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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to take an 8 week old on holiday to Spain? Poss pfb...?

101 replies

HopingforHols · 14/01/2016 09:51

DH and I regularly go on holiday with another couple and have done for years, works great. We are all currently planning a trip to Spain for a week in a villa in few months' time.

At the time of the holiday our friends will have 2 DC, 3yrs and 6 months.

Our first DC is due in the next few weeks and will likely be around 8 weeks at the time of the holiday.

AIBU to plan to take an 8 week old on a totally not necessary holiday? This is my first and haven't a clue what to expect. Will me and DH enjoy it or will everything just be too new and we end up stressed? Will we have to take loads of baby stuff on the plane with us and would we be better just setting off in the car to somewhere in the UK or France maybe, where we're a bit more in control?

Please help. I don't want to be pfb, but I do want me and DH to have a good first holiday as a little family. What age is the earliest you would take a pfb on a plane to Europe in late Spring?

Thanks

OP posts:
Maplessglobe · 14/01/2016 09:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 14/01/2016 09:55

My DS2 is 7 weeks. I would. A few weeks ago there was a thread about taking a 2/3 week old abroad in holiday and I thought that was to soon. But 8 weeks, provided you have no complications as I did, is a fairly nice age. You're into a sort of routine and tend to of recovered. However, this is my second child, and I was a lot more stressed with my first.

Really don't think I've helped you there...Sorry!

waitingforsomething · 14/01/2016 09:55

I think you'll get a mixed reaction on this but I think it's fine. Babies are very portable at that age, usually sleep quite a bit during the day and only need milk so not much to worry about.
By 8 weeks or so you should probably have established feeding whether that's Breast or bottle.
The only thing would be if you've had a C section you might still be uncomfortable (this is a guess I haven't had one) but others I know have been mobile enough for a holiday by then. go for it

NickiFury · 14/01/2016 09:56

I would. New borns are as portable as you want them to be. If you're BF it's even easier. The only thing I would be aware of is that if you are BF I seem to remember a huge spate of cluster feeding around that time, with both of mine, which was a bit nightmarish. You may feel very different after your baby is born as well and prefer to stay close to home.

SalemSaberhagen · 14/01/2016 09:56

I wouldn't take a baby away before they had there first 3 sets of jabs, but that's just me. I'm sure it will be fine.

Xmasbaby11 · 14/01/2016 10:00

I've had two dc and at 8 weeks there's no way I'd have been abroad. I was having problems breastfeeding with both at that stage and was so knackered with sleep deprivation I wouldn't have coped with the upheaval. 3 months was our first trip and that was in England - and we still returned early when dd got sick.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 14/01/2016 10:00

I have at the same age and it was fine. As pp have said, they are very portable.

NameAgeLocation · 14/01/2016 10:00

In theory it is just fine. In reality it depends on what kind of birth you have and what sort of baby you get. With DC2 I would totally have been up for it; with DC1 absolutely not on both counts.

If it was me with a theoretical DC3 I would want to wait and see until after the birth. YMMV. Either way have fun!

Birdsgottafly · 14/01/2016 10:02

I think they're easier to travel with at that age.

We've been taking my DGD away since newborn.

On our last holiday, she was nearly 1 and it all evolved around her needs (naps/meals) as it will for a couple of years. It was still enjoyable, of course.

They're were lots of people with newer-borns and they got to eat in peace etc.

Don't restrict yourself to driving to France (as is the mantra on here), they're so many more places to go.

They're portable and happy to be held at that age, make the most of it.

Radiatorvalves · 14/01/2016 10:09

Go for it! I took DS to Scotland about that age and subsequently to Alps. I was taken to Ireland at 6 weeks in 1971. DS2 went skiing (to cafe at bottom of hill) at about 11 weeks. No ill effects. I did have to threaten to get boobs out at gatwick as the bag drop off queue was 45 mins (travelling alone with 2yo and 11 week old) but no other probs!

Zorion · 14/01/2016 10:11

I live in Spain, had my baby here. Took him to visit the family in England at 6 weeks. I took a couple of bottlest, his car seat and a portable playmat thing. There was a travelcot at my Mums otherwise I'd have co slept there. If you arent BF maybe also a kettle to sterilise with, or even easier, you can buy the formula in Spain in bottles ready made. Buy nappies there too (cheaper!)

