Philippines with a Baby – Comprehensive Guide 2025

There are also plenty of kids play spaces around for babies. We particularly love Kidzoona – they have a few around the city (one of the best Kidzoona places in Manila is in SM City San Lazaro). The main downside? The lack of nature and beauty. It seems a shame to travel all the way to the Philippines and miss the oceans, beaches, waterfalls and jungles. Also Manila is relatively expensive for accommodation and transport – so if you’re traveling on a low budget you may struggle in Manila. 

2 Palawan

Palawan is another great family-friendly destination in the Philippines. This is one of the most popular islands in the Philippines, and as a result, it has high levels of tourism and a greater level of amenities, shops, and facilities for families (especially in Puerto Princesa and the El Nido beach area). Palawan is a particularly beautiful island with stunning, pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking coastline. So not only will you be able to find plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants, and amenities for families, but there is also plenty of beautiful scenery to enjoy.

So if you are planning a beautiful beach holiday in the Philippines, then we highly recommend considering Palawan as a top pick destination. The main disadvantage of visiting Palawan with a baby is the distance between the main city and the beaches. You will probably need to take a bus journey for a few hours to reach El Nido from Puerto Princesa. This is a pretty tiring and challenging journey with a baby. If you visit El Nido, the island hopping trip would be a lot or fun for a family. Power cuts are particularly problematic in El Nido – so being a portable power bank and a head torch. A battery powered fan is also a good idea. Find out more about common challenges travelling the Philippines.

3 Cebu

If you’re looking for a more adventurous holiday to the Philippines with a baby, then we highly recommend a visit to Cebu. Cebu is one of the central islands in the Philippines, and it has a large city and several beautiful towns. Cebu is well known for its stunning waters. If you are interested in diving, snorkeling, or free diving, then Cebu is a great choice. You may need to plan to leave your baby with your partner while you take a stunning dip, but we think it is well worthwhile for any families that love beautiful coral reefs and tropical fish snorkeling. You can also swim with whale sharks in Cebu. Cebu also has some stunning waterfalls, and it is a well-known spot for canyoning.

It is important to recognize that many areas of Cebu are not very well developed, and many of the activities are unsuitable for a baby. If there are at least two adults in your group and you are planning to travel to Cebu with a baby, we recommend talking to your travel buddy and planning what activities you want to do and who will look after the baby at which points so that you can enjoy the activities. Although many of the activities are not suitable for a baby, Cebu does have some stunning beaches.

One of our personal favorite moments in the Philippines was watching our baby take her first steps on White Beach (Moalboal in Cebu). We also loved taking a sunset swim with our baby. Cebu city also has several large malls including soft play places (e.g. SM Cebu City Mall). Cebu is also cheaper than Palawan and Manila – so you can get more for your money. 

Things to do in the Philippines with a baby

Here is some inspo to help you picture the type of things you could do in the Philppines with a baby

• Take an island hopping trip – Many of the island hopping trips are fun, beautiful & family friendly
• Visit a kids play space – most of the big cities have malls with kids soft play spaces (watch out for Kidzoona – a creative and innovative brand of play spaces) 
• Play on the beach – The Philippines has some very beautiful beaches – great for a baby to play
• Visit a waterfall – many areas of the Philippines have some stunning waterfalls, this can be a beautiful and exhilarating place to visit with a baby – they are also generally sheltered and cooler for a baby 
• Visit a lagoon – some areas of the Philippines have some stunning inland lagoons with crystal clear waters (don’t miss Barracuda lake in Coron) 

Is it safe to travel to the Philippines with a baby?

In general, the Philippines is a relatively safe country to travel; however, like every country, the Philippines does present its own unique and inherent risks and challenges. It is very important to keep up to date with the latest travel safety information from your consulate or embassy. We have found the information on the UK FCO website to be helpful and reliable, especially when it comes to up-to-date safe travel guidelines. 

The Filipino culture is generally very friendly and welcoming towards families, and we have traveled around the Philippines many times with no problems at all. It is worth being aware of potential health risks, especially if you are traveling with a baby.

