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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Motnight · 13/03/2022 20:21

A caravan in Wales in the winter?? No.

BreatheAndFocus · 13/03/2022 20:24

No way! Stay in the comfort of your own home, bond with baby, wear your pyjamas all morning, nap when baby does, and control your own schedule.

Plenty of time for holidays when baby is older.

Fixyourself · 13/03/2022 20:25

I wouldn’t stay in a caravan with my in-laws regardless of how old my baby is 😂

GandTfortea · 13/03/2022 20:26

Pretty sure I did at some point ,I had 4 quite close together,and we went away lots of times

Clymene · 13/03/2022 20:26

God no. I was cluster feeding, tits out every evening. Day visitors and walks were fine but evenings and nights were pretty hellish.

Summerfun54321 · 13/03/2022 20:26

If you want to be finding your feet parenting for the first time in a caravan in October with your in-laws while it pisses it down with rain outside then go for it. Sounds like pure hell to me.

Bubbles1st · 13/03/2022 20:27

Week six personally was the hardest in my baby journey so far the week before and week after a breeze.

I'd just see if you can judge at the time as you just don't know how you will feel or how your baby will be.

Sodullincomparison · 13/03/2022 20:27

We took DD away when she was 7 weeks old on a city break. It was fabulous. She didn’t care where she was. The idea of having grandparents on hand so you can have a nap sounds great.

lakeswimmer · 13/03/2022 20:27

TBH I wouldn't want to share a caravan with my in-laws in November without a newborn let alone with one.

My first had reflux and was sick everywhere all the time. Our clothes were constantly covered in babysick and our bed was - we were co sleeping. Being away from a washing machine in someone else's accommodation would have been awful. I also had mastitis and seem to remember sitting with my boobs out a lot. Every time the baby wakes up, everyone else will.

In a comfortable cottage with good laundry facilities, thick walls and lots of privacy? Maybe, but there's no chance I'd go to a caravan.

lavenderfine · 13/03/2022 20:27

DC2 is 5 weeks and I could do it quite easily now. If you'd have asked me for DC1 I'd have said no but I was overtired and emotional. DC1 was the easier newborn (so far) but it was me that wouldn't have managed, I just wanted to be at home. I'm finding adapting easier with DC2 but I think it's because I've done it before. If you don't live far from north Wales maybe you could meet them for a day trip?

Gilly12345 · 13/03/2022 20:28

A caravan holiday in November in North Wales with the in-laws? Sounds like a bloody nightmare to me.

oioimatey · 13/03/2022 20:29

A cottage, yes. Caravan, no.

LidlMiddleLover · 13/03/2022 20:31

We did and it was fine Caravan too

DaisyWaldron · 13/03/2022 20:32

No way. I can't even remember DC1'S first 8 weeks properly. They've blurred into a hazy recollection of pain (bleeding nipples, infected tear in my vagina) and exhaustion.

TheOrigRights · 13/03/2022 20:35

We went to a wedding when DS1 was 6 weeks old and tbh that was enough. I was in no sort of routine, still felt like they'd let me out of hosp with a tiny creature and no instructions, unpredictable bleeding and milk leaking, zero sleep.

That said, taking him away when he was 5 months old was even worse.

I did have a husband who was very much 'crack on as if nothing's changed' though and maybe being with MIL would have been better than being at home with him.

Clymene · 13/03/2022 20:36

Also, road trips? International travel? With a 2 hour limit on babies being in car seats, that sounds pretty gruelling. And tbh, I take the 2 hours thing as a max if you have to. Not a minimum that you can get away with

Hugasauras · 13/03/2022 20:37

All in the same caravan? That would be a hell no even without a six-week-old baby! A nice spacious cottage with hands-on in-laws then maybe.

stimpyyouidiot · 13/03/2022 20:45

I took dd to Morocco at 8 weeks. I wouldn't fancy a caravan tbh....

Createabitofuntruenews · 13/03/2022 20:46

I took my first born away when he was 6weeks old,we were living in Italy.We stayed in an old fisherman’s cottage with only cold water.Just my husband and I,would not have wanted to be with anyone else.

We loved it,ate out the whole time and just relaxed.

A caravan in November in Wales with family! No thanks.

HairyScaryMonster · 13/03/2022 20:46

We took my eldest when she was 4 weeks to a house in Wales with the in laws. But they were fabulous, gave us the master bedroom, rocked baby when she wouldn't settle, cooked, held the baby while I ate an actual hot meal, took our clothes to a launderette so we went home with no washing.

I'd worry that the caravan would be too cramped, no space for a Moses basket next to your bed. But it could be great.

RampantIvy · 13/03/2022 20:48

The idea of having grandparents on hand so you can have a nap sounds great.

In the same caravan? Shock

Leol · 13/03/2022 20:59

I wouldn’t want to be in a caravan.

ufucoffee · 13/03/2022 21:25

Took mine on a long haul holiday when she was 6 weeks so yes I'd go but only if it was a big caravan.

Gregsprinkles · 13/03/2022 21:30

Wales + November + 6 week old baby = no thanks

And that's without the in laws 😂

HiJenny35 · 13/03/2022 21:30

6 weeks I had infections in both boobs, still torn and could hardly walk and was still bleeding, I wanted junk food, to be left alone, warmth and my own bed. I certainly wouldn't have been happy with a travel cot I was co sleeping and couldn't have done that in a caravan and wasn't ready to be leaving baby with anyone.