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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Blackmagicqueen · 18/01/2022 09:45

Op I think it largely depends on the child 8n question and how much support you have. When dc1 was that age he hated the heat and struggled witha particularly hot summer in the uk so no way would i have taken him abroad. He was also a very fussy child that would not have coped with the plane ride! He was great in the car so we just did a uk holiday in the September which he absolutely loved. Dc2 on the other hand was super easy baby and would have been fine had he been my first and I had the support!
Only you know your own baby and it certainly sounds like you have lots of help/babysitters on hand! I think it sounds fine doable op, have a fantastic holiday!

LittleGwyneth · 18/01/2022 09:54

People who didn't like it or don't recommend it - do you just not go on holiday for 1-3 when you have kids? That seems absolutely wild to me (though I'm not there yet so maybe just don't understand?)

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 18/01/2022 09:55

Took DD to Australia and NZ when she was 9 months - it was great, she loved it. Cabin crew on the flight made a big fuss of her and people asked to be photographed with her in Singapore on stopover.

user33323 · 18/01/2022 10:02

Yes, I've done it and had a great time. Greece with a 4 month old and 3 year old, and again with a 1 year old. At 1, we took board books, and let him watch teletubbies on an old iPad for late night meals (wouldn't usually do that but we wouldn't usually take a toddler out to eat late at night). He loved the pool and the ice creams and the beach and it was all very enjoyable both times. Much more relaxing than our UK holidays where we had to pack more than twice as much stuff. If you don't have a school age child though, I'd really recommend going in May or September where it is slightly cooler, less crowded, and half the price.

Brainwave89 · 18/01/2022 10:04

Honestly depends on the child. Took my eldest at six months to Malaysia and Australia. He slept through flights, had great support from air staff (MAS) and people in Malaysia and Australia were great with him. Does not always work out that way. Depends on kids.

CLC22 · 18/01/2022 10:12

Went to alcudia when my little boy was 5 months old, he was well behaved and I had a sun tent for him to relax in 🥰 he loved it x

110APiccadilly · 18/01/2022 10:13

Check your child will sleep in a travel cot if you're going to use one while away. We did one night away last summer so that my gran, who lives in a home a long way from us, could meet DD, involving 5 hours' driving each way... it is not much fun driving 5 hours home when you've been awake all night because your normally fairly good sleeper doesn't sleep a wink in a travel cot. (Although it did mean DD slept happily in the car almost the whole way home!) I imagine a holiday under the same circumstances would not be relaxing.

MrWhippyBloon · 18/01/2022 10:14

We did it with DS at that age and it was a brilliant holiday. However we did have 6 adults to one baby so loads of help, I don't think I'd have enjoyed it otherwise.

DSGR · 18/01/2022 10:16

Three kids here, we’ve always taken them abroad from a young age. Not a nightmare at all! But we are very adaptable people and don’t mind babies staying up late, napping while out and about etc. if you’re regimented it might not work for you. Get an extremely good sunblock and shade for your buggy and all will be fine

user33323 · 18/01/2022 10:18

@LittleGwyneth

People who didn't like it or don't recommend it - do you just not go on holiday for 1-3 when you have kids? That seems absolutely wild to me (though I'm not there yet so maybe just don't understand?)

Right?! I've been on Mumsnet for 15 years, and seen so many posts like this in that time with lots saying not to bother until they are older, and can't get my head around it as UK holidays are usually more stressful, becaude they involve more driving, more packing, and more unreliable weather and less options for entertainment. But maybe they mean no holidays at all?!

My best guess is this is people with very structured Gina Ford type routines and fairly easy going children who are too afraid to mess with that?

Lobakgo · 18/01/2022 10:22

On the concern about her needing to sit on your lap on the flight, this isn't necessarily required. You can book a separate seat for an under two, but you have to pay child rather than infant fare so it's more expensive. If you can afford it then it's really worth considering.

Also a correction as an OP suggested getting the bassinet on the plane - that's great for little babies but unless your child is very small unlikely to be possible for a toddler. O can't remember the weight limit but mine had surpassed it by about 12 months and they weren't big.

cyantist · 18/01/2022 10:55

Took DD1 at that age (to Greece) and it was brilliant. Going this year when DD2 will be the same age and I'm dreading it! But only because DD1 was an 'easy' child and DD2 is absolutely not so what hoomae says is spot on really

LadyCleathStuart · 18/01/2022 10:55

My best guess is this is people with very structured Gina Ford type routines and fairly easy going children who are too afraid to mess with that?

Or maybe some of us had terrible sleepers and didn't fancy spending all night awake and then all bloody day awake in a boiling hot, unfamiliar environment? That was us with my second.

My first was more relaxed but had loads of serious food allergies and the thought of navigating that abroad was too much to deal with. It's easier now he is older.

onewednesdayindecember · 18/01/2022 11:15

In answer to the question above I’m one of the ones who didn’t like it and I went two years in a row because I’m an idiot and was a people pleaser. I also went on a UK holiday which was much less stressful and enjoyable actually.
I don’t see the point of doing it if it’s going to be awful though. Why would you spend loads of time and money doing something that’s going to be stressful and not enjoyable? Just to tell people that you’ve been on holiday?

minipie · 18/01/2022 11:40

Mine were terrible sleepers and I took them abroad because they slept terribly at home anyway, so had nothing to lose sleepwise. At least abroad I would get some sun and (in a hotel or with family) someone else to help with the cooking and cleaning up!

