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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Would you go on holiday (in the UK) with an 8 week old baby?

31 replies

mogwai · 05/05/2009 11:14

Okay so we have a four year old daughter who's starting school in September and we have a baby due in June.

We feel our little girl needs a break from home/nursery before going to school so DH has booked some time off work (end of August). We did go to Spain at the end of February but it wasn't warm enough to use the facilities on the complex.

I would really like to go away somewhere by the sea (we live up north) but don't fancy Wales or Yorkshire or anywhere north so it would have to be Dorset/Devon/Cornwall. I've found a few properties online (flats and houses with 3 bedrooms) that would suit and are available.

DH thinks I'm crazy to consider going on hols with an 8 week old baby. He bases this on a holiday we took in Somerset when DD was 8 months old, but (a) it was March and freezing cold, (b) we had to carry loads of equipment, (c) It really upset her routine and (d) we now have an enormous car!

My argument is that small babies are much more adaptable and need less equipment (no large toys or feeding equipment).

I will conceed, however, that I've forgotten how tired you are when they aren't sleeping through the night.

I think we might as well be in a house near the sea than in our own house if DH has a week off work.

What's your opinion?

OP posts:

Directskiandsun · 05/05/2009 11:31

Well, we went to the Isle of Man with our first son when he was 7 weeks old. Frankly it was just a change of scenery - we did everything we did at home, but just in a different house! I was b/f him, which did mean no need for bottles and sterilising paraphernalia, but to be honest, I was so tired that if I'd had to start washing bottles, sterilising and making up feeds, I would have thrown myself in the sea.

You'll know how organised or otherwise you may be, and also how your older daughter will adapt to a different environment. Perhaps wait and seen how you, the baby and the rest of the family are, when the new one arrives. Perhaps 8 months pregnant isn't the best time to make big decisions Good luck with the baby - and everything else!

Overmydeadbody · 05/05/2009 11:35

I'd say go for it, especially if you are going to rent a cottage/flat etc.

You are going to have to do the same things babywise whether you are at home or on holiday, so you may as well get a change of scene and treat your 4 yr old DD to some time by the seaside. You'll have to entertain her and keep her occupied over the holidays with the baby as well anyway, so you might as well.

Overmydeadbody · 05/05/2009 11:36

Also, I bet you'll find it easier as this is your second, with a first born you worry much more and think you need much more equipment, but with the benefit of hindsight this one will be easier!

Go for it.

andiem · 05/05/2009 11:37

have done this with both ds and it was fine. A change of scene can be good but I would rent somewhere with a washing machine and a dishwasher

mosschops30 · 05/05/2009 11:39

We went to Ireland when ds was 8 weeks old (it was a pre-paid trip with work).
I was bottle feeding, but we coped (making bottles up in the hotel bar in the morning lol).
It was nice to be out and about and we did lots of great sight-seeing stuff with dd and she enjoyed it.
You will be fine whether you feed breast or bottle and a break is nice

OrmIrian · 05/05/2009 11:41

No you aren't mad at all. Babies are portable and can't argue back

I've been camping with a 3week old baby and it was a doddle, honestly. Going on a plane with a baby is much much worse IMO.

Find somewhere comfortable to stay though.

Don't rule out Somerset for next time though. Tis very nice really, and very warm atm

Overmydeadbody · 05/05/2009 11:44

ormirian says it all really, with "babies are portable".

Original poster

mogwai · 05/05/2009 11:59

where in Somerset that would be nice seaside though?

Would be a shorter journey.

I really have a bee in my bonnet about South Devon (Salcombe)

OP posts:

OrmIrian · 05/05/2009 12:07

Hmm... well if you're talking seaside. Can't think of anywhere really. There are interesting beaches and beautiful landscapes but no seaside as such. Sadly places like Weston-S-Mare and Minehead try and sell themselves that way and fail miserably IMO.

Howabout N Devon? It further than Somerset but might be closer than S Devon for you?

andiem · 05/05/2009 13:19

we have stayed in dittisham the last 2 summers mogwai lurrve south devon

PortAndLemon · 05/05/2009 13:56

Yes -- a holiday is far easier with an 8-week-old than with an 8-month-old. So long as it's somewhere self-catering or otherwise child-friendly and where a crying baby won't distrurb the neighbours, it sounds like a very good plan.

Sunshinemummy · 05/05/2009 14:05

We took DS to Egypt when he was 9 weeks old and it was easy really - just needed to make sure we took things we needed like sterilising tablets etc. Agree with everyone on here they are really portable when they're so little.

andiem we just came back from a stay in Cornworthy and we went crabbing in Dittisham. It's gorgeous down there.

Ruthiebabes · 05/05/2009 14:09

We went when DS was 10 weeks old- to Centreparcs. I would say go for it, we had a lovely time.

It did help that he was sleeping 6 hours overnight, so I wasnt too tired to enjoy it!!!

slug · 05/05/2009 14:22

We took the sluglet to Barcelona when she was 10 weeks old. It wasn't a problem, we just stuck her in the Baby Bjorn and carried on as normal.

Original poster

mogwai · 05/05/2009 14:41

right we're going

will look up Dittisham

OP posts:

Sunshinemummy · 05/05/2009 15:05

Mogwai there's lots of nice places round there including Tuckenhay, Dartmouth, Bigbury Bay etc.

CountessDracula · 05/05/2009 15:06

WE went on holdiay with dd when she was 5 weeks old to wales
it was fine

Original poster

mogwai · 05/05/2009 17:18

yeah have been to Dartmouth and Bigbury - lovely

Can you advise on the general Salcombe area? I've started a thread in "UK" but no replies yet.

OP posts:

andiem · 05/05/2009 17:18

sunshinemummy yes dittisham is lovely and we stayed in a house with views of the bay

Blu · 05/05/2009 17:43

It'll be lovely!

Get somewhere with a garden or sunny / shaded outdoor space so that you can just lounge if you don't feel like being out and about all day every day, and somewhere where your DH can take your 4 yo while you rest if you feel like it - I mean a beach within walking distance, or a quay to crabbing from or whatever.

Not sure where in the North you are - what about the N Norfolk coast? Blakeney? Wells-next-the-sea?

What sort of thing do you like?

WE took DS to Greece when he was 8 weeks, it was a doddle- DP sat in the shade in a bar on the beach with DS on his lap, while I swam or sunbate a few yards away. And he slept in his buggy while we ate out in the evenings. Hols after that were a nightmare until he was about 3!

Original poster

mogwai · 05/05/2009 18:17

We're in the north west.

I looked at North Norfolk but it looked so boring!!

We like sandy beaches, pubs, little shops, playgrounds, harbours etc.

We adore St Ives but it's soooooo far away!

OP posts:

poopscoop · 05/05/2009 18:19

did south france when ds was 12 weeks and again when he was 16 weeks, have to say he was the easiest between him a 3 and 5 year old at the time. Go for it.

Original poster

mogwai · 05/05/2009 18:39

We took DD to live in Australia between the ages of 18m and 2.5 years.

We had 12 holidays that year.

I've never recovered.

OP posts:

Sunshinemummy · 06/05/2009 09:27

Didn't visit Salcombe but have heard it's gorgeous. We stayed in a lovely place called Gitcombe House. They had amazing indoor and outdoor facilities for the kids as well as beautiful cottages and lovely grounds.

sundew · 06/05/2009 09:40

Mogwai

Hope cove is beautiful and near to Salcombe - we went there when dd2 was 8 weeks old. It was really relaxing - lots of days on the beach doing nothing much at all. These look lovely www.hopebarton.co.uk/

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