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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

When did you first take your baby abroad on holiday?

98 replies

crazycatlady82 · 06/03/2015 17:19

Hi,

Being all of 7+5 pregnant... I LOVE going away on holiday. So, because I overthink things I was wondering the following:

When did you first take your baby abroad?

How did you travel?

How long was the journey?

How did the baby cope?

Any tips to make trips easy?

Also, husband says trips abroad are a thing of the past until the child is 2 years! Please tell me that's not true!

Thanks ladies

OP posts:
trilbydoll · 06/03/2015 17:24

We went to Amsterdam when DD was 3mo. Drive to Harwich, got the overnight ferry, then drove repeatedly round and round Amsterdam until we finally found BIL's flat!

Would really recommend it to reassure yourself that you can take baby abroad but with the backup of a car full of stuff. We flew to Lanzarote when DD was 9mo and that was really good too, went AI but with an apartment with a little kitchen.

Ime DD is so overwhelmed by being somewhere new and exciting, in her holiday stroller, she sleeps way more. So you can just wander about or lie on the beach while she naps!

NetballHoop · 06/03/2015 17:26

Took DS to Spain when he was 6 months. He slept through the flights both ways much to our (and the other passengers) relief.

BackforGood · 06/03/2015 17:27

pfb was 11, the others 8 and 5 Grin

We drove to France.
It was a Looooooooooonnnnng journey.

I'm very glad we didn't do it when they were younger.

iwantgin · 06/03/2015 17:28

first trip abroad was when DS was 17 months. We went to Fuengirola - and it was really easy. He could eat regular food by then, was happy to sit in his buggy most of the time and was easily entertained by sand and sea.

We stayed in a hotel on half board and it was really easy. If I had had to sort out bottles perhaps an apartment would be better.

ApocalypseNowt · 06/03/2015 17:29

DD1 when she was 18 months. It was full on but she absolutely loved it.

DD2 when she was 5 months old. Actually this was loads easier - she slept through the flight - babies are very portable at that age - we took a pushchair with a parasol so she had her naps wherever. Also by that holiday DD1 was 2.5yo so also a great age for it.

Both holidays were to spain, approx 2 hour flights.

GoooRooo · 06/03/2015 17:29

I agree with your DH.

We took DS away when he was 14 months to Turkey, 4 hour flight. The holiday was fine - although exhausting as he was just learning to walk and wanted to walk around holding on to our fingers constantly. The flight there was fine. The flight back was HIDEOUS. A mixture of tired child, late flight etc etc. Screaming and screaming while DH walked him up and down the plane and I apologised profusely to the other passengers.

We're taking him back to the same place in May, when he'll be 3.

MrsBungle · 06/03/2015 17:29

First trip abroad was to Portugal when dd was 3 months. Couple of hours flight. Hired a car. It was fine.

TeaandHobnobs · 06/03/2015 17:31

DS was 4mo. We flew (approx 2 hours) and hired a car. He took it all in his stride - I think he slept most of the flight both ways, didn't cry at all.

I think they are so much easier under 6m - no need to worry about food, so portable. I was bfing, although I did bring bottles and sterilising bags because he was having vitamin/iron supplements in expressed milk (he was a preemie).

We travelled again when he was 14m - 3 days each way in the car. That was not such a good idea, as he still wasn't sleeping well and we were probably a bit too sleep deprived. He coped very well with it though.

We went to the US last year when he was 2.5yrs, and again, he coped very well - was awake most of the journey over (including staying awake until a ludicrous time in the evening, but however he managed to do that, it avoided him getting jet lag!) and slept all the way back.

This summer we will be doing the same trip European trip as before, but using motorail to cut down on the driving, with 3yr old DS and 3mo DD.

Holidays are different with children, for sure, having to keep an eye on them all the time, so never truly relaxing IME (although we have always been with family so I can always get them to take over for an hour or two). But certainly doable - I think you just need to have quite a relaxed attitude to it?

WowOoo · 06/03/2015 17:31

We went more than now because they fly for free under one.

Not much hassle as far as I can remember. We gave ourselves plenty of time and were prepared to distract, feed and be kept awake at times. That's my only tip.
Have a lovely photo of ds1 asleep in his pram while we wined and dined. Happy days!

Heels99 · 06/03/2015 17:32

8 months, eurocamp. More of a change is scene than a holiday. Then we discovered neilsons which are fab for families and then when kids started school we switched to long haul as prices in Europe are so high anyway I. The school holidays. Good websites:
Tots too
Baby bolt holes
Sovereign families
Eurocamp
Quo vadis
Virgin

All do family friendly holidays.

Enjoy!

Heels99 · 06/03/2015 17:34

Age two they are more mobile and you have to pay for them to have a seat, non mobile babies that travel,free are easier to take abroad!

