When did you first take baby abroad

[Snappysnap84]

Just that really. I’m wondering when people first took their children/ babies abroad and you could see that the child was enjoying it and getting something from it?

My daughter’s first holiday I think she was about 4 months old, she enjoyed it as much as she enjoyed anything at that age, splashing in the pool/sea/beach, not sure what you mean by “getting something from it” but she was perfectly happy there. She got more out of our holidays this year as a toddler, eating, playing etc but our early holidays with her were still lovely. Due baby number 2 next month and his first trip is booked for 6 months.

We moved countries when DD1 was 4mo and she didn't seem to notice!

Babies enjoy being with their parents, wherever they are, so they will enjoy holiday experiences for that reason.

We took DD1 to the US at 7mos so that her US family could meet her.
We took them on holiday to Greece when DD2 was 4mos and a few weeks later I took her to the US for my grandfather's funeral. (She was BF so had to come with me. DD1 started school)

In terms of 'enjoying it', we have taken both DDs to France for summer holidays from the very beginning; DD1 was about 18mos the first time. She had a great time trying French foods and playing in the sand and surf on the beach. Subsequent holidays have been to French beach towns, usually staying in a flat with a pool. Both DDs have always loved a pool.

Their first city break was to Barcelona in the Easter hols pre-COVID. They were 9 and 12 and enjoyed Gaudi's amazing architecture and decor. They were not so thrilled with museums but enjoyed restaurants, parks and warmer weather.
DD2 certainly enjoyed Vienna & Salzburg when she was 11: we saw the Lippizzaners and all the scenery from Sound of Music. DD1 wasn't particularly interested in either but found them both enjoyable.
We finally took them to Paris when they were 12 and 15. Having heard so much about it from us and in general, they were pleased to go. They enjoyed shopping and going to some of the usuals like L'arc de triomphe, the Louvre (Mona Lisa underwhelming as usual) and trying out their French.

DD1 7 months
DD2 6 weeks

We had a trip to Disneyland the new year after DD2 was born. Wild to think about it now! But she liked all the lights (as much as a 6 week old likes anything). DD1 at 8 months obviously had a blast on a beach holiday, brilliant for weaning too.

11 weeks! It was beautiful and relaxed! It’s not that they’re ‘getting something from it’, it’s more that you are! Just spending nice quality time with your family without ‘life’ getting in the way!

3 months old, in 1975! It was my first time abroad too. 😂 And first baby.

11months. We went to Rome. She loved people watching in her buggy and all the food. She really seemed to enjoy it and was as good as gold.

9 months old. Spain, staying in a family members holiday home.

Went with DH, my parents and I. So we all had a lovely time. Not sure why you would wonder what there is to get out of it?
It was also helpful to teach me to be less up tight about sterilising bottles as meticulously as at home, changing facilities in cafes being less than desirable, that kind of thing 😊

Thanks everyone. In terms of them getting something out of it I guess I’m actually referring to my own anxieties. I’m so anxious at the thought of taking LO on a plane and the possibility of them crying the whole flight that (for want of better words) I wasn’t sure if the stress was worth it when we could go away closer to home

6 months for a weeks package holiday. Then a long weekend in France about 10 months. Both lovely for us and in terms of him ‘getting something from it’ he enjoyed seeing new things and new faces and his first time in a pool, I think. We’re going to a European city in December (18 months) so I’m hoping he equally enjoys the Christmas sparkle and the things we’ll do there that aren’t at home (Zoo, Circus).

DD was 4 months old, nice and portable at that age!

My friends did a half-way round the world tour, for 3 months with a 4 month old baby, not sure how you can tell whether he enjoyed it or not!

At 5 months and then at 13 months. 12 hour and 18 hour flight time, respectively. Jet lag surprisingly not an issue.

Don't think DS enjoyed it, he's a baby/toddler who loves routine. He's smiley but extremely clingy which tells me he is quite unsettled by the change of scenery.

Both kids have had passports from a very early age.
In teems if remembering stuff - DS2 barely remembers living abroad, so I'd say mininal long term memories before about 6yrs.

DC1 was 11 (years) when we first went abroad, but we drove to Normandy.

DC1 was 13 when we first went abroad on a plane as a family.

Unless I had to, I wouldn't take a baby or toddler on a plane.

My kids still haven’t been abroad and they are 10 and 7

At 9 months with first child, at 4 months with the second. 4 months was actually much easier. The trickiest age for us was between 12 -24 months when they just want to walk around but have to sit on your lap during take off and landing.

With my son we went when he was 18 months (thanks Covid! 🙄) and did a train hopping journey around Emilia-Romagna in Italy. He loved looking at things, eating pizza and pasta and being fussed over by everyone.

We went on holiday to Vienna when my daughter was 16 weeks. She was still a sentient potato then but she did enjoy the interactive art gallery as there were lots of things to grab and pretty lights. She was also a fan of the rollercoaster restaurant with the dancing robots.

Took Dc1 to a Greek Island at 9 weeks. Bliss. Sat under an olive tree on the beach, ate out in the tiny harbour with sleeping portable baby, stayed in a simple apartment, was breastfeeding.

Obviously Dc has no memories of this, but I do!

Dc loved travel from age about 3.

8 months. Plane was fine, he had a breastfeed on take-off and landing and slept most of the way.

Really easy age because he was eating some food but it didn't really matter if he didn't eat much. Was easily transported around all the places we wanted to visit.

5 months and yes she enjoyed the time with both of us...I think!

Honestly if you want to travel just go for it, we have flown loads with our girls and never had an issue. People are always really engaging with them, waving or chatting to them etc. Admittedly I was a bit nervous flying long haul for the first time with both (3 and 7m at the time) as dd2 is much more feisty than dd1 but it was really ok! We find day flights better than night flights too.

9 months, we went to Mauritius so she could meet her family. She coped really well with the long flights and loved the beaches!

I think my youngest was 3 when they appreciated it being an abroad holiday and going on a plane. Before that I think it's a neutral thing, if you love foreign travel then go for it, no such thing as too young they'll be fine with the right planning and if it's not your thing then don't feel guilty, they won't know the difference.

DS1 12 weeks to Spain to spend Christmas with family, DS2 10 weeks to Spain again to see family. Honestly holidays when they are really little are easiest, feed on take off and landing and tiny enough to share a seat with.

Hell is a 22 month old on a four hour flight who does not want to sit on your lap in a belt and is pulling the arm hair of the poor stranger in the seat beside you.

in terms of when they ‘get something out of it’ who really knows?? As long as there was a beach or pool and some lovely food they didn’t care where they were but we did and happy parents equals happy kids 😊