BALI WITH THE RUGS RATS
Waterbom Park via groupon.com.au
Do you feel like you need a holiday to get over your family holiday when you return? When someone asks "how was it?" and you reply with an honest "...well the kids had a great time..."
Your days spent chasing after them, trying to keep them entertained, broken conversations with your partner in between getting in and out of the resort pool...
Well, if you consider a holiday in Bali, you're going to come away feeling just as relaxed as the kids with an absolute multitude of venues to visit, nannies to let you have some time out and restaurants to satisfy the fussiest of eaters!
Let me guide you through some handy tips on travelling with your little ones in Bali to ensure you enjoy your holiday, just as much as them!
BALIS BEST BABYSITTING
Attention tired and worn out mums (and dads)!!! This one is for you! PLEASE do yourself a favour and engage the services of a Nanny through Balis Best Babysitting.
I feel it is imperative to start here...because hiring a Nanny is going to set you up for a stress free holiday
On our first trip to Bali, we travelled with our extended famiy...so we thought there was no need to hire a Nanny. Our family allowed us to take quick trips up the street kid free and even kindly let my husband and I have a date night together. But there is always that niggling in the back of your mind that you really should get back to the kiddies, because they too are on holidays and as much as they love and adore our little people....we felt bad that they get dumped with our rug rats while we enjoyed some time away.
On our return to Bali and after tossing around dates and times we could go with our extended family again...it just didn't turn out and we were going to be heading overseas on our own.
This TERRIFIED me!!! In between my son that can turn from sweet to sour in the blink of an eye, my daughter that could be in the middle of Disneyland and proclaim "this is boring!" and a husband that I don't think has ever found the laundry our house and wants a trophy when he washes the dishes annually...I was panicked that this holiday was going to turn into something that mirrors The National Lampoons.
So with hesitation I started to google a Nanny to help me out while we were in Seminyak.
I would maybe consider my husband and I a bit overprotective...since they have been born, we have only had 2 nights away from them, they've only been babysat by close family and would only let them visit our closest friends houses without us being there.
So taking the step to hire a complete stranger in a 3rd world country to hang out with our family came with a LOAD of fears and anxiety.
Through my google search, Balis Best Babysitting seemed to be the pick of the crop. I furiously googled reviews of their company and searched through forums questioning their perfect rating. It all seemed too good to be true. Not ONE bad review...maybe they were fake. With the holiday fast approaching I was faced with the decision of trying the services of a Nanny or most likely living in hell for 3 weeks and playing referee for my kids (and big kid). Their site is reasonably easy to navigate, you enter your dates you require, whether you'd like a daily Nanny (what we chose) a live in Nanny or a casual Nanny that will come as a one off to let you enjoy a date night. It will then list the Nannys that are available with a list of their credintials and then you can book with a small deposit to secure.
We chose Melly.
On her first day she arrived promptly (after getting a tad lost trying to find our hidden villa tucked away in the back streets of Seminyak) and she IMMEDIATELY engaged herself with the kids and instantly made two little besties for life. My husband and I had both agreed that we were DEFINITELY not going to leave our children with the Nanny but instead use her to come with us on our daily adventures....BUT.....within minutes of meeting Melly, all our fears and hesitations of hiring a stranger to look after our kids flew away and we skipped off to have a couples massage together for an hour...or so.
Over the next week, Melly came with us on all our adventures. What she will do is all the tedious tasks for you: applying suncream hourly, wiping messy faces, making sure the kids are returning periodically to our sunbed for sips of water and entertaining them endlessly in the pool.
And that left us with just one task...
To simply love our children.
Yes. This is the gift a Nanny will give you. To be able to relax, catch up on years of uninterrupted conversation with your partner, drink a cocktail in peace and in between that my husband and I got to go back and forth to our children just to give them a kiss and a cuddle, remind them how much we love them, have a quick play and then recline back into our sun bed. During dinner times when you start to see the kids feet tapping and boredom start to set in, your Nanny will instinctively jump in before it turns into one of those full blown meltdowns and take them for a walk, play a game or have a chat with them while you finish your meal. Melly also brought arts and crafts for the kids daily, this gave them hours of pleasure and also some "quiet time" in amongst all our exciting adventures.
Your kids are going to fall in love with your Nanny...as will you...I can guarantee that you will be thinking of a thousands ways you could possibly entice her to come home with you to Australia.
I cried when Melly left on our last day.
I wish I didn't have the hesitations I did before we went. And booked her for longer.
