When did you first take your first baby abroad?

[Lauraloop1516]

Just that really - I'm pregnant just now and me and dh keep reminiscing about a lovely holiday we had in France a few years ago where we essentially lived on baguette and cheese. Baby due in January - when do you think they would be most suited to a week in France? We were thinking of going maybe September or October.

Ours was 5 months... He has been on almost 20 flights now coming up to 2, and I can now say that the easiest time to travel was when he was still breastfeeding. If that's what you plan to do, make the most of it! Maybe your plan will work, as baby may be in some kind of sleep routine by that point whereby they will go to sleep in pram and allow nice Al fresco dinners. But be prepared, holidays are generally trips and not holidays after children come into the picture

DS was a few days off 8 months old. We took him to Brussels on the eurostar and it was actually a really pleasant journey. The flight we went on when he was 14 months was a completely different ball game but was managed with lots of small toys to keep him somewhat amused.

September time sounds perfect imo

2 months! As soon as she had her passport (it was Xmas time so we were visiting family)

He was 9 months. Born in the January, we went in September. Italy.

4 months, very long haul, to see DH family. Easiest time, as still breastfeeding so no worries about carrying, preparing food or chasing little escape artists at a fast crawl ! Second DD the same. September/Oct might be nice for a short haul/driving hol to France because maybe not too hot

. Get’em used to travelling early - my two were great travellers and learnt that ‘are we there yet’ was never a useful question !

4 months. We thought it was hard at the time - it wasn't !

2.5 months was first flight, he's been on over 30 now and only just turned 3. It's super easy flying with a baby just make sure once he's old enough to get one of those carry on board prams (like the yoyo) as makes your life so much easier

4 months, long haul to the Middle East. She was surprisingly more portable at that age, even with breast pumps etc.

17 months. Huge mistake. Complete waste of money. We should have gone when he was smaller or waited until he was older.

But that was just my experience. I'm sure loads of folk have been abroad with kids the same age and had no problems!

6months to self catering in south of france

10 months old, long haul London-LA for 3 week driving holiday

2 months much easier than the next trip at 18 months when he was mobile...

With ds1, he was 4 months old. It was super easy, he was ebf and just fed and slept.

Ds2, we haven’t been abroad yet, because, well, we have 2 dc now so are unlikely to ever be able to afford to go abroad ever again

4 months. He’s taking his 12th flight in 2 weeks time and he’s 16m.

9 weeks and it was great. France is easy - a short flight, small time difference and plenty of nappies and baby wipes for sale!

There's definitely a sweet spot, don't wait til Baby can crawl or walk. 4 months sounds about right to me. We took my 9mo to Australia and it was ok but would have been easier if she was smaller

4 months - before baby is moving and after they are fragile and new born.

My January born baby went to France at 4 months (may) and the following year too. We drove though, she's not flown yet.

When DD was five months we took the Eurostar to Bruges, and it was lovely. She was content to just snooze in her buggy while we took in the sights, and travelling by train was easy enough.

9 months. It would have been easier if he was younger or older - been abroad twice since he's been 1/walking and it was much easier.

She was born abroad so travel was just part and parcel of life. She’d been on many planes before her first birthday, many countries, and we moved continents. Babies are very portable. She took her first steps in a ski lodge

Thank you so much for the replies - this has been really helpful! I wish we were nearer London so the eurostar is more of an option, but we're based in Edinburgh so flying is probably best.

18mo but you could take a baby to France anytime!

23 months.

@greebolsmyspiritanimal - amazing! We spent our honeymoon in Bruges over ten years ago and we really enjoyed it. Maybe it's time for a return visit?!