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Holidays

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Original poster

Can I book a suprise holiday???

24 replies

pappanu · 16/09/2005 22:07

Hi i am a new dad of a 7 month old baby girl, I would like too take both her and my wife on a holiday next month as a suprise...

Would a 4 hour flight be a real pain for us all or do you reckon its O.K.??

The little one is now crawling, active and fair skinned, is it too much work or a nice break away?

Advice pls

OP posts:
lucy5 · 16/09/2005 22:10

i think its a lovely idea, i personally wouldnt want a 4 hour flight with a 7 month old but people fly to Australia, so dont listen to me. Where are you thinking of going?

MrsSpoon · 16/09/2005 22:10

Depends, I don't think it would be a problem, took DS1 away when he was 9 months and it was great but not sure if I would have been happy with it being a "surprise" (but that is probably just me), lovely idea.

Does your DD have her own passport?

Skribble · 16/09/2005 22:12

It might be easier to book something nearer to home you could get somewhere really luxurious then.

Original poster
pappanu · 16/09/2005 22:12

havent got a passport yet but i have filled in the forms for her (can I take my own picture of dd against white background and cut down to size do you know please) Thinking of Northern Cyprus because i can get a private bungalow with a pool on the cheap!

OP posts:
Hulababy · 16/09/2005 22:13

How much notice are you planning on giving?

I think it is a lovely idea and I'd have no problems about taking a 7 month on a 4 hour flight.

Original poster
pappanu · 16/09/2005 22:14

iam worried because DD doesnt sleep well unless she is put down in her cot, 4 hours awake will be asking quite a lot of her and i don't want her to cry the whole time because she is being held and all she wants it her cot to go to sleep

OP posts:
lucy5 · 16/09/2005 22:17

I think you have to have a proper photo. We did ours in a photo booth and dh just knealt down and held dd up. I think a villa sounds great, it will be home from home you can work to your own routine if you need to. How much notice are you going to give your wife? Just thinking about washing, packing, getting head round flying with baby for first time. I'd love it if someone did this for me.

Original poster
pappanu · 16/09/2005 22:17

i am thinking about booking the flight next week (to go in 3 weeks time) hadnt thought about how to surpise other half yet! maybe inthe car on the way...but then i would probably forget to pack the stuff she wanted and we would end up on holidays from hell!

OP posts:
Hulababy · 16/09/2005 22:20

I would seriously give her time to pack herself, and for the baby! Maybe a week or two's notice if you can. The suprise element is still there, as is the fantastic lovely gesture - but she can then sort things out.

lucy5 · 16/09/2005 22:21

When dd was little we tried to fly around her routine if that makes sense. You can keep the buggy until you get on the plane , so she might nap in that. Dd when she was little used to conk out on the plane, I think because she didnt know what was going on, like a defence mechanism.

Original poster
pappanu · 16/09/2005 22:22

do you think the flight would be too stressful for baby? I cant help thinking i am being selfish taking a baby all this way for our benefit of a holiday

OP posts:
MrsSpoon · 16/09/2005 22:23

Think the flight issue is something you can't predict. My DS1 when he was a baby was asleep before the plane was fully in the air but DS2 has screamed or been fretful through any flight he has been on (surprisingly not as bad as it sounds).

Hulababy's suggestion of letting your DW know a couple of weeks before is a good one, still a surprise but still enough time to pack half of Boots the Chemist, just in case!

soapbox · 16/09/2005 22:24

7 months good for flying - much older and they won't sit in seat for long. We did 12 hours with a 7 month old and it was absolutely fine

I'd definately say book it - you would be wallowing in brownie points if it were me

Original poster
pappanu · 16/09/2005 22:25

hmmm see what you mean, think i will give other half at least a week so she can get baby stuff sorted. what happens with pushchair if you can keep it up until you board? i didnt know this! that would be handy though

OP posts:
Original poster
pappanu · 16/09/2005 22:26

lol soapbox

OP posts:
MrsSpoon · 16/09/2005 22:27

IME they let you have the pushchair right up until boarding, taking it from you at the plane door. Depending on the airline you sometimes get them back before the luggage when you arrive, other times you have to wait for it to come round on the carousel, which is a bit of a pain.

lucy5 · 16/09/2005 22:29

They take it as you go through the gate and you pick it up with the luggage at the other end. Take a bottle of something, its good for kids to suck, it helps their ears on take off or landing. You can also use (but check the age) teething granules that contain cammomile to calm if their ears are hurting. You can buy them in boots, do check the age though because I cant remember.

Original poster
pappanu · 16/09/2005 22:30

has anyone ever pre-booked a car seat in a hire car abroad? are they reliable and of good condition in your experience? like hertz or avis etc

OP posts:
MrsSpoon · 16/09/2005 22:31

We hired a car from Hertz last time and the car seats seemed to be in good condition.

Original poster
pappanu · 16/09/2005 22:32

thinking about ears.....baby has just been diagnosed with Glue ear....would that be a problem when flying? sorry for all the questions, youre advice is very much appreciated x

OP posts:
Original poster
pappanu · 16/09/2005 22:32

thats good to know mrsspoon, i will have a look at their website

OP posts:
Hulababy · 16/09/2005 22:34

We booked a car seat in France this year. The booster seat we were given was very poor (although Britax) and not suitable. We complained and was given a second stage seat instead which was much better, and I was happy to put Dd into it.

If your DS is still in the first car seat it may be easier to take that with you instead though.

lucy5 · 16/09/2005 22:58

You can put car seat in the hold too. I dont know about glue ear maybe phone nhs direct.

cinderelly · 16/09/2005 23:37

only read the title (sorry), but what a man! Do u have any brothers?

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