13 hour journey with 10 month old-madness?

[CerseiLannistersEyebrow]

My family were supposed to come over for my baby's first Christmas but now they can't. He'll be 10mo by then. They live in Belfast and I live in London. I wanted him to have family around him at Christmas and my mum is apparently very upset.

Flights are already £500 and baggage even more (which we need, for his sleepyhead). There's no way we can afford that. Sail and Rail is £100. It's a train from London to Glasgow, then Ayr then Cairnryan then ferry.

Am I mad for even considering it? He's quite an easy baby, very curious, enjoys travelling, but very mobile and doesn't really sleep in his pram now. It may be utterly miserable for him, but I was really hoping we'd see our family. Otherwise it's just the 3 of us which is nice but a bit the same as everyday really.

Well it isn't impossible but tbh I doubt baby cares about all the family being there on Xmas day.

I'd just stay home and enjoy a peaceful time.

Or travel over later next year when prices might be more affordable.

I'm the wrong person to post - but I will anyway - because I would never have considered this. I don't really get the 'first Christmas' thing and I hated, hated, hated travelling with ds when he was small - really until we got a portable DVD player he was school age.

Could your family come over soon after Christmas?

This is a chance to start building your own Christmas as a family too. I know what you mean about the same as every day. Do you have any friends in a similar situation, could you have a Boxing Day get together, walk and tea or something like that?

No, sadly. We don't have many friends. None who would be here either. That's what makes me sad too, he might not care but I do. It was important to me. And he's the most social baby in the world, too. He really loves being around people.

Tricky one, buy personally I wouldn't put my DS through that (9.5 mo), I would prioritise my DS's comfort over DM's upset - is not just one 13 hour journey, you have the return trip too.

I'd be a bit worried that after being exhausted by traveling it would inevitably be a really full on experience once you arrived with a strange bed, loads of stimulation, etc and would be very stressful for all concerned.

I'm actively hoping for a quiet first Christmas with DS!

We did a worse length journey last year with dd at 9 months old, involving ferries and driving, with the car for all the stuff. She was absolutely fine but it was nightmarish for us. If you consider sleepyhead in suitcase, plus all the baby gubbins, plus Christmas presents you will be very laden with luggage. If it's just you, baby, pushchair and all the stuff I suspect it'll be a big struggle, especially with all those changes. And then factor in weather too, it could be horrid. How much do friends and family spend on you at Xmas? Could they club together for a flight for you?

Hm. Could you make it a big trip, like going for 3 weeks, and maybe break the journey? And ask for your Christmas presents to be the fares?

Just thought you'd need food for you and baby too, plus whatever milk equipment you need for the journey. Add another bag....

No, I only have a week off work :( I do think it's just too much, really. I feel awful though.

Have you tried looking at the Caledonian sleeper service to Glasgow, then rail & sail from Glasgow. Maybe DS would get on better if part of the journey was overnight? ? I've not looked at timetables /prices to see if it would work for you, but might be worth investigating.
Hope you make it home for Christmas. I did a similar journey with DCs (aged 18mo & 2.5yrs at the time) it involved trains, plane, bus & taxi with me pushing double buggy, carrying luggage plus a car seat. The journey was tricky, but so worth it for a fantastic family Christmas. I don't regret it at all.

There are no services it seems and its also extremely expensive generally. I did this journey last year and it was awful. The sea was very rough and I was heavily pregnant, I had my head in my hands and was vomiting into a bowl for hours. If the weather's okay it wouldn't be bad bit if it's not it could be hellish.

Have nothing to add really but I'm doing a mammoth journey tomorrow, 9 hours in the car/ferry travelling through 4 different countries on my own with 2 kids 5 and 11 months

Tell me it's going to be alright

We flew with DS when he was that age. He was fine - we were able to walk around the plane with him, I assume a train will be similar. It is absolutely exhausting having to entertain a baby for that long though, and if he gets seasick it will probably be a nightmare, so on balance I would say I wouldnt do it. Can your family come another time and do a late Christmas celebration?

What dates are you looking at and have you compared flight prices on sky scanner?

No way would l do it. We took dd2 to Australia when she was 2 and l took her on my own when she was 4. But a 13 hour trip to get to Ireland? No way! And my dh is Irish so I've paid the extortionate price at Christmas for many years!

This year dd2 will be 14 weeks old and they will come to us.

Rail is worse than flying in my experience with baby as you are responsible for stowing all your luggage. I got on early to ensure space but the racks get full and people shuffle your luggage around to fit etc. Plus train stations don't have same waiting areas for a crawler to roam while you wait to board.

Baby who is mobile but not steady walking is worst to travel with I have found.

Sorry to be a downer but if you do it you may spend whole time there dreading return journey.

Does anybody have any air miles?

Not a hope. It will ruin your christmas. If your mum's that upset she can come to to but otherwise she'll have to lump it. Fly or nothing at all.

If your mum is really upset and you can't afford the flights can she pay for you? And does your baby have a passport? In the uk or not, some airlines won't let you board a plane without one.

Baby doesn't need a passport to NI, we've flown before. My mum I'd on benefits so can't help with fares. I was looking from 23-27, I don't have more time off work. We've pretty much decided against it but may fly over the week before for a visit. My sisters won't be there then though :(

Yeah, he's much harder to travel with now. He just wants to crawl and climb all the time!

We've done it driving and ferry. It was fine.

Neither of us drive and that's what I did last year (going with friend) and it was awful! Driving would be better for him though as he tends to nod off in a car seat. Ah well.