Because as a extremely tired, worn out and working mummy...she gave me something that I have not had since my children were born...and that was time out...to let me just do nothing but love my family and to let me...just be me!
She healed my heart, restored my zen that is so often lost when parenting and refreshed my soul.
PLEASE: let Balis Best Babysitting do the same for you.
It is an Australian owned company. Danielle the owner began this side business to give her clients the same experience that I have just written. She's passionate about seeing mums and dads enjoy their holiday in Bali just as much as the kids and hand picks the Nannys to ensure you will get the best experience. The Nannys have to attend a hospital based CPR and First Aid training annually and most have had prior experience in various kids clubs in Bali.
It's not required, but if you choose to bring your Nanny out and about for the day, it is a kind gesture to buy her a meal for her troubles...she will thank you endlessly...but it will be you that will be thanking her!
Rates are approx. $5.50-$9 per hour depending on how many kids, duration etc. BBB also offer numerous baby and kiddie hire equipment and also pool fencing for your private villa arranged through external companies.
Trust the perfect ratings unlike me. They ARE true!
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So....once you've got your dates locked in for your family holiday...let this be the FIRST thing you book after that (they book out VERY fast)...so you can get the most out of this "Salty Surga"
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Find Balis Best Babysitting at www.balisbestbabysitting.com
and "like" them on Facebook for up to date kiddie news in Bali!
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Danielle and her team at Bali's Best Babysitting.
GETTING AROUND BALI WITH LITTLE PEOPLE IN TOW
Just a small passage on roaming the streets with kids. It can be quite tricky at times. The footpaths are extremely narrow and often filled with market trinkets that force you onto the busy roads for a few steps. My husband and I walk with the kids on the inside, us closets to the traffic and almost leave indentations in their tiny arms to ensure their safety. You'll find you will be walking single file at times and every now and then dodging a scooter that is taking a short cut on the footpaths. But we only roamed the streets in small doses, usually chose restaurants that were within 50 metres of our villa (again choosing a villa based on location is key!) and for the rest of the time used our private driver or taxis to get around.
With the hot tropical sun bursting down on us combined with little kiddies that get weary easily, what us grownups would consider an easy walk to get a km away...we would instead "cheat" and jump into an air conditioned taxi and pay our $3 for a little bit of AC comfort for 5 minutes.
If you are travelling with your wee baby, you be playing dodgem cars if you bring your pram. I (think) have seen 1 family with a pram during our travels...and it looked like they were juggling through an obstacle course as they walked the streets. Instead, most prefer to use a baby carrier as the easiest way to transport your little poppet around.
There aren't the most ridged rules when jumping into a cab either. We didn't wear seatbelts once (sorry mum) and when we had our Nanny travelling with us, all 5 of us clambered into the taxi with kids sitting on top of kids in between pool and beach bags and all the necessary kid crap you have to drag around...I think we became complacent with the expertise of the Balinese drivers...in comparison to our first ever visit when we had their seatbelts fastened tightly so they could hardly breathe while we went on the rollercoaster of rides through Bali (it really does feel like it. Just close your eyes if you're not into watching on coming traffic miss you by millimetres!)
If you feel like walking the streets is going to wreck your holiday. Then just base yourself out of your resort or villa and then grab a taxi...everywhere. Then there'll be no need to navigate through the busy streets. And truthfully, the streets are boring for the kids anyway. You'll have a billion offers for a cab ride and will be beeped at while you walk the paths to see if you'd like to take refuge in a cab to rest your weary feet...
YES PLEASE!
The busy Balinese streets via aroundthisworld.com
BABY, BABY, BABY OHHHHH!
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Worried about how you are going to come to Bali with your lil bub? Please don't be! We have just returned from 3 weeks in Bali and had the pleasure of having one of my friends there with her hubby and 6 month old baby. She is one of those mummy's that makes parenting seem seamless anyway, but she had the "travelling with Babies in Bali" thing down pat! Baby F travelled to and from the various beaches, restaurants and pool clubs in his carrier and sleep times were often on a sun lounger under an umbrella with the salty breeze cooling him, while mum got to have a sneaky sunbake and cocktail! There were never issues, most of the restaurants they visited the staff gushed and gooed over Baby F and loved to have a quick hold while mum and dad ate their nourish bowls and kombucha in peace. They hired baby gear for their villas, so on the lazy days where mum was surf widowed she enjoyed hanging poolside and Baby F LOVED getting on the hang with his playmat and baby gear! Through Bali's Best Babysitting they can help you arrange anything you need for your little ones needs from cots, pool fences to high chairs and toys! Danielle the owner is passionate about you and your family enjoying your holiday in this Salty Surga and it will be her absolute pleasure to help you arrange all of your baby needs!
