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Original poster

Would you take a 6 week old on holiday?

218 replies

MamaFoxToBe · 13/03/2022 18:41

I'm currently pregnant with my first baby and due in mid September. Went for a meal with the in-laws today and MIL said they've booked a caravan in North Wales for the first week of Nov and they'd love for us to join them. She said she would even watch the baby in the evening if we wanted to go off and watch the entertainment etc.

I can't imagine wanting to go away six weeks after giving birth, let alone leaving the baby that early! And surely they don't want a screaming baby spoiling their sleep while they're on holiday too 🤣 I'm just thinking it's a lot of hassle with such a new baby but she seemed really keen for us to go too even though she did say she'd understand if we said no.

OP posts:
Thehop · 13/03/2022 18:42

I’ve taken my children away as young as possible.

In 2016, my daughter was 5 weeks.

It’s a lovely way to recover from the birth and have some family time, and my favourite memories

Flavabobble · 13/03/2022 18:44

Hard to say really. My first - not sure I could or would have wanted to manage it
My second - I could've taken him away to a caravan from about 2 weeks old and managed a couple of hours away from him.

Pinkchicken85 · 13/03/2022 18:45

I’d be concerned about keeping everyone awake at night, so no, I would do it another time.

Beees · 13/03/2022 18:45

At 6 weeks post partum I was up and about every day and keen to show off my new baby but I absolutely wouldn't have wanted to go and stay in a caravan. As much as I loved being out of the house I still very much needed my own bed and the comforts of home.

EdithGrantham · 13/03/2022 18:46

That was still the prime time for sitting around with both boobs out every evening all evening to establish breastfeeding for me so being away with my in-laws would have been a nightmare for me!

katienana · 13/03/2022 18:46

It would depend on the holiday but a caravan in November would be a no thanks for me! And I actually own a caravan and am in one right now. I did take ds2 to a caravan when he was about 8 weeks but it was summer time and we were very familiar with the area, weren't first time parents etc.

Sleepyquest · 13/03/2022 18:47

No I wouldn't and I wouldn't leave baby with MiL so young either. I say this with a 4 week old. There no way I'd be away from my home comforts right now and there's no way I'd leave baby to watch caravan entertainment. I appreciate everyone is different but you asked if we would, and I would not

ShadowPuppets · 13/03/2022 18:47

We’ve got a wedding in Scotland when DS will be 6 weeks old, and we’ve decided to tack on a couple of days in Edinburgh since we’re up there, so why not Grin

Difference for us is that it’s our second, and for me at that stage first time things were still a bit walking on air - I wouldn’t have wanted to take her away at 4 or 5 months when the sleep deprivation was killing me and I was just low and grumpy. But early days they’re tiny and I didn’t mind not feeling up to much - we’ll be setting our sights low, working around our older DD’s nap and very much done for the day by 5pm, early tea and bed for all Smile

So I wouldn’t rule it out! But if you don’t feel up to it, don’t worry about it.

As for the time away, around that point my MiL came and watched DD for an hour and we sat in the pub at the end of our road and had one drink. It was the weirdest hour away ever! But doable. So again, I’d just see how you feel and play it by ear Smile

titchy · 13/03/2022 18:48

Hell no. A caravan in November in the UK - no way. Sounds utterly miserable. You'll want your home comforts, your own bath, central heating etc. plus if you bf you'll be getting your tits out every hour and probably still bleeding all over the place. And having health visitor visits.

Plus you could two weeks over. Be sore from stitches or a C-section.

Iamnotamermaid · 13/03/2022 18:48

Once I met a Swedish couple on a Thai island with a very young baby. She was determined to spend her maternity leave on this Thai island rather than Sweden in winter. Bold move but they all looked happy enough.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 13/03/2022 18:48

Is it a case of seeing how you feel in October, or do you need to book now?

My previous experience says wait and see how you feel... you might give birth at 37 weeks naturally and have an easy baby, or at 42 weeks with an emergency C section and still feel like a train wreck. You just don't know.

