when does a baby really start to enjoy holidays and day trips

[cheeky]

I have never been on a decent holiday so we would like to arrange a holiday or have a few days out. We are expecting a baby though and would like to save the money for when the baby is born so we can have more fun. However we can't remember much about child development. We want to wait until the baby is old enough to really enjoy it so we can make the most of it?

[Lindy]

Do it now !!!

I am sure others will disagree but in my experience taking our baby/toddler out for the day or away on holiday has meant more trouble than it's worth

[Starsky]

My dd is 7 months old and while she loves going swimming, and trips out eg to parks, wood etc it is nothing that costs money to do. Might be nice using the money for a special night out for the two of you to celebrate your new arrival ( a few months in when things have settled down though!)

[LIZS]

I guess it depends on your idea of fun. Things are sooo different with kids in tow. If you fancy a holiday clutter-free and run to your timetable, pace and choice of activities better to get it in first if you have the chance.

We took ds away aged 6 months and he was sitting well so enjoyed sitting on the beach and being carried around, taking an interest in what was happening and being fussed over. However he was far more animated and active by the time we took him away just before he was one.

Yes of course you can have fun with a baby in tow but, despite your best intentions, it will probably be a compromise and more stressful to do so for a first holiday.

[elliott]

I agree - if you want to have a special holiday it will be more fun before the baby than after! Holidays with babies are hard work - sure, there are things they will enjoy, but they enjoy being with you doing day to day things just as much!

[runragged]

We took dd and ds away last year, dd was nearly 2.5, we stayed in a caravan on a holiday park and she LOVED it. When we left she cried for about 30 minutes and when she started recognising things as we approached home she started saying " I want to go back to my new home"! She still remembers the caravan and we are going agian this year and she can't wait.

In my opinion you should go on a really nice long weekend now and splurge a bit. When you start to go on holidays with children the only ones you are going to enjoy are the ones designed for them (eg self catering, not hotels), if you try to get them to do what you want you just get stressed and tired. We went out every day, ice creams, cafes, parks and wore them out so they were asleep by 7 and we could crack open a bottle and get a posh takeaway.

In answer to your question, I'd wait until the baby is walking, and communicating, a real little person and you will have a great time.

[fisil]

We had no holiday this year - except one night away. It was at a really posh hotel with amazing food and childcare, and it was perfect. The baby was only 8 wks old. It cost as much as a week in Spain, but there was no hassle of doing bottles, loads of nappies, clothes, washing etc. We had a perfect 36 hours, and I know I will remember it forever.

In contrast we flew to Edinburgh for a few nights cos it came free with dp's work. I felt like I spent the whole time doing amazing feats of juggling to keep us and the baby happy - and we never worked out how to have an evening meal.

Last year we'd already booked a holiday before I knew I was pg. We have very fond memories of all that freedom, and I was able to eat chocolate cake at every cute tea shop we came to!

[elliott]

fisil, where was this perfect hotel?

[willow2]

Go now!

[CarolLouise]

We took our ds (and son aged 10)to Disneyland Paris at 5 months and she was fine. She loved the kiddy's rides that she could go on and was amazed at all the brightly coloured displays etc. It was easier having an older child with us coz he helped with carrying the changing bag etc and played with her in the hotel room when we were getting ready. She came to the restaurants with us in the evenings and again was fascinated by what was going on around her. Of course it wasn't as relaxed as before we had her and finding decent places to sit quietly for her feeding times was more difficult but I wouldn't hesitate to take her anywhere we go again. (We're off to France in 3 weeks.

[aloha]

You will have more fun now! I always recommend pregnant friends go on holiday with their partners before the baby is born. It will your last carefree holiday for many, many years! You baby will be wonderful, but go now, eat, sleep, lie by the pool and enjoy. It will do wonders for your relationship and you will always remember it fondly. Babies don't care about holidays IME. They are just as happy, if not happier, at home for the first few years.

[cheeky]

thanks for all your replies. We actually do want to wait until the baby is born, we definitely want to take baby with us and also we will have more money saved up by then. Luckily we don't need to buy any baby stuff as we've been given everything.

[elliott]

In that case I would suggest going earlier rather than later - while you are still breastfeeding if possible - they are much easier and more portable then and you don't have to worry about finding suitable food.

[aloha]

Of course it is entirely up to you, but honestly little babies only care about being with you - and older ones too - just spent the weekend entirely at home with ds (nearly 2) and I've rarely seen him happier. We had the paddling pool out and grandma came to visit. They don't appreciate travelling and they don't particularly like being in different places. I remember coming back from a holiday in france when he was about 9/10 months old and the look of relief on his face when he saw his familiar things and his own cot was very sweet. I don't know what you think of as a decent holiday, but if you mean sleeping late, lying by the pool with a book, long lunches and going out to dinner in the evening, go now! If you want to get up at 5am, watch the baby like a hawk, and stay in, go when they are crawling! If you really want to take the baby, I agree, go when they are tiny and portable and will stay in their pram happily. Just don't expect any lie-ins! Babies are utterly gorgeous but they ruin your holidays IMO! They do NOT make holidays more fun - or does anyone think differently?

