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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 a beach holiday with a baby?

51 replies

trrk · 09/11/2022 11:27

We currently have a 4 month old and would love to take a relaxing beach holiday since it’s been quite awhile and we both enjoy swimming in the sea. I know it will never be as relaxing with a young child but what age did you find your children enjoyed beach holidays? Would love to go somewhere tropical (eg Mauritius, Caribbean) but I guess a young baby can’t be out in the sun too long and sone places have health issues so this sort of trip might have to wait. Also considering a Greek island early summer when our baby would be almost one which would be more of a mix of sightseeing and beach.

OP posts:
itssquidstella · 11/11/2022 19:01

We went to Ibiza last month when DS was almost five months old. We had a lovely time, swam in the sea, sat by the hotel pool etc, but we didn't get any more sleep than we would have done at home!

We booked an aparthotel so we could put DS to bed in the bedroom and sit in the sitting room/on the balcony in the evenings. We went out for really nice lunches and then just had bread/cheese/wine for dinner :D

SH23B · 11/11/2022 19:05

Eldest was 18 months, youngest was 8 months (different holidays). I think it was easier the younger they were.

user3729104859301018384592 · 11/11/2022 19:15

My first was 1 and my youngest was 5 weeks old.

maddiemookins16mum · 11/11/2022 20:12

Cyprus, 12 months old. It was early season so not roasting. Both flights were hard work (over four hours each way) but once there it was great. I specifically chose Cyprus as having worked there in the travel industry I knew they had good tourist healthcare/facilities (compared say to a small Greek island with limited facilities).

FarmersWife2019 · 11/11/2022 20:22

Took DS 6 months to Cornwall this summer. Luckily it was in between heatwaves. He just drank and slept. Looking forward to taking him again next summer when he can enjoy the sand and water.

Lozzybear · 11/11/2022 20:31

Ten months with DS1, seven months with DS2.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 11/11/2022 20:34

6 months, younger they are means they can nap in pushchair while you lay by pool or beach!

Yahyahs22 · 11/11/2022 20:50

My baby was 4 months old this past September. Loved every second of it it was amazing.

MissAmbrosia · 11/11/2022 22:27

Luredbyapomegranate · 11/11/2022 16:49

About 10 months? They enjoyed it.

I would happily take a younger baby to a beach holiday though. You’ve got to go somewhere, and city breaks are out

We did quite a few city breaks when dd was under 2 - best time for it. After that we did Eurocamp/gite holidays for years. Pool, kids club, beach.

mobear · 11/11/2022 22:35

We took DC to Greece at 8 months - he loved it!

AdriannaP · 11/11/2022 22:37

11 month, long haul to very hot country. Book a place with air con and pack well, keep baby cool and hydrated and you will be fine! Have fun!

20DigitCombination · 12/11/2022 02:01

6 months to Greek islands. We had a lovely time and all had a siesta in the afternoon. So much more family friendly than the UK.

EspeciallyD · 12/11/2022 08:11

I agree with making the most of it now in case they don't like beaches later, it's the feel of sand my two don't like as well. They don't mind rocky, beaches for the odd half day, mainly walking, rockpooling, clambering over piles of rocks, but nothing will induce them to spend a day at a sandy beach.

Beginningless · 12/11/2022 08:17

We went to Gozo with 8 month old. It was when we learned that holidays with children are not holidays, and that holidays will never be the same again. It was very very hard. Others seem to achieve ‘relaxing’ like you mentioned - ime that is impossible with a baby in an unfamiliar and un-babyproofed environment. I’m assuming maybe those who enjoyed it have babies who sleep?! I’d factor that in to your decision making, if they are a poor sleeper I’d give it a miss.

reluctantbrit · 12/11/2022 09:14

Beginningless · 12/11/2022 08:17

We went to Gozo with 8 month old. It was when we learned that holidays with children are not holidays, and that holidays will never be the same again. It was very very hard. Others seem to achieve ‘relaxing’ like you mentioned - ime that is impossible with a baby in an unfamiliar and un-babyproofed environment. I’m assuming maybe those who enjoyed it have babies who sleep?! I’d factor that in to your decision making, if they are a poor sleeper I’d give it a miss.

Same here. DD did sleep in her pram - occassionally and never that long unless we pushed her for at least 30 minutes. We tried eating out 3 times in the evening when she was a baby, no way she would go to sleep, she preferred looking around and getting overtired by the minute. She was an early riser as well, I had to stop bf by 6 months so would have to bring bottles etc and sorting out how to make them up.

It was ok in a villa in Devon which. was all set up for babys and toddlers but I wouldn't have wanted all of that in a small hotel. room or a villa abroad.

Friend went with their children as babies but always had her parents there as well, they help a lot in general, have an amazing relationship and. it does work. I. would have hated that arrangement but based on the family groups we saw in the hotel. in Teneriffe this year, it seems to be a way to do this with small. children.

Igglepiggleslittletoe · 12/11/2022 10:20

We live beside the sea so been going there since they were born really but the first actual sun holiday/beach abroad I think the youngest was 2 and we went to Turkey.

cliffdiver · 12/11/2022 10:29

17 months.

She hated the heat, hated the pool, hated the beach, hated most of the food, hated sleeping and hated her pushchair Grin

We spent a week in the stay and play crèche area.

mumofthree22 · 13/11/2022 07:35

We've taken all of our kids on their first beach holiday at 12 weeks to Rhodes / Egypt. Loved it.

Flubadubba · 13/11/2022 07:41

2 and a bit. Bloody covid. Loved sand, hated sea.

JennyJungle · 13/11/2022 10:06

We took our daughter at a year old and went to Egypt.

Original poster
trrk · 16/11/2022 10:34

Thanks for all the advice! Seems like a mixed bag of experiences but I guess it’s highly dependent on the child and even then it’s hard to know in advance as babies change a lot eg my DD used to be a good napper but is currently terrible for day time naps (although a good sleeper at night). It would be nice to go soon before she is mobile but we would probably have to go long haul to get some sun if we go anytime between now and March when she will be 9 months. Have heard mixed things about the Canary Islands in winter and would really like the odd opportunity to swim in the sea alongside pools. I guess Dubai is an option but it tends to be poor value for money in my limited experience of a few day stopover there. Didn’t manage to breastfeed so we would also have to consider how to make bottles wherever we go.

OP posts:
Chuckle94 · 16/11/2022 10:36

Last month. My daughter was 7 months and we went to Greece. She was so good, she did try to eat the sand though. You should book something 😊

afrikat · 16/11/2022 10:48

We had an big family holiday to a florida island when my youngest was 10 weeks. It was fabulous! Had shade for the beach and she napped loads.

caroleanboneparte · 16/11/2022 22:09

23 months. I wouldn't take a baby. Not a holiday imo.

allfurcoatnoknickers · 17/11/2022 18:57

Live in the US - we went to Cap Cod at 4 months and DS caught a cold, so that was a bit grim because none of us slept. He liked the beach though, and going on hikes in his carrier. DH and I liked eating lobster rolls and strolling through antique shops where we couldn't afford anything.

The next bear holiday was when he was 8 months and that was AMAZING. DS was eating finger foods and sitting up and interacting, but he wasn't really crawling. He loved everything, the buffet, the plane, the airport, the pool, the beach - honestly it may have been the happiest I'd seen him until that point.