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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask who's taken a baby on holiday and is it terrible?

125 replies

Lalalalalandy · 17/01/2022 22:18

Have the opportunity to go away this year in July when DC will be 1.5.

It's to Greece so would be hot but I'm not a massive beach/sunbather so no problem keeping in the shade.

Anyone done similar with a similar aged child? I want to go but at the same time am wondering if it would be a nightmare at that age?

I wouldn't be alone, would have family with me.

OP posts:
Lancssss · 17/01/2022 22:21

I was stupid enough to do it with both mine at that age, it was crap each time. First time far too hot, really hard to keep them in the shade all the time. In a villa with a pool with no fence round it. No stair gates in the house. It was stressful and we’d have all enjoyed days our from home much more and saved a bloody fortune! Family persuaded me and I should’ve just said NO.

BitcherOfBlakiven · 17/01/2022 22:21

Took DD at 10 months to a place booked by ExILs, who booked as if it were a group of adults going away. I spent the entire time confined to the hotel room which also wasn’t baby friendly. Worst week of my life.

The pool was a death trap, surrounded by pissed up adults by 11am. Beach was miles away. Hotel in the middle of nowhere.

ExH and I went a few years later, with 3YO and 16 month old, to a specific family friendly resort and it was bloody brilliant.

For the love of fuck, book somewhere appropriate and you’ll have a blast!

BitcherOfBlakiven · 17/01/2022 22:22

We also forked out for DDs to be in the on-site day care on the 3 days out of 14 that it went above 30. It had air con and was fully staffed by qualified people.

ExtraOnion · 17/01/2022 22:24

We took Jnr to Costa Rica / Nicaragua when she was that age… a few months later we went for a beach holiday to Goa, which was great.

LJAKS · 17/01/2022 22:24

I went to Portugal with my DD aged 16 months and we had a great time. I also had family there to help, makes all the difference.
I've just booked a holiday (UK but 10hr drive) for when DC2 will be 10 weeks. I regret that already 🥴😂

AutumnLeaves21 · 17/01/2022 22:25

Done it with all of my kids from 12 months onwards.
Was it the relaxing holiday experience I was used to? No.
Was it a nightmare? Also no.
They were all great on the flight (had night flights and they all slept through it). Not a lot of lounging around sunbathing (but me and my partner always took shifts so the other could relax and read for an hour or so each day). Went all inclusive and enjoyed the flexibility, good variety of food available and not having to sit formally in a restaurant being waited on (much more casual and less stressful with young kids in my opinion).
Take more sunscreen than you’ll need, a lightweight foldable buggy and just adjust your expectations (ie don’t compare it to previous hols). We have some gorgeous memories of splashing in the pool, paddling in the sea, sticky ice cream covered faces and long sunny walks with the pram. Enjoy!

m00rfarm · 17/01/2022 22:25

Took our sim to Venice, Barbados and Tenerife from aged between 3 months and two years. No problem with any of them apart from the airline losing suitcase with all his nappies etc in the Venice trip.

DappledThings · 17/01/2022 22:27

Malta with DC1 at 8 months. Spain with DC1 1.5 and DC2 on the way. France with DC1 then 2.5 and DC2 6 months. Would have been away 42more if no covid.

Had a lovely time. First time we had a room with a balcony overlooking the harbour. Put DC1 down in travel cot after dinner and spent evenings reading and having a drink on the balcony. Had an otherwisenormal holiday for us, lots of visits to museums and other sites. Lots of good food, bit of pool time.

2nd and 3rd times were with extended family. They were all good holidays.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 17/01/2022 22:27

I did, with their older sibling and grandparents. It was a villa near a very quiet sheltered beach and they had all the beach stuff like bucket and spade there, also went in june so wasnt too hot. It was a very family friendly resort where you could walk everywhere and little traffic, everywhere had kids menus and high chairs etc and was low season so nice and quiet. They were still napping which coincided nicely with the hottest part of the day as well.
I think it would have been harder without their older sibling to entertain them, with a lower adult to child ratio or in a hotel where you cant easily get them snacks or have to go into your room and sit in the dark room 7.30pm when they go to bed

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/01/2022 22:27

I think it depends what the family dynamic is like, and the choice of where you stay.

If your family are the kind to pitch in and help with dc, take turns being the ones to miss out on stuff, and happy to understand that a baby / toddler’s schedule may be different to theirs, than it could be fun. Not saying people are obliged to look after your child but it’ll massively add to your enjoyment of the holiday if they do.

If they are the kind who make everything unremittingly adult, with no quarter given, it could be a nightmare.