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If you're bummed that you are going to have to fill an entire suitcase up with jars of prepacked baby food....then DON'T. Because Mini & Mighty Muncher Bali is here to save the day! They are an organisation that provides organic and totally delicious baby (and kiddie) food straight to your villa and resort! The meals are prepared daily from scratch and range from banana beetroot and brown rice pudding to strawberry cheesecake breakfast jars! Have special dietary requirements? Well, it is absolutely NO problem whatsoever for them! Just send them an email and they will cater for all your kiddies needs! I can guarantee once you get your delivery of wholesome foods for the kiddies...that YOU are going to try and sneak a wee bit of their meals! I love it when something that not only looks great and tastes great....is also absolutely nutricious as well! It's a win/win situation! Forget the "organic" packetfood and instead invest in using Mini & Mighty services to deliver your kids amazing meals to your door! The prices are so, so, so reasonable...and hey, giving your kiddies beautiful healthy meals to make them mighty and strong...well that's priceless! Check out their menus online at www.minimuncher.com
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A quick tip for the first timers bringing your bubs to Bali, the majority of restaurants or pool clubs do not have baby changing facilities...throw in your change mat for some commando type nappy changes when out and about!!
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BALI ESSENTIALS: DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM!
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It's true. You can pretty much source ANYTHING in Bali for your holidays needs....but....these are my little tips of essentials that we bring to Bali on our travels...and really, who wants to be running the streets trying to find these items when there's just TOO much to do!
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1. A good 50+ SPF sunscreen.
Yes. I know this sounds stupid. Of course you're going to pack sunscreen. But I am urging you to buy a REALLY good one! The Balinese sun does not discriminate. It's tropical rays are sneaky and you won't even realise that you are being burnt to a crisp until later that night when you realise you're a lobster with a white skin bikini on!
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2. Mosquito protection.
You're going to be coming to a tropical paradise. Most days with a quick rain shower in the afternoon...and with that....comes mosquitoes. All villas normally provide coils, spray and will fumigate periodically but DO bring your own! Since our little ones are a tad older, we bring a big can of tropical strength aerogaurd. We spray them as we leave on our adventures and I also have a smaller version that I pack in my bag to reapply if needed. If you're worried about using the big gun full strength stuff...then there are also loads of organic options you can buy too from wristbands, sticker dots and organic sprays.
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3. A rashie.
Again, seems like common sense. Our kids have a naturally olive complexion, but we still cover and lather them in sun protection. They are most likely going to be swimming every moment of every day and it's just another way you can protect their fragile skin!
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4. A beach bag.
I don't know what I was thinking on our first trip to Bali. But I only brought my handbag. I ended up having to buy a beach bag over there to carry...a change of clothes, water, wallets, sunscreen and all over kid paraphernalia that goes along with an outing! I'd get a gender neutral one though...so you're not like me that has a husband that refuses to carry it with flowers and palm trees all over it!
5. A small medical kit.
I am a kid nurse. So I MAY go a tad overboard when it comes to packing medical supplies....like, "Sussan seriously. When are you going to use that normal saline and bandages on holidays?" and my motto is: if I can treat it in the villa, then I don't have to branch out and have try and source a Dr in a foreign country! I would absolutely bring: paracetamol, ibuprofen, bandaids and ear ache drops! For sore tummys or maybe sunburn, bandaids for little cuts and ear drops since they will be swimming NON stop! This year, we managed to get through 2 bottles of Panadol and nurofen from ear aches (too many waterslides and fun!) but had to source out a pharmacy to buy ear drops for the kids! Although the pharmacies we did visit were great in helping us....we did spend a good part of a day venturing out to find it and would've soooooo much easier if we had packed it ourselves!
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6. Goggles.
These are readily available around Bali. But just as easy to bring! All that swimming will make for some pretty gnarly red eyes from the pools. So throw them in your suitcase to save you having to make a dash down the street to buy some!
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I think that is it! I'll add more essentials if I think of anymore! But in the meantime....HAPPY PACKING FOR BALI!!
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Now that you've got a quick low down on your Bali travelling to Bali with kids...it's time to start planning your adventures! Head over to my A to Z of activities for you and yours to do in this Salty Surga!!!