As for leaving baby... again it just depends. Both MIL and DM were taking mine for walks at that age. Gave me a chance to shower or breathe. (DH is Army so wasn't around much!)

Roselilly36 · 13/03/2022 18:48

We did it when DS1 was under two and DS2 was 6 weeks, I can honestly say it was like a test of endurance, rather than a holiday, couldn’t wait to get home. I would wait and see how the baby is, with DS1 it would have been a breeze, DS2 a nightmare.

OkOkWhatsNext · 13/03/2022 18:48

Not to a shared caravan in north wales, no…! Maybe a comfortable villla somewhere warm with enough space to have some privacy and quiet. But really, no. The newness of having a baby is enough to deal with at that point, and I would not want to leave my (constantly feeding) baby with anyone else at that age.

anotherbrewplease · 13/03/2022 18:49

Erm - it would be a no thanks from me. 6 month old , maybe. 6 weeks? With in laws? Nope

Heronwatcher · 13/03/2022 18:49

Yes generally, took mine away that age. Very much depends on the people you’re with. It could be a fantastic way to catch up on sleep and start getting out of new baby haze (other people can take baby out in pram or do the early shift once fed), but if you’re going to feel that you’re keeping them awake at night, have your parenting criticises or be expected to cook for others no way. Could you book into a hotel nearby or get a separate caravan? Or just say you’ll play it by ear? Also bear in mind that baby might have some vaccinations around that time.

Footnote · 13/03/2022 18:49

Especially with the first baby, six weeks after your due date your baby may not actually be 6 weeks.
I wouldn’t go in a caravan where you will feel guilty about others being woken up. But a situation where someone else is doing all the cooking and cleaning does have advantages.

endofthelinefinally · 13/03/2022 18:50

No. IME 6 weeks is the cluster feeding peak of exhaustion. I need my own bed/ toilet/ space. A caravan would be my worst nightmare.

CrotchetyQuaver · 13/03/2022 18:50

Is this a touring caravan or a static caravan/chalet?
It would be nice to have extra hands about to give you a bit of a break and extra support. I think it's one of those things you have to decide nearer the time once the baby's here.
But personally I wouldn't say no now, just leave it open.

x2boys · 13/03/2022 18:51

I also went to North Wales ( pontins ) when ds2 was seven weeks old ,wouldn't recommend pontins as it's a shit hole 🤣
But it was fine with such a young baby .

itssquidstella · 13/03/2022 18:51

I’m due towards the end of May and DH and I are planning to go to the Lakes for a few days in mid-July. We'll see how it goes! I definitely wouldn't want to be away with the in-laws at that point, though...

DSGR · 13/03/2022 18:52

I took mine to Italy in a sling at that age, we had a lovely time. It was warm though. A caravan in November will be cold and cramped and the baby will keep everyone up. Just say you expect to be exhausted and maybe next summer

Mammyloveswine · 13/03/2022 18:53

Yes ds2 was 6 weeks old when we went to center parcs! It was fab!

Weepingwillows12 · 13/03/2022 18:53

I took my 2nd baby away at 3 weeks but I couldn't have taken my first as it was a harder labour and I wasnt recovered.

However even if I was feeling fine I would be nervous about going to a caravan. The sound insulation can be poor, rooms small so maybe limited space for cot/ Moses basket, blanket to lie a d kick on in the day etc. Can be cold in winter. I have been to some old caravans though so guess it depends what it's like.

I think maybe it's a case of wait and see but if that changes what your mil would book (IE a smaller one if you aren't coming) then I would say no.

AuntieMarys · 13/03/2022 18:55

Not in a caravan!

Carbiesdreamhouse · 13/03/2022 18:56

Noooo. Not if you're breastfeeding, itll be awkward AF. everyone will be annoyed and overtired with baby waking. You'll be sat with sore bits and nips trying to make the best of it. Awful.