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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take a 10 week old to Spain?

43 replies

Icklepickle101 · 27/05/2018 15:12

Had 2 holidays booked this year which have both had to be cancelled due to medical problems (blood pressure related fainting) as I’m pregnant consultant said it was best not to fly under the circumstances.

I’m really desperate to get a holiday in this year and DS (2) would love to go on a plane. I have a c section is booked for the 15th July so I have been looking at 5 nights in Spain end of September. DP thinks I’m bonkers to consider it while DD will be so little. I’m happy to sit in the shade by the pool and breastfeed her all day if necessary, and I’d rather be sleep deprived in Spain than gloomy England!

Has anyone done it? Is it a totally insane idea to take a young baby abroad so soon?

OP posts:
ilovegin112 · 27/05/2018 15:14

Sounds lovely

teaandtoast · 27/05/2018 15:16

'gloomy England'! Where are you?

We took my 4 month old to France. It wasn't the best idea.

KirstenRaymonde · 27/05/2018 15:16

Ten weeks is probably the most portable age of baby, they’re just sleeping or feeding and are easy to just sit around with you. Spain won’t be too hot then. It’s long enough after that your CS that you should be pretty well recovered. I think that sounds like a great plan.

Thehop · 27/05/2018 15:17

We took 5 week old last year and we loved it. She was so easy and it was a lovely way to recover from the birth. X

Rufustheyawningreindeer · 27/05/2018 15:18

Took a 3 month old to portugal and it was absolutely fine

Have a lovely holiday Grin

(It wasnt a random 3 month old...it was mine)

LockedOutOfMN · 27/05/2018 15:19

It's fine, OP, enjoy.

JaneyEJones · 27/05/2018 15:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

catinasplashofsunshine · 27/05/2018 15:24

You should be fine 10 weeks after a C-section, and a breastfed baby will be no problem.

Presumably your DH/ dp is going with you? Obviously it wouldn't be the best idea with a 2 year old and a 10 week old alone, just because it's easier to keep a toddler safe and entertained on home turf if you're breastfeeding a new sibling at the same time and have no reliable help.

As long as there are 2 hands on adults, go for it!

We took dc3 to Italy for 2 weeks at 4 weeks old, also post C-section and with a toddler and an infant school age sibling. Being on holiday was fine, although we took grandparents and I wasn't ready to have him taken out of my arms and out of sight and that was the only part I struggled with, just nuclear family would be perfect.

MaybeBabey · 27/05/2018 15:25

I haven't but my sister has done that with her children (repeatedly).

She got to sit in the shade with the "new baby" whereas her husband or other family members took the children out / entertained them.

I think it could work. But would probably end up being really stressful if you don't have enough support...

ScrubTheDecks · 27/05/2018 15:26

We took our Dc1 to Greece at 9 weeks, it was a doddle! Bf so no bottle cleaning / water issues. I didn’t have a toddler to wrangle as well but if you pick somewhere where it is easy to manage them you should be fine.

Etino · 27/05/2018 15:30

Sounds lovely. I took dc1 to LA when she was 8 weeks old. The road trip with her, dc2 and dc3, aged 10 weeks was gruelling and produced a lot of laundry. But yes, one place, portable baby sounds great.

Bellabutterfly2016 · 27/05/2018 15:30

Try Majorca/ Menorca - only a 2 hour flight! Mainland Spain is just that bit further.

We met a family last year on holiday with a 3 month old baby holiday was booked before she knew she was pregnant - they looked like they were emigrating!!!

MrsDylanBlue · 27/05/2018 15:31

I emigrated to NZ with a 9 week old.

TitZillas · 27/05/2018 15:33

Your baby will be fine - 2 year olds are a nightmare! We had our worst holiday when DD was 2, tantrums, refused to sit still - we spent the entire time chasing after her. It was dreadful and I still have anxiety at the thought of flying with kids because of her!

DuchyDuke · 27/05/2018 15:33

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Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Icklepickle101 · 27/05/2018 15:34

Duchy I’ve been in hospital for 5 weeks so not really able to enjoy “the nicest summer in years” thanks. And it’s going to be far from an expensive package holiday £700 for all of us.

OP posts:
Original poster
Icklepickle101 · 27/05/2018 15:36

Thanks, this is reassuring.

DP is happy to entertain DS for most of the day, it’s the baby he’s worried about but I’m happy to be left to my own devices with her really!

It’s Majorca I’m looking at, 2 hour flight is appealing Grin

OP posts:
TroubledLichen · 27/05/2018 15:37

I took my 10 week old to the south of France, was absolutely fine. She’s now 1 and oh my gosh I did not appreciate how easy it was compared to travelling now!! They are so portable and sleep anywhere at that age. I also had a c-section and was 100% recovered so no issues there. Sleep was fine, she had dropped her middle of the night feed and was sleeping 10pm-7am. I was bottle feeding which was a bit of a faff but not impossible and definitely not worth missing out on the holiday for. If you’re breast feeding it will be super easy. I say hands down do it!

MerryShitmas · 27/05/2018 15:38

Yes, it's madness sorry. Give it at least 3-4 months.
There are several reasons...
When I had my first it took weeks to even get her birth certificate sorted because there were no appointments available. We had to take her to an office 2hrs drive away to get her registered at 5 weeks old to avoid breaking the law.
Would that then allow enough time to get a passport in peak time?
I'd also be concerned about how you'll be feeling. I certainly wouldn't have been up for navigating an airport and travelling 10 weeks post partum either time. 1 natural 1 planned c section.
Sorry.
14+ weeks I'd say was fine though

juneau · 27/05/2018 15:39

I reckon that should be alright OP and as a 2nd time parent you'll know what you're doing. I took a 4-month old on a transatlantic flight on my own (and he was my first), and that much easier than I'd worried it would be, so Spain at the end of Sept sounds fine to me. I think if you feel like you really NEED it and you're prepared to just lounge by the pool and take it easy then why not?

juneau · 27/05/2018 15:39

P.S. The passport issue is worth checking out first - are you local to a passport office?

ShackUp · 27/05/2018 15:39

I did this whenDS2 was 3 months, we went to Italy. It was perfect, and gave DS1 loads of distractions.

kaytee87 · 27/05/2018 15:41

As long as you're sure you can get her registered and passport in time then I don't see the issue at all.

TroubledLichen · 27/05/2018 15:46

I had no issue with passport. DD was born in a different borough so we registered her at our local office when she was about a week old and got the certificates back in the post from the borough she was born in. Applied online for the passport when we received them, we had it in hand when she was 4 weeks. So a full 6 weeks to spare.

Glassofredandapackofcrisps · 27/05/2018 15:57

Do it! I first took my dd to Portugal at 16 weeks and it was lovely.
Just returned from the canaries she's 2 now.
Still lovely but a lot harder work.
Your 2 yo needs to be watched like a hawk but you know that!