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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Booking holiday this far in advance or AIBU

25 replies

dooberydah · 26/06/2023 12:57

Found an amazing deal for a place we want to try in October 2024

We plan to TTC from October this year. Would it be ridiculous to book a holiday 12 months from that point? If we’re successful immediately a 3 month old is too tiny to take to Europe, isn’t it? I don’t underestimate how hard that must be

(We lost an unplanned pregnancy previously and we were not trying, can pinpoint it down to one exact occasion. It might not happen that easily again but aware it also might!)

We could always put it off and aim for spring 2025 instead but prices have not yet been released for those holidays.

OP posts:
Lovingitallnow · 26/06/2023 12:59

We took a 3 month old on holidays. Just avoid being due in October or 8 months pregnant, or accept you'll lose the money.

OhBling · 26/06/2023 13:00

I don't think taking the baby is the issue. The issue is that you might be pregnant and can't go. Is there a cancellation clause if you cancel within a certain time period? In which case, I'd book and be prepared to cancel if, with TTC, it doesn't work out.

Yellowrosesmakemehappy · 26/06/2023 13:01

We put off booking a holiday while TTC, I know you shouldn’t put your life on hold, but you won’t be covered to cancel if you are too pregnant to go or are due or have just given birth.

Yellowrosesmakemehappy · 26/06/2023 13:02

Actually just to correct my comment, we did go on a holiday but booked it when we knew I wouldn’t of been that pregnant if I had conceived.

TheThreeHeadedBeast · 26/06/2023 13:03

I would say fine to take a 3 month old to Europe, we went camping in France when DS was 15 weeks
But what if you don't conceive till January, you could be 39 weeks pregnant, in labour or have a 1 week old with no passport...

edwinbear · 26/06/2023 13:04

Feels complicated to me, for a start, would you book now for 2 x adults or 2 x adults and an infant? I'd probably put off TTC until I knew I wouldn't be more than c. 5-6 months pregnant.

Yoyooo · 26/06/2023 13:04

Wait and book nearer the time.

But 3 months is a great age to take a baby on holiday - they're chilled and sleeping a lot tbh!

born2runaway · 26/06/2023 13:05

To be safe, don't book anything a year in advance. Just do a last min trip instead. Or even six months in advance is ok

FarTooHotForMe · 26/06/2023 13:07

I travelled to Europe with my DC when they are 10 weeks old and had great holidays, they were sleeping through the night and we had a good day time routine going and all went well.
I think the issue with the OP booking is she could be 9 months pregnant when due to fly.

Luxell934 · 26/06/2023 13:13

It's a gamble, I personally wouldn't be booking any holiday a year in advance when TTC, you might end up 8/9 months pregnant and can't go or be 8 weeks pregnant and can't go due to sickness. Or you might not be pregnant by then and have missed out on a cheap holiday. Who knows!

Original poster
dooberydah · 26/06/2023 13:13

Thank you all. I’m thinking maybe we see where we are in 6 months… the deal might still be there and we might have been lucky by that point so know it’s ok to book. Or if either of those aren’t true I’m sure we’d get a cheap deal for spring 2025 when those dates are released

OP posts:
RedRobyn2021 · 26/06/2023 13:15

Is it possible to pay a bit more for flexibility?

Original poster
dooberydah · 26/06/2023 13:28

RedRobyn2021 · 26/06/2023 13:15

Is it possible to pay a bit more for flexibility?

Not sure as it would be Jet2

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 26/06/2023 13:32

Why would taking one 3 month old on holiday be difficult?
The only thing you need to do is get them a passport which I believe takes 6 weeks.
Your first baby for the first year is the easiest chance you'll get for years to take children on holiday.

Original poster
dooberydah · 26/06/2023 13:51

arethereanyleftatall · 26/06/2023 13:32

Why would taking one 3 month old on holiday be difficult?
The only thing you need to do is get them a passport which I believe takes 6 weeks.
Your first baby for the first year is the easiest chance you'll get for years to take children on holiday.

I don’t know, they’re very young aren’t they and you would have to keep them out of the sun at all times! Wouldn’t it be too young to have a splash in the pool as well as they have not had all the jabs?

OP posts:
Yoyooo · 26/06/2023 14:03

Just took my 4 month old aboard to Spain, all inclusive. Was very easy - in the pram with the parasol or having cuddles most of the time. Lots of naps as it was warm. Loved the little kids pool in a baby ring.

The only tricky thing was bringing enough ready made formula (for ease when out there) but other than that easy. I brought a 6 bottle electric steriliser for the room so did that once a day and it was simple.

reabies · 26/06/2023 14:03

We took ours to Italy last summer at 3m old. The difficulties were getting a passport in time, it was when the wait times were awful so we paid extra for the 1 day turnaround. And keeping him in the shade as he was too young for suncream. But other than that it was fine, easier than it is now when he has a set bedtime and wants to be moving around everywhere during the day. And we took him in the pool even though he hadn't had his 16w jabs yet, he was fine.

I think the timeline is more concerning as if you don't fall pregnant straight away you might not have a 3m old at that point. Probably easier to wait to book.

ellenpartridge · 26/06/2023 14:12

I wouldn't book it in light of the ttc. Otherwise love a good advanced booking but in your situation I wouldn't. Good luck

TheSnowyOwl · 26/06/2023 14:17

A three month old is one of the easiest ages to take abroad. Enjoy your holiday.

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 26/06/2023 14:20

Hmm, if you plan to ttc later this year you may well be very heavily pregnant/just given birth in October ‘24. A 3 month old would be ok, though the holiday wouldn’t be that relaxing, night feeds, being unsettled in the heat, sterilising to be done etc. it would still be perfectly manageable, but you might not have a 3 month old!

I don’t think I’d risk it tbh.

ActDottie · 26/06/2023 14:34

I wouldn’t book it, if you’re pregnant at the time the holiday comes round you may be either too far gone to go or unwell - saying this as someone who is currently pregnant and can’t imagine anything worse than going on holiday atm!

neverenoughchelseaboots · 26/06/2023 14:36

Agree that babies are very transportable - I took my DD on a ski holiday at 9 weeks.

But you could end up being pregnant at one of the stages that you’re not allowed to fly.

Anonymouslyposting · 26/06/2023 14:49

We took our three month old on holiday to Europe last month and he was super easy - much easier than our two year old! Off again next week with the now four month old. I’d avoid anywhere too hot but that shouldn’t be an issue in Europe in October.

I would say however (a) as others have pointed out you may be too pregnant to fly (b) you may have a high risk pregnancy or complications like hyperemesis which means you can’t or don’t want to travel (c) you don’t know how you’re going to react to new parenthood - I went to pieces after my first and would have really struggled with the added mental load of a holiday.

So basically, I think you should be fine to go if you’ve had the baby but I wouldn’t book until the last minute when you know how you’re feeling.

Equalitea · 26/06/2023 16:15

I always found under 6 months was the easiest time to take them (not crawling or moving too much, still napping in daytime etc) 6 months to 3 years probably the hardest!

Suprima · 26/06/2023 16:19

dooberydah · 26/06/2023 13:51

I don’t know, they’re very young aren’t they and you would have to keep them out of the sun at all times! Wouldn’t it be too young to have a splash in the pool as well as they have not had all the jabs?

Show quote history

They won’t combust in the sunlight. What do you think Spanish newborns do? Baby Suncream, parasol on the pram, afternoon siesta at the hottest hour. All good.

You don’t need jabs to go swimming. They are fine to have a splash in the pool.

3 months is great because they sleep all the time and don’t move. You’ll have much more of a relaxing holiday than with a 1 year old or older.

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