Travelling with baby to Alps

[hairband]

He will be 6months.. I'm really nervous and not sure if I will go.. but if I did, does anyone have any tips? Have already posted on skiing thread regarding actually spending time in the resort, but am needing practical advice on how to do the journey there and back.
Car/plane? Time of day - daytime flight or night drive?
Baby has a bit of a routine of his own (naps every couple of hours, and demand feeds in between naps).. which may change in 3months when we go, but am worried that if allowed to sleep all day in car, this will put things out for the week.
Am battered post-natally and really could just do with a rest both NOW (rather than having to think about this) and a restful holiday in the sun. Unfortuntely hubby has gone ahead and booked this (as friends were putting pressure to confirm), is willing to go on own, but has spent HUGE amounts on it and it would be a waste not to go if there was any way.
Baby was ill at birth and we are so lucky to have him, just want to protect him and keep him safe at home... but am aware that plenty of people travel with babies.. just need to hear from people who have done it!

Thanks all, there was a last minute change to a nice apartment chalet in the centre of town, Val D'isere.. so different scenario from before.
Snowsuit idea sounds good.
Have had lessons in the past, and I honestly think that if I had a week of private lessons it would get my confidence up (always have been with very good skiers so felt unconfident in comparison).. but now I have finally had a baby, want to spend time with him if that makes sense while he is little, then maybe if he gets old enough to ski I can go on the slopes.
Now also feeling panicked at the thought of DH going without me and how I will manage at home on own (no family nearby, not many local friends).
But it sounds like if I went, the thing to do would be to fly, take lots of warm things for the baby, spend time with the other women (+kids if having any time out if skiing and childcare) and get DH to spend a bit of time with us.
If we don't go, will need to organise some help here for the time he is away, and book a holiday before this somewhere we all want to go so there are some nice memories of this year together otherwise I will look back and feel bitter.
The cost of all this would be getting ridiculous though, means dipping into money that should be earmarked for moving home.

Bit worried about January being so cold that it can hurt to breathe. I went in January several years ago, and remember it being like that, again why I feel so nervous about subjecting baby to this. I mean there is no way of predicting..

I think my anxiety has a lot to do with the new responsibility of being a mum. At home, I have everything to hand and if something goes wrong, I know where to get what I need to fix things, away.. well, I don't have that element of control.

Oh, we were in Val d'Isere recently, in the summer. It is lovely. They have done a lot of building recently, lots of new shops and cafés.

Even if it is so cold that it hurts to breath, you pack your wee one up warm and pop down to a café, take a book and sit and read.

I would enjoy it, but then I love having nothing to do.

Just seen the last post, not really got to any sort of point where can sit with tea and read book as having a hard time looking after baby, I would rather go to sleep! Have only just started bonding with him recently (due to the difficult birth) and still feel I am in the "getting through the early days" stage.
The others going are DH's friends and wives but I would call them my friends too.
I feel like I might sound like I am making mountains out of molehills and that I should just be able to pull myself together and go, but I am just exhausted (difficult pregnancy on back of several hard years) and feel I need to recuperate. But somehow toughened myself up to get through the last few months and now just feeling battered.
I need to know what is happening about this in Jan so that if I don't go have some help organised for home eg roping in family and making sure they aren't away themselves..

if you really want to be together, why dont you take a nanny between the whole group which is what we did one year and then get them to look after all the little ones.Its less expensive than putting several in a creche. Then YOU can go to ski school.DH can ski with the better skiers and then you can all be together at night. Are your self catering or catered?

Keep x posting with you... I love having nothing to do to. like the sound of lots of new shops and cafes.. but tend to put him in his cot at home to sleep.. maybe in 3months time though he will have changed as he is older..

