Taking baby abroad for the first time

[SandInMyBootsAgain]

Looking for some advice and top tips please!

Our little one (first baby) is due end of June. Usually we’d go away on holiday around this time but obviously will have bigger fish to fry this year!

We’re pondering a holiday late September, so looking for somewhere that’s not too long a flight, and baby friendly. A beach would be great but equally we’re big city break fans so open minded. I’m conscious that we’ll be travelling outside of school holidays though so ideally want to go somewhere that is known to be baby friendly, I hate the idea of ruining someone else’s holiday! Maybe I’m overthinking this though?

Any recommendations for good hotels or generally travelling with a baby much appreciated xx

No specific recommendations for places to visit... But take a sling with you... We always checked in the pushchair and put baby in sling for airport... Great to have free hands. At 3 months old you can do pretty much anything.

Following for the tips!

I'm also due at the end of June and we have a 10 hour flight to Texas in September 😬

I hope you manage to breast feed otherwise this will be a nightmare.

Absolutely planning to breastfeed, wouldn’t consider it otherwise! We won’t book anything until baby comes so will likely be a last minute thing once we know we’re definitely up for travelling.

Hats off to you! Hope it goes well with little one 🥰

Why would it be a nightmare?

Not breastfeeding is not a barrier to travelling with babies. It takes a wee bit more organisation, but that's all.

At a few months old they're at the easiest they're going to be fit a few years, so make the must of if! ! Make the mistake of thus being the last holiday you'll take (with them anyway) where you can go anywhere & have the holiday that interests you without having to factor in entertaining them!

there will be negative Nellie's, but it's all about attitude.

South of France is lovely that time of year, some beautiful beaches and good towns.

When the DCs were babies, we travelled abroad. We took DD1 to the US at 7mos and both DDs to Corfu when DD2 was 4mos (DD1 was 3yrs).
Top tip: sort a passport for your baby as soon as s/he is born.
Driving to France, if you're on the south coast, is easiest.

If breastfeeding, fine, if not check on airport rules about formula. Also consider whether baby will be willing to drink different formula in another country. And think about how you will sterilise bottles, etc. As PPs say, more organisation is required but it's doable.

You can use your car seat on the plane - recommended for longer flights, plus you'll need it on the other end if you hire a car. Or you can take Baby as a 'lap child' which means you have to hold him/her the whole time.
Lots of hire car places will have a car seat option for extra (£5/day?) or if you are visiting family perhaps they can source one for you.

You can bring all manner of baby gear in addition to your luggage allowance.
You can use your push chair throughout the airport and check it at the end of the jetway just before you step onto the plane and they'll have it waiting for you on the other end as you step off the plane. Some airlines claim to have a bassinet you can hook onto the bulkhead (sitting in the first row of a section) but I've never used one or even seen one. It is nice to have that first row since there's extra room on the floor around your feet - great with toddlers.

Get an aparthotel or apartment, not a hotel room; take way more nappies and clothes than you think you will need. Have at least 1 change of clothes for the adults on the flight ( bitter poonami experience on a flight and nothing to change into; and the baby went through every set of clothes)

We travelled extensively with both ours as babies. Both formula fed, so can attest it is not ‘a nightmare’ - just in case you end up unable to BF like me!

At 3 months they are super portable and don’t need kids entertainment, so I would enjoy a holiday doing whatever it is you usually like to do - museums, dinners out, walking, whatever.

Take your own car seat if you plan to travel by car. Most
hotels will provide a travel cot if you ask. A travel stroller can be useful, as is a sling.

People have babies all over the world. You’ll be able to get anything you need so long as you’re flexible on brands.