Alondra · 18/01/2022 11:50

@Lalalalalandy

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.

I did this with my oldest. We travelled from Madrid to London for a week when he was 18 months and had no family at all with us. I had just separated from husband and needed something different. It was great.

We stayed in a hotel but my son loved the markets, the parks and having me giving him attention 24/7 .

The plane trip was bliss. He loved the toys and colouring books he was given and ate everything put in front of him. Honestly, it's one of the happiest holidays I've had.

feedmemincepies · 18/01/2022 11:55

We took DD age 16 months to Dubai and then Australia from the UK. This was October so hot in both places. It was 2 separate trips and both were brilliant. My entire hand luggage was snacks and colouring and activities for DD for the flight which was a good thing. She also loved TV so watched films and she slept a bit.
We stayed with friends in Dubai in their villa so had help there. We had an apartment in Australia and DH had to work so we got buses to the beach and had a lovely time.
Do some research before you go on kid friendly places to go and stuff to do. Most places will have AC so he can sleep in the day.

Loopytiles · 18/01/2022 11:58

We DID go on holidays with tiny DC, I just often didn’t enjoy them (for the money it cost)! V much not ‘Gina Ford’ type parenting approach. DC just wouldn’t bloody sleep, even worse when away, and we were wrecked!

Ihaveoflate · 18/01/2022 12:00

We've only been on UK holidays with our 2.5 year old. They got harder as she became more mobile but she's now beginning to really enjoys things more so it's swings and roundabouts. We've been very lucky with the weather the last couple of summers though, which makes all the difference.

The thought of taking her abroad makes me shudder, and no she's not a 'Gina Ford baby' (not that that would be a problem). I really don't like very hot weather and she's really fair skinned/red haired so keeping her out of the sun is stressful. She's also quite a clingy and cautious child. I just have a much more relaxing time surrounded by familiar things. There's plenty of time for foreign holidays when she's old enough to appreciate it.

Wideawakeandconfused · 18/01/2022 12:05

We did it with 2 under two years ago - we went to Greece. We had two of everything- prams and nappy bags. We stayed in a hotel and had one of our best holidays. We explored, got buses to random places with all our bags and baggage, kids napped while we swam. We had plenty of shade for them and the older one played on the beach. Go for it!

Aworldofmyown · 18/01/2022 12:08

I went to florida when my youngest was 10 months. It was fine. Relaxing, no! But we all enjoyed ourselves.

MsAnnFrope · 18/01/2022 12:11

We travelled with DD at 10 months - ferry and car to southern Germany and 2 years, flights to south of France.
It was hot in France, 36c, swimming late in the evening hot and she was fine. We all had a siesta and shifted bedtime accordingly.
Both were self catering, I think I’d have struggled with more than a couple of nights stuck in a hotel room!

MsAnnFrope · 18/01/2022 12:14

DD also had cmpa when we travelled and we had no issue with sourcing non dairy stuff, albeit I could speak fairly decent French which helped.
She was a really shit sleeper til she went to school so no way was I missing holidays until then! I love travelling with her and always did.

Echobelly · 18/01/2022 12:16

Depends on baby really, and surroundings. We took kids away plenty at that age.

I'd always go self-catering, or at least a suite with small kids. I'd suggest try to avoid long drives it hot countries (as we did with DD at that age) as it's a bit much for them and they can get overheated and go off their food and drink. Long hau/sleeper flights when they're too big for a bassinet but too small for a seat, as we found when going to South Africa with DD at that age. She didn't make much noise fortunately, but we had to share her wriggling about much of the night on our laps!

I mean, I had the advantage that both of mine were generally good sleepers and pretty reliably sleeping through until a humane hour by that age, so I can imagine a holiday with babies that are not might be another matter.

But they definitely can be really lovely - just don't be overambitious. I generally hate beaches and find them stressful anyway, so we didn't do those much at that sort of age. Places like zoos and aquariums can be good solutions for this age group. If you like walking, get one of those baby back-packs, one that has a sun/rain attachment for the top - we walked up a moutain with DD on DH's back when she was 18 months and she was asleep until the top, where she announced she was awake by saying 'Peepo!' which was so sweet. And then 'Wow!' when she saw the view - so it can be very rewarding too!

UniBallEye · 18/01/2022 12:16

We've travelled a lot with our dc from and always had a brilliant time. It's not the same as travelling without children but it allows you to experience places with a different perspective.

Our first trip was long haul, to Australia when dc was 13months and we were away for 4 months. It was amazing. But they age of 5 they had been to loads of places - back to Australia on another trip, USA, Canada, Thailand, Europe - Paris, Venice etc

We still travel a lot as a family with teens and we all love it so much.

It has been one of the greatest pleasures of our family life. And I think it has done our dc a world of good.

We were never interested in typical resort / beach holidays and even now 17 years later we've only ever had 1 of those types of holiday and because it was such a novelty we all did enjoy it.

We were always very flexible routine wise especially with toddlers / small children and it worked perfectly

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