To think it's cruel to take a 9 month old baby abroad

[Cherryblossom90]

Recently been on three week holiday abroad with DH and 9 month old baby to see our extended family.

Baby was fine in terms of sleep, eating etc but due to hot weather abroad she was stuck in doors with me/DH/other family member for most of the day. She seemed just gentally miserable not her Usual self at all (more quiet and clingy, mainly) she's been back to usual self since being back. I really regret going actually even though the adults had a nice time I feel it was a bit selfish and I feel we shouldn't have gone.

Just curious how others justify taking a baby abroad on a long plane journey, to a hot country when it's so unpleasant for the baby?

Am I being unreasonable to think it's cruel to take a baby abroad?

Just curious how others justify taking a baby abroad on a long plane journey, to a hot country when it's so unpleasant for the baby?

Is it though? A great many babies live in hot weather year round.
Just because your baby was miserable doesn’t mean it’s cruel to take a baby abroad for whatever reason, plus it’s a very ‘Brit abroad’ view to even assume that every other country is hot. Is it cruel to take a baby to a country with a similar climate? Which bit exactly is cruel.

You do realise babies live in hot countries, our daughter had been abroad three times by nine months, all trips fine.

Sorry to hear you had an unpleasant experience but that doesn’t mean everyone else will have a shit holiday

Oh Jesus 🙈

I think cruel is a strong word, but it certainly isn’t for the baby’s benefit. Yes, babies live in hot countries, but if you are a pale skinned Celt used to chilly Scottish summers going to the Med is going to be a struggle.

What do you think babies in hot countries do OP?

Mine is unbothered really, so long as we ensure they get meal times, naps and play time.

I mean - you live in the UK, being stuck indoors because of the weather is a bit of a national pastime.

Well I live abroad in a hot country. Plenty of babies around. Although yes, they will spend the majority of their time inside in the day, in air con. No one is particularly traumatised lol.

I took my baby abroad at 9 months to see family, its not cruel to take them to visit family even if its a hot country (though in my case abroad was to the UK in September/October so heat was not a concern ) as obviously babies live in hot countries too, and I expect they are inside for the hottest part of the day too.
A change in routine/environment can affect babies, could happen just the same on a domestic holiday or even staying home and having family visit.

I live in Australia, we don't keep our babies/children indoors all the time, just make sure they have some shade and they are fine. Your DC was probably just taking a while to get used to the new environment and people. It's good for children to go to new places.

YABU and you need to look up ‘cruel’ in a dictionary. You know people who live in hot counties have babies too? Not sure the point of your post. Don’t travel again if you don’t want to

A 9 month old baby isn't used to any particular sort of summer

Have a lie down OP x

Ours were fine, get out early and late. I think part of it was probably seeing family so lots of being handed around and new people in their face coupled with you guys being unsettled not at home and the heat.

God, I really worry for some children with such wet parents. No wonder kids have no resilience these days

far better to starve kids of vitamin d and confine them to the screen life or soft play thanks to this miserable cold wet country.

No, but they can be accustomed to a cool climate so a hot climate will be a sudden change. They are little, not insensate.

Babies are born in hot countries and travel in hot countries, no I don't get your logic

We took a 4 month old abroad & had an absolute ball! We protected her with sun hat / sunshade & mosquito net on the pram / baby sunglasses / sun protective surf suit & swim hat for swimming / sun lotion & stayed in the shade when possible & she was absolutely fine. Tbh it was an absolute joy. It’s harder when they’re tearing around!

Don’t be daft.

No one takes a 9 month old abroad for the baby’s benefit, because the baby doesn’t care either way. But it isn’t remotely cruel.

Was it cruel for people to have babies in the heatwave of 2022? Or when it’s cold? Just take care of your child appropriately for the weather.

My DGCs have been travelling abroad since they were tiny babies. So long as you adapt to the environment it isn’t a problem. We went with them when DGC1 was 6 months old, very hot but we had a great time. Use your common sense and make the most of the opportunities.

It’s probably his extended family and OP wants to lay the ground work to never go back because it’s so cruel on her pfb.

‘Abroad’ isn’t always hot. There is a lot of abroad. Where did you go? Is it summer there?

We took DS to Sweden aged 6 months, and he had a great time. Loved the hotel, and we did lots of child-friendly trips which he seemed interested in.

We then emigrated to Canada when he was 14 months, and he enjoyed the flight (in a bassinet, got fed a steady stream of scones from first class by the cabin crew). Obviously perfectly happy in our new house. Flight back two years later also fine (he slept).

Just because your baby had a bad time on that particular trip, doesn’t mean every baby has a bad time on every trip.

Yes, your life should absolutely stop after you have children. No seeing family, no holidays for the fear of upsetting your little darling. Everything should cater to them. Then sit back and relax until they turn 24 and are still living in your house and can’t even do their own laundry. But at least you are not being cruel…

As a pale skinned Celt married to another one and living in wet Wales, I was just about to say this. DH and I wilt in the Med, never mind our very pale skinned Celt DCs when they were younger.

Yes, babies live in hot countries, but if they were born there it’s very different to taking them on holiday there.

As other PPs have said, it’s different for every family but it wouldn’t have worked for us.