Taking a newborn abroad

[mlhs4198]

Hi all,

Just looking some advice. Pregnant after a MC last year, currently 15 weeks - all is going well. Due 19th July. First baby.

We've booked a holiday for the start of September, Gran Canaria. Baby will be anywhere between 4-8 obviously depending on when baby is born.

My question is, will I be able to take baby swimming? Don't think immunisations will have been done by then but I've read elsewhere it's okay? The pool is outdoor and unheated however the weather will be about 30C. Will baby be okay just 5 mins at a time in a wetsuit?

Further to this, would just like to know if anyone has any experience of taking a baby this young abroad? Any top tips of things to take or general advice is very welcome. Starting to worry that we should have waited till baby a little older.

Thanks.

@TheJaneAustenBookClub ah great, glad to hear from someone who has a good experience, even at 4 weeks! Your post is the same as what I have read on other forums, baby just sleeps a lot and eats a lot. As long as it has a bed and my boobs don’t fall off between now and September I think we’ll be fine and have a nice time. Obviously if any health complications do arise or we just don’t feeling like going then I’ll cancel with no worries!

I have a lot of experience with childhood and travel vaccinations and you will always be advised not to take your baby abroad until fully vaccinated unless you cannot avoid the travel in the most serious circumstances. That's government, world health organisation, every international health guideline etc advice.

@Twistybottomsclickytops great advice thanks so much. Glad to hear everything was well with your trip!

To answer your original question a new born baby should not be exposed to any sun so even a 5 min dip in be pool would not be recommended. UV protective clothing and constant shade are the recommended skin protection for under 6 months.

@Expressedways glad to hear you had a good hol with a little one! :) I’m really hoping we get closer to the 6-8 week rather than 4 but obviously nothing can be garunteed!

@cuckooken the Ebola comment was just throwaway passing comment, obviously the baby isn’t being vacced against ebola will obviously check with HV but can’t see Spain being a risk, medical care out there is great too and will all be covered if god forbid we need it. Thanks for the advice x

@Xyzzzzz We’re going with TUI so as long as over 14 days we’re fine :) will make sure to check on birth certificate and ensure we get it all done ASAP, will drive to passport office if needs be to get one. Thanks x

@DyingDeclaration great advice, thank you so much! Have got plenty of helping hands should be about 10 adults and 2 kids all together so plently of help, and baby sitters

Got plently of bottles, steriliser all that sort of stuff bought already for the occasion of not breastfeeding, got extra luggage allowance to allow for any extra bits we have to take. Been to this area a lot of times so getting the correct water and buying any needed baby stuff won’t be an issue, very familiar with the sureoundings.

Wasn’t aware that newborns can’t wear sunscream! Only 15 weeks so obviously still got all this to learn. Will make sure to have a couple sun umberallas and UV clothing.

Thanks everyone for the advice so far!

6 weeks plus and post your 6week check, I’d say so long as you have someone to carry your gubbins it will be fine. Absolutely not swimming and expect to miss most of the holiday as you will be surviving on very little sleep. Take pads because the flight is likely to start you bleeding again (and painkiller because contractions may also give you cramps). I wouldn’t unless you are breast feeding because planes are VERY germy and without you immunity baby is likely to catch a cold (which stops them feeding/sleeping).
I travelled with my first at six weeks, it was fine. I wouldn’t have done it before.

Would like to thank everyone for the helpful advice so far! Apologies if I have come across as naive, maybe the swimming should not be my first question lol!

Obviously I will be knackered and may not feel up to much, laying about feeding baby suits me fine!

If it’s a bad birth/recovery etc then obviously will not go, don’t care about losing money, health is obviously more important.

Thanks all x

will drive to passport office if needs be to get one.

I'm not an expert but I don't think you can do that for a child's passport. I think it has to be sent to you rather than using the same day appointment system. I'm happy to corrected if I'm wrong though.

Just to warn you op, you're not always signed off as fit to fly after a C-section until at least six weeks. It can also invalidate your insurance. Also, some airlines have rules about what age they will take babies so you need to check.
I had a fairly straight forward birth. I was still bleeding heavily until five weeks and couldn't even get dressed and brush my hair until eight weeks.
I've been to Gran Canaria in January and it hit 30 degrees. I wouldn't take a baby to a hot country at such a young age. Their skin is so delicate, and no matter how much shade and factor 50 you slap on, you can't cover every inch of them and they can still easily burn in the shade round a pool as the sun reflects against the water.
Passport could well be an issue. You've got to be in a position to get your baby to a photoshop and also register the birth. You will not want to be separated from your baby (trust me) so you need to be fit to go and for the birth register you HAVE to go. You can fast track the application via the post office, with an appointment, but you are still relying on someone to confirm your child's identity and quickly. It's a lot of out and about within a couple of weeks.
I wouldn't even contemplate this holiday at four weeks. Eight, yes maybe, but you won't know how you feel until the baby has arrived.

