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AIBU?

to take 10 week old abroad?

47 replies

Jw35 · 11/03/2016 13:52

Baby due in July. Want to go on holiday in October when the baby will be 10 weeks old. Has anyone ever done this? Why advice would you give? Will also be taking a 22 month old, Is this crazy?

Basically October is our usual month to go on holiday, we would only be going to Spain so 2 hours flight. Not sure when else we could go? I thought of next March but feels so long away and weather might not be as good!

Baby will be formula fed. Thanks!

OP posts:
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JanetOfTheApes · 11/03/2016 13:55

Its your baby, take it where you like. You don't need to do or take anything special, you can get nappies and formula in Spain.

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loobylou10 · 11/03/2016 13:58

We took our 9 week old to Majorca. Was very easy - he was breastfed so all I took were nappies, vests and sleep suits. He slept most of the time and I would take him back to the apartment for feeds. We booked a skycot on the plane (it was at the front and sort of clipped into the wall at the front of the plane. We also took his car seat and his buggy. Much easier than expected - getting the passport photo was the hardest bit!

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FankEweVeryMuch · 11/03/2016 14:03

I definitely would, they're easy at that age. Much easier than taking an older baby I would say.

I'd take a box of formula in my suitcase rather than risk ypsetting the baby by switching to a different brand while away (I speak from experience). Nappies I'd buy there.

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LovelyFriend · 11/03/2016 14:08

I went on a 26 hour flight with DD1 at 8 weeks - on our own. Piece of cake.

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Farandole · 11/03/2016 14:29

Yes, best age to travel with a baby! I took DD to Nice at 10 weeks, then to Canada at 12 weeks. Piece of cake both times unlike the next trip at 6 months old with the incessant screaming and projectile vomiting

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mimbleandlittlemy · 11/03/2016 15:15

Taking the baby away is not the problem but remember that the passport office doesn't always run smoothly! You'll need to get birth registered quick so you have the birth certificate to send off for the passport asap.

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fassbendersmistress · 11/03/2016 15:19

I'd go. You might want to check insurance policy for cancellation clause, just in case anything happens (not necessarily medical...you might have a change of heart) that results in you needing/wanting to cancel nearer the time. Pay more for flexible flights etc...

But I'm sure it will be lovely. The Spanish love kids, it's a good place to go from that perspective, you'll have everything you might need there. And a change of scene to look forward to during those early days cocooned at home with 2!

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MrsTerryPratchett · 11/03/2016 15:20

I took a three month old across the Atlantic.

FF is more of a PITA. Because I BF and was delayed 11 hours in a connecting airport. Had boobs, could travel. But formula would have been difficult. If it's a direct flight, not such a problem.

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budgiegirl · 11/03/2016 15:21

Definitely, babies of that age are very easy to travel with. Don't take too much with you, Spanish nappies and formula are perfectly ok.

I travelled to the Canaries when my DS1 was 19 months and my DS2 was 12 weeks. Whilst obviously not as relaxing as travelling without kids, it was fine. I did it again when my DD was 12 weeks, and the DSs were 3 and 4.

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budgiegirl · 11/03/2016 15:23

If you were worried about what formula to get in Spain, call the helpline of the formula brand you use, and they should be able to advise you if they sell that brand (maybe under a different name?) in Spain, they also advised me which type of bottled water to use for making up the formula.

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DolphinsandDinosaurs · 11/03/2016 15:26

Babies that age are reasonably easy to travel with, I'd imagine the 22 month old will probably be more challenging to deal with. As PP have said though getting a passport done in time will be tricky. We took DS away at 12 weeks, and it was a struggle to get his passport back in time. Getting a newborn passport photo done is a challenge all on its own!

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snorepatrol · 11/03/2016 15:28

If you're FF buy a couple of boxes of the pre made bottles and teats for the journey so much easier than trying to get a flask of hot water through and no problems going through customs as they're sealed.

I took all pre made bottles with me because I thought I'm on holiday can't be bothered messing about making up feeds but instead of packing them I actually ordered them to arrive at the boots at the duty free section of the airport.
I ordered them to arrive the day before we flew, checked with the boots they had arrived and then collected them in duty free before we flew. It was really handy not to have to pack them because they can take up all your weight allowance.

Another thing is I don't know how you feel about dummies but we were really thankful for them during take off and landing when we flew.

