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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

‘Influencers’ taking newborns on holiday

294 replies

Coffeeandbourbons · 30/04/2023 09:47

I’ve noticed a lot of influencers taking their newborn or very tiny babies (under a few months old) on long haul holidays. AIBU to think this is a bit irresponsible? Long aeroplane journeys with all the germs, taking them to a very hot country when they’re so small with such fragile skin, mosquitos…

I can completely understand that sometimes people need to travel with small babies, or having a holiday when the baby is a bit older and more resilient. But it seems a bit irresponsible flying a 1 month old to Abu Dhabi seems selfish to me.

Prepared to be told IABU!

OP posts:
HettySunshine · 30/04/2023 10:21

My mum took me to stay with her family in South Africa when I was 3 months old.

We were there for about 4 months. Weirdly, I survived!

hotpotlover · 30/04/2023 10:21

I took my 4 month old son at the time to Germany (so not really a long haul flight).

However, I was told by an older friend of mine that she didn't take hers on a plane until they were 2, because flying puts pressure on their soft spot.

Has anyone else heard of this? I googled it and nothing came up.

JudgeRudy · 30/04/2023 10:21

Coffeeandbourbons · 30/04/2023 09:47

I’ve noticed a lot of influencers taking their newborn or very tiny babies (under a few months old) on long haul holidays. AIBU to think this is a bit irresponsible? Long aeroplane journeys with all the germs, taking them to a very hot country when they’re so small with such fragile skin, mosquitos…

I can completely understand that sometimes people need to travel with small babies, or having a holiday when the baby is a bit older and more resilient. But it seems a bit irresponsible flying a 1 month old to Abu Dhabi seems selfish to me.

Prepared to be told IABU!

I'd say babies are pretty 'portable' and pretty content wherever they are if they're being cared for well. If a newborn could express a preference it would likely be to be with Mum.

ODFOx · 30/04/2023 10:21

I'd have thought that before 6 months while the baby is EBF is the best time to travel with them. So much less kit to drag around!

updin · 30/04/2023 10:22

I haven't seen this, maybe refresh your cookies and history and only look at content you're interested and you won't see this stuff. I made the mistake of clicking on ONE Molly Mae article not knowing who she was (still don't!), and now every other freaking thing on my social media is about her?! I will have to clear my history again for naming her....

HettySunshine · 30/04/2023 10:22

Oh, and she was a midwife!

kethuphouse · 30/04/2023 10:25

Should elderly people also not travel then because they are more vulnerable to germs ? There is no age limit on flying because it is not a high risk activity.

Snoken · 30/04/2023 10:25

I went away both times I had a newborn. Both were under 12 weeks old when we travelled. The flights were 10 and 12 hours long, the place we went to was warm and we rented a house with a pool on both occasions and stayed 4 weeks each time. It was so lovely to be all of us together somewhere we didn't need to worry about cleaning, cooking (well we cooked a little but it was so cheap to eat out that we didn't need to), wearing multiple layers etc. It was great bonding time and both babies loved having long daily sessions in the pool. There were mosquitos, but no malaria. There were no dangerous bugs or animals where we went. The country is far safer that the UK and healthcare was good. I struggle to see why this decision deserve judgement.

scroogemcfuckaduck · 30/04/2023 10:27

Perfect time to go away I'd say, they sleep a lot, often in your bed or arms. are very small and don't move around, going away when they are a toddler is much more difficult in terms of the journey.

ToddlerMumma · 30/04/2023 10:28

We took a 3 month old to the Caribbean. Travelling with babies is much easier than with toddlers!

Beseen22 · 30/04/2023 10:28

My littlest was born in AD. Funnily enough they completely disagree about babies being too hot there and I got yelled at by a nurse for stripping him off to wake him to feed. Had had to be in a vest, babygro, swaddling blanket and a fleece blanket tucked in to the bottom of the crib at all times and he had to have a hat on. I once was at the zoo in 25 degree heat and the lady beside me had a winter coat on and her tiny baby wrapped in a fleece throw.

I also had to fly my kids home solo the day before the airport shut for covid so the plane was completely full and everyone was terrified of this unknown disease. Baby was weeks old and probably the safest because he was in the sling. I had my arms full with every earthly possession I had so the toddler was free to go around crawling on the floor and licking stuff as they tend to do! I felt he was probably more at risk.

kethuphouse · 30/04/2023 10:29

OP how many people or indeed babies do you know who have died after a flight because of germs ??

