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AIBU?

To take a 7 month old to Dubai and the Maldives?

26 replies

Anythingwithagiraffeonit · 22/05/2011 00:08

Will it be unbearably hot for her?
Will it just be completely unmanageable?

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squeakytoy · 22/05/2011 00:12

The people who live in those counties do have children too. Grin

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Anythingwithagiraffeonit · 22/05/2011 00:14

I know, but they're used to it, and I've never done it before :)

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worraliberty · 22/05/2011 00:15

I suppose it depends on the temperature at the time you'll be going and whether your baby copes with heat?

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bubblecoral · 22/05/2011 00:15

I'd say it was manageable, but the sort of holiday I would want in Dubai or the Maldives would not be condusive with having a 7mo in tow!

I think the only thing that would worry me about the Maldives is that on the majority of islands, you are a long way away from proper medical help should you need it. But then that's part of the beauty of the Maldives!

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animula · 22/05/2011 00:16

How long is the flight? (too lazy to google)

friend took child @ that age to Jamaica and said flight a nightmare, and took a lot of the holiday to get over.

On other hand, her child was a particularly bad sleeper.

Squeakytoy correct @ children living there, though.

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bubblecoral · 22/05/2011 00:20

It's looong! But I'm guessing the stop over to Maldives would be in Dubai? But then when you get to the capital of the Maldives you then have to get on a seaplane then a little boat or a ferry to get to one of the other islands.

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Anythingwithagiraffeonit · 22/05/2011 00:22

It would be this summer, and the flights about 7 hours I think.

She's a pretty good sleeper in general, though I've never taken her on a plane before!

The only heat she's really experienced is the dew sunny days we had (Surrey) last month and she seemed okay, but obviously 24 ish degrees isn't quite the temperatures of the Maldives :)

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Anythingwithagiraffeonit · 22/05/2011 00:22

Yeah, the stopover is in Dubai.

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animula · 22/05/2011 00:30

Is this your first holiday with a small person, by the way?

My top tip is to check there's something suitable for the small one to sleep in at the other end. ie - if you're co-sleeping, that the bed is big enough; if not, that there is a cot. Had a "holiday" turn into a nightmare when forgot that one.

But you are probably more organised than that.

I'm guessing it's not just a random, chosen holiday, but you're going for a reason? It's probably not going to be so much more logistically difficult than many holidays - even with heat/journey/healthcare things factored in.

Having said that, I will now admit that I was so PFB I wouldn't go to Estonia when ds was tiny, because the Rough Guide said that for medical treatment it was advisable to have insurance covering a flight to Sweden!! I cringe at that now!

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bubblecoral · 22/05/2011 00:30

The Island I stayed on was very shady because of all the palm trees, so although it was hot, it was easy to stay in the shade on the beach. You had to move out into the sun if you wanted it, rather than the other way round as on most beaches. And the sea breezes made it feel cooler than it was.

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Anythingwithagiraffeonit · 22/05/2011 00:38

Yes, friends of ours have invited us along...

And it is sort of my first holiday with a small person, we'll be having one weekend away (in this country though) with her in a couple of weeks. And she skied and went to Cyprus while I was pregnant... Does that count :)

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goingmadinthecountry · 22/05/2011 00:39

Dd3 went to Bahamas at 4 months, having already done New York at 5 weeks (it was my 40th and we took all 4 kids, though next youngest was 7). No problems - in Bahamas I occasionally stayed in the room for a while in the heat of the day, or went to a palm shaded pool while the big kids and dad did snorkelling etc. Small children are very portable and we've always travelled with all our kids - had some fantastic experiences.

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animula · 22/05/2011 00:43

Well, I never ventured further afield than France-by-Eurostar at that age - but I am not a good example, and am embarrassed about that now. Am far too risk-averse, generally.

And I note I started with a scare-story - that is sooo bad.

The lovely-hippy-singing-group-leader took her 6-month-old off to live in India for a year ... and had a great time.

So I guess it comes down to you and your (lovely little) family, and your relationship with your friends.

If you go, I hope you have a brilliant time.