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mimbleandlittlemy · 11/03/2016 15:30

My ds looked like hunchback zombie hellspawn in his photo (taken at 4 weeks) Grin

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TriJo · 11/03/2016 15:30

Our little guy is due next Sunday and we're planning to take him to Ireland in both June and August to visit family. Really not worried at all tbh.

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StrawberryQuik · 11/03/2016 15:37

I'm planning to take DC1, due in April to Italy in July or August...I wouldn't worry too much taking a baby anywhere in Western Europe where there's clean tap water, supermarkets, and I can use my EHIC card.

Spain in October shouldn't be too hot either, which is my only slight niggle about my holiday.

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SilkObsidian · 11/03/2016 15:41

Thing is, you don't know what your baby will be like. Some are calm and easy to travel with. Others cry all the time and are easily upset. From 1-4months my DS cried most of the time he was awake, he had reflux and colic, didn't sleep well, screamed in the car/bus/train etc. We didn't venture further than our home city for 4months. Going on holiday would have been a nightmare! I spent the first 4months wearing him in a sling and was covered in baby sick all the time.

I suggest waiting until your baby is born before booking a trip!

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FuzzyOwl · 11/03/2016 15:45

I took my DD at that age and she was great. As she was FF, I preordered from Boots and was able to collect milk once I had gone through to Departures and I made sure I had plenty in case of a delay. I took a few spare bottles and a travel steriliser in my hand luggage and also packed a box of powder, Perfect Prep machine and a sleepyhead in the suitcase. The sleepyhead meant my DD slept in the same bed she slept in at home and didn't seem to notice she was in a different room.

Other tip would be to take a sling - your pram can stay with you until you board but carrying a baby is heavy to get off the plane, through passport control and to wait for your luggage collection.

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Pinkheart5915 · 11/03/2016 15:50

It's not crazy.
We took our ds to San Francisco when he was 8 weeks old for our wedding.
All was fine. He slept mostly on the plane. I breast feed so feeding was no problem for me but I can't see why formula feed would be a problem pre order milk to pick up at the airport.

Take a sling to carry baby in much more convienent that a pushchair.

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Jw35 · 11/03/2016 16:07

Thanks for the suggestions. I will have a sling and will take a single pushchair for the toddler. That way I can also use it for the baby if the toddler is playing etc.

OP posts:
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Junosmum · 11/03/2016 16:18

DS is 10 weeks tomorrow. I'd take him to spain no problems.

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marcopront · 11/03/2016 16:43

I flew on my own with DD aged 8 weeks between the UK and Kenya. It was fine except we were delayed on the return flight and I needed to find somewhere to breast feed her in Dubai airport, there was no where. The Emirates cabin staff were amazing, she was mixed fed so they made up a bottle for her. Then someone held her so I go to the toilet.
I kept her in the sling for take off and landing, I felt her being strapped to me completely was safer than the add on belt.

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PenelopeChipShop · 11/03/2016 17:12

We're planning something very similar, going to Spain in June and I'm due with no.2 in 2 weeks so she'll be 8-10 weeks depending on when she arrives.

I suspect my 3yo will be more trouble! 😉

The main thing I keep reminding myself is to get the passport done ASAP. Also means you can't really deliberate on the name as you need to register birth straight away to get passport done!

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LifeofI · 11/03/2016 17:26

I think as its only spain go for it.

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Sandsnake · 11/03/2016 17:29

Jealous of all the PP with compliant babies on this thread! My DS was more in the vein of SilkObsidian and at 8 weeks would have been very difficult to take on holiday (colic, reflux, general grumpiness...). My advice to the OP would be to go for it in theory, but maybe wait until your baby is a few weeks old and you have more of an idea of their temperament before booking.

DS is now four months old and is off on his first holiday tomorrow (a week in a UK cottage, we're not brave enough to take him abroad yet!) so wish us luck... Smile

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littleleftie · 11/03/2016 17:36

I would take a ten week old if BF but not if FF.

SIL did this and her DS refused all his bottles and was rapidly losing weight. Apparently the water, although boiled and cooled, made the formula taste different. Not sure how that works as mine never had a bottle, but she ended up having to pay to come home early as he just would not feed. Insurance refused to pay out too. BIL stayed in Greece without her Shock

Isn't there a formula you can buy already made up? Maybe if you fed your baby that from birth then took that milk with you in bulk it would be OK?

Otherwise I wouldn't risk it, no.

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