Mallorca

Holidays by Destination Europe Spain Mallorca Attitudes to Children 

Islanders are extremely child-friendly. One woman, seeing my child doing his level six-month-old best to get out of car while I unpacked, laughed and offered to hold him until I had finished. In the resorts most hotels are geared to families. Elsewhere, while the island's best known luxury hotel, La Residencia (now owned by Orient Express), does not welcome children except for six weeks in the summer, most of the others do. In addition, in the main resorts the improvements to infrastructure, not least pedestrian promenades, decibel counters in cafes, and restrictions on external noise after midnight, all make it a more family-friendly destination.
The regular festas might also be entertaining for children with parades, music and dancing in traditional costume, though the giant carnival figures might frighten some.

Facilities

The man-made resort beaches are generally safe - filtered at night and patrolled by life guards during the day. Alternative Mallorca (see Operators) reports that improvements in standards in the Balearics, apply equally to equipment like cots and high chairs provided. However others recommend taking your own travel cot for very small babies. Changing facilities are not standard out and about but may be available at busier beaches.

Buggies

With the construction of promenades and pedestrianised areas, very usable in most resorts.

Breastfeeding

Attitudes are generally more relaxed than in the UK - it seems to be fine in restaurants for example - but discretion is still usually expected.
Breastfeeding

Babysitting

Not very widely available in villas though a few operators can arrange. It is rather easier in hotels in family resorts. Prices are around €5. However, restaurants are usually quite happy to have little ones at evening meals. A tip from a readers is to take a wind cover for a buggy which cuts out evening breezes and some of the noise, making sleeping easier when it is time.

Baby Stuff

There are supermarkets where you can buy nappies. Ausonia are reported a good local brand or Fixies, though on our trip at SVP Consum we only found quantities of Huggies (Monbebe) at €17.25 for 60 13-20kg, Dodot (www.dodot.com) €20.01 for 76 9-15kg, or Domilin (made by Igenica in France) €8.11 for 56 9-15kg. Babyfoods we found were Hero and Nestle both jar and cereals ((a 250g jar of meat and veg was €1.17). Formula available included Nestle Natura and Nidina, Aptmil and Bledina brands. Nidina formula 500g was €1.11. Chemists also stock formula.