(Lighthearted) who is BU, DH or me? Holidaying with a baby.

[Umlauf]

Please help us settle an argument! DH and I are expecting our first baby in September. I really want to go on holiday the following Easter for a number of reasons, to get some sun, to relax as a family, to have something to aim my exercise/post baby weight loss towards, to explore a new place.

(Due to wanting sunshine we would go long haul (currently in Granada and its bloody freezing) and we would be careful with money so probably not stay in a mark Warner childcare type resort). We thought of Mexico pre-pregnancy...

DH thinks:
-plane journey will be too long
-too hot for a baby to be comfortable
-not worth the money considering dropping to 1 income when baby's born

I think:
-long journey better with baby than toddler
-babies live in hot places, not a problem if sensible with shade/sun cream
-worth the money to have something amazing to do together

Neither of us has had a baby before so we are blissfully ignorant as to how much our lives will change. Who is BU, DH or me?!

[Umlauf]

Thanks everyone this has been really helpful for us. We've decided based on lots of advice here to start putting a little bit of money away, and then when the baby is about 2 months ish decide whether and where to go then. That way we will hopefully have a little more idea what to expect!

Lottie by doing something amazing together I just mean exploring a new place - like we are doing now in Andalucia (although the weather is ruining it a bit!) and ideally we wanted to go to Latin America as we have both recently started learning Spanish.

[WilsonFrickett]

Good plan, save up and see how you go. But if you're going to go anywhere, go before baby crawls. Still have the horrors about Majorca - Majorca! Hardly the back end of beyond - with it's open staircase, deep pool, baby who decided he didn't like sand, etc etc etc. I would never travel with a crawler again.

::lies down in darkened room::

[5Foot5]

Don't know anything about Mexico but I can tell you travel will be easier with a portable 6 month old than it will be with a wriggly, tantrumming, opinionated 2 year old. Just bear in mind that you will need at least as much luggage for the baby as you will for the two of you.

Neither of us has had a baby before so we are blissfully ignorant as to how much our lives will change
In the very early days after we became parents when we were naively wondering when things would "get back to normal" I remember someone older and wiser telling us that actually you never "get back to normal" you just "create a new normal"

[badguider]

Mexico is a looooong flight. I was half-dead even without a baby in tow. Same with Peru. Having said that, both amazing experiences - but IMO only worth the agony of the travel and jetlag if you can stay at least 3 weeks.

Personally I'd wait till May/June and go somewhere a bit closer to home (canaries? greece? turkey?)

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Your DH is closer to the mark I think.

We prefer driving than flying with the boys while they are still little, because we are on our own timetable and have all their stuff where we need it.
There are so many places to see, and we will go further afield when they are older.

[justabigdisco]

We did long haul with a 3 month old. It was fine! In fact, it was easier than going short haul when she was 9mo. Younger babies do not need to be constantly entertained, and if you're bf then no need to worry about food etc.

[QuintessentialShallots]

Sri Lanka and India were fab when ds was 18-24 months old. When they are walking, they can entertain themselves with sand and water and play on the beach, and splash about in pools. Much more fun than holidaying with a baby.

I have such fond memories of jumping in the waves (on a nice and shallow beach) in Sri Lanka when ds was 22 months old

[justabigdisco]

Oh yeah and she was a non sleeper to boot. Was still fine! Planning planning and more planning, plenty of time when you're on mat leave! Oh and if you're going somewhere tropical, babies hardly need any clothes! Just nappies and sun cream!

[DevlinMaccabee]

How about Cape Verde Islands if they're a possibility from where you are.

Temperatures are similar to the Caribbean and not such a long flight. I recommend the Riu Touareg hotel, it's amazing.

[Misty9]

We did Dubrovnik for a short break when ds was 6mo. He was fine on the flight (club class thanks to air miles) and made lots of business men friends by landing! Bf made things easier re taking fluids etc, and I fed him on takeoff and landing. We had started weaning (BLW) before we left but postponed in the end for a few days (wasn't that interested anyway).

Stayed sc as easier on budget and somewhere separate for baby to sleep while you chill out in the evenings (ds was not a night owl and needed his routine even at that age).

Flew with him again at 10mo. Much harder, despite still not being mobile at that age. In our experience, holidays with a baby are more a change of scenery than a break! Can't wait for our splash out trip to malta in September though, the last possible week before he turns two

[Primafacie]

I travelled a lot with babies: DD had been to Portugal, France (twice) and Canada (twice) before 7 months. I had the worst flight of my life on a long haul when she was 6 months and she cried (screamed) for hours. Passengers complained. Flight attendants complained. DH was thrown up on from head to toe. We argued. I nearly cried. We survived. It was never as bad either before or since, but I still shudder at the thought.

We then had DS, preemie, with reflux, and he was and still is a much better traveller than DD. Go figure.

My advice: forget about your Spanish. Forget about beaches, your baby will just eat fistfuls of sand. Don't travel over Easter or during school holidays unless you must.

Go to Marrakech in March, Greece in May, the French Riviera in April to June. Pm for details, I can recommend places - with childcare, without, self catering, hotels.

PS I swear I'm not a travel agent or earn commission :)

Congrats on your baby btw

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I wouldn't go anywhere malarial or where you need jabs. 6 months is too young for that. Yes, DC live there but malaria or dengue is really horrible (I have had dengue).

DD who is 2 has done about 16 flights, half transatlantic, so I know what I'm talking about. I flew alone with her when she was 3 months. It is MUCH easier if you BF so that is a consideration. If you have a big baby, 9 hours on your lap is a lot. I might go nearer and get a third seat. DD is a good flyer. If you get one that has ear issues or hates it, you and all the plane will wish you chose somewhere nearer.

Good luck.

[Idocrazythings]

I agree with the breastfeeding definitely makes life easier- esp. If you are going somewhere where water may be questionable and makes plane trips much easier. Also invest in a really good baby carrier like an ergo- they are more expensive but so worth it. I carried DS at age 2 1/2 up the Eiffel Tower in mine on my back! (He is a small child though!)

[JassyRadlett]

I took my September baby to Australia and back at 6 months. Relatively straightforward flight; I'm about to do a repeat now that he's 19 months and dreading it a bit - so much easier when they're littler!

Yes, eminently doable and while you'll not exactly be putting your feet up you will have to plan your day around them less that when they're toddlers.

[rootypig]

Flying with a baby can be fairly straightforward. Just make sure you fly an airline that has cots and lets you reserve seats at the bulkhead on booking, so you know you'll get one. We are taking DD to Caribbean to see family this June, she will be 8 months. I can confirm that babies do indeed live (happily) in hot countries!

[oldnewmummy]

We did our first flight (Singapore to Australia) when our son was 7 weeks - fabulous, slept all the way. First flight long-haul (Singapore to UK) was at 5 months - again, very easy. Since then he's flown long-haul twice a year and short-haul many times and now, at 6, is fantastic on planes. I think the low point was 18months (too big to sit still, to young to enjoy the in-flight entertainment).