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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

Where can I take my 3 month old on holiday?

42 replies

Didsomeonesaybunny · 02/11/2018 03:39

DP has recently signed a generous business deal and has some spare cash and wants to take me and my DD abroad just before Christmas. I find beach holidays a bit of a bore and instead gravitate towards active holidays (bike tours, city tours etc.) but appreciate that this isn’t really possible with a 3 month old baby.

DP has suggested the Maldives; a villa in the sea (very plush) but I’m worried about such a long flight (we will be flying business if log haul and likely disturb folk) and worried I may die of boredom.

I was thinking of a nice villa in Cape Verde or the Canaries as it would be a shorter flight and I suspect there would be more to do.

Suggestions welcomed, thanks!

OP posts:
OKhitmewithit · 03/11/2018 13:23

The worst holiday I ever had was with my 4 month old. By the time she was awake it was food time, then nap, then food, then nap. All of this somewhere without the facilities of home. Great in theory, awful in reality. Save it until the naps are at least twice a day not 3 times. You’ll never leave the bloody villa!

Wisteria1979 · 03/11/2018 13:36

We did long haul with 4 month old and flight not much of an issue (walk her if she is unsettled, but dark and plenty of white noise should help snoozing) but the time difference messed things up a bit. She had previously slept through since 8 weeks and on holiday started waking up every other hour demanding food. Could be a coincidence of course (or very well timed regression!) but I would go for more similar time zone.

xxreeldancerxx · 03/11/2018 13:38

I personally wouldn't recommend the Maldives with a baby. Firstly, if you're in UK, it will involve 2 flights and then either a seaplane or a speedboat transfer ( depending on which island your hotel is on ). And secondly, we went for our honeymoon and hotel was full of couples/adults .... very few children, let alone babies. I think your idea of Cape Verde/Canaries is much more practical. Have a great time wherever you end up though!

Eminybob · 03/11/2018 13:48

We took ds away when he was 4 months old, and it was honestly the easiest holiday we have been on with him. He just ate and slept. As he was ebf there was no problem with having to worry about food etc, he slept the whole flight (canaries so 4 hours)

At night he would sleep in the pushchair while we went out for dinner. It was lovely actually.

I appreciate everyone’s experience is different, but that was mine.

As for where to go, I can’t really help there, I like AI type beach holidays, but anything you fancy doing, I don’t see why you can’t take the baby along. Get a baby carrier/sling and you are good to go.

cariadlet · 03/11/2018 13:48

If you like active holidays then pick a holiday that you would enjoy. The great thing about babies is that they are portable and they don't care where they are as long as they're with you.

We went to Cuba when DD was 3 months old. We booked a package holiday at a beach resort but only because it was the easiest way to get a visa. We checked into the hotel, went off traveling for a couple of weeks and then went back to the resort for one night before we flew back home. It was a brilliant holiday.

Original poster
Didsomeonesaybunny · 03/11/2018 14:20

Thank you for your comments, I didn’t even think about the time difference - oops! I have shown my DP your lovely comments and suggestions and he agrees that shorter haul is probably best.

We have plumped for Cape Verde as the weather looks like it will still be nice and hot in December. I have got an Ergo sling so I can transport her without difficulty. Loads of nice hotels to choose from, now to just pick and book one!

OP posts:
cheeseoverchocolate · 03/11/2018 16:23

I think you may need vaccinations for Cape Verde but I may be wrong. Also if you are not into beach holidays Cape Verde may not have that much to offer?

cheeseoverchocolate · 03/11/2018 16:24

If you want short haul and good weather in December Tenerife may be your best bet

titchy · 03/11/2018 16:27

There is literally nothing to do in CV except eat and beach....

Chewbecca · 03/11/2018 16:35

Have you booked CV yet?

To be fair, I have not personally been but it doesn't sound right for your requirements. There is nothing there but holiday hotels which tend to be brits abroad AI style. The sea is cold.

Chewbecca · 03/11/2018 16:36

I'd go to Barbados if I were you. Flight under 8 hours, guaranteed nice weather and warm seas. Quite a bit of 'real life' stuff to do on the island.

Ginger1982 · 03/11/2018 16:40

CV has really become touristy enough to have things to do other than sunbathing!! I appreciate the Balearics and Canaries won't be as warm in December but I think CV would be a mistake. What about Turkey?

Ginger1982 · 03/11/2018 16:41

Actually scratch that, not Turkey!!!

Nedzilla · 03/11/2018 16:41

How about a snow, ski or city break. In december to get sun you will have to do long flights which you dont sound keen on.

