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Original poster

Holiday with a 4/5 month old - talk sense into me please!

15 replies

babysaurus · 19/08/2012 21:57

I have a beautiful 11 week old DS and we are hoping to go away (in the UK, holiday cottage, hopefully somewhere remote-ish) in October for the first time with him (and the dog.) As we have, for the lengthy time we've been together, always gone for quirky / luxurious places which are usually near a pub (essential!) I am now feeling a bit gloomy about the fact that those kind of breaks are over, for the time being at least.

Please don't get me wrong and assume I don't want to bother because of DS, I do and I am sure we'll have a great time, but it is hard to get my head around the fact that we'll now have to plan far more, have a different list of 'holiday requirements', can't get pissed in the pub (well, not like we used to) or go out for dinner at night etc etc. Its quite a struggle adapting to this when it's not been an issue before - surely I am not the only one this has been the case with out there....?

Please tell me about lovely aspects of going away with your baby to get me more excited - thank you!

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maples · 19/08/2012 22:08

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Youaresoright · 19/08/2012 22:09

4/5m is great, they are still portable and can sleep in pushchair while you have an evening meal out or lunch, whilst having more of a 'routine' and not needing to cluster feed all evening.

An0therName · 19/08/2012 22:14

I went away with both my DSs at that age - went abroad though - it was fun - people talked to us loads - and compared to say toddlers - small babies are very portable - depending on the baby and venue you could take them out at night if you wanted
if you can get a babysitter for a bit that would make it more of a holiday - if you can cope with the idea of course there are websites such as sitters.co.uk that you book people

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theduchesse · 19/08/2012 22:17

I took my DS to Australia for a month when he was 4/5 months old. We were visiting my friends and family and went out to cafes/pubs most days while we were there. I didn't ever drink much (I was breastfeeding) and neither did my DH and we went out in the day time not the evenings but we were still able to go out and socialise and do mostly adult stuff. Definitely do it. We still holiday and go to pubs now but it is much more difficult with an 11 month old and will just keep getting more challenging I'm guessing but that's not a reason not to do it!

An added positive - babies are great for meeting new people - lots of people will come and talk to you, most will be nice.

pmgkt · 19/08/2012 22:19

It is great at that age, you all get time together, just enjoying watching them. Maybe look for somewhere with a pub, as they can sleep in the buggy, but we also always make sure there is a take away nearby, eating in is the new eating out when you have a little one but still don't want to cook.

ceeveebee · 19/08/2012 22:21

We went away to Devon with our DTs who were 7 months at the time. We had a great time. Went to a very nice self catering place - as you will be spending a lot of time indoors make sure you get nice accommodation!

It was early summer and weather a bit ropey but we made the most of it - went to the swimming pool (indoor) several times; went cycling (had a double trailer attached to DHs hire bike); went to the zoo; went to the beach even though it was freezing just so they could feel sand under their feet and paddle for the first time!; went to nice places for lunch and ate loads during the day so didn't have to cook at night; in the evenings we stayed in and had picnic-y type food, nice wine etc and played scrabble

You will have a great time. First holidays are special

DarkMatter · 19/08/2012 22:25

4/5 months is the easiest age to take them away and still have a vaguely grown up holiday! No food to worry about either. Make the most of it while you can. You could sit in a pub or restaurant with baby asleep in sling/buggy. That absolutely, completely stops once you have a toddler! I wish we'd crammed in some more holidays when we just had the one baby.

Original poster

babysaurus · 19/08/2012 22:29

This is fabulous, thank you! I am getting more into the idea now, instead of wondering about the 'dull' side of things more than the positives. I am actually getting excited now and thinking of the new things we can do with him instead of the logistics of sterilising bottles / storing the buggy out the way or other such dullness.

So, do you reckon that 4 months isn't too old to be out late (ie up till 8pm) if they are asleep in the buggy? I always feel very self conscious of having him in the pub after 6 at the latest (not that he's especially noisy but still...) BTW I am not always in the pub / out for dinner or wanting to go, it's just because I am thinking of ways to do possibly some of the grown up things we used to on us hols.

OP posts:

An0therName · 19/08/2012 22:36

it does depend on the baby - some babies might not like it -and cry - or some like mind might wake up but not cry - and therefore it might be a not be relaxing meal - and I would check with where you were going that they were ok with it -but in general why not as I said we were abroad - and no-one cared
if you have one of those buggies that the car seat fits into - then you could have the car seat near your table rather than buggy which might be less conspicous

ceeveebee · 19/08/2012 22:38

If I was you I'd do some practising at your local pub...

imsotired · 19/08/2012 22:38

i took my dd to ireland when she was 6 months old and she loved it.
we had a lovely cottage by a lake and the ducks came and knocked on the pattio window to be fed. she was sitting in her bumbo really impressed by them!

we had lots of kids cds for the car, and she didnt mind the driving, she didnt mind flying either, but that ws from liverpool.

it was a fab holidya, we loved it!
good luck

narmada · 19/08/2012 22:40

Gosh, I wouldn't think twice about having a baby out with me way past 8pm, if they are asleep in the buggy especially. If yours sleeps in a pram, you are truly blessed and should make the most of it. This stage will not last for long. Anyone who objects on anything other than legal grounds (are there any, any more?!?! I don't know) is being an arse :)

Have a fab holiday.

lindsell · 19/08/2012 22:52

Definitely make the most of evenings out with baby sleeping in buggy/on you & not having to worry about finding appropriate food for them - we're going on holiday with our 4mo soon - however no nice almost 'adult' evenings out as we'll also have our 3.5yo with us . Most pubs will be absolutely fine with babies but there are some that are offish/don't permit them.

If you have a sling/carrier then that makes visiting museums/galleries/historic sites etc much easier as you don't need to worry about whether you can get the buggy around.

At that age then you can still stay in nice hotels if that's your preference - once they're a bit older then self catering cottages much better IMO.

maples · 19/08/2012 22:53

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MerryCosIWonaGold · 19/08/2012 22:56

I'd forget you have a baby at that age! It's great, you put them to sleep in the buggy and they generally sleep! Make the most of it. In a few, short months, it won't work anymore...do everything you did, except maybe lay off the rock climbing and scuba diving. What's wrong with a nice hotel?! Go for it.

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