Joyfulldeathsquad · 06/03/2015 17:36

16 months and she ruined it.

No more lazy lie ins
No more getting pissed by the pool
No more boozy evening meals

Tis never the same Sad

squeaver · 06/03/2015 17:36

First time on a plane - 6 weeks. One hour flight to stay with my parents.

First time abroad - 5 months. Two hours to the south of France.

Babies are EXTREMELY portable. Way easier to take on holiday than e.g. a 2 year old.

I have a friend in Australia who brought her 6 month old over here for 3 weeks.

TarkaTheOtter · 06/03/2015 17:36

We've taken our two away from a few months old. In fact I completely disagree with your dh - when dd was 2yrs and ds was 2mo I flew long haul by myself with them to stay with family then we did a 2 week road trip. Both were fine but the 2mo was significantly easier than the 2yr old! We relocated abroad 4 months later and that was fine too.
I'd go long haul whist the baby is free and easily portable.

northcoastmum · 06/03/2015 17:38

We love holidays, and have had all of our kids away from a pretty young age: DS 1 - 11 weeks, flew to South of France, also had him away elsewhere in Europe at 5 and 7 months, and Canada at 17 months. DS 2 - flew to Austria at 5 months, Spain at 10 months. DD - flew to Austria at 7 weeks, Canaries at 5 months and New York at 14 months.

I actually think babies are easier to travel with than toddlers/pre school children, and if you're breastfeeding you don't need to bring a lot of extra equipment.

Our kids are v good travellers (now aged 9, 7 and nearly 5) they know what to do/not to do in airports, planes, new places etc and part of that has to be down to the fact that they experienced travel early and fairly often.

Kelly1814 · 06/03/2015 17:38

DD was 10 months.

Flew to Sri Lanka, a 4.5 hour flight from us.

Only a 1.5 hour time difference so could keep to her routine, was brilliant.

I wouldn't have gone anywhere until she started sleeping, I just couldn't have enjoyed it. That was crucial for me.

Preciousbane · 06/03/2015 17:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Artandco · 06/03/2015 17:41

Ds1 -12 weeks - New York - 3 day trip

Ds2 -16 weeks - Vietnam - 8 week trip

charlie0123 · 06/03/2015 17:41

9 weeks old. Went to Majorca. Sky cot on plane, car seat/buggy/cot for rest of holiday. He lived in vests and I was breastfeeding. It was very easy - he slept most of the holiday!

AugustaGloop · 06/03/2015 17:48

DD1: 10 weeks to visit family in Ireland, 4 months old to Majorca. Flight both times. it was fine.

DD2: similar time for first visit to family in Ireland. France at about 5 months. Again flights and again fine.

I have always found travelling with DC to be fine with the one exception when we went to Oz when DD2 was around 2.5. The flights were a nightmare. She was fine when we were actually there, although DD1 was hit with a vomiting bug the first 3 days.

MrsMarigold · 06/03/2015 17:49

DS longhaul to a third world country at 6 months, DD at 1 year. Been several times since the worst was flying 10 hours on my own with two of them (they are 15 months apart and DS was 2.6 and DD 15 months) they both got raging temperatures 39.5 and vomiting on the flight.

How did you travel? Various airlines.

How long was the journey? ranges from 3 hours to 16 hours (a long layover)

How did the baby cope? OK

Any tips to make trips easy? Breastfeed then you need less stuff and a Maclaren. Take spare clothes for them and for yourself (learned after 10 hour flight with lots of vomiting). Take out good health insurance.

Strangers are often very kind.

Christelle2207 · 06/03/2015 17:52

Took ours to switzerland to visit friends at 8 months. Was all ok, especially as said friends also had a baby slightly older than ours which meant less stuff to take.
We then took him to Portugal at 13 months which was more stressful but still worthwhile. He was more dependent on a routine by then. We paid extra though for a two bed apartment (so he could have his own room) and sensibly timed flights which helped a lot. He enjoyed it.
Remind your dh that they're almost free to take abroad under 2. I think pn easyjet they pay £20. Once they get to 2 they occupy a seat on the plane which makes it a lot more expensive.

MrsMarigold · 06/03/2015 17:53

Also always make sure you'll have a washing machine available the other end and take some washing capsules or whatever you use - we once paid USD15 to launder a babygrow that had been weed on. DH pointed out that it cost less to buy new and they dropped the price to USD10

Sophieelmer · 06/03/2015 17:56

Your dh is wrong. Make the most of the bit before they can crawl and flights are free! First dc flew 4hrs at 6 months. Should have done it sooner as it wasn't that long after that they were on the move.

Christelle2207 · 06/03/2015 17:56

Didn't matter when younger but finding suitable food for 13m ds in portugal was a pain. We are spoilt here with choice of ella's kitchen pouches etc. Don't assume you can find abroad what you can here!