Help! My son will have a palate expander during our Ireland trip next month - food issues

I haven't been to Ireland, but yogurt is widely available all over Europe. Just don't expect to have the incredible number of flavor and brand options you can find in a US supermarket.

Does the Water-Pik have a rechargeable battery so it doesn't have to be plugged in during use? That could be critical, because you may not find a convenient outlet in the bathroom.

Don't forget to pack multiple adapter plugs, not just for the Water-Pik but also for electronic devices like smartphones. If you have a lot of devices you may want to take along something that will permit you to charge them all at one outlet. Others here will be able to provide better advice on that topic than I can.

I think your son will have satisfactory food options in Ireland. Wide range of eateries there and also supermarkets. All of the specific foods you mentioned above are available for sure.

My son had a palate expander a few years ago...I don't recall significant dietary restrictions.

Have fun beautiful Ireland!

In the Irish soups I saw, everything was finely chopped. And, there's much use of mashed potatoes. I think he'll be fine.

Thanks for the feedback, including about the chargers. I'll probably get a travel water flosser that's cordless and rechargeable, and bring a couple of converter/chargers that work in Ireland. This is all reassuring!

You won't have the slightest problem....plenty of options anywhere. Also I'm a fussy eater so I have limitations as well.....I never had a lack of choices and the 4-5 times I've asked a pub if they could make something off menu they were fine Doing that as well. So if you go into a pub to eat and the options listed don't totally appeal to him....ask. Ireland is far far more laid back and accommodating than anywhere else we've been.

You may not need a converter, just an adapter plug. It depends on the particular devices you are traveling with. Converters are heavy, so you don't want to take one if it's not necessary. My electric toothbrush just needs a suitable adapter plug.

If your son just got the palate expander, the sensitivity may go away soon. I had that when I was 10 (a long time ago) and I don't remember it hurting or having any problem eating anything. Good luck.

A water flosser is essential to me but the plug in ones I use at home are for 110v only, not dual voltage, so just a plug adapter does not work. Recently I found one that charges via USB, a huge convenience when traveling as it works with standard USB chargers instead of needing the bulky 3 prog adaptor needed for Irish plugs. I really like it: "Water Flosser Cordless, KOOVON Portable Rechargeable Oral Irrigator." In my experience the battery powered ones are never quite as good as the plug in models, but for me this is the best travel flosser yet. The whole thing collapses down into a more compact size for packing. My prior flosser which I also like is battery powered, a "Panasonic Portable Dental Water Flosser and Oral Irrigator EW-DJ10-A."

As to food, there are generally potatoes available at every meal, lots of cream soups, and certainly yogurt is available as someone else already mentioned. In my experience people in Ireland are generally very hospitable and helpful in adjusting for dietary restrictions. Ireland is wonderful, have a great trip!

I haven't been to Ireland, but yogurt is widely available all over Europe. Just don't expect to have the incredible number of flavor and brand options you can find in a US supermarket.

Whilst the variety of yoghurts available in continental Europe are quite limited it's a different story in the UK and Ireland. There's far more variety even surpassing some American supermarkets. Irish milk also makes deliciously creamy yoghurt.

There'll be no problem finding pasta and noodles in Ireland and it'll be a good opportunity for him to try irish stew and colcannon if he hasn't already.

Many thanks to all for the helpful replies.

I live in Ireland. You won't have any problem with food for your son. Yoghurt of many different flavour, soup, noodles, pasta, anything mashed -they're everywhere.