Go in December for a 4 day break somewhere closer, stay in a nice hotel with spa and pool, visit christmas markets, go sightseeing. Cologne, Munich, Budapest, stockholm or similar

Then spend a bit more time researching and book somewhere May onwards for a sun holiday together for a longer trip. You will have had a practice run closer, and baby older so can play on beach a bit more and actually enjoy swimming etc

Earlywalker · 03/11/2018 16:46

I’d just do canaries tbh, not as exotic but basically England with the sun and good medical care etc. Think lanzerote was 26 ish at Christmas last year. You don’t want it to be too hot anyway.

I had the best holiday ever when youngest was 14 weeks old. I was breastfeeding though, think it would be incredibly stressful with bottles.

Have a lovely time!

anniehm · 03/11/2018 16:57

I flew long haul at that age (we lived overseas) it was fine (feed as you take off to minimise ear problems). With dd2 we took a 2500 road trip through the western US at that age (and 2 year old dd as well) went absolutely fine. Far easier to travel when young, pre food actually. Just be wary about malaria and travel vaccine requirements of course. Have fun!!!

anniehm · 03/11/2018 16:59

Ps considered a cruise? Some ships allow from 3 months and have crèches too.

Chewbecca · 03/11/2018 17:04

Actually, that's a great idea - a cruise. Relaxing but also delivered to new ports to explore.

Nedzilla · 03/11/2018 17:06

oh I would definitely travel further afield with a baby. But not if you are only going for a week. I can't be bothered with going that far, with jet lag alone either.

If you have min 2 weeks to travel, ideally 3 weeks, then the world is your oyster.

mumto2babyboys · 03/11/2018 18:17

Have you watched the cry? I thought it was very apt. I did a 10hr flight with a 6 month old who was a very clam baby at the time and my goodness it was hell.

Even navigating the baby change in the bathroom and how to hold your baby while your oh is asleep and you don't want to wake them but you really need the bathroom.

I used a baby carrier and it didn't work since I was sitting down baby wasn't used to being in to without being walked about.

My now Ex husband was useless he slept on the flights and a baby doesn't understand the time difference so be prepared to have your baby still on uk time and awake most of the night.

It was such a waste of money

I would fly to a posh hotel somewhere within 2/3/4 hours max as the air hostesses try to avoid you instead of helping.

Book a hotel with a nanny service so you get a break too

mumto2babyboys · 03/11/2018 18:26

Agreed

cruises are he way to go, they have an evening crèche for you to leave them for a few hours for free while you go have dinner

it's mostly families or older people it's just the cabins are very cramped once you have a travel cot set up

but I'd never fly with a young baby again

To sum up flying with a young baby, imagine sitting on your sofa for hours with your baby fussing baby who can't lie flat and only being able to go to the toilet then having to sit down again 10mins later with a very frustrated baby and then the changes in air pressure and freezing air con making them cry.

Some airlines do baby-cots on the plane for long haul but they seem to be on random flights and impossible to book

Original poster
Didsomeonesaybunny · 03/11/2018 20:00

We have scrapped Cape Verde because after a little more research I think we’d be anchored to the beach most days.

We are agonising over Bahamas (DP loves this idea, he keeps chanting the ‘Atlantis’) but I’m worried about the flight. I’m thinking perhaps the Canaries is a better idea. I will continue researching I think as I am worried that the baby won’t settle and people will hate me on the flight.

I’m suppose this is a nice quandary to be in but I just want to get the thing booked now to a)have something to look forward to and b) get inspired to lose my remaining baby weight

OP posts:
mumto2babyboys · 03/11/2018 20:06

You won't care about baby weight when you are on your 3rd/4th night of being awake all night with your baby you will be a sleep deprived zombie.

Unless you have a magical baby who understands jet lag and the time difference and not to sleep all day and stay awake all night?

mumto2babyboys · 03/11/2018 20:09

I'd aim for looking good in the first Xmas photos instead. I don't know anyone who has enjoyed flying with a baby and you won't care about the passengers hating you, you will be exhausted because you can't sleep on the plane holding your baby and your baby can't sleep without movement and lying flat

cariadlet · 04/11/2018 07:45

I don't know anyone who has enjoyed flying with a baby

dd has flown regularly since she was 3 months old and we've never had a problem. When she was a baby we would book a skycot and she slept fine. The rows with skycots always seem to have extra leg-room which was a bonus.

We used skycots with a few different airlines and never had a problem booking one.