Would I be mad to travel like this with 6mo?

[m00ngirl]

Hi, your advice and experiences please! I’m a new mum and am thinking about going away with my baby and OH in Sept when baby will be 6 months old.

We’d like to go island hopping (Greece) as that’s our passion and I want to discover some new islands. I know the ferries are mad etc. But I’m thinking if we don’t do it now we won’t for maybe 5-10 years (we want 3-4 children and when they’re toddling it would be a REAL nightmare probably?) as holidays will have to be more oriented to the kids.

Would this be mad?

I’d have to pack travel cot, pram, car seat, endless nappies..?

Is it possible? I’m sure some intrepid MNers have done this or similar?!

Would be v grateful for your experiences - or just tell me to get real and that my island hopping days are over!

Ditch the travel cot unless a tiny pop up camping one or utilise drawers or floor in hotels with rolled up towels for edges
You can buy nappies in Greece
Carrier rather than big pram
Go light

No car seat unless you hiring a car

https://www.wanderingwoods.org/blog/2024/3/15/how-to-travel-ultralight-with-a-baby

When I was young enough to have a six month old baby, I would have happily done this, as you know Greece and the islands are great with babies.

I think what you decide to take probably needs to be pared down. Would you be booking accommodation ahead of time or on the hoof, if you're booking ahead of time, you may be able to book a cot in all your locations.

Do it and enjoy it!! Especially if you are looking at having several more children, when it just gets increasingly difficult & School becomes an issue (depending on how long you're going for of course)

You’ll love it! So jealous. Have done some island travels in Greece with baby/preschooler/both. It’ll be great!
def no travel cot. Hotels might have, or co sleep. Bring those massive muslins that double as buggy shade, sheet etc. pegs for washing and holding said muslin shade. Carrier mostly but a lightweight folding buggy would be a blessing in addition so your back can get a rest and you can both cool down. U and dh will need to be able to carry folded buggy, luggage and baby between you with ease through crowded spaces with stairs so pack for that.

the car seat however is a bit of a problem. Either plan your trip so you don’t need to use a car, or put up with carrying car seat about… at least it makes a useful baby chair at each destination.

Thanks so much for the advice (and encouragement! :-) )

I thought we’d need a car seat even if we don’t hire cars then for any taxis - as I’m thinking of new islands I thought it’d be a shame to get there and be stuck to the port towns due to lack of car seat. Is there any way round this?!

id book accommodation here rather than on arrival just into avoid any disasters, so could ask about travel cots. And then just pray whatever has been promised actually manifests..!

I took my 6 month old around Europe. We didn’t take any of those things… we took a travel pram; bought nappies there: we didn’t take our car seat - it’d have just got beaten up on the plane anyway - and we never took a travel cot. Most hotels could provide one, we co slept for the odd one that couldn’t. Taxis often could provide seats and we didn’t do any really long distances. Nappies can be bought anywhere.

We did the whole thing with just hand luggage and the travel pram. Loads of luggage would have made it so stressful!

You could get buses instead of taxis. And walk a lot. But I agree it’s a bit restrictive. Maybe depends on where you are going?

could perhaps do a couple of islands without car seat, asking hotel if u can leave it with them and collect on your return… then have a few islands where u do use it.
r u going to be hiring a car and /or using a lot of taxis, or travel more on the cheap using buses??
id be really tempted to sketch out itinerary without, then itinerary with, and see what u reckon.

aren’t there some lightweight infant seats around now, that wouldn’t have been on the market 10 yrs ago when mine were that age.

Of course it is legal to get a taxi without a car seat. Just not that wise.

That article on lightweight travel is brilliant but she should never have used a baby bjorn carrier for the Camino, her back must have been wrecked!!!