This might sound a bit wet, but I don't trust others enoough to leave him with anyone!! It has been such a battle to have him and I want to treasure the early days/make sure he is safe at all times.
(We lost our first premature baby, and I don't think I can have any more, just to put into context and so it's clear am not being precious about him for no reason!)
Alypaly's suggestion is good, what I would do maybe in a couple of years time.
Gotta go feed him, sorry feel like I am being a moaning minnie xx

That does not sound at all wet. I can understand that. I had 2 m/c before having DD and it took me 6 months before I wanted to leave her with SIL for an evening. I can't imagine the feelings that you have after losing a baby. I am so sorry that you have gone through that.

fwiw, when I did eventually go out, with DH and my brother to see Spiderman I spent the whole film thinking "What am I doing sitting here watching a CRAP film when I could be home cuddling DD"

I guess you would fly into Geneva then, if you are in Val d'Isere? It is not a long drive and a very scenic one.

If that is the nearest airport then guess so. How long is the drive? Is it quite a winding road up the mountain??
PS Thanks for being so understanding

hope didn't scare you all off!!

Sorry, was off in RL.

I think that Chambery airport is closer to Val d'Isere than Geneva. Going to Geneva adds about an hour onto your travelling time, but it is all motorway so not bad.

From Chambery it is quite a good road to Albertville, it does get a bit windy after that as far as I remember. We did it in the summer with a dog that gets car sick and she was fine so you should be ok with your baby.

There are a few lovely towns that you could stop for a cup of tea and a feed. Annecy is beautiful as is the town of Bourg St Maurice.

If you get a reasonably early flight so that you have time to pick up your hire car and drive to Val d'Isere you will be fine.

EasyJet often have good deals to Geneva, not sure who flies to Chambery.

If it is really cold in January you wouldn't have to take him out. I think that if you just assume that you are not going to do much and devote yourself to the baby you will be OK. You would at least get a relaxing break for a week. If it is nice and sunny an outing woud be a bonus. It sounds as if you would be happier to be with DH than left at home. You will actually find a huge difference in the next 3 months. A 6 month old will be able to sit up and play with toys.

Thanks MMG - that's a good tip.. has made me realise I will feel happier if can plan the journey and stop off points..

Piscesmoon.. yes, you are right, once he is sitting up and playing with toys staying in all day may not seem like such a bad option (whereas now only form of "entertainment" for him seems like going for a walk..)

If you look on the positive-you will have a lovely week where you won't have to do anything except spend time with DS. The journey is probably worse in your imagination than it will be in practise. I took DS across Canada when he was 3yrs-people thought I was mad, and I began to get worried myself-it went like a dream and he slept a lot of it.

We took our two skiing when they were 23months and 5months old and flew. It was quite tiring to be honest, but with two under two & all the ski gear & just two adults that's hardly surprising! With good snow suits they can go out in the cold just fine so long as you don't stay outside too long at a time. For the plane babies sometimes have trouble depressurising their ears - something to suck on helps with this. Actually, I think there is something rather special about winter sport holidays that lifts the soul somewhat - the mountains are so beautiful. I'd make the effort & go. Your baby's routines may go awry for a few days, but that happens from time to time anyway as they grow, whatever you do or don't do with them.

That's true.. won't have to do the cleaning.. thanks snorkie good to know you did it (and with 2 babies..) and it was ok... feeling bit more relaxed about the whole thing whichever way it goes..

I mean feeling more relaxed now whether I decide to go or not..

We took our 12 week old ds1 to Germany to visit friends who lived in a snowy part of Germany. We flew and apart from him producing the biggest poo of his life just before we boarded the plane, it was fine!

One day at the start of our visit we went up a cable car to the top of a mountain. It was a clear, crisp day and I remember feeling a sense of relief that life could go on and could be fantastic after having children. I can't remember too much about the first 12 weeks of his life - apart from it was very hard and extremely tiring and emotional. That was a real turning point for me, and I am very glad that we went on that trip.

took baby skiing in alps when he was less than 2 weeks old and stayed until he was 3 months. it was fine - just kept him warm (they do some great baby ski suits from newborn). would suggest plane rather than car - much easier!