Long haul with a baby - stupid idea?

[Mississippilessly]

DS is 15 weeks old. I have until September off work. DH and I always said that when we had children we wouldn't go abroad for a good few years. However I'm starting to wonder if that was a hasty decision. I would love a proper holiday. I am a teacher too so it would be nice to have a cheaper, off-peak holiday too!
Is this a daft idea? We were thinking the Caribbean or the Maldives. Would there be a better time to go?

Nope never. I cannot imagine anything worse than having to cope with a crying baby who won't settle on a plane. Then you have the heat over there and keeping the baby comfortable. You are restricted from doing many of the things you would enjoy doing pre baby like water sports unless you do it separately. I guess some people do have easy babies, my DD1 would have been ok but DD2 screamed constantly due to digestion problems until about 6 months so travelling with her would have been a nightmare. My DGD1 would only sleep if held and rocked or walked up and down until she was around seven months. Imagine a flight in an enclosed plane and dealing with that. DGD2 is chilled though so would be easier. It won't be a holiday as it was pre baby where you only have to think of where to have dinner or whic( beach to visit.

Babies on planes are generally fine - especially on a night flight. I've done loads of 11+ hour flights and I long for the days when my ds was small and portable. If you are looking for a cool sling then the ergobaby cool mesh 360 is wonderful. Just don't overdress baby - in hot weather a vest or short romper and sun hat is fine.

Go for it, I traveled long haul with mi be from 7 weeks due to living overseas, it was fine. Maldives is nice but very isolated, no chance of buying anything you run low on. Have you considered a cruise? Amazing facilities on board and you dock daily in interesting places (and shops). They have nurseries on board (age guidelines vary) so perhaps even a meal or show without dc one night. We did Disney cruise line when dc's were small but our favourite is Cunard, simply wonderful. We went from Southampton which saves the hassle of flying - and had valet parking so didn't lift our bags even!

We've travelled long haul several times with our DS, including Maldives when he was 10 months. We went to Kurumba, which was very family friendly and only 10 minute speedboat transfer from the airport. Didn't fancy anywhere that was only accessible by seaplane just in case of any issues, didn't want to feel completely isolated with a baby. It was a fabulous holiday - very relaxing and we just enjoyed the beach, pools, good food, playing together in the kids club / splash pool etc.
We've found flying long haul easier than flights to Europe in some ways - we've always had a sky cot so loads of extra legroom (free of charge), planes are more spacious to walk around if needed, better service etc.
Just in case you're thinking about a second child at any point soon, double check the position on Zika virus - still in most places in Caribbean and low risk in Maldives I think.

We did the first of many trips when DD was 9 weeks .... great fun... go and enjoy yourself

We did Dubai at 8 months old. Loved every second. We did the overnight flight and the gate had a little soft play area so we tired him out before the flight then he slept or was sleepy for the whole flight. If the baby isn't too big you get a bassinet which is handy but my son was just at the height limit of it.
For the actual holiday, yeah it's a different kind of holiday, you still have to get up early and do nap time etc. But they tend to fall asleep easier in the heat. If you are feeding they will probably want to feed a bit more because of the heat. I found my son was a bit more relaxed as I was chilled out. I personally wouldnt go to Maldives as I'm not a beach person but i guess anywhere with a pool and constant attention from parents they will be happy! I know some people who have gone away with grandparents too so they can have a few nights out if that's your thing.

Newborn would be ok. Just factor in temp as hot pram and napping don’t always mix and its a pain to have to go back to your room every time. 7 months was ok, 1 year was much better and almost two really felt like a holiday. At 2.5 i think it would be tiring but DC loves the sea/pool which is a bonus. Go for it!

We did it twice and really wished we hadn’t and was a total waste of money

Couldn’t actually get much out of the resort as baby needed shade and still had to get them naps and having an evening meal with a baby in pushchair alongside isnt quite the same etc etc
Second time the baby picked up a horrible bug on the plane and we had a really REALLY miserable week in which I wished so much we were at home. Didn’t sleep so spent the days cat napping to catch up and baby was so fractious we hid in our villa.
Worried he would get more ill and we didn’t have UK healthcare to use. Horrible week.

Best holidays ever once they were over four and we went to places with really good kids clubs and entertainment and finally got to relax ourselves.

Not firsr hand experience, but my friend flew to NZ with her 6 month baby and travelled around in a campervan for 6 weeks with him. Another has done a trip to the Caribbean and to LA with her baby being 3 and 5 months respectively so definitely not unheard of. I guess the only thing is to make sure their ears and lungs can cope with it - my cousin's little boy couldn't go on a plane for 2 years because of complications with his hearing and lung capacity. I'm pregnant at the moment and refusing to consider any holidays until know little one is healthy and well.

@Mississippilessly go!! Practically the whole world caters for children (they are everywhere) I have a cousin who backpacked around Indonesia with their 6months old! I have travelled a hell of a lot and lived on boats in the Caribbean. Once met a family who were sailing the world with their 3yr old and 5yr old. Do it and have fun! Life is too short!

youmad a very good point. Thank you. It's really easy to overthink these things.

I’ve done loads of short and long haul travel with a baby and young is easy, especially if you are bfding

The only thing is you will have to take turns to be in the shade with them rather than in the sun. But the rest is easy

Personally I wouldn’t just for a holiday or at least not take a baby that young to a country with a lower standard of medical care than my own.

I have flown long haul with young infants and toddlers when living abroad though for visits home. I agree that the best ages are either before they are mobile (so under 6-9 months approx) and DEFINITELY before they are walking, or otherwise at least two and can be distracted by screen time.

Also travelling with a baby pre-weaning is a lot easier than trying to figure out solid food for them on the go.

