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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take my 6 month old abroad?

40 replies

givemewaffles · 25/01/2019 12:16

We have a holiday booked to Cyprus at the beginning of June this year and will be taking our 6 month old daughter away with us. When we've mentioned it to people the general consensus seems to be tat we are mad! does anyone have any experience going away with a 6 month old? my only concern is that Cyprus might be too hot!

OP posts:
dontlikebeards · 25/01/2019 12:24

Plenty of shade and plenty of water, you'll be fine.

Cheeeeislifenow · 25/01/2019 12:27

We want in August it reached high 30's.
I wouldn't recommend that for a small baby who isn't used to the heat

Methyl · 25/01/2019 12:27

They have babies in Cyprus, you know.

Gemmamb · 25/01/2019 12:28

Personally I wouldn't as it would seem a lot of hassle than going away in England with the car, I.e all the stuff needed and heat etc. But my sister took her LB abroad at 9 months and she said it was fine. So it depends how you feel really there is no right or wrong answer.

DeadBod · 25/01/2019 12:31

I've done it in the past and there wasn't any problems. Feeding and sterilising bottles was problematic but we managed in the end.

CottonSock · 25/01/2019 12:35

Has your room got air con?
I travel loads with my kids and it's fine. Don't tend to go boiling hot places though as I'm not a fan after experiencing turkey one year

Cheeeeislifenow · 25/01/2019 12:35

methyl

Clearly you didn't read my post, I said if they are not used to the year.
Jeesh

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 25/01/2019 12:35

We did Egypt when DS8 was 6 months old and it was fine. As others have said, lots of shade and water and it's fine. Everything is sterilisable, everything is cleanable.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 25/01/2019 12:38

You will be fine...my hotel in tenerife was able to provide a bottle steriliser too so its good to ask.

MynameisJune · 25/01/2019 12:40

We did Menorca in June when DD was 6 months old it was fine. Made sure she stayed in the shade, lots of fluid via bf and fruit like watermelon but she loved it. Our villa had air con so the bedrooms where nice and cool for sleeping. I’d do it again no issues.

Godowneasy · 25/01/2019 12:41

I took my 3 month old to Greece on my own. It was absolutely fine, but obviously little one will need to stay in the shade all the time. It's good to have a siesta at the hottest time of the day. Keep a flannel with you to give baby a cool down if she gets hot.
I didn't do much while I was there really, but I just wanted a break anyway from housework and cooking etc so it worked well for me.
Try and get hold of the big plastic washing bowls you often see over there, as it may be a nice bath tub/ paddling pool for baby - obviously with complete supervision! Useful if you only have a shower in your accomodation too!

blueskiesandforests · 25/01/2019 12:41

Travelling with one six month old is easy. Some people make it into a drama but there's no need. If you're breastfeeding stick with it til after you get back as it makes things far, far easier and means not only no bottles to keep clean and no formula to carry but also no need to worry about the water and at 6 months no real need to worry too much about baby food. Also of course feeding on take off and landing deals with the change in cabin pressure.

Agree the change in temperature and sun generally will be the only thing to be careful with.

MynameisJune · 25/01/2019 12:43

If you’re formula feeding I’d suggest ordering pre made formula to pick up airside once you’re at the airport.

Mylittlepony374 · 25/01/2019 12:50

I did long haul (30hrs flying) with my daughter at 5 months to hot southern hemisphere summer. It was absolutely fine. Loads of sunscreen, loads of drinks, loads of shade, we froze breastmilk into ice lollys for her. Enjoy yourself!

Karigan195 · 25/01/2019 12:55

Yep. My son went to 5 different countries before he was 6 months. It was fine to be honest. Actually a lot of countries are more baby friendly than the uk with toilets providing nappies and wipes.

DappledThings · 25/01/2019 12:56

We took DS to Malta at 8 months and both DC to France when DD was 8 months too.

It's a totally normal thing to do. Weird that anyone's raising even an eyebrow.

Might be trickier if you have bottles you need to sterilise but not impossible. I don't have any experience of that admittedly.

planespotting · 25/01/2019 13:01

Who said you were mad?
We went on holidays across the ocean for a month when DC was 6 months
So much easier when they are not mobile!

budgiegirl · 25/01/2019 13:25

I’ve taken all three of my DCs abroad from the age of three months. It’s really not a problem. Nappies abroad are fine. If you’re breastfeeeding it’s easier, but bottle feeding is easy enough as well - I packed powdered formula and sterilising tablets in the suitcase, and carried ready made formula in my hand luggage (although this was a long time ago!). I believe you can still take ready made milk cartons in your hand luggage - check with the airport or buy them airside.

Pack at least twice as many nappies/wipes/spare clothes as you think you will need for the journey, in case of delays or a tummy upset when flying!

But really, it’s quite easy to travel with a baby - it just takes a little more planning.

eurochick · 25/01/2019 13:28

It's a good age to go. Flying is a bit of a nightmare in the crawling/toddling phase. We've been abroad a couple of times every year since my daughter was born.

DonCorleoneTheThird · 25/01/2019 13:31

it's completely fine, as long as you plan for a holiday with a baby.

So a villa rather than an hotel room, so you can enjoy yourself whilst baby sleep, live at your own rhythm without being disturbed by others and not be stuck in a room during the hottest time of the day.

Rent a car, or prebook a taxi to go to your destination

Access to a washing machine so you are not bothered with the laundry

Plan to stay in the real shade during the hottest time of the day.

I love holidays, even with my babies, but they only work if they are planned around the age of the children you are with, and you are not trying to recreate a mini-honeymoon with your partner.

Busybusybust · 25/01/2019 13:31

I took my 6 week old to Spain. Plus a 7 year old and 5 year old. It was fine. Lovely hiiday.

I asked my HV for advice before we went and all she said was 'Good luck'!

Stinkbomb · 25/01/2019 14:04

We went to Malta/Gozo when DD was 6 months - she had her first solid food when we were there! It was fab, although the pavements were crap with the pushchair.

LMBad · 25/01/2019 14:14

We travelled a lot when our baby was that age, it was an absolute piece of piss compared to when they start crawling and walking! No problem at all and they are so lovely with children in the Med. would just be a bit concerned about the heat at that time of year.

mindutopia · 25/01/2019 14:17

That sounds fine to me as long as you manage your expectations (it won't be your usual relaxing holiday). I took my then 8 month old on a European city break alone - just the two of us. I had the money and the time on maternity leave and was dying to see something besides the same 4 walls and the library and the same walks we always go on. I booked us an airbnb, left the older one (who is in school) home with dh, and off we went on our own to enjoy some museums and lazy afternoon lunches at cafes. It was lovely. We were back and in bed by 8pm every night, so not my usual boozy weekend break! But it was still lovely. It's much, much harder to travel once they are mobile, so might as well make the most of it now.

PregnantSea · 25/01/2019 14:52

I emigrated to another continent and all of our immigrants friends here have taken their babies to various far flung locations to visit family. They usually do it when the baby is about 4 months old. I will also be taking our baby across the world when it's 4 months old. It will be 2 long haul flights plus a 4 hour domestic flight with no stop overs.

You're not crazy at all OP, UK to cyprus is nothing. Go and have fun with your beautiful baby!