Not wanting to travel with baby

[Charlotte899]

After a tough pregnancy and then 3-4 months of colic newborn hell I am only starting to enjoy my new normal as a mother and my days with my 5 month old. I feel like I’m often being asked when we are going abroad for holidays and to visit family. Especially for Christmas. The thought of travel honestly exhausts me. Probably a combination of being petrified of long haul flights with a baby, feeling lazy, tired and also being content with my life just at home with my husband and baby. Anyone else feel the same? Don’t want to disappoint family but there’s so much pressure to always be onto the next big thing, new plans etc. And for now I am just satisfied with a decent sleep and a happy enough baby to let me enjoy my coffee 😆

Me! I've hardly traveled with my LO at all, just the odd family visit / wedding. My LO slept terribly for a long time and the thought of traveling + being out of routine plus complete exhaustion put me off. She also hated the car (still isn't a big fan at 20months). I did have covid restrictions as a good excuse for a while though.

Tbh I would just do what makes you happy and minimise stress for yourself. Yes you might be missing out on a bit of family time but if you have a hard work baby (in whatever way) don't be afraid to stay at home and make life easier for yourself. I figure we have lots of time for seeing family & exotic holidays once LO is older and less work!

I wouldn’t bother in your shoes either. An exception would be to go on a holiday with full board or to stay somewhere where you would definitely get loads of competent help with the baby and be well-fed.

I totally feel the same, the only reason I decided to go abroad was to visit DP grandmas, as they wouldn't be able to travel to us. Everyone else was told that they welcome to come to us at some point if they like. And I don't have a colic newborn. You can definitely do whatever feels best for you and your baby, without having to feel guilty.

Do whatever makes you happy. Though bear in mind that there will be a period of time when traveling abroad will be really, really hard - probably from 9m -3y, so if you want to go anywhere during the next couple of years, now might be your best opportunity. The easiest flight I've done with kids is with a 6w old. The hardest with a 2yo.

But just because you are in a good 'window' for it, doesn't mean you have to walk through it.

You shouldn't feel pressured to do anything you don't want to do

Though bear in mind that there will be a period of time when traveling abroad will be really, really hard - probably from 9m -3y

Agree with this, although I haven't hit the 3 year mark yet. We love traveling with our baby but the flights definitely got more difficult at the 9 month mark because he wasn't content with being in one place for long anymore.

I thought it was just me who thought the idea of a holiday with a baby seems like loads more effort than it’s worth!

We’re happy with day trips for a while yet. There’s enough logistics involved in those for me!

We did a weekend in Devon with DD before DC2 was born and it was nice but definitely harder work than being at home.