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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Holiday advice needed for first time Mum

38 replies

MummyToBe89 · 04/02/2020 09:05

We're looking to book a holiday for when our DS will be 4 and a half months old and are pretty set on Thailand. He's our first child and I'm just looking for some opinions on whether you would take your baby to Thailand at that age.

Will he have all the relevant jabs by then?

We'd be staying in a 5 star resort so no worries about cleanliness, taking our own travel kettle and using bottled water for his bottles, we'd also take enough sterilising tablets etc but his bottles can also be sterilised in a microwave.

Is there anything else we should consider?

I'm just looking for a bit of feedback/reassurance. Please go easy on me if you think it's a terrible idea :)

OP posts:
Original poster
MummyToBe89 · 04/02/2020 09:06

Sorry everyone, the voting button isn't really relevant but since it's there let's say:

YABU: Don't take a 4 month old to Thailand
YANBU: Go for it!

OP posts:
TweetUsOnFacebook · 04/02/2020 09:12

We went to Spain with our dc at a similar age and it was an incredibly easy holiday - they don't move, they sleep a lot and are portable. I'm not sure I would have wanted to venture much further though as the travelling is the hardest bit. Long flights can be tough and stressful if they're unsettled. But once you're settled it's a good age for a relaxing holiday. You'll have to check whether you can get nappies etc or you'll have to pack enough.

Curiosity101 · 04/02/2020 09:16

I wouldn't - mostly because of the vaccines they recommend. wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/thailand

Your baby will have had all of his first vaccinations by then but they're not all the ones that are recommended for travel to Thailand. The vaccination process can be a bit tough on some babies too so I really wouldn't want to put my baby through additional vaccinations just for a holiday.

The other reason I wouldn't is because your a first time parent. You may take to it like a duck to water... you may struggle. I wouldn't book any holidays until after the baby is here.

Lifeasweknow · 04/02/2020 09:17

It's an awfully long way for a 4 month old. I'm thinking about your own sanity, that of the other flyers and your baby.

Original poster
MummyToBe89 · 04/02/2020 09:20

Thank you for your feedback so far. I should add that we've already flown with him, granted not for 11 hours, but we've flown and he had no problems with his ears etc. We'd also have a sky cot so he wouldn't be on our lap for too long.

Can I ask for any more suggestions for April? Somewhere with guaranteed weather.

OP posts:
Blacksackunderthetreesfreeze · 04/02/2020 09:21

I think you need jabs that aren’t part of the usual regime for Thailand, plus malaria pills etc. But tbh I dont know this so hopefully someone will.

Boom45 · 04/02/2020 09:23

Have you had your baby yet? I wouldn't have been well enough 4 months after the birth of my 2nd to travel that far (I had a more dramatic birth than most but its not unheard of) and my first baby didn't sleep at all so I don't think I would've wanted to stay in a hotel with them at that age.
Thailand with a 4 month old might be just fine and if you can afford to book it knowing that you might not end up going then I'd go for it - as pp have said 4 month olds are very portable and some of them sleep a lot at that age. If it's a "big" holiday for you that you're having to save for I'd wait until you've met your baby and know how you feel after the birth because it would be awful to have to take the decision to either cancel or to drag yourself and the baby on a holiday you don't enjoy.

Curiosity101 · 04/02/2020 09:26

@MummyToBe89 Sorry! I completely made the assumption he hadnt arrived yet. Grin Congratulations! Flowers

April... depends how 'nice' you want it to be? Southern states in the US? We've been to Florida in April a couple of times :)

Perhaps south spain? Cape Verde?

brummiesue · 04/02/2020 09:28

I wouldn't subject a 4 month old baby to extra vaccinations just for a holiday, there are plenty of other places warm at that time, Florida etc, just have a google

SuddenArborealStop · 04/02/2020 09:31

Isn't bottled water a bad idea for bottles because of the mineral content?

TheTeenageYears · 04/02/2020 09:35

If you haven’t booked anything yet I would wait and see what happens with the Coronavirus situation. I’m not trying to scare monger but one of the concerns seem to be how it might affect less developed countries. Many countries have already stopped flights to China and some are closing boarders to non citizens/non residents.

Who knows what the situation will be in 2 months time. If you decide to book I would make sure you have top notch insurance but even then it’s unlikely to pay up if you decide later it’s not worth the risk.

