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Original poster

What age to take baby for weekend away?

64 replies

Glittertips · 24/05/2024 12:14

Our baby will be born soon (at 36 weeks). Obviously getting him here safely and making sure he’s well is our top priority however following a very rough pregnancy I am keen to have a family weekend away once baby is here.

I was thinking of around September time, baby will be between 12 and 14 weeks old. Is this too soon? We would be going somewhere no more than 2 hours away by car.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
Maddy70 · 29/05/2024 13:58

I took my 12 week old to ibiza. Its fine

Katbum · 29/05/2024 13:59

I had a brutal 5 day labour ending in emergency c-section on 20th Dec 2022. We were home by 22/12, celebrated xmas with family and had a week away in a cottage in Dorset on 28/12. It was lovely. I found the recovery from c section hard but was nice to get away and be in a country-side bubble doing everything slowly. My DH is the kind of person who knew to take care and not push me though. So all depends on your circs. Also my newborn was a dream in terms of sleep and didn't have any health issues.

DaveWatts · 29/05/2024 14:01

I would strongly recommend going somewhere that's well set up for babies eg one of the Luxury Family Hotels like the Ickworth - it'll save you having to bring the kitchen sink along as they already have cots, baby monitors etc provided. Nothing worse than staying in a holiday cottage or similar that's completely unsuitable - although this is more of an issue with older mobile babies & toddlers!

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Mrsttcno1 · 29/05/2024 14:01

I currently have a 5.5 week old baby and we have a week away in the Lakes booked for next month. Honestly I would just go for it! Realistically when they are little they are just a little bundle that comes along with you wherever you go, they sleep, feed, cry & poo- and my outlook is that they can do that anywhere! So if you’d like a change of scenery and a trip away, go for it. Baby will sleep, poo, cry & feed wherever you are, you may as well be somewhere that makes you happy!

Ireallywantadoughnut36 · 29/05/2024 14:05

I think it depends what you're imagining for a weekend away.... We went away when my son was 3 yrs old and my daughter was 5 weeks. Not gonna lie, it wasn't the most fun! It's the same sleepless nights, nappy changing and nap juggling as at home but somewhere else. I'd say you'll be absolutely fine in the sense you can go anywhere but set your expectations fairly low, you'll be tired and probably not feeling back to "normal" plus you'll be up in the night.
I found a next to me crib and black out blinds helped a lot for sleep. I'd personally aim for an Airbnb rather than a hotel room as you'll be able to chill out more when the baby naps/sleeps at night. We went to CP and had a hot tub villa when she was 4 months and that was really good, as we were at the villa a lot for naps (she didn't nap in a pram) and my husband, son and I could have fun in the hot tub whilst she slept.
You might find escaping locally ASAP more relaxing even though you're pregnant, as a little baby moon

CurlewKate · 29/05/2024 14:05

@Glittertips "I've just noticed that you said your baby will be born at 36 weeks. Definitely don't make any plans- it might take a little longer for you both to be ready to travel than a full term baby.

Whereareyounowwwww · 29/05/2024 14:05

We’ve been abroad with both of ours when they were 7/8 weeks old, DS France and DD to Lanzarote…. I had a difficult birth and surgery with DD after but was fine flying with her. People even asked me if I’d had her out on holiday as she was so small (5lber at birth)

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 29/05/2024 14:06

Glittertips · 29/05/2024 13:58

Thanks everyone! I will be having a c section and will hopefully be all healed but definitely won’t book anything until the weeks leading up to it. We’ve had a couple of holidays cancelled during my pregnancy thanks to my complications so have learned the hard way about booking things too far in advance!

C section - 6-8 weeks should be fine if no complications like infection but you will still need to be really careful of your back and your core will be weak so it depends what you are planning to do while away really.

Rather than weeks of age I found that when my DDs hit 10lbs in weight it was a turning point. Feeding was an issue with both and it was 12 & 16 weeks respectively before they hit 12lbs. They could sleep longer, were more vigorous feeders and had more stomach capacity. Virtuous circle!

If you are having an early section at 36 weeks and your baby is born at 5/6lbs it will take a while to catch up.

For me, the earliest I’d plan to go away is 12 weeks. 3-6 months old it all got much
easier. Best of luck!

Firsttimetrier · 29/05/2024 14:12

Guess it’s baby dependent - we flew to Turkey when ours was 12 weeks (easiest flight and holiday of his life so far!)

We also stayed at the in laws when he was 3 weeks old which was just over an hour away.

We also have friends who had to fly with their 3 week old as my friend was the MOH in a wedding that was pre booked before the baby was conceived. They’ve found travelling really easy.

I don’t think there’s one answer for this, all depends on you and the baby.