If it’s a family friendly hotel with lovely little baby pools, perhaps even a babysitting service also great. If it’s a less family orientated place, maybe not.

pumpkinpie01 · 17/01/2022 22:27

We went when my son was 13 months , he wasn't walking . We had a good time he loved being in the pool , was fine at mealtimes , had a long afternoon sleep ( our chance to read/sit in the bar ) , evenings were lovely , we all watched the entertainment he bounced around on our knees then fell asleep . Had a lovely time .

Original poster
Lalalalalandy · 17/01/2022 22:29

Okay thank you, these replies making me feel a little better 😊

It's an apartment not a hotel and is near the beach. Happy to do lots of walking, he's good in the buggy and enjoys just being out. Family very hands on so I've no doubt I'd get a break every now and then too.

The bit that was worrying me most tbh was the plane. Whether he'd sit still on my knee for 4 hours... Well he wouldn't I know that 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
jelly79 · 17/01/2022 22:29

I took my DS at 3mo, 1 (to Greece) and 20m and it was a joy each time.

I'm a single parent but went with family members

Loved every holiday

LadyCleathStuart · 17/01/2022 22:29

You will be fine as long as you don't expect it to be an actual holiday, as in the type you have had before.

Mine are 8 and 5 now and holidays are only starting to feel even a tiny bit relaxing.

squishyegg · 17/01/2022 22:31

We went to Jamaica and Mexico late last year with my baby who was 3/4 months and then 5m! It was great!

ChangingStates · 17/01/2022 22:31

Took my eldest to Gambia travelling around when she was just under 2 and Jamaica when she was 3- both really good holidays just the 3 of us. Then we had second snd took her with us to Thailand at just over 1, again no problem and a really fabulous time.
I think it's about expectations- if you go knowing you aren't going to have the same kind of holiday as you had pre kids and are prepared to be flexible and go with the flow it can work well. Does also depend on the child, both mine were ok with changes to routine etc.

Original poster
Lalalalalandy · 17/01/2022 22:33

If your family are the kind to pitch in and help with dc, take turns being the ones to miss out on stuff, and happy to understand that a baby / toddler’s schedule may be different to theirs, than it could be fun. Not saying people are obliged to look after your child but it’ll massively add to your enjoyment of the holiday if they do

Oh yes no doubt at all they'd pitch in. They would also actually be staying for longer after I leave so they'd have best of both!

OP posts:
JaceLancs · 17/01/2022 22:34

We went with DD 18 months on hot weather holiday - never again!
Then I was pregnant with DS - then DS as toddler etc
I didn’t do warmer climate holidays until they were both at top end of primary school age (10/11)

minipie · 17/01/2022 22:34

When my first was that age we took her long haul, overnight flight.

The flight wasn’t my favourite 12 hours ever (but not as bad as I’d feared) and the holiday was lovely. Not like a pre DC holiday no, but lovely.

Go. Enjoy. Family to help will make it a breeze. Just make sure the sleeping arrangements are good (black out blinds/shutters, air con etc).

minipie · 17/01/2022 22:35

Oh it turned out she hated sand at that age though! Just to warn you in case yours is the same!

bluejelly · 17/01/2022 22:35

My dd traveled all over with me as a baby. It was mostly fine, often good, but not relaxing in the normal child free holiday sense, so definitely lower your expectations. Greece in July can be incredibly hot so definitely lots of hats, sun cream and shade. If you went in June or Sept it would be more pleasant.

whiteroseredrose · 17/01/2022 22:36

We went to Skiathos and Tunisia when DS was little and it was a nightmare. Too hot (early May). We spent the whole time inside the air conditioned hotel room.

We didn't go abroad again until DC were 6 and 8 and that was in April!

Original poster
Lalalalalandy · 17/01/2022 22:36

@minipie

Oh it turned out she hated sand at that age though! Just to warn you in case yours is the same!
I'm not a big beach lover either tbh so maybe!

I'd much prefer to go walking around towns etc... Which so far DS has always been content doing. He likes being out in the buggy walking. I'm aware that a lot can change with babies though in the months between now and then!

OP posts:
Dontknowwhatsnormal · 17/01/2022 22:37

Went at 10 months, absolutely amazing and such a dream

Went the next year at about 20 months and it was a nightmare, flights were absolutely fine but the actual holiday was pointless and would never go again at that age with any future children! We even got engaged that holiday and still both rate it our worst holiday yet haha

whiteworldgettingwhiter · 17/01/2022 22:41

No. We did uk holidays until the kids were old enough for it to be fun for us!!