Holiday with 1yr old and 8month old

[painauchoc23]

Any tips / suggestions for a smooth (as possible!) holiday with 2 youngsters

Booked a holiday for next summer to France

Booked with another couple

Two babies - 1yr and 8months
Mini bus - 7hour drive
Plan is to stop half way and sleep over some here so not too much in one day
Then we have a big villa with a pool for a week

Baby 1 won't need sterliser and will use follow on milk
Baby 2 still have sterliser and formula but can use premade for the travel days

Thinking days will be mainly at the villa
Kids can sleep/have bedtimes etc whilst we have dinner in

There might be a couple of day trips near by and we may eat out 1/2 early evenings if we want to get out

Anyone done this or can suggest any tips ?

We were looking at abroad but the thought of travelling with babies may be too much
So the idea of the Minibus is we can take what we want as lots space and when we get to the villa it's home from home. Can even pack lighter and do washing rather than pack for a week like you do going abroad.

Cannot wait for a holiday! Very much in need of one and although won't be relaxing just be nice to get away

Have I missed anything?! X

Does the villa supply cots etc? Presuming so.

I would personally fly it'll be so much quicker.

Sterilising on holiday I just used Milton tablets.

Toiletries, baby milk, nappies etc can be ordered to boots at airport once through security. Don't count as hand luggage and would leave plenty of space in cases.

Buggies go to the aeroplane door then took off you.

What is it your planning on taking?

Yes they do supply cots.

Interestingly we worked out flying is longer. 2 hour drive to airport door to door and 2hrs to allow for check in but most likely longer as we will leave early. Then the flight time and then transfer so I don't think we could do that in less than 7hrs.

I would prefer to pack ourselves so I know it's all there - hence the drive and mini bus idea.

Just weighing up the cons but you've raised some good points just want to make sure I've covered all things x

Sounds like it will be great!

Oops posted too soon.

Travel high chairs might be useful. We use a portable gracco one that straps to any chair.

Do you already own the minibus or are you hiring it? No matter how well I get on with another family, even if we were at joint holiday levels of friendship, I wouldn’t want to do a long roadtrip with them! I’d probably opt for driving over flying if you’re set on France as I like stopping whenever you need to and being on your own schedule but definitely in individual cars and meet there.

But overall I think your plan sounds pretty good and it’ll be a nice holiday!

@WolfMother326

Ah yes high chairs, our one is a portable ikea one so will probably take that. But that is a good idea and may end up getting one of those anyway actually

@FlounderingFruitcake
Oh it's family, it's my sister and brother in law!! We've holidayed together before a couple of times and travelled similar journey and stayed in same lodge for the week so that's absolutely fine 😀 just the kids are new additions

We are hiring the minibus x

Yeah I think so, pretty excited about it. Just nice to nice if I've forgotten anything - travelling with kids going to be interesting! Would love to go abroad like flying somewhere but maybe the next one x

Oo 2 hour drive to the airport! I can see why you want to drive!

Snooze shade
Clip on fan

Also something to keep in mind re the minibus- daytrips and even the local supermarket might be tricky for parking! Get a those shades for the car windows, when we were driving through france last DS was sat on the west side of the car as we were driving south so the setting sun was in his eyes so it took him a while to fall asleep.

Sounds like incredibly hard work

@FlounderingFruitcake that's a good top re sun shades thank you. And didn't think of the parking.

@kewinsurreylass in what way? Want to add some context? We picked this kind of holiday so it's home from home but also somewhere to get away. X

Do you need a steriliser for an 8 month old ?
Aren't they crawling around putting everything in their mouth ?

It will be hard work but fun I hope for your sake.

the main thing is to divide the work fairly so that all 4 adults gets some free time, not just some of them.

If you don’t have a system for doing this , it will default to the average. Which no doubt means the women doing 90%.

please do not rely on a vague promise to “ help out “ . That won’t work and you will end up angry and resentful.

@newbiename I thought you had to sterlise for one year no ?

For us our baby we won't but that's my sisters baby who will be 8months

@newbiename wow not sure what to say to that?! My husband is hands on and pretty much does 50/50 - he is self employed and luckily he works little hours as his business do tend to run themselves so we get lots of time at home together at the moment. He does get busy moments but some times can spend days with us.

As for our sister and husband well neither men will leave the work to the women! X

Not me 😬

My mistake , apparently it is 12 months now.

@newbiename I think bottles I will where milk is but from 6m where they may be crawling and picking up things etc I may be bit more relaxed with say weaning bits like cutlery
Will see how we go but definitely bottles I will x

Childproofing in the kitchen and bathroom, stair gates, ease of access to the outside, balconies, sliding doors, electrical outlets, venetial blind cords, etc would be concerns.

Same goes for bookcases, TV stands,

Both babies will be at least crawling.

Car seats. Ours is a 0-4 year spin one and only attaches with isofix. I don’t think minibuses have isofix.

Not the point of the thread but if following NHS advice you sterilise in case there’s any formula milk residue leftover after washing as it can potentially bread really nasty bacteria, which is why you keep going with it as long as baby is on formula, even if they’re crawling everywhere and shoving everything in their mouths. You don’t need to sterilise weaning equipment like sippy cups used for water, cutlery etc. because there’s no chance of the milk residue. However, if you have a 1YO it is way easier not to mention cheaper to get them onto cows milk and to not use follow on milk. No need to take anything with you then because you can get it at the supermarket! If you can park the minibus in the carpark that is…

My DD has often driven an eight seater mini bus type car in Portugal, parked in supermarkets OK. Have a great holiday.

@Caspianberg great point re isofox, will check that!

@FlounderingFruitcake yes this is exactly what I mean I just didn't word it aswell as you have!

I will go straight on to cow's milk - don't see the point in follow on milk after 1 yr in my personal opinion but as she's 1 just before we go I will do follow on milk for a short period as I can't be dealing with finding full fat milk in France and having to stop for it and keep cool if we are travelling for hours at a time, so much easier to get her on to cows milk after we are back home
Haha re the parking!!

It's a 9 seater we are getting so the size of a large van - hubby said it will be fine. He's driven in France loads of time and an ex lorry driver so said a minibus is no issue over there. 🤷🏽‍♀️x

Makes sense re the milk! Milk is mostly long life in France but completely agree holiday is no time for a change so stick with what works and deal with it when you’re back.

I’ve driven in France a lot too (DH is French) and ease pf parking really depends where in France you are… beachy places on the Cote d’Azur like Cannes etc. then you’ve got no chance because the parking is horrific and getting anything larger than a Clio into a space is a serious pat yourself on the back achievement. But if you’ve been there before and know where you’ll do your day trips and are confident you can park a van/minibus then all sorted. You sound like you got just about everything under control and it’ll be fab 😀

Passports.

@FlounderingFruitcake we've not been to the exact area but have been to other areas. Yeah I think we have it all sorted.
This has been very helpful!
@Sidge ah yes passports 😊x