Clare Sparks

Taking Baby On Holiday To Spain? Read These 10 Useful Things To Know Before You Go.

Spain is a great place to take your baby and young children.  But what useful information do you need to know before you go?  From buying nappies and milk brands, to eating out, car seat regulations, baby friendly facilities and more, read our 10 valuable snippets of information to help you best prepare for your family holiday to Spain

What a wonderful place Spain is for a family holiday with your baby and children.  With its great beaches, wonderful food and warm welcoming people, you surely have everything there that you could wish for on holiday.  But what do you need to know before you and baby go there?  Here are BabyAbroad’s ten most useful snippets of information to help you best prepare for and enjoy your holiday.

1.  Pampers are called Dodots in Spain.

Both Huggies and Pampers, sorry, Dodots, are available in most supermarkets.  So there is no need to stuff your suitcase with 2 weeks supply.  Wipes are plentiful, but nappy sacks are a rare commodity.

2.  Baby formula milk can be over twice the price of English milk

Cow & Gate and Aptamil are available in some Spanish supermarkets, but under other brand names and at a higher cost than in the UK.  In Spain, the main brands are Nestle Nidina and Hero which you can buy in supermarkets and pharmacies. 

3.  Try Tapas

Tapas (or raciones) are little portions of food for sharing.  Young children will love participating in this most social of meals and it gives them chance to try a wide range of foods.  Great tapas for children include habitas (beans), tortilla (spanish potato omelette) and croquetas.  Many young children will happily tuck into more unusual foods such as chopitos (baby squid), morcilla (spanish black pudding made with rice) and cazon (marinated shark ).

4.  Some mineral waters are specifically suitable for babies. 

When on holiday in Spain, it is best to use bottled mineral water in general as in some areas, particularly on the coast, water is very high in Calcium and not suitable for drinking.  Those suitable for babies are low in ‘sodio’ and some of these have pictures of babies on the labels so are easy for you to recognise.

5.  Spanish mums use Apiretal (paracetamol) and Dalsey (ibuprofen) when their babies aren’t well.

Calpol isn’t widely available so you could pack some 5ml sachets which are great for travel.  If you need medicines on holiday, head to a pharmacy as supermarkets don’t sell medicines. 

6.  Be prepared to change your baby in his or her pushchair

Without a doubt the Spanish love children and yours will probably get plenty of attention.  Unfortunately facilities are sometimes lacking and some restaurants don’t have high chairs or change facilities.  Be prepared and take along an easy to pack travel chair.

7.  Spanish seasonal fruit and veg are excellent