Holidaying with a small baby

[koalabearboombox]

My first DS is 4 in Jan, and second baby due in early April. Due to covid / work / money we just haven't had a chance to go abroad since the first was born.

He'll be starting school in September so we'd really like to squeeze in a term-time holiday to somewhere like Greece / Portugal in the months before.

if we aim to go before summer holidays in July we'll likely be looking at going when new baby is ~10-12 weeks. Would that just be a bit of a nightmare or ok?

They'll have had their first jabs and (hopefully, judging by my DS) not be in the up-all-night newborn phase. I know there's no guarantees but just want to suss out whether it would be an enjoyable holiday or if we should just accept we won't ever get to take one before DS starts school.

Advice please!

I know a lot of mums who have done it around the 3 month mark post injections. Before they went they said it felt too soon, but after they were glad they went (though said it didn't feel like much of a holiday). Can't speak from experience as am unable to afford to go abroad with DC currently ( I would if I could). Ultimately if you go you will inevitably take too many nappies, you will get through it, it might not be the relaxing holiday you are imagining.

We noticed quite a few babies on the Iona Norway cruise we went on recently they seemed to have lots of facilities for babies and the advantage of cruising from uk they could take their prams . Greece or Croatia are not too far if you pick a top notch hotel im sure you'll be fine around the 3 months age - easier than running round after a toddler !

Up to you, but tbh I'd find that far too early. 5-6 months was manageable for us and I preferred going once baby had had all three sets of jabs and was a little more robust. But everyone is different and only you know how you found it last time when you had a 10 week old.

Our first holiday with dd was Cuba when she was 3 months old and it was fine.
I found it an easy age. As long as she was fed regularly and had us with her, she was happy. Much easier than the toddler stage.

We go next week with an unexpected at booking 9 week old 😂 First time abroad too, will update!

I love this age for trips - so portable! Greece love babies and children and most hotels/ villas are totally set up for them. Take a baby carrier and your boobs (if you plan on bf) and the world is your oyster. The hard age to travel with is when they start crawling 🤯

I would avoid Greece, I think, because of how incredibly hot it can get.

It will be fine. The only thing I would say is villa/flat with separate bedrooms and a kitchen is a must. And manage expectations for how you spend your day: you may not find it easy to spend all day at the pool/beach, but I found a city break with visits to playgrounds, cafes, museums, gardens was easy with a baby.

Not what you’re asking but school isn’t complusory so they’re are no fines until the term after they turn 5.

To me there’s no difference going away at 10 weeks or 10 months really since you have an older child. The baby will be dragged along to things anyway and not just be at home all the time so why not just be abroad?
It’ll be the easiest age to do the journey too.

Do it! I went with my 10 week old and 2 year old to Greece this year, it was great. As long as your accommodation has air con you'll be fine.

Personally I would consider Greece as being too hot in July. I’d consider Spain or Mallorca or Ibiza as flight times are half the time too.

I’d highly recommend considering a small hotel geared towards children and babies - check out somewhere like Casario Del Mirador in Spain. We loved our holiday there when DC were small.

Three months was a great time for us when we took baby DD on holiday, she was so portable. It won't be too hot for them, babies living in Spain etc manage.

Thanks everyone - these are great tips! I'm under no illusions it will be at all relaxing, even if it was just my 3yo 😅 we just want to do an adventure abroad with him for the experience as a family before it just becomes extortionate. Most likely will be an Airbnb or family-friendly hotel with loads to do for the toddler. Although @Notdeckingthehalls I actually didn't realise fines don't apply before 5 so maybe I don't need to be so worried about doing it before July...

We've just got back from holiday in Spain - DS is 3 and DD was 3 months. I am not adventurous by any means but it was fine, as relaxing and lovely a holiday as it could be with two little ones - DD not a good sleeper, but it's nicer being sleep deprived away from home in the sunshine IYSWIM! DD was no trouble and just slotted in - was much easier to travel with two at these ages than DS on his own at 18m.

They already have a 4 year old so probably not be expecting to lounge around pools etc

But yeah 3 months is a good time to travel. You've had chance to recover from birth and baby not mobile

@tortiecat that sounds so lovely - very good point re ages. 18m was around the age we thought there's no way we're taking this kid on an airplane!

Just do it :) baby is portable at that age
I took my 2.5 month old on his first abroad trip solo to visit a friend as we were moving to a third country that was further away than we were living at the time. Easy peasy. He was either sleeping, or on the boob. The one thing I will say is he did get hot on the one day and we had to go back to the flat and get into a lukewarm bath as the flat didn't have air-conditioning (

Currently backpacking around Thailand with 3 year old and 4 month old

it’s great tbh - tiring yes but easier than day to day life at home !!!

we have a good routine of early swimming with toddler

one of us relaxes with baby at the air con accommodation

3 year old naps in afternoon avoiding mid day sun and we got out to the beach for sunset for sandcastles and playing - then cocktails and dinner

or sometimes we are at a night market somewhere

kids sleep anywhere whenever they need

we stay out late and dropped the main routine and we sleep in til whenever

it’s bliss

We took DS at 8 weeks & 12 weeks.
So much easier travelling with a baby of that age. Breast fed and stay in the exact spot you leave them in! We'd taken DC1 when she was 6mths (just started to move) and 10mths (speed crawling and some cruising) and the last was difficult as you just had to watch bed like a hawk all the time.
What we learned at 8 weeks was that there weren't many places to put DS, especially as everywhere had tiled floors. We had his lie flat pushchair and the sling and that was kind of it other than the middle of the bed or on the sofa, neither of which I was comfortable with, especially with toddler DD1 around. When we went at 12 weeks, we took the playgym, bouncy chair and a door bouncer and he was much happier.
Also, whilst toddler DD was a strong walker at home, in the heat she commandeered the pushchair meaning DS had to go in the sling which hadn't been part of the plan.
Beachwear and slings don't necessarily go together, I got too hot in the sling and, whilst DS fell asleep in it, I couldn't then go & park him in the shade. But this was a minor inconvenience compared to dealing with a thrashing toddler! For the second holiday, we borrowed an umbrella stroller so they each had a pushchair.