Make sure that you have sufficient travel insurance for yourself and your family and that your trip covers your destination. Ensure your insurance has a sufficient level of medical cover, including repatriation cover. It is also important to prepare any medical supplies that you need for your baby before your trip. If your baby requires any medication, you will need to bring this with you because you may not be able to reliably access specific medication when you are in the Philippines.

Consider the age and stage of your baby

The Philippines is a relatively challenging country to travel whether you are traveling with kids or not. The age and stage of your baby will have a big effect on the type of trip that you take and the challenges that you are likely to encounter. 

For example, if you’re traveling with a newborn, you will find it relatively easy to move around because they are small and easy to carry. So traveling to the Philippines with a newborn may sound easy. However, this can also present challenges. For example, the Philippines has a hot tropical climate, and this can be particularly challenging for a newborn. Expect a lot more feeding just because of the climate. 

We traveled to the Philippines with an older baby of 11 months old, and she actually took her first steps on our trip. This was a particularly beautiful and significant time for us; however, traveling to the Philippines with a mobile baby does present new challenges. 

For example, if your baby is old enough to crawl and is not yet walking, you will want to find somewhere that has space for them to move around. We found this quite challenging because the level of hygiene in accommodation and public spaces is very low. No one wants to let their baby crawl around a grubby room, especially in a tropical climate. 

So, the age and stage of your baby are very important when you are considering and planning a trip to the Philippines. In our opinion, the ideal baby age is pre-crawling and pre-walking. It is important to be aware of hydration and high temperatures for a baby of any age in the Philippines.

What is food and drink like in the Philippines for a baby?

What is food like in the Philippines?

Food in the Philippines has a European influence from the Spanish Colonial era. This means that you can find some relatively familiar European food around. For example, you will see a lot of bakeries serving a range of bread and cakes. You will also see plenty of places preparing and serving roast chicken, which is a very popular dish in the Philippines (it is actually super tasty but may be risky for a baby). If you are looking for more familiar Western food, you can often find Western restaurants situated in tourist hot spots such as Palawan. 

There is a very popular fast food outlet called Jolibee. They offer a wide range of familiar food such as beef burgers, chicken burgers, and pasta dishes like spaghetti bolognese. You can also find plenty of convenience stores around (e.g. 7 Eleven) and they tend to serve a range of packaged snacks and food. If your baby is old enough to take solid food, you may find the Philippines relatively challenging. Again, this is an advantage to traveling with a small baby that has not yet weaned onto solid food. 

The food in the Philippines is relatively mild and non-spicy; you can also find plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables around. This is a good option if you are traveling with a baby. However, you may struggle to find pre-prepared baby food, so if you are relying on this to feed your baby, you may need to travel with a sufficient supply on your trip. 

Baby friendly food in the Philippines

Some of our top pick Filipino foods for a baby include breads (watch out for hot pandesal, tasty Spanish salt bread), boiled eggs, barbecued fish, coconuts (called “Buko” in the Philippines), and pancakes. Oh yeah – oats and milk! You can buy travel sized packs of quaker oats and small cartons of milk all over the Philippines. Great for travel with a baby! All of these foods are affordable, readily available, and baby-friendly.

If you are planning to spend a long time in the Philippines with a baby, we recommend adapting to the local food and finding products that work for your baby. Personally, we choose fresh, healthy food as much as possible, although this is not always available in the Philippines, so it can be challenging to feed a baby.

TOP TIP – Street food in the Philippines is tasty and affordable. However, we don’t recommend feeding your baby with street food in the Philippines (unless their system is well adapted to the area). 

What things can you buy in the Philippines for a baby?

It is relatively easy to find baby-friendly products in the Philippines. However, if you are committed to a particular brand of baby food, baby milk, or nappies, you may need to bring them with you. Don’t expect to find any niche organic brands in the Philippines. Oh yeah – you can find Pampers nappies in the Philippines but they are expensive, costing around 70 pesos for 4 nappies (or £1 or $1.20). If you do bring baby milk with you make sure it is sealed very well between uses. The ants in the Philippines often get food products, and it would be devastating to lose your supply of baby milk to an ant infestation. If you can manage a spare bag of formula this is a good idea.