I live abroad, travel frequently and am thinking very carefully about travel plans for the future.

TweetUsOnFacebook · 04/02/2020 09:35

Loads of choice if you want warmth but less flight time/vaccinations.

Cape Verde is lovely and about 6 hours flight time I think. Pretty deserted though so not much to do outside of the resorts but great for a relaxing beach holiday.

Crete will be very warm.

Canary Islands.Playa Blanca Lanzarote is good.

Southern Italy or Sardinia.

Southern Spain - Malaga or Marbella. Our fave resort is Mijas.

OoohTheStatsDontLie · 04/02/2020 09:40

I'd speak to your nurse at the GP who does the vaccinations. Malaria tablets arent needed for beachy areas but may be needed if you were going to certain areas eg jungle. The other diseases are food or water borne or infected needles or treatments etc. So not really any risk for a baby so young that they only have milk. So I actually think you'd be ok without the vaccinations for him but you might want to talk it through with a professional (I guess there remains a small risk he might swallow some water when having a bath or shower for example). Also some mineral water has a high salt content so you might need the one (cant remember what it's called, think it's by coca cola or Pepsi that's manufactured and pure H2O only, or take or make sure you can buy, pre made up bottles).
Also check it's not the rainy season in the area you are travelling to

GameSetMatch · 04/02/2020 09:43

@TweetUsOnFacebook, I hated Cape Verde it was my worst holiday ever, really boring nothing to see or do, rubbish food we went to Sal it was like visiting the moon 😂

I wouldn’t subject a 4month old to such a long flight or the extra jabs, Europe may seem boring to you but might be best for such a small baby.

TweetUsOnFacebook · 04/02/2020 09:51

GameSetMatch

I didn't say Europe was boring Hmm. The op asked for recommendations for guaranteed good weather in April.

LouHotel · 04/02/2020 09:54

We did Rhodes in May when our first was 24 weeks. Easiest holiday ever and it will never be as simple travelling with your child again.

I was breastfeeding so didn't need to worry about bottles but the resort we stayed at was very family friendly and their were microwaves etc.. baby napped twice a day and getting up in the night doesn't feel so bed when you don't have to prepare any of your own meals and get to sit on a sun lounge all day, baby just had to stay in the shade and we went indoors for the hottest time of day.

I wouldn't do Thailand though, look at Spain, Greece, malta or canary islands.

Original poster
MummyToBe89 · 04/02/2020 09:54

Thank you @Curiosity101.

Yes he's already born and is a very chilled baby...so far!

We've been to Thailand before and both of us never had any extra jabs/malaria tablets etc but if the Dr recommended it then it'd be 100% no! Seeing him have his 8 week jabs was bad enough, I'd never put him through more just for the sake of a holiday.

I think I will take the advice of speaking to our HV.

What do you all think about Mexico?

OP posts:
Original poster
MummyToBe89 · 04/02/2020 09:56

@LouHotel Greece could be an option thank you. It's annoying that it has to be April but we really want to go before my wife's maternity leave is up and May isn't an option :(

OP posts:
forrandomposts · 04/02/2020 10:10

Why did either of you have the vaccines when you went?

norealshepherds · 04/02/2020 10:12

I’d go somewhere a bit closer

londonschool · 04/02/2020 10:13

Totally fine. I did Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand with my daughter at 3 or 4 months old. Didn't have any extra jabs. Was far easier at that age than a year later with a toddler as she just pretty much slept on the plane.

TweetUsOnFacebook · 04/02/2020 10:21

Dd went to Thailand last year and had a course of vaccinations starting from around 3 months before they went. I think it cost her and her bf about £400 each Shock

JagerPlease · 04/02/2020 10:24

Took DS to Mexico when he was about 7 months and no problems at all! We'd done a shorter flight before hand and he was fine with ears, had a sky cot (not that he went in it but very useful for storing stuff and giving legroom!)

doadeer · 04/02/2020 10:29

I wouldn't go that far personally. What about canary islands like Tenerife etc?

BlueflowerRedthorns · 04/02/2020 10:30

I'd look at the US as the flight is not too bad and southern states would be warm in April. I tend to book based on where I'd be happy with my child receiving healthcare if necessary. Disclaimer my child has a serious illness so I might be projecting.