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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to take baby on holiday?

45 replies

Mamaofaboy · 28/08/2021 11:44

Just that really.

DS will be 4 months old at the end of Sept and DH & I are looking at taking him to Greece.

Pre baby we were big travellers and hope to do the same with DS but I feel like everyone is putting us off from my Mum to the bloody travel agent who are suggesting it’s ludicrous to take a 4 month baby abroad regardless, never mind in a pandemic.

I mean I know the holiday will look VERY different to our usual jaunts, but to suggest I’m putting my son at risk by sitting on an airplane for 4 hours has got me second guessing myself.

Thoughts/experiences please?

OP posts:

Sunshinebrunshine · 28/08/2021 11:51

Yes of course go. Great memories of holidays with our under 1 year old (then covid hit). Went to the US and multiple European trips. The baby won't remember them but it was good fun. Invest in a good sling and off you go. (though if you want a relaxing holiday of sleeping in etc not really possible but if you want to see places and spend time together then YES)

Brollypackedforscottishholiday · 28/08/2021 11:54

Drove to France when ds was 6 months. Very portable as still efb. And he wasn't mobile!!
He slept in the awning with a fly net over the travel cot!!

Sailth · 28/08/2021 11:56

Definitely go for it! Took DD to Europe on several trips before she was one and it was easy compared to toddler stage!

Ikeameatballs · 28/08/2021 11:57

Now is the best time, before he is mobile! Go for it.

sunshinesupermum · 28/08/2021 11:59

If it wasn't for Covid I'd say go for it but truly atm I'd hold off till next year.

LakeShoreD · 28/08/2021 11:59

I voted YABU because not only are you using a travel agent, you’re listening to their parenting advice. Go to Greece. Book it online. Have a lovely time! Before they’re mobile and weaning is a great age to travel

CaptainMerica · 28/08/2021 12:07

We took DS2 abroad at 6 months, and it was great. 4 months is even easier, as you won't have to worry about weaning.

I have lovely memories of wandering around Ibiza old town and the hippy market at night with DS asleep in the sling, while DH was back at the hotel with DS1.

We had nice boat trips out, water park fun, and a few organised kids activities. It was a great holiday.

We stayed in an all inclusive hotel, and found meals far less stressful than the UK holidays we took when DS1 was the same age.

Savannahnanana · 28/08/2021 12:10

Perfect time for a holiday. Go and have fun!

ZenNudist · 28/08/2021 12:10

I took ds at 5mo, 9mo and just turned 1.

I'd go. It's not much different to holiday with a baby as it is to holiday as a couple. You have to look after baby and take a load of stuff but you can pretty much do adult activities. Sight see with baby in pram lunch together, go out for meals in the evening if baby will sleep in pram. Mine would. Its great when they are young and barely mobile.

Take a pram with a good sun shade. I like a baby jogger city mini. So easy to take on and off the plane. I also took a baby bouncer basic one I collapsed, car seat (goes for free on the plane along with the stroller), travel high chair booster seat thingy.

Lots of places have cots and high chairs in the apartment. You can even get places with sterilisers and toys.

It's once they are toddlers it all gets harder work and more dangerous as every holiday home requires baby proofing as you walk in. Still do it but eventually you can't rely on them being in a pram asleep.

I remember a horrible time in Sorrento with 2yo ds2 who didn't want to be in pram, wouldn't walk nicely and was at risk of being run over by vespas. And I watched other holiday makers stting in quaint Harbour fish restaurants which was the holiday I wanted to be on! I promptly cancelled a planned trip to Barcelona as I realised city breaks with young dc were off the menu for a while!

Go whilst you can.

Flight with a baby not great. I bf whist taking off and landing to encourage them to suck and equalise pressure in their ears.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 28/08/2021 12:11

The hardest bit for me was packing all the toot that goes with taking a baby away but we did it and had a brilliant time....def do it before baby is walking

superram · 28/08/2021 12:13

You are not being unreasonable but do run the risk of having to quarantine in a Greek hotel if you test positive before coming back. It’s not a risk I would be prepared to take (though risk is small).