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animula · 22/05/2011 00:44
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TheBride · 22/05/2011 00:51

I used to live in Dubai and it will be hell in the summer- unpleasantly hot- in the mid to high 40's and with humidity in the 80-90% region. I can only describe it as being in a sauna- as in, the air actually feels thick and hot around you. It's like nothing else.

You'll spend your time inside. Don't do it. There's a reason all the residents leave for the whole of the school holidays.

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jasminetom · 22/05/2011 10:51

I live next door in Qatar and obviously it is hot, I would imagine that would go without saying. However, as I imagine you are not intending to go outside and sit in the sun with your baby at midday (it is 52 on my car temp now) the more likely discomfort that your baby will experience is dry nose and throat from air conditioning and the dust can take a bit of getting used to.

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lesley33 · 22/05/2011 10:57

I have been on very long flights where other passengers had young babies 6-12 months, flights of 12 and 13 hours. TBH the babies have never bdeen a problem. Yes in some cases thde parents spent quite a bit of time rocking them to sleep or soothing them - but I imagine they would have to do that at home.

I'm assuming you don't have a baby who is colicky/constantly crying if you are considering this.

I think it would be fine as long as you are prepared for the flight. In terms of the heat make sure you have air conditioning or at least decent fans in your accommodation. That way you can always go back to your accommodation during the hottest parts of the day,if your baby doesn't cope well with the heat.

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sodiumion · 22/05/2011 10:59

Dont know about Dubai/Maldives, but can tell you I just got back from Rhodes with my 7mo, he was fine on the flight and fine the whole time we were there (not stupidly hot, but def the hottest hes ever seen) :)

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CoffeeIsMyFriend · 22/05/2011 11:01

It can be done and it is feasible, but if you are going in July/August it will be screamingly HOT and humid in Dubai. Everywhere is air conditioned though, so you will always find somewhere cool to hide.

My friend did it a couple of months ago and she said it was fine. There is always shade and she used lots of suncream and they were in the pool a lot.

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callow · 22/05/2011 11:08

I took my 6 month old to Mexico.

I took a pop up UV tent for the beach.

I was breastfeeding so didn't need to worry about sterilized bottles, but she had just started to eat so I was able to give mashed up banana and I took some baby rice.

I found the number for an English speaking doctor nearby just incase there was a medical problem. As she was young and I was breastfeeding I was not able to have some travel vaccinations so we had to stay in the resort and no go out on day trips were there was increased risk of mosquitoes.

There was no bath in the room so I used to wash her in the basin.

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Birdsgottafly · 22/05/2011 11:09

Are anti-biotics going to be easy to get? Ive always found that the biggest risk is ear/eye/throat infections is either from the sea/sand or air con. The transfer by the small boat and plane have also been the most stressful part(for my friends children). If your happy to tailor your holiday around your LO then go, but if you are going with your DP agree on shared care (even if it is staying indoors) so that you both enjoy the holiday. Take enough calpol or whatever you use for every day, just in case.

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MABS · 22/05/2011 11:16

taken mine all over the world from very young ages, but I wouldn't do Dubai in Summer, it's hellish.

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betterwhenthesunshines · 22/05/2011 11:21

Wait a year, unless you're going for something special. We went when our youngest was about 18 months to Maldives and was the most relaxing holiday. Go to an island near to the capital Male just in case you need a doctor ie. within half an hour on a boat. Otherwise a 2 hour boat ride witha sick child wouldn't be fun.

Summer will be very humid and it will most likely rain for 2 hours after lunch each day - but maybe that will just co-incide with nap time so wouldn't be too bad.

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TheBuggerofSuburbia · 22/05/2011 11:39

We went to Madrid with DS when he was 8mo, Maldives when he was 13mo, Egypt when he was 2.5years - the holiday in the Maldives was probably best and he was easiest to manage. The staff at the resort were brilliant, we had a bungalow on the beach, with plenty of shade at the front. What I would say is if you can afford to, buy a seat for her on the flights - the extra space will save your sanity. Go - enjoy!

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coccyx · 22/05/2011 11:47

Middle east in July/august.......noooooooo

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