BurbageBrook · 29/05/2024 14:12

It's so personal. By 12 weeks we were delighted that baby finally had a little routine where she'd sleep through the evening and we could chill a bit. We wouldn't have wanted to disrupt the routine so soon. By 6 months we were excited to travel with her. I'd wait and see how you feel once the baby is here!

mitogoshi · 29/05/2024 14:14

I flew long haul with dd1 at 7 weeks old, took dd2 on holiday by car at 4 weeks old but I had easy natural births, breastfed and co slept meaning it's easier

GreenFields07 · 29/05/2024 14:34

I had a c section with my twins. Took them away at 6 weeks old and also had a 3yo. We went for 3 nights around 2 hr car journey away. It was absolutely fine, you wont know until baby is here and depends on how you feel / how your routine is. Id say you should be ok but leave booking anything until last minute! Good luck

Original poster
Glittertips · 29/05/2024 15:02

@CurlewKate hes actually now being born at 35 weeks so it’s even more unknown how he will be in the initial weeks. Spoke to the neonatal doctor yesterday who expects him to be healthy and not require much or any NICU time.

We will definitely play it by ear. We aren’t set on any dates at all, so even if we don’t feel ready to go in September we can wait a month or two longer.

My sister waited until her son was 6 months before taking him anyway but I suspect that would be a little harder with him starting weaning etc!

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 29/05/2024 15:32

ExH and I took DD1 away for a little holiday at 12/13 weeks.

When I look back now, I wonder what I was thinking.

It was absolutely not a holiday for me. There was a lot of extra packing beforehand - of baby clothes, pack N play, diapers, etc, and finding places to breastfeed comfortably was a nightmare, plus she was unsettled at night.

I was very tired when we got home and then there was all the laundry to do.

Wait til your baby is at least 6 years old before you can count on fun on a holiday.

HawkeyePierce · 29/05/2024 16:15

It will depend on how you feel. We went away in the UK, three hour drive when LO was 6 weeks old. I didnt even think about it when booking it, but I felt ok. May have been different if my recovery had been slower

jasminocereusbritannicus · 29/05/2024 17:31

When my eldest was about 12 weeks old we went on a trip from Herts to Edinburgh to visit relatives. It was fine! That was nearly 32 years ago, though!. Not that it makes any difference! When my eldest was nearly 5 we took him and my 4 month old daughter on a holiday camp week long holiday. She was just getting over chickenpox. Again it was fine! You just manage, don’t you?!

Duechristmas · 29/05/2024 18:21

Not remotely, we did long haul (Kenya) with ours at that age.

Am805463 · 29/05/2024 18:24

I’d wait and see but you’ll probably be fine, all four of mine had been abroad by the time they were 12 weeks old, including my 34 weeker. Two of them went on UK breaks before 6 weeks also.

usernother · 29/05/2024 18:59

I took mine on a long haul holiday at 6 weeks old. I wouldn't have considered not doing it unless they'd been ill.

Whyamiherenow · 29/05/2024 20:45

Before we found out we were having DS, we booked tickets to the commonwealth games in Birmingham. By the time they rolled around he was less than 10 weeks old. Also a c section. Wore a baby carrier all day but was active early post c section. Birmingham is over 4 hours away from here. We did it because other kiddos were looking forward to it. Also took DS camping when he was less than 4 months old - loved it and we camp regularly with him now. Etc etc etc. We didn’t have a choice really re commonwealth games and had we known we wouldn’t have planned things that way but it was totally fine.

It really does depend on your baby, how you feel, the support you have etc. we stayed with friends for the Commonwealth Games (they still stood by their offer even with an extra person) and their support was invaluable at making it work.

Sounds a bit cliche but at that age they can fit in with you. At 2. It is harder!

FusionChefGeoff · 29/05/2024 20:55

It was my grandparents' Golden Wedding anniversary so we took DS1 away at 2 weeks! You won't know until after the birth really.

stichguru · 29/05/2024 22:10

Unless you are hoping to be ok for something very specific that requires advanced booking, I just wouldn't book anything till you're feeling ready. I don't think there's a "right age", it's about how you feel.

thecatsthecats · 29/05/2024 22:15

We went up to my parents for Christmas at 9 weeks by train.

You might be unlucky if you wait too long and get an early four month sleep regression. All of our antenatal group, whatever their baby was like, wish we'd done more when our newborns were sub-16 weeks.

I'd recommend getting a 2 bed place with free cancellation, so you can do shifts on sleep if you need to. But otherwise I really recommend taking advantage of the "sleepy potato" stage!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 30/05/2024 08:29

We took ds to see DM for the weekend when he was 9 weeks old. Usually a 5 hour car journey, but lots more stops with the baby. He slept really well that night and has kept it up for 15 years!

DD was a different story. She was born by crash section. I couldn't stand up straight without pain for more than a couple of minutes until she was 11 weeks old. She was a terrible sleeper until she was nearly 4 years old. She'd wake up every couple of hours and scream the place down.steaks hated being in the car.

YorkNew · 30/05/2024 08:34

I took my youngest two DC away to Cyprus and Tenerife when they were 10 weeks., They were sleeping through the night by then and travelling with a small baby is easier than when they get mobile.
For a UK break I’d say around 8 weeks.