30th birthday ideas...?

[Em1503]

Hi, our first baby is due in 3 weeks time (can't wait!!) it's my 30th birthday in mid October, so I'm wondering what realistically we'll be able to do to celebrate. We were originally planning on going to New York but that's definitely gone out the window now! I'd love to still go away somewhere for a weekend or short break, but what is possible with a baby who will only be 2-3 months old? Don't have a clue where to start!

They are v easy to transport when they are small. But i would go somewhere close that has ababysitting service so youcan go out for dinner.

we are going on summer holiday to saunton sands hotel in north devon which is a posh but family friendly hotel. they have babysitters and a baby go lightly package to save you bringing all the equipment. or have i missed the point and do you want to go away without the baby?

No we definitely want to go away with baby! We go to the lakes a lot but fancy a change from there! Would somewhere abroad be a little bit too ambitious? Are we best looking closer to home and finding a lovely hotel or self catering apartment in this country? I guess it's hard to plan until baby is here do we can see how we cope!?!

How about taking the Eurostar to Paris?

Watching with interest as we would also like a Holliday but unsure if it would me more agro than its worth.

I don't think the flight would actually be that difficult at that stage. I have friends who have done even long flights with tiny babies and they give you a little bassinet and generally the babies sleep with all the white noise/motion. It does more depend on how you feel after the birth, sometimes it can take a while to get back on your feet and wearing real clothes/acting presentable to the general public is not that appealing! I think by 2-3 months feeding is generally settled down a bit though it can be quite continuous. On the other hand some people feel great after birth and I definitely felt 100% better with a newborn rather than heavily pregnant and had bags of energy around this time. So hard to predict!

I personally don't think I could have left my baby with a random babysitter at that age, but people vary on this. Self catering apartment would be my choice, work around the baby's sleep and cook yourself nice meals and some wine and have lovely family time, rather than putting pressure on yourselves to "go out". Have lie ins all together if you're up through the night. Day trips and nice lunches. Book a treat for yourself maybe, a massage or something while your partner can hold the baby.

Get a good sling.

I successfully went to a spa for a day with a 4 month old. There were 3 adults so me and my friend could go in the hot tub while DP had the baby, I fed while he and my friend had a swim, etc. It was lovely. Generally I found babies at that age quite easy (well I just fed mine before she could whinge) but obviously babies vary massively and I think it can be quite stressful with a crying baby.

Congratulations! And I hope you have a lovely birthday whatever you do.

Easier to go abroad with a baby than a toddler !

Definitely agree with doing as much fun stuff for yourself as you afford/manage in the first 6 months, just bring baby along! After that they are terrors . Lovely but terrors.

We took DS abroad when he was 5 months old. So easy as I was BF so didn't need to take much for him. Also meant I could feed him on take off/landing so for his ears but also meant he slept the whole flight. Like other posters have said they are so transportable when they are little. Much easier than taking DS away when he was 15 months although was still worth it!