It was much, much easier than it is with a toddler!!

Why do you feel in control in France and not Spain?!

MrsJayy · 14/01/2016 10:15

If it is a villa then it will be fine a bit of sunshine and some time away from the house will be nice granted you will be doing baby stuff but go on holiday and dont worry about it.

Shakirasma · 14/01/2016 10:16

5 months is the youngest I've ever took any of mine abroad and that was fine. Especially easy if you are breast feeding, I was bottle feeding and took those plastic sterilising bags you hand on the door. Brilliant.

Friends of ours took their 4 week old to Florida and found it fine too. Babies are easier to travel with than toddlers Imo

Original poster
HopingforHols · 14/01/2016 10:17

Sorry Zorion, not clear, I meant being in control having our car with as much stuff as we want to pack in and stopping whenever we want, rather than airports and queues and luggage and set times etc, nothing against Spain! We live in the south east so driving to some parts of France is v easy.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Maybe I'll wait a few more weeks until I know what sort of birth I've had and whether the thought would make me weep. We're usually intrepid travellers so this didn't even occur to me when said yes to this timing with our friends! I do like the idea of something in the diary to aim for, but don't want it to end up feeling like pressure and a huge cloud over me. Tricky...

OP posts:
SunnyDays1987 · 14/01/2016 10:22

Never in a million years would I have wanted to go abroad when DS was 8 weeks old. Way too much stress and hassle and I was completely knackered after the birth so I definitely wouldn't have enjoyed it!

You probably won't know if you can face it until after you've had your baby!

Salmiak · 14/01/2016 10:22

Do it but make sure you

Have excellent travel insurance

Put your passport application in quite quickly after the birth (means registering the birth and getting birth certificates Asap too)

I'd recommend trying to breast feed as it's easier than travelling with formula - although plenty of mums formula feed in Spain without any problems!

Buy a good sling - whenever we flew with a baby dc wed put them in a slight at the airport

WillBeatJanuaryBlues · 14/01/2016 10:25

New borns dont know where they are.

your main worry will be hydration and mosiquto bites.

I find new borns quite easy and would much rather be on a beach tired, than stuck at home tired.

you may be tired but just make sure you have lots of things to keep baby cool and you will be fine.

whatyouseeiswhatyouget · 14/01/2016 10:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pythonesque · 14/01/2016 10:32

If your friends were on their own, no children, I'd perhaps say leave it till later. But given that they have small children too, and you've travelled with them before, I suspect you'll find it really helpful to be together and it could be a nice relatively easy holiday.

Do you travel together or separately and meet there? I'd use them for travel advice to the maximum to be honest!!

Alicewasinwonderland · 14/01/2016 10:32

It depends.

I wouldn't decide until the baby is here frankly. If you have a bad c-section (it happens) you might not be able to move well at only 8 weeks, let alone travelling.

If all is well, you will see how you feel. Some babies sleep, some don't, you can't know how tired you will be until the baby is here.

Otherwise, babies are really portable, can be washed in a sink. You can sterilise bottles in boiling water (a bit of a pain, but no big deals) and some countries don't even recommend sterilising anymore anyway.

Really, do wait until baby is here to make a decision, it might be the best holiday you ever had!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 14/01/2016 10:36

I would go yes, I think they're usually fairly settled by 8 weeks. I went away on holiday with family with DD1 around that age and loved it - but was in UK though!
You might want to think a bit about whether or not to take her/him swimming and that sort of thing?
But I'm sure in reality Spain is pretty much as safe as UK?

TPel · 14/01/2016 10:37

My parents took me to Yugoslavia on holiday when I was six weeks old. That was 50 years ago and it was fine. I have some lovely photos of me on the beech.

NerrSnerr · 14/01/2016 10:38

Personally I would have preferred to stay at home, my daughter was feeding two hourly overnight and I would have felt happier at home. My boobs were also leaky overnight so make sure there are plenty of sheets/ washing facilities.

cleaty · 14/01/2016 10:38

You are intrepid travellers. Remember most people are not.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 14/01/2016 10:40

Also in a way I think it can be easier with your first as there's only one of them to think about! That was my general experience with parenting anyway - but then babies weren't an entirely new phenomenon to me. 24/7 is always a shock to any of us though!