The locals say that once you’ve been to Bali, you will always kembali (return). This is particularly true for hubby and I; we’ve had two great trips to Bali with baby Aidan this year, but that’s not to say we weren’t apprehensive and nervous in the beginning. After all, how on earth do you enjoy the best nightlife, spas and beaches that Bali has to offer, with a baby in tow?
Babysitters
We tried bringing Aidan to the award-winning Sarong Restaurant but as it was his first time out after 8pm, we could see it was getting increasingly stressful for him. So, we sent him back to the villa, where our Balinese babysitter changed him into pyjamas, made him a bottle and put him to bed. Witnessing her competence settled our nerves and we used babysitting services every night, enjoying our evenings knowing that Aidan was in safe, caring hands. The Balinese are known for their gentle and calm nature; which children respond well to. On some nights we’d even come back to find his toys had been cleared away and clothes neatly folded.
We highly recommend Bali Krisna Services as they were wonderful with Aidan and didn’t charge transportation fees nor imposed a minimum number of hours. The average cost is 50,000IDR (RM14/hour). You can also try Bali Sri Devi (+62361-926-1197), BVRS (+6281-2292-62392) or Bali Child Care (+6281-3619-8217).
Villa or Hotel?
Having tried both, our advice is to choose what suits your lifestyle and budget. Villas are great if you prefer to cook and have that homey feel. However, they can feel isolated and we preferred an environment where Aidan could also interact with other kids.
There are so many child-friendly resorts in Bali, but we can only vouch for The Marriott Courtyard in Nusa Dua where we stayed. It has an amazing kids club with a great ball pit that Aidan practically lived in. When staying in a hotel, we recommend booking a suite so that you can enjoy some privacy.
Safety
Safety should always come first when travelling with a young child. We recommend Baby Service Bali to baby-proof your villa pool and stairs. You can also rent equipment from them such as strollers, baby carriers, cots, car seats and more.
When it comes to road travel, don’t compromise on safety. If you’re hiring a driver in Bali, try requesting for a car seat in advance. We used Mr Nyoman Ariasa (+62-887-3300-813 / www.baliislandtours.com), who had a car seat for 0-4 years old.
What To Do there?
There are plenty of exciting activities for older children such as Waterbom Bali or surfing lessons but it’s a different ball game with a baby/toddler. Besides daily trips to the beach, we loved visiting the Bali Safari and Marine Park. The animals were healthy and roamed happily in their huge enclosures, and the hour-long Bali Agung show was an amazing highlight, depicting the story of the Gods (although Aidan slept right through).
The safari offers free shuttle services from key areas of Bali but we recommend booking your own driver for the flexibility and convenience. There are several packages on offer and we found the “Jungle Hopper” was perfect. Get the best deals on discounted tickets online at www.govoyagin.com .
Avoiding Bali Belly
If possible, bring frozen home-cooked meals which the hotel will keep in their freezer. You can ask for a microwave to be set up in your room or the hotel will be able to heat up the food in the kitchen. We went into a major panic when the kitchen staff misunderstood and heated up Aidan’s entire week’s supply of frozen food on our second day, however Balinese hospitality saved the day when the front desk staff insisted they make a new batch from scratch following my recipe.
Use bottled water for everything and bring sterilising tablets for your baby’s bottles and bath. Try not to give your child fruit juices, ice, exposed meat or anything that a fly has landed on – being extra careful will save you the stress and expenses of having your child admitted into a hospital abroad.
Lastly, don’t forget to bring sunblock, insect repellent and most importantly a smile; it is a holiday after all and although it helps to plan with military precision prior to departure, don’t forget to let loose once you arrive and just go with the flow.
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Diyana is a sleep-deprived, full-time working mum. She is a senior account manager in Advertising who is juggling work, life and looking after her cheeky toddler. She blogs about her parenting experiences at www.wollywrites.wordpress.com
