Baby friendly places to visit in the Lakes (and travel cot advice!...)??

[Jan2]

Just thought I would see if anyone could give me any info on baby-friendly places to visit/pubs/restaurants etc in the lakes as I've just booked a week there for myself, hubby and our baby (who will be 5 and a half months in October when we go)??

Also we've been looking at travel cots but most of them seem to have really thin/flimsy matresses - can anyone recommend a good one?

Many thanks (in advance!)

cant really help you re baby friendly places as although i have visited the lakes loads my ds is only 5 months and has yet to visit.

Re travel cots, we had a samsonnite bubble one, opened it, couldnt fold it back in the box, it was so crumpled and the mattress was flimsy so we sold it and bought www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1080902&classificationid=1047599
which is great. Admittedly it isnt the smallest of cots but its comfy, easy to assemble and will last a while - it also doubles as a play pen

We have been to the Lakes loads when our children were that age and older and younger but to be honest I'm not sure why you need 'baby-friendly' at that age. Can't you just go wherever you want and cart them along?

Second what sitting bull says re travel cots - both of mine have been in ours - a bog standard graco one a lot and have always been fine - always use a sleeping bag.

We went to the lakes when ds1 was 5 months and it was fab - we took his sling and did lots of walking stopping in pubs - everywhere welcomed him, went on boat trips etc - basically everything we wanted to do and he just came along to - went out for meals in the evenings, again no probs he just slept in the carseat or buggy - they are so much easier than toddlers to take away! We don't have many meals out at the moment with ds1 2.5 and ds2 12 months - just not relaxing any more!

Thank you for your help! this is our first child and we thought it would get easier to go away as she gets older!! - all the things you have to take (cot, bottles, millions of clothes, nappies etc..)but obviously not. The sling is a good idea for walking. Am looking forward to the trip now.

PS - Thank you Sittingbull for the kind offer re the book but I'll have a look on the internet for one as we will probably have been away before it arrives and thanks for the advice re padding the travel cot mattress.

Hiya, we went to lakes this year with dd then 15months so slightly different. It depends on where you are staying - what you would normally do etc.. We found most places to be child/baby friendly so its pretty easy to do things that you want to do and just take baby along. There's a nice short walk around Tarn Hows (near coniston, national trust property) that is very buggy friendly and easy to follow. We did a couple of lake cruises and the 'boatmen' were very helpful getting buggies on and off boats.
Travel cots - yes all mattresses are quite flimsy - I worried that dd wouldn't sleep in hers but has done with no probs since she was 3mths but if you are still concerned pad it out a little under the sheet. hth - have a great trip