There are many supermarkets and convenience stores situated around the Philippines. They generally stock products like nappies, wet wipes, and baby milk. If you are traveling in a particularly remote or rural part of the Philippines, you may also be able to find nappies sold in local pharmacy stores. Most small towns and villages in the Philippines have pharmacies. To buy nappies, they are normally sold individually in pharmacies. 

Typical prices for baby products in the Philippines:

• Nappies – Large pack 350 – 500 pesos (around £5 – £8 or $6 – $10)  
• Wet wipes – Cost 70 – 100 pesos (around £1 – £1.50 or $1.20 – $1.80) 
• Formula – Costs around 350 pesos (around £5 or $6)

TOP TIPS – Pull up and pull down nappy pants are more common in the Philippines. It can be hard to find the fastenable diaper style nappies in the Philippines.  

Packing list for traveling in the Philippines with a baby

• Baby travel changing mat
• Nappies
• Wet wipes
• Baby-friendly sun cream
• Sun hat
• Portable fan for a baby
• Sling or baby carrier
• Mosquito net sleeping tent
• Loose, cool clothing
• Plenty of formula
• Any medication your baby might need
• Nappy rash cream (particularly important for a hot climate)

Accommodation in the Philippines for babies

Accommodation in the Philippines is generally pretty basic and simple. Even if you pay a lot of money for a room, it may still be fairly simple and not particularly clean. Your money does not go very far on accommodation in the Philippines, so don’t expect to get a lot for your money, even if you are splashing out on the room. If you are looking for accommodation in the Philippines that has excellent family-friendly facilities and amenities, then you will need to pay for a proper hotel. Hotels in the Philippines can be relatively expensive, and even when you are paying a lot, they may still lack certain facilities. We recommend finding a hotel in an area that interests you (e.g. close to a particular beach you like). Consider the location; make sure it is close to things that you want to see and do. 

We recommend contacting the hotel to check what facilities they have. For example, do they have a free cot available on request? And are they able to reserve this for your stay? Do they have a restaurant, and does it include a kids’ menu and baby chairs? It is important to ask all of the questions and not make any assumptions because these types of facilities and amenities are not standard in the Philippines. 

Even if you are paying a lot for a room in the Philippines, it is important to be aware that it may not be baby-friendly, particularly if your baby is able to crawl or toddle around. Therefore, we recommend that you check your room carefully and make arrangements in your room to make it more baby-friendly. We often end up pushing beds against walls and making sure that windows are properly locked so that rooms are child-safe and baby-friendly.

Transportation in the Philippines with a baby

1 Buses

Transportation in the Philippines can be relatively challenging if you are traveling with a baby. The most common and economical way to travel around the Philippines is to use buses. You can find bus services connecting most towns and villages in the Philippines, especially if they are on popular tourist routes. Most bus connections cost around 210 – 600 pesos for a few hour journeys (around £3 – £9 or $4 – $12). Babies are normally free of charge. Kids under 3 are also normally free but may not be allocated a seat. You may be able to find a bus station alternatively you can often book transport though your hotel or guest house. 

2 Car rental

Transportation is relatively cheap in the Philippines; however, it is also pretty basic, and it can be quite challenging taking a long bus journey with a small baby. As an alternative, you may wish to consider renting a car so that you can travel around the Philippines with your baby. Popular destinations in the Philippines have a wide range of car rental options. However, prices are relatively high, with car rental generally costing at least 1,400 pesos per day (around £20 or $25). If you do choose to rent a car in the Philippines, it is important to check whether they can include a baby seat.

Car rental dealers do not have baby seats as standard, so you may need to get hold of a baby seat a different way. When we traveled around Cebu Island with our baby, we chose to rent a car, and we were able to find a good deal; however, the car rental dealer was not able to include a baby seat. The long journey days can be relatively challenging, so it is important to be well-prepared. Make sure that you prepare a bottle of milk or drink in advance. We also recommend that you consider some toys and activities to keep your baby entertained and engaged on the journey. 

