any advice on what to take especially for my baby.
What kind of clothes should I keep for him? Am planning to take short and long bodysuits of his, some cotton tees shorts, dungarees etc. knowing the temperatue difference inside and outside is a problem
I would obviously be taking his bottles, bottle bags etc. What do I do about his milk during the flight. Would they allow the ready to use cartons as they are 250 ml (Btw am flying on Etihad airways) or should I just keep powder in milk dispensers? Can I find aptamil ready to use cartons in Makkah and Madinah?
What do I need to take for his solids apart from his feeding bowls , sippy cup and spoons? Do I take his usual morning cereal plus some of his favorite fruit/veggie purees pouches?
How many diapers should I take. People have advised that not to carry too much and buy from there.
we are going to take a light weight travel stroller for him as well as a baby carry-sling. But munchkin gets easily irritated in the sling for some odd reason
rattles and toys to distract him. Somebody we know said they don’t let toys of animal and cartoon forms in the masjid is this true?
Inside the Haram and masjid-e-nabwi do they allow baby bags, foodstuff etc? somebody who has been there just recently are there baby changing facilities there?
Donot take him outside... my husband and I went there in August 2010 and it was HOT.. I dare not to take the baby out in the heat especially at the masjid which is always crowded!
But if you are inclined to take him out and about with you... make sure you take sun screen for him.. lots of huge hats, and even spray bottle so whenever he is hot, you can spray a lil on his face... keep him hydrated.
We flew Emirates in February and had no problem with milk and water coming in and going out from the US! and yes please take his cereal and puree.. you dont want to introduce something new in a foreign country... but yes you can find everything imported at Bin Dawood (in Madina- very close to masjid nabwi)!
I hope someone who has an experience of going there with baby can comment more but I will say, if possible, keep him in the hotel as much as possible!
i also second gtg’s advice.. if you can.. take turns. its REALLY bz there right now.. school is out worldwide and the flow is strong. u are putting in a lot of money to be able to worship.. with a cranky 6 month old.. u will be rushing through prayers.. madina isnt bad.. its very easy.. ac and all.. mecca aint. so take turns. espeially when you go for salam in madina.. DO NOT take the kid. their women timings are pretty silly too so the baby will most definately be sleeping at that time.. unless the timings have changed now… u should leave him witht eh husband.. think.. stampede. LITERALLY
and no.. no baby changing facility as such.. but there are marble counters in teh washroom.. you can just throw the baby changing pad ontop of it and change your baby there.. pls dont change the baby in the mosque.. u will be verbally abused BAD. (ofcourse for good reasons.. its a mosque.. respect it ) .. not that u were gonna anyways :halo:
oh BUT. u walk a long walk in mecca .. madina the washroom is downstairs .. so try to change the baby before u go to the mosque. poo is outta your control ofcourse.. but a clean diaper should keep you stress free for a bit.
I agree madinah is pretty easy. We do plan to take turns at least for the peak heat times especially during Zuhr and Asr. But I believe on my last visit in Makkah the upper levels and even the basement (the airconditioned parts were very comfortable and were not really crowded either!)
i'll have to look for lawn like stuff. In the UK usually they don't do lawn stuff for boys. And I tried looking for shalwar kameez but no size available for 6 month olds :/
I plan to go for nafli ibadat after isha at night. Planning to leave munchkin with hubby and then stay there for 2 or more hours. We'd be doing Umrah only at night time. Before fajr the crowd does thin out.
am just hoping that due to last week before Ramadan it might not be that bad ..but keeping my fingers crossed.
yes I can see he won't like the sling much. But let's see what can be done IA.
hahaha no way even in my wildest dreams would I want to change his diaper there. I know the Makkah toilets are pretty far away. Oh well…it’s all worth the hassle I guess IA
no no.. i didnt mean lawn... its veyr light weight cotton.. almost see through. nto the stretch fabric their rompers are made of.. take a look in their outdoors clothing section.
my son was steaming in his rompers even though they are ofcourse cotton.. but they are heavy weight.. from mothercare... he prefered being in tees and shorts that were made in very light weight cotton.. almost see through.. its highly breathable.. which the rompers arent.
is this true?
and good luck.
Oh well…it’s all worth the hassle I guess IA 