Baby food and milk on islands: what to bring
You are travelling with a baby and want to know what the island shop will not have.
Bring all the baby food and milk you will need for the whole stay, plus a margin for a delayed boat. Do not count on buying it on the island. Small shops may not stock your brand, and a rough sea can stop supplies for a day or more. Ask the resort what it can warm, chill and supply, and carry the rest.
Our wider guide on how to choose an island resort puts this in context. For a cot, read cot and baby bed on islands.
How do you decide how much to bring?
Counting is simple, and it protects you from being caught short. Use this method:
- Count your baby’s usual feeds in a day, including night feeds.
- Multiply by the number of nights, then add the travel days at both ends.
- Add a margin of at least one extra day for a delayed or cancelled boat.
- Add a little for spills and a feed that goes wrong.
- Check your total against the weight and space you have.
If your baby eats solids, also count pouches, jars or the ingredients you use. Ask your doctor or child health clinic about quantities and travel storage for your baby’s age. We cannot give medical advice.
What does a baby need on the island?
| Item | Why it matters on an island | Bring or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Formula or milk | May not be sold, brands vary | Bring all of it, in hand luggage |
| Baby food | Limited shop stock | Bring jars, pouches or dry mixes |
| Bottles and teats | Washing and sterilising need hot water | Bring spares and a travel steriliser if you use one |
| Safe water | Source differs by island | Ask the resort, or bring sealed bottles |
| Warming | The kitchen may not heat on request | Ask in writing |
| Fridge | Not every room has one | Ask if the room has a fridge |
| Nappies and wipes | Shops may be small or far | Bring a generous supply |
Our page on water and drinking water on small islands covers the water question in more depth. If you are unsure what a room includes, hot water and electricity hours on small islands is worth reading.
What if the boat does not sail?
Weather can delay a crossing, and a delayed boat can mean a delayed return. This is the reason for the extra day of supplies. Keep a small bag with feeds, nappies, a change of clothes and any medicines in hand luggage, never in the main bag that may go on a separate boat.
Ask the resort what it does if your return is delayed, and whether the room can be extended. Our page on meals on arrival day and departure day helps you plan the hours either side of the boat.
Questions to put in writing
- Can the kitchen warm a bottle or baby food on request, and at what hours?
- Does my room have a fridge?
- Where does the drinking water come from, and can I get boiled or filtered water?
- Is there a shop on the island that sells baby milk or food?
- Can I bring my own food, and is there any rule?
- Are meals for children under a certain age charged?
Read bringing your own food to an island resort for how to ask without causing friction.
A better fit if…
A resort that confirms warming, a room fridge and safe water may be a better fit if your baby is on formula or solids and you want fewer worries.
A place that cannot confirm these may still work if you are well prepared and travelling light on days, but plan carefully. Ask the resort, pack with a margin and keep a calm back-up.
Common questions
Can I buy baby milk or food on the island?
Do not rely on it. Small island shops may not stock your brand or may run out, and a boat delay can leave shelves bare. Bring enough for the whole stay plus extra, and ask the resort what, if anything, it can supply.
How much should I bring?
Count feeds per day, multiply by the nights, and add a margin of at least one extra day in case the boat cannot sail. Your doctor or clinic can advise on quantities for your baby's age. Pack in hand luggage.
Can the resort warm bottles or food?
Some kitchens can, some cannot, and some only at set hours. Ask whether the kitchen will heat a bottle on request, whether there is a fridge in the room, and what the water is like. Confirm in writing.
What about water for formula?
Ask the resort where drinking water comes from and whether you can get boiled or filtered water for formula. Our page on water on small islands covers the questions. If in doubt, bring sealed bottled water.