Baby checklist for a week in Provence: everything you need (0 to 1 year)

For a week in Provence with a baby aged 0 to 1, there are five needs to cover: sleep, meals, bath, outings and the journey. The bulky essentials are a travel cot, a high chair (from around 6 months, when solids begin), a stroller suited to narrow streets and markets, an approved car seat and a baby monitor. Everything else fits in a suitcase. Here is the complete checklist, item by item, plus the trick to avoid turning your car boot into a moving van.

Sleep

A well-rested baby means a successful holiday. The goal is to recreate a calm, dark and familiar environment, even away from home.

• A folding travel cot with a firm mattress and two sets of fitted sheets

• A sleeping bag suited to the season, safer than a blanket

• A familiar comforter or night light to keep their bearings

• A baby monitor to watch over naps from the terrace or garden

The travel cot and the baby monitor are among the items you can have delivered on site, so you never travel with a cot under your arm.

Meals

Depending on your baby's age, needs change. Before solids, milk is all that matters; after that, a little logistics kicks in.

• A way to sterilise and warm bottles if you bottle-feed

• A stable, easy-to-clean high chair once baby sits up (around 6 months)

• Bibs, unbreakable tableware and soft spoons

• A few jars or ingredients for purees, as a backup for the first evening

No need to carry a bulky high chair: the Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair can be rented and is waiting, already set up, when you arrive.

Bath

A reassuring ritual that helps baby wind down, especially after a day of discoveries.

• A suitable baby bath if the accommodation has none, or a bath support

• A bath thermometer, a flannel and two hooded towels

• Your usual liniment, gentle soap and cream, to keep skincare habits unchanged

Many holiday rentals only have a shower. A compact baby bath then comes in very handy.

Outings

Provence is best explored on foot, between markets, hilltop villages and shaded terraces. The right gear makes all the difference.

• A nimble stroller for cobbled lanes and markets

• A baby carrier for spots you cannot reach with a stroller and hilltop village climbs

• A hat, very high factor sun cream and a water mist for the heat

• A parasol or UV canopy clipped to the stroller

For these outings, a compact stroller and a baby carrier make a winning pair. Favour the cooler hours, early morning and late afternoon.

The journey

Whether you come by car, train or plane, the rule is the same: in a car, a baby must always travel in an approved car seat suited to their weight.

• A car seat suited to your baby's age and weight, even for a short trip from the station or airport

• Something to keep them calm and occupied during the journey

• A change of clothes and changing kit within easy reach

If you arrive without a car or by plane, the car seat can be delivered straight to the station or airport, ready to use.

The trick to travel light

The real secret to a relaxed week: bring only your baby's small personal belongings (clothes, toiletries, comforter) and have the bulky equipment delivered on site. Cot, high chair, stroller, bath, car seat: everything can be waiting for you, clean and set up, where you stay.

That is exactly how C&V Bebe en Provence works. You choose your items from the catalogue, we deliver to your door within 50 km of Senas, and we collect everything at the end of your stay. You travel light, with a free mind.

Frequently asked questions

From what age is a high chair needed? Around 6 months, when baby sits up and starts solids. Before that, it is not necessary.

Is a car seat really required for a short trip? Yes. In France, a child must always be secured in an approved restraint, even for a few kilometres from the station or airport.

How far in advance should equipment be booked? Allow at least 48 hours before delivery. Beyond that, a last-minute request is still possible, confirmed case by case.