Holiday in Crete with 5 week old?

[GoodluckJonathan76]

We are planning a summer holiday next year with our blended family. The only time we can all go is the w/c 28th June. I am due to give birth on 22/6/18 so we will have a 5 week old baby. Is it crazy to travel to Crete with a 5 week old baby? DH and I have 2 DCs each so were pretty unfazed by the idea until a friend said we were crazy!

I would not have any worries about the holiday itself but would not book before the baby arrives. There is the passport concern, but also you don't know if the baby will have any health issues. Even something relatively minor like jaundice or bronchiolitis would be enough to stop you going. These things are really common in newborns.

Sorting a passport out for a baby less than two weeks old would be the last thing on my mind.

I'm amazed you can even get a registry office slot booked and attended in that time let alone a passport application sent off and returned.

You must always be in a rush to get on holiday just after you've had a baby OP to have had to do this three times now.

Horses for courses I suppose.

It sounds like you've made your mind up.

What is your actual question?

Personally I think I would pass on the holiday next summer. Perhaps book something for October 1/2 term or Easter 2019.

Or if I really wanted to go away in the summer, it would be in the UK, somewhere we could drive to.

Scrowy, you sound jealous? Maybe it's the only time I've had off work in the last 20 years and we decided to go on holiday, how dare we? With DS1 it was very easy to go away for a few days in the summer, why wouldn't it be? With DS2 we relocated to the US for 12 months when he was 7 weeks. With DS3, as i said, we usually take the other DCs on a summer holiday and don't want them to miss out. We can't go in May as I will be 36 weeks so the summer is the only time we can go. I'm actually quite amazed that people can't manage to deal with basic task as well as having a child. DH went a registered both boys within a few days of birth - took less than an hour. Where is the big deal with that? Applying for a passport is filing in a form and getting photos done. I can only assume you have one child and think the world stops when you have a baby. It doesn't.

There is no need to be so snippy. People are giving the benefit of their experience, and it clearly wasn't as easy for them as it has been for you. I think you should talk to your midwife and discuss with her whether flying out of the country with a 5 week old, plus a c section scar that may not be fully healed (given that you have had 2 already) is a good idea.

I wasn't able to get an appointment to register my child until she was 5 weeks and 3 days - and we rang for an appointment the day after she was born. its not that unusual, and certainly wasn't due to me being unable to cope with it

SCREW PEOPLE SAYING ANYTHING NEGATIVE! We did the quick turn around passport application which takes less than a week usually. Our son was 6 weeks old when we got his passport and we flew 12 hours to Los Angeles with him when he was 8 weeks. It was easier since we had a maternity nurse come with us and we booked business seats for all of us which provided more space (try to do the same, it's worth it when traveling with a baby) - it was great fun!

Book your holiday and enjoy.

Before you book it, get travel insurance quotes and see where you stand. Not just cover there but cancellation if needed.

Ps the Greeks LOVE babies so won't be able to do enough for you it'll be VIP all the way