A month in January in Spain with a 4-month old baby, is it realistic?

[mapotofu]

We are expecting our first baby, due end of August. Past January has been really rough for me with the first trimester pregnancy + dreary weather in the UK, and I'm planning my escape for next January (2026). The baby will be 4 months old by then, and I want to spend a month in the south of Spain (maybe Saville) during our parental leave. It will be a rare treat for us since we've never taken a break longer than 2 weeks in the past 15 years!

This is our first baby, so I have no idea what a 4-month old is like. I imagine we will be mainly staying in one place, maybe reading a book and enjoying the sunnier weather, whilst taking care of the baby?

Is it a realistic plan? Is it too risky regarding limited access to healthcare?

PS: We don't have any family/friends in Spain.

I think it sounds lovely and I'm quite sad that I didn't take the opportunity to travel more during my Mat leave (although I have an elderly cat at home so a month would have been out of the question!).

In my quite recent experience of 4 month olds though I wouldn't bank on reading too many books. Ours was napping 3-4 times a day at that age but not for longer than 30 minutes at a time, so by the time we'd showered / eaten / whatever else we needed to do he was awake again and in need of feeding or entertaining.

Of course with two of you then you can share the load a bit and have a couple of hours to yourself here and there, depending how you're feeding.

We took our PFB to southern Spain at 3 months old but only for a fortnight. It was fine but we had family who could lend us a car seat and a pram and we also speak Spanish.

I'm sure you'll be fine, just be aware that some things like nappies won't be the brands you're used to.

I took dd to Cyprus at 12 weeks ! It was great because they're so easy at that age, feed, sleep, change !

Totally fine!

I spent 2 (separate) months in Europe with DD when she was under one and it was great.

Get a villa or apartment, you'll want more space and facilities than a hotel room. And treat it like being a local rather than being on holiday, so you don't rush around in an effort to see all the sights, or put pressure on enjoying every day in a really intense way.

Mosey around, drink coffee, eat nice food and take a breather!

We didn't take baby in the swimming pool though as she hadn't had all her jabs. Doubt you'll be doing that in January though!

4 months is a great age to travel. Out of the newborn stage, a tiny bit more predictable, feeding should be established but before the hassle joys of weaning and crawling! We had a similar plan with DS1 but sadly lockdown put an end to that. Have an amazing time!

Probably the best age you could do it 🌞

10000000%. A fantastic idea

Yes do it! Having just made it through UK January with a 4month old I truly wish I had done this!!!

Took my DS to Spain for a few weeks at 11 weeks, it was great. Very easy at that age. Went away again when he was 9months and that was harder as he was eating and mobile! But still fine.

@cruisetipz why would you delay swimming for vaccinations against diseases that are not caught from swimming pools?! No reason why babies can't go swimming from birth.

I think this is a lovely idea @mapotofu, although personally I'd have chosen somewhere the weather will be better in January! We travelled with both ours at 4-5 months and it was super easy.

Thank you so much everyone! I feel so much better about this plan now. My parents were all like 'ooh it's so risky to go on holiday, what if the baby gets ill' 😅

do they know they have babies in Spain 😂

Sounds like an amazing idea. Babies are pretty portable at that age, you should be well
recovered and you’ll be in a major city with everything you’ll need.

Oh that sounds wonderful. The sunshine will do you all so much good. We have friends who go to Spain every year from Jan - March and I am so envious.

It should be really pleasant and you'll be able to get out and push the pram every day and evening without wearing four layers, having your hands freeze off and have to battle for a space in a steamed up coffee shop with wet dogs and condensation streaming down the windows 😆

Have a lovely time and this could be the start of amazing family travels!

You’ll be fine, although Seville tends to be very quiet in January, they consider it cold and lots of the shops and restaurants close. It wouldn’t be my chosen month to stay there! We took my son at 2 months, 6 months, and then twice more before he turned 2, and he always loved it.

Also remember that houses in Seville don’t often have heating, so pack lots of layers. It won’t be freezing but it’ll usually be around 10 degrees in the day and colder at night.

"lots of the shops and restaurants close" err.. No. I live there. They don't.

It is cold indoors though in Seville, look for somewhere with heating.

It will be fine though you will need to manage vaccinations, once baby is born you will be able to see what your drs can do to fit them around your travel plans. Being in Spain really isn't any different to the uk from the baby's perspective!

But it will be a lot more straightforward if you breastfeed, no equipment needed that way, I did an extended trip when dd2 was that age and was so easy (we also coslept)

Re the health care- my experience is that it's excellent, so much better than the UK.

Be sure to get a GHIC for all of you.

Worst case scenario is you have a colicy baby that doesn't sleep in Spain instead of England. You'll be doing exactly the same stuff but with better weather.

Perfect time to travel!!! Do it!

4 months is a dream, we loved travelling with just one baby and 4 months is such a great age - one thing transformational though was a dummy!

If the baby gets ill you will probably get better healthcare in Spain than you would in the UK. Just make sure you have solid travel insurance.

As my brother pointed out to me when I was stressed about going away with a toddler, "they have babies in Spain too you know".

Have an amazing time.

Do you mean SPL? I don't think you can both be off at the same time. Happy to stand corrected though, sounds wonderful if you can do it.

Not to be a Debbie downer but I'd wait until the baby is 6months. They're fully jabbed and over the 4month sleep regression. You'll have a lovely time regardless, just makes it a bit easier for you.