Page 4 | ‘Influencers’ taking newborns on holiday

Coffeeandbourbons · 2023-04-30T08:47:23+00:00

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!

frockhopper · 30/04/2023 10:40

It’s the perfect time to take a baby on holiday. Not mobile, will sleep through most of the journey, only really needs mum/parent, food and clean nappies. Having recently gone long haul with a 3 and 5 year old, I’d say the sooner you can get them used to travelling the better, and if you want - and can afford - to go away with them and enjoy those early days somewhere warm and relaxing, there’s no harm in it. You just need to be sensible about sun exposure, like all people who live in sunny countries are, and the germs on a plane are no more of a risk than a playgroup in a local library or going somewhere on the bus IMO.

Kickingupmerrybehaviour · 30/04/2023 10:40

I mean there’s a lot of things other parents do that I wouldn’t do. Taking babies abroad is one of them. I have chronic anxiety though and wouldn’t enjoy it so it would be a waste of money. A lot of influencers holidays are gifted or they have high disposable income so a ruined holiday with a sick child may not be the disaster it would be for a family that can only afford to holiday once a year or less than that.

DazedandConcerned · 30/04/2023 10:41

I flew at six months’ old the first time. Did me no harm.

PollyThePixie · 30/04/2023 10:41

I took my third child back to the UK for our annual summer holiday when she was 2 weeks old. It was an 8 hour flight from Asia In fact all of my children did quite a bit of international traveling before they were a year old as have my grandchildren.

OP, you need to get out more.

Doriana1 · 30/04/2023 10:41

It's a great time to take a child on holiday and I regret not doing it. You can explore with a very portable baby that is likely to be asleep a lot of the time. I'm taking my 4yo on holiday this year and excited and dreading it at the same time.

ElBandito · 30/04/2023 10:43

Do they still think there's a link between flying and SID? If there is I would think twice about an unnecessary flight with a very young baby I suppose. Don't think germs or heat would bother me much.

PollyThePixie · 30/04/2023 10:44

flying a 1 month old to Abu Dhabi seems selfish to me

Children thrive here.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 30/04/2023 10:44

My mum took me to Australia to meet her parents when I was about three months old.

Disgusting behaviour, I know 🙄

ZenNudist · 30/04/2023 10:44

Under 1 babies are very portable. Once they are walking it gets harder.

Original poster

Coffeeandbourbons · 30/04/2023 10:45

frockhopper · 30/04/2023 10:40

It’s the perfect time to take a baby on holiday. Not mobile, will sleep through most of the journey, only really needs mum/parent, food and clean nappies. Having recently gone long haul with a 3 and 5 year old, I’d say the sooner you can get them used to travelling the better, and if you want - and can afford - to go away with them and enjoy those early days somewhere warm and relaxing, there’s no harm in it. You just need to be sensible about sun exposure, like all people who live in sunny countries are, and the germs on a plane are no more of a risk than a playgroup in a local library or going somewhere on the bus IMO.

I have a 1 month old and a 3 year old, I’m absolutely not anti taking babies on holiday I just don’t think long haul is great for a newborn with no immune system. You’ve all inspired me to book some winter sun however (DS will be 9mo by then!)

OP posts:

IDontWantToBeAPie · 30/04/2023 10:46

I'm sure flying in first and staying in a Five star resort they'll be fine. Likely have a nanny with them too.

PollyThePixie · 30/04/2023 10:47

Do they still think there's a link between flying and SID

a quick google says no.

Yogity · 30/04/2023 10:47

I always think fair play to them. I found having a newborn quite a shock to the system and struggled getting out of the house, let alone a long haul holiday

beefroysters · 30/04/2023 10:48

It's much easier to rake a very small baby on holiday than a toddler. Babies don't care where they are as long as they have a good caregiver on hand.

W0tnow · 30/04/2023 10:48

Hmmm. If I didn’t know better I’d think you were my daughter. 😀

SmurfHaribos · 30/04/2023 10:48

Germs are really not a problem for newborns- they have excellent immune systems and the more germs they are exposed to the better.

W0tnow · 30/04/2023 10:49

Oops that was to @coffeecupsandwaxmelts

beefroysters · 30/04/2023 10:49

Oh, and what constitutes a "necessary" holiday, and at what age is that considered acceptable?

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 30/04/2023 10:50

@Beseen22 , one of mine was born in AD - for the last day before I went home I shared a room with a Bedouin* woman, who clearly thought I was utterly clueless. I had wrapped dd in a shawl, ready to go home (it was the cool season) - she grabbed her from me, saying, ‘Laa, laa, laa!’ (No, no,no!) and immediately re-wrapped her, very tight swaddling fashion, like a little Egyptian mummy. 😂
*Matron at the time (ages ago now) was a Brit, who apologised to me for kicking me out a bit early, but she was more concerned with such local women, who ‘aren’t so able to take care of themselves’ - by which I dare say she meant access to plenty of clean water for washing.

Tealknittedjumpers · 30/04/2023 10:51

My baby was born in a very hot country. At not one point did I think 'oh it might be too hot to take her out today'. Me and her also flew long haul at newborn stage to come back here to set up properly and at not one point did she show distress. It's just more stuff to look at. If anything it's more stressful for the parent, and when I see those posts I just think 'wish I had the energy for that'.

Also hot countries have air con, sea breezes and a lot of palm trees to sit under. It's not the same as a hot day on a sweaty bus in a heatwave here, with no air conditioning, going to sit on a concrete promenade by a pebbly beach with zero shade.

TheKeatingFive · 30/04/2023 10:52

I have a 1 month old and a 3 year old, I’m absolutely not anti taking babies on holiday I just don’t think long haul is great for a newborn with no immune system.

Well don't do it with yours then. But keep out of other parents perfectly valid choices.

SirWalterElliot · 30/04/2023 10:53

Yabu. As long as the baby and mother are well (and on holiday together) I think it's a great age to travel - much easier than with a 1 year old!

takealettermsjones · 30/04/2023 10:54

People are not being "defensive about influencers," they are objecting to yet another thread that judges parents' (harmless) choices.

If babies aren't safe on planes then they aren't safe in buses, trains, tubes, school assemblies, queues at the bank, supermarkets, GP waiting rooms...

I'm also fairly sure that the likes of Stacey Solomon, Molly Mae etc will be in a sanitised first class bubble. But even if not, the baby will be okay.

I'm taking my baby on holiday later this year. Baby will be four months. You can judge away but if we weren't on holiday that week, guess what? We'd be on the train, at the supermarket, queuing at the bank etc just like we normally do.

Snoken · 30/04/2023 10:55

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)

My first born was 9 weeks old when we took her abroad, so just maybe 3-4 days over 2 months. Why do you need to pass judgement on that? Isn't life as a new parent difficult enough without others judging your every move? Why is your personal cut off period 2 months? The immune system isn't fully matured until they are 7 or 8 years old.

katkins23 · 30/04/2023 10:59

It's not something I would want to do. When mine were a month or so old I was barely functioning, never mind wanting to jet off somewhere and deal with a change of surroundings etc.

However if other people want to then fair play to them.

I sometimes feel like it's a bit performative from these influencers like "look how well we're coping, we won't let a new baby get in the way of us having a fabulous holiday" but I guess that's what influencer life is all about.