Aimee1987 · 28/08/2021 12:14

I flew when son was about 6 weeks and again when he was 16 months ( all the covid lock down in between was the only reason for the gap) and a non moving baby is far easier to transport than a wriggling toddler.
When he was younger I had baba in a sling and dad carried al the stuff easy as pie.
Plus at that age you can just pop them in a buggy or sling and there quite content which will make sightseeing and stuff far easier.
Go and have and awesome holiday.

Pigeonpocket · 28/08/2021 12:24

Taking a 4 month old abroad, fine.

Taking a 4 month old during a pandemic that isn't under control, on a plane where you're sharing the same air with a bunch of people for 4 hours, maybe not.
The baby obviously isn't vaccinated and can't wear a mask. I personally wouldn't risk it. Cases in Greece are on the rise again too.
Would you risk it if you weren't protected with a vaccine and a mask?

alrightfella · 28/08/2021 12:28

I think it's a great time to go actually. We did it.

Baby isn't mobile so no worries there.

Unlikely to be weaning yet.

We used to feed dd and put her in her pjs in the buggy and go for a nice long walk til she fell asleep then she just slept in the buggy whilst we ate dinner then went back to the apartment and sat on the balcony with a glass of wine.

Peanutsandchilli · 28/08/2021 12:37

I should think a 4 month old would be relatively easy. In a year or two, not so much. I'd take advantage while you can.

Ohwowanother · 28/08/2021 12:42

The easiest holiday I had with my kids was when we took our second child abroad when he was 10weeks. So so easy. Have taken all 3 at different ages and definitely a different type of holiday but completely fine at any stage

Milkbottlelegs · 28/08/2021 12:43

@Ikeameatballs

Now is the best time, before he is mobile! Go for it.

This. Particularly if you are EBF, so easy when you don’t have to worry about bottles or appropriate weaning food.

DC1 was 8 weeks when they first flew abroad. First LH trip at 6 months. DC2 would have been 12 weeks if it wasn’t for the travel restrictions.

Milkbottlelegs · 28/08/2021 12:44

And don’t need to think about toys or books even. So easy compared to travel with a baby 6 months plus.

EileenGC · 28/08/2021 12:45

Stop using the travel agent. Book the holiday online, go and have a fab time. Of course you're not putting the baby at risk by taking him abroad, how do the travel agent and your mum think people with families abroad manage to do it?

Notdoingthis · 28/08/2021 12:57

It never occurred to me not to travel once I had kids. Pre covid I took a 4month old to Canaries, a 1 year old around Spain by train, a 1 year old to New York, a 1 and a 3 year old on a train to Italy, and lots of little trips to France, Germany and within the UK too. Lots of great memories and adventures. Now they are bigger (7,5,3) we are planning to take a train to Southern Spain and a boat to Morocco next year. I am always planning adventures.

ittakes2 · 28/08/2021 12:58

From the age of six months my children have been all over the world. but I must admit I waited until six months when they had had their baby jabs plus no I would not take a 4 month old away during a pandemic unless it was to a country I knew had excellent medical help.

ACloseMatch · 28/08/2021 13:02

If it weren't for covid, I would absolutely say to do it. I wouldn't want to risk getting it while away, or having to unexpectedly quarantine on return (or still there) though.

Travelling with tiny children is usually an absolute delight though. DD1 took her first steps in Morocco.

Fncottonrrrrgh · 28/08/2021 13:02

Have you had the 4 month sleep regression yet? You could find your baby waking every 45 mins when that strikes. Just a thought...

Also it's important that babies get their naps, at that age 4-5 hrs per day. Is baby good at napping in a pram anywhere you go?

Just things to think about Xx

bluebeck · 28/08/2021 13:11

I would do it if your are Breastfeeding as it will make lifer so much easier.

I know a couple of people who took bottle fed babies away at 3 or 4 months and in both cases it was a disaster. One actually had to come home early because her baby was so dehydrated (refusing bottles because the different water made the milk taste different according to the doctors)

ComeonJulia · 28/08/2021 13:15

YADNBU!

Go, you’ll love it! All our 3 have been abroad before 6 months and at least twice before age 1! Don’t let people tell you how to live your life.
Our DC are all excellent fliers now, you can really tell the ones on the plane for the first time at 6/7/8 and I do think it’s best to get them used to it as young as possible.

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