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 30/04/2023 10:29

It’s the most ‘portable’ age. I’ve flown with 6 week old dd1 to the Middle East - we were living there though so didn’t have much choice. Also took dd2 (BFed) at 3 months (plus a 3 yr old) on a ‘hot’ beach holiday - she slept most of the time in her pram under a nice shady tree in the garden. Or else I sat with her in the shade by the pool, which the 3 year old was in virtually all day. It was a lovely relaxing holiday.

scroogemcfuckaduck · 30/04/2023 10:29

Why does everyone hate on Stacey Solomon? I really don't get it. People need to get a life and stop analysing someone else's in detail. It is a really unhealthy

Original poster
Coffeeandbourbons · 30/04/2023 10:30

I’m really not talking about older babies over a few months old, I’m talking about newborns (under 2 months ish).

I had no idea mn was so defensive about influencers! (Just not the radfords lol)

OP posts:
Original poster
Coffeeandbourbons · 30/04/2023 10:31

scroogemcfuckaduck · 30/04/2023 10:29

Why does everyone hate on Stacey Solomon? I really don't get it. People need to get a life and stop analysing someone else's in detail. It is a really unhealthy

To be fair anyone who makes a living by selling photos of their kids gets a hard time on here, that’s not what this thread is about though

OP posts:
Lullabies2Paralyze · 30/04/2023 10:32

I could not be arsed with the faff of packing loads of nappies in case the country didn’t sell a brand I liked (too many brands leaked or caused bad rash on my DS!).
I breastfed but if I had bottle and formula fed I think that would be a right faff for holidays too especially as you’d have to take sterilisers etc (can you get travel sized ones?)

at one month old I was still finding my feet and sleep deprived so no I wouldn’t want to add long haul jet lag to that, or the energy needed to create the perfect Instagram picture of YouTube video.

though I guess being an influencer is a tough job as if you don’t post 10x a day you quickly get forgotten about and would lose your sponsors and extravagant lifestyle (I don’t really follow influencers but please point me in the direction of one who lives in a rundown council house rather than a crisp white linen clad house that looks like it should be in architectural digest)

TheNachtzehrer · 30/04/2023 10:34

Oh, for the love of Mike. What an absurd thing to get het up about. Babies suffer not at all in going on bloody holiday. If you want to think about an actual risk, maybe consider people who take their newborn babies on unnecessary car journeys, increasing their risk of being in a crash, no?

mycoffeecup · 30/04/2023 10:35

I don't know why anyone gives these influencers the time of day. If everyone stopped looking at them, influencing wouldn't be a thing and they wouldn't be so annoying. OP - stop following them.

Hobnobswantshernameback · 30/04/2023 10:35

God that fifth child will get more germs from its siblings every day than on a flight
but you wouldn't give a shit about that given that you started this thread to Bitch about something so tragically pathetic

HoHobaaa · 30/04/2023 10:37

Welcome to parenthood, someone somewhere thinks you're doing it wrong.

I've literally never heard of any children being harmed by travelling too early (or at all for that matter). Is this a thing?

Sprogonthetyne · 30/04/2023 10:38

Tiny is the easiest age to travel, boobs (if breastfeeding), sling and a pack of nappies and your good to go. Once they get bigger you need to worry about weaning food, play mats, high chairs, drinks, toys, nap schedules etc.

TwoGrubbySlippers · 30/04/2023 10:38

You sound really bitter and judgey OP. Did you have a really rough first few months with a new horn? You seem jealous that they're having an escape and some fun in the sun.

husbandcallsmepickle · 30/04/2023 10:40

Coffeeandbourbons · 30/04/2023 09:55

Bit of a difference between living somewhere and going on a non essential holiday, seems to be missed on you lot though..

How do you tell the difference between an essential holiday and a non-essential one?

WheelsUp · 30/04/2023 10:40

I think that a lot of people would holiday on maternity leave if they had the money. Babies are much more portable than toddlers and preschoolers.
Yabu with your reasons why. Billions live where there is sun and mosquitos and do absolutely fine,