[OldieMum]

Cheeky, it depends on your baby. If s/he is easy-going and likes checking out new people and places, you will have a great time, especially if you go when the baby has got to the stage of being more outgoing (5 months onwards, in my experience). Mind you, taking a grandmother also helps

[suzyj]

again, aloha, i bow to your wise words!

We've just got back from a week staying with family in Germany with dd who is 10 months old. Hell on wheels. She started hating being in the car seat or in the pram or in her cot - basically anywhere apart from in our arms, and at nearly 25lbs and very wriggly, this is no fun for anyone after a while (especially in 34 degree heat!).

Had a good time with family, but it was hard work and we've gone back to our jobs without that customary feeling of relaxation that lasts until, oh, lunchtime on the first day! We're mourning the loss of our old holidaying habits and have yet to work out a new way of doing it (fear of Centerparcs, basically!!) but I'm sure it'll get easier.

So, I'm saying go now!!!

[aloha]

SuzyJ, don't knock Centerparcs. I thought like that too, but it's great! Was thinking wistfully about it only yesterday. Not at all somewhere I would have gone pre-kids but things change, don't they!

[LIZS]

It is funny how those places and tour operators which had no appeal pre Kids suddenly become havens ! Personally yet to try Centerparcs (fully booked when we inquired). Even Macdonalds - how many of us vowed never to let kids of ours set foot in there. Am I the only one who clocks each set of toilets when we are out and about so we don't get caught short !!!

[sis]

Centreparcs is fab for our family - the spa is so wonderful, I really had to drag myself out! The only negatives are the food (very few restaurants are open at lunchtimes and the stuff that is available is overpriced and scores poorly in the taste test!) and the cost - as is often the case when you holiday in the UK - it does work out pretty expensive.

[StripyMouse]

I think you can have lovely holidays with young children - but it you do have to work at having a relaxing time just that bit harder than before children and certain activites such as a long relaxing meal out at a restaurant or cocktails in the hotel bar etc. is virtually impossible. Saying that, simple things like a walk along a beach can be even more magical than ever before - when you see your baby giggle and splash in the sea for the first time or just
having fun making a sand castle again can make all the extra hassle worth it. Bonus being that they don?t appreciate expensive water parks or flashy hotels any more than cheap and cheerful fun days out that cost very little/nothing.

We have found self catering and camping more successful (and cheaper) than hotels - you have more freedom instead of being stuck in your hotel room whispering all night while baby sleeps (couldn?t bring myself to trust the baby monitoring service enough to relax). Also going away in a larger group - we often go away with my sister and fiancee and/or my parents as we all get on. It means that the more adults there are, the more people around to keep our DD amused and to babysit on the odd night to give us a night out on our own.
Each time we go away with our DD (now 2) we enjoy it a little bit more as she understands and is able to amuse herself/participate more. We are going for cheap and fun breaks with several short stays spread out during the year while she is little and don?t need to consider only out of school peak time holidays and when she is older (hopefully a bit better off...) we can take her further afield and for longer.

Don?t be put off having a break after the baby arrives, plan well and don?t go for too long - you will all love it.

[runragged]

lizs, no you are not the only one who always chcks toilet locations, I live by the motto - "Never miss an opportunity"! and have done ever since I spent two weeks in Isreal - pre kids obviously.

[JaneLucy]

Go when the baby is tiny. We just had a great self catering holiday in Sardinia, ds was 2 months old. He was quite happy to be carted round, slept lots (including in the car seat on the beach while we all played in the water) and needed very little equipment as he is fully breast fed. Dds (aged 2 and 4) were much more work, but had a fab time. We all went out to a restaurant one evening, ds slept through it all, and dds behaved, having had a big siesta.

The other good thing about taking a small baby to Italy is that you can't go anywhere without gathering crowds of admirers -- Italians love babies.

[CAM]

Daytrips, any age I would say. It's great for the parents to get out and about as much as poss with a little one and this rubs off on the baby. Also they get used to it and then can be taken anywhere as they get older. Proper holidays - we went for our first lengthy one when dd was 8 months to Biarritz and it was fantastic - dd loved the beach and the hotel swimming pool and we ate in the restaurant with dd in high chair or had room service if she was asleep. Very relaxing.

[bobthebaby]

We went on holiday when our ds was 5 weeks old, just to a place 90 minutes away by car. We rented a house, and figured it would be like being at home. I spent every day wishing I could go home, but being determined to stay. The weather was terrible and ds had a growth spurt so in retrospect it probably wasn't a week I would have enjoyed at home either. We do daytrips all the time, but it will get harder when we have to fit in naps and solid food I think.

Ds is now 5 months and we are about to embark on a trip to the other side of the world. Almost 2 days in airports and on planes. Seemed like such a good idea when we booked...