On a practical basis, if considering it soon, don’t forget your baby will need her own passport and this can take time especially as young babies don’t always cooperate with the photo requirements and it might get rejected.

I’m envious of those who can happily explore the world. I’m definitely more of the mindset that holidays with baby are just trying to improvise your own routine/equipment etc in a strange place!

Have you already stayed with the baby for a weekend anywhere other than your own hone? If not, give it a trial run in a hotel or a relative’s house. You’ll quickly find out whether you are the improvising type who cheerfully gets on with it, or whether you are swiftly wishing you were home with your own nappy-changing station etc!

One last thing. Get the absolute best travel insurance you can afford for all of you.

I’d happily fly long haul again with a pre-crawling age baby, but I’d be worried about lack of access to decent medical facilities in the Maldives.
We enjoyed a holiday with our baby in Mauritius, but with hindsight A nice hotel in Dubai or Oman would have been a much ahorter flight and better access to good healthcare.

I would say do it. Reasons

1. As a fellow teacher we always got stung with higher fares and the cheaper fares means you can put the money towards a better hotel or other activities
2. We travelled the summer gone to NYC when DS was 5 months. Also flew from nyc to Miami. And then back to nyc for a few nights and home to London.
3. It was hot - but we managed fine. Lots of shade. Lots of walks in the evenings and early mornings.
4. Used a sling and a pram
5. He was FF and it wasn’t really a problem. I took lots of premade bottles.
6. He wasn’t weaning yet so that wasn’t a concern.
7. Our holiday away was in total about 16 days.

We loved it!

You won’t know what it’s going to be like until you do it. Maldives is further away but as you have still a few months left why don’t you try a shorter flight and destination and see how you get on?

Oh also check out any vaccination and anti-malarial / anti-mosquito requirements for anywhere you might want to go. That might limit your scope if your baby is too young to have them.

What specifically has you thinking Maldives or Caribbean? Is it the unspoiled luxury paradise island bit? Would an upmarket beach area in Italy, Spain or Portugal offer something similar? It seems a bit of a leap from agreeing no overseas holidays to then suggesting long-haul exotic. I don’t think I’d voluntarily bring a very young baby to a less developed country or somewhere I wouldn’t drink the tap water. But I am very risk averse for small children so of course others may differ.

Do it before she turns into a toddler. We went on an 8 hour flight this year with a 2 year old and I will never, ever do it again! It was absolutely horrible - there and back!

We went with my DD on a 7 hour flight when she had just turned one. She was great both ways! However she couldn't walk then and we had booked her a seat and were lucky we had an extra seat. Now she's running all over the place and I'm dreading our 3 hour flight next month. Do it before DC can walk.

Yes, do it before your DC is walking. We've had great trips flying 24hrs + with both DC aged

We took DDs to SE Asia resorts (mainland or large island with hospital) when they were under one. Definitely better than at toddler age! Thailand worked well for us, staff always happy to help with kids. Flights no problem although once they were too big for bassinet we used to pay for a seat, and take car seat on the plane.

We've flown/been on holiday with baby (now 18 months) five times including one long haul recently. What I'd say is the following:

• Six months should be a reasonable age to fly. We found flying around 1 year old the hardest (not too bad when we went again recently). When we flew with her at 10 months it was manageable but the younger she was the easier it was.

• For our long haul trip we picked a 'shorter' long haul destination (i.e. 8 hours as opposed to 11 to other destinations we considered). We also stayed at a resort 20 minutes taxi ride from the airport to minimise the overall travelling.

• We had to change our expectations of what we wanted from and expected to do on our holiday, but still enjoyed the break and time together as a family.

• Research where you stay carefully as it can make big difference to the experience. We're not really all inclusive holiday people but we've done two with baby and they've been great. You can find baby friendly ones that have equipment e.g. cots, sterilisers, high chairs, microwaves for warming food etc. Both the ones we've stayed in offered childcare too (one was extra charge, the other was included by for over ones only). We didn't use it much but it did mean we had the opportunity for a few baby free hours but baby was close by should she have needed us.

We did long haul with DS1 at 10 months.
Apart from spending a lot of time "walking" up and down the aisles - he liked to walk with us holding his hands for support - it was much easier than I thought. He was a very laid back infant though.

Go! Don't listen to the worriers. Yes some days may not be perfect but u just change yours holiday goals. I've travelled with my girl from the uk to Dubai at 4months, 8 months and 15months and to Mexico at 11months. Stayed in hotels. All very manageable. Got her sleep in room, transfer to buggy and got to enjoy dinner as a couple with her sleeping in buggy beside us. Magical! Get cheap buggy. Zeta voom €50 Amazon. Still going strong 5 holidays in! Also get an order for milk to airport boots if bottle feeding and allow room in hand luggage for it. Jojo baby maman sun protection suits are great. Go enjoy yourself! #makingmemories haha

Also forgot to say. My key criteria is country 'clean'ie low risk for getting sick. Are there hospitals accessible if required. Dubai ticks all boxes for us. Also bags for cold water sterilisation for bottles £10 in boots for 10 I think, good for bottles etc. Also if long hall it's a bigger plane for walking up and down with them much prefer big Emirates flight to cramped Ryanair!

Go!
Fellow teacher here.
1st mat leave - 7mth old to new Zealand for 3 weeks
2nd mat leave - sleeper train to fort William, back packed to Skye for 2 weeks. 9mth old and 4yr old.
3rd mat leave - 5 weeks in NZ and 3 backpacking in Malaysia on way home. 3mth old, 2.5 yr old, 5 yr old.
Of all those, the 2.5yr old has hardest but still doable.
For me destination needed to be non-malarial until they were old enough to describe how they felt. Always good travel insurance.
Enjoy!