I went to France (on a ferry) when my DC2 was four weeks old. We got a passport sorted within days of birth. The only reason we went then is because our original holiday was booked when I was 32 weeks pregnant and I was declined boarding when we arrived at the ferry, so they let rebook for the last week of the season which was six weeks after my due date, but he was two weeks late!

After my experience of DC1 I was really apprehensive about doing this. I had twelve weeks of BF hell with my first, recurring mastitis, and post-natal depression. I couldn’t go to a supermarket let alone get on a plane. This is without any birth complications or c-section.

While I was fine going to France within DC2, I was more prepared, didn’t have the new parent shock factor and I was also more confident breastfeeding because I had done it before.

Being completely honest even things you are saying about your pushchair and Moses basket are making me think you should wait til the baby is not newborn...

With DC1 I went on holiday when she was four months and that was fine and enjoyable (unless you count endless hours of crying all the way to the Vendee and back).

The other thing I would say is make sure you know where the nearest a&e department is.

You won't be able to get a passport by going to the passport office.

We had to wait for one DC for 2.5 weeks to even get an appointment to register the birth so getting a passport will be an issue.
I have had a c section yes you are up and about quick enough if it goes well/ no infection etc- I was but no way would I have felt up to sitting in a plane! Plus you will be exhausted and shell shocked with a newborn and this will not be easy to manage on holiday! I would rebook for when baby is older (but not yet mobile lol so you can relax by the pool).
Good luck with your pregnancy

My 11 week old caught a cold on the flight, and I was breastfeeding. I think just being in close contact with others and the circulated air is the problem with flights and germs. Little babies also have weak immune systems and breastfeeding isn’t magical protection.

Again, I'm looking for advice and experience from people who have actually done this/similar. The responses from people who have actually done this are mostly positive so it can't be all bad.

Again, I've said many a times, I understand of the possible complications and the fact I just may not feel like it - if this happens I will cancel I'm not bothered about that

Please if you have not had this experience and just want to bang on about worst case scenarios, then please save your time and don't

Lol no. You might be lucky but I wasn't even allowed to leave town to see my mother as baby wasn't gaining weight and like another poster I had serious wound issues. Even those things aside, I'd have spent most of the holiday in a darkened room breastfeeding or trying to get baby to nap.

I had a c section and we went to Thailand when my son was six weeks old, we also took him in the swimming pool. You'll be absolutely fine I'm sure.

I don't know the passport procedure for definite but of course it's something I'll have prepared and looked into closer to the time! Thanks for making me aware it may not be possible :)

Seriously ignore all the naysayers, he was my first and he got his passport when he was 16 days old!

Lol, oh dear. I’ll come back to this to add more later, but when DC1 was 8 weeks old (born via EMCS) I emigrated to Argentina with him - going from London winter to S American summer (HOT!). We had a brilliant time!
It absolutely can be done, although 4 weeks old may be ambitious. Then again, we just did a UK hotel holiday with extended family with DC2 being... 20 days old?! After forceps and a third degree tear...

Maybe we’re mad, but everyone has survived so far...

@NisekoWhistler thank you, glad to hear from a more relaxed perspective. I understand I may come across as way to relaxed or naive to some people but I think there are way too many over the top rules and regulations these days. Of course I’m not going to be throwing baby into the sea for a swim or laying it on a sun bed slathered in cooking oil

Hey I wanted a c section but mum talked me out of it....Ended up needing an emergency one anyway. So thanks mum I could of done without the labour pains as needed one however!

But!!! it hurts for longer than 6 weeks. I’m a year on and it took ages, you can re open the wounds too. My friend got an infection and I nearly did. I was told I was doing too much, I had a family of helpers 24 hours a day!

You don’t just jump up and do a jig after 6 weeks haha. My dd was my first and nothing prepares you....

I’d cancel the holiday or re book later in the year. You won’t even see the pool or have any fun with a newborn, plus all the check ups and feeding issues. They could have colic, or milk allergy.

Cancel and go another time is the best advice.
Congratulations though!

I had a family holiday to Italy booked before I knew I was pg. It was great, I did buy swimming stuff but he soon let me know it was a no go, we still spent a lot of time by the pool with baby in the shade and taking turns swimming.

@Goostacean exactly thank you! There’s plently of people who move countries or dual nationals or one parent is in another country, babies fly it happens. Thanks again, glad you had a good experience x