Remember that the journey can be quite fatiguing and tiring for a baby, and they are likely to struggle if you are planning to travel for a few hours across the Philippines. It is also important to be aware of road safety in the Philippines; the roads are pretty intense, crowded, and unpredictable. If you have not experienced driving in an Asian country, we recommend that you spend some time familiarizing yourself with the roads and go very carefully.

3 Tricycles

For short journies around town you can easily find taxis (the Grab taxi app is a good choice in the Philippines). OR, if you really want a giggle and a unique experience why not barter with a local tricycle driver? (this is the local tuk tuks). They often charge per person and they are generally very affordable (normally around 20 – 30 pesos for short journeys). Our baby girl absolutely loved tricycles – just look at her adorable smile! There really is something invigorating about buzzing around the Filipino streets in a tricycle.

Facilities and amenities for families in the Philippines

Although the Philippines is a very warm, friendly, and welcoming country for families, the facilities and amenities are very basic. For example, it is very rare to find toilets with baby changing facilities. We recommend bringing a travel baby changing mat or being prepared to do a lot of nappy changes on your lap. This can take a little practice if you don’t want to get baby poo smeared on your shorts. The Philippines does have a culture that recognizes and welcomes families; however, it is rare to find special provision or priority for families.

What are the biggest challenges of the Philippines with a baby?

There are plenty of challenges traveling around the Philippines, whether you are traveling with a baby or not. However, these challenges may feel much bigger if you are traveling with a baby. Even going to the supermarket with a baby can feel very challenging. Here are some of the biggest challenges when you are traveling in the Philippines with a baby.

1 Power cuts

Firstly, power cuts are regular and widespread throughout the Philippines. So wherever you are staying, you are likely to experience intermittent power cuts (and sometimes there can even be scheduled power cuts lasting for up to a day or more). This can be particularly challenging because most hotels, guesthouses, and resorts do not have backup generators. If there is a power cut during the night, this can be particularly challenging because rooms can get very hot and sweaty without a fan or air conditioning. No fun if you’re trying to get your baby to sleep more not less! If you get stuck in a power cut your baby may want to feed more due to the heat and is likely to struggle to sleep.

2 Unreliable ATMs

Another common challenge when you’re traveling in the Philippines are unreliable ATM machines. Although ATM machines are widespread in the Philippines and they generally accept international bank cards, they are often out of service or unstocked. Therefore, your cards will not be able to access money. This can be particularly challenging if you’re traveling with a baby and you need to buy things for your baby.

We recommend always having at least two or three days’ surplus cash. When you visit the ATM machine, do not leave it to the last day. It can be very challenging to get money. This can be particularly stressful and challenging when you are looking after a small baby in an unfamiliar country and culture. It is also important to be aware that international bank card transactions are not generally accepted around the Philippines. For example, you may be in a 7-Eleven store and assume that they can accept a bank card. In general, they do not accept international bank card transactions, so you will need to pay with cash.

3 Healthcare

Healthcare can also be limited and challenging in the Philippines. We have had to visit the doctor several times in the Philippines, and generally speaking, we have been underwhelmed and concerned by the lack of thorough healthcare. They generally provide quick diagnosis, and the treatments are also questionable. It is important to travel with a good medical insurance policy that covers you and your family. If any member of your family does become unwell, we recommend contacting your travel insurance provider and seeking advice about a good clinic or hospital.

4 Hyigene

If your baby is weaned onto solid food, then food poisoning can be a common problem in the Philippines. Young children often get an upset stomach due to the increased level of pathogens in food. If your baby does get diarrhea or vomiting, it is important to keep them hydrated and seek medical care as soon as possible. We do not recommend feeding your baby street food in the Philippines, especially if their system is not adapted to the local microbiome.

5 Clean safe spaces

We already mentioned some of the challenges of traveling in the Philippines with a mobile baby. If your baby is crawling or they are starting to toddle, it can be very challenging to find clean, safe environments to put them down. We recommend watching out for shopping malls; they often have softer play spaces where you can put your baby down to play. We also recommend budgeting for slightly cleaner, nicer, and more spacious accommodation so that your baby is able to explore and move around in a safe and hygienic environment.