Holiday with a 3 month old

[mum2bemay22]

Me and my husband are expecting our first baby in May. My parents in law have asked us on a two week holiday to France at the end of August. What are people’s advice on travelling with a 3 month old?

A very easy time to travel with a baby. Mine were both younger than that when flying for the first time and they and they had no problems.

3 month old are also very portable, able to sleep in buggies etc so you should be able to enjoy meals out and wandering around very easily.

Enjoy it before the turn into a wild toddler! (although that is fun too, just noon get relaxing in any way)

*not relaxing! (I'm on a phone and it's dark sorry)

Pack everything you think you'll need and then leave at least half if it at home.

I travelled alone with my 6 week old and I took far to much stuff. You can wash in the sink, buy everything (more or less) and with so many adults to help care for the baby it should be fun.

Babies are actually quite easy to transport at that age although I never went on a proper holiday until our DS was a year old as just couldn’t be bothered with hassle of lugging all the kit. I was also so freaking sleep deprived and grumpy at that stage that I wouldn’t have enjoyed it properly but if it’s a freebie holiday with lots of family help then you might not be so bothered about that

Oh yh and the trip with the six week old was about 100 x eaisier than travelling with toddlers.

Travelling alone with an 11 month and 2.4 yr old (both sick) was the worst so far :-) But still kind of funny

Thanks for the replies ladies, sounds like it might be doable for us. We are staying in a villa so it’s quite easy and all we have to do is fly out and my mother in law can’t wait to look after the new baby so hopefully I won’t be too stressed. I don’t want to pack my silver cross buggy onto the flight and I’m not even sure they would accept it as it comes in two parts so do you have any advice on strollers that can hold a 3 month old and then I can just use that for the two weeks...?

Easiest holiday we ever had was with DC1 at 5 months old. No solids, no crawling, lots of napping. It only gets harder once they're eating and moving around.

We bought a McLaren buggy for the holiday that reclined fully. Can't remember the name off it as many moons ago but you'd be able to get similar.
It also had an extra big hood that dropped down at the front so helped with the sun and heat.

Just remembered it was a Mamas and Papas buggy that fully reclined not a McLaren. Mixing up my buggies but the big drop down hood was a winner!

We've always travelled with two piece buggies (including a carrycot) without any issues. Never had anything damaged either.

Alternatively: Could PIL organise (borrow) a buggy at the other end? Travelling with baby in a sling would probably be the easiest option!

The silver cross pop reclines fully and is suitable from birth. It's also a good pushchair generally for later so you wouldn't be buying something you didn't need. Tiny babies do sometimes look a bit lost in it and I think if I was using it that young I'd consider a sheepskin or similar liner. The pushchair would be insured though, how much space will you have the other side for luggage?

We went away (but in the uk) at 3 months. It was quite hard work because family didn't understand that you can't just get in the car and travel till you're there. We had to stop for nappies/feeding and to take a break from the seat. The people I went with all wanted to "hold the baby" in a really whiny voice and told me off for "not sharing" because apparently they just wanted to help. Well then put my washing in or make me dinner!

So if your in laws will actually help with practical stuff, and you'll get to nap/rest/enjoy some sun it could be lovely.

You will need to be really on it with registering the birth and sending for a passport in that time frame.

At three months I think you’d get away with just taking a sling, they’re invaluable on planes too!

Thanks Almostthere15 that made me laugh with the washing and dinner, definitely something I’d say!
My in laws are great on the whole, especially my mother in law. She’s very calm and relaxed, she isn’t over powering so I’m confident in thinking that she will let me just hand him over when I want a break rather than just ‘taking’ him (if that makes sense).
Thanks for the buggy advice, that’s exactly what I’m worried about them being lost in the stroller as they won’t be able to support themselves fully yet. I will pop into mothercare today I think and ask some advice. The silver cross might be just too bulky to be honest and a faff. We will fly and our parents in law will drive so they will pick us up the other end so plenty of help with luggage ☺️

Oh and I know the passport will need to be done ASAP!!! I don’t understand how they can always tell one newborn from another though haha!

My DC's first passport was hilarious for this... for the first 5 years of his life he was a generic Caucasian baby ,barely identifiable even by me.

I took my daughter away to France to my parents (they live in south of France) for two weeks when she was 11 weeks old honestly was the easiest holiday I have had with her since! They are so easy to travel with at that age I just fed her on the plane when got grizzly (also good for ear popping!) and she pretty much slept the whole time! But was great they looked after us, cooked and cleaned and took her off us when needed a break.

Also we did take as our two pieces of baby luggage the silver cross pram (base with car seat) so had a car seat and a pram and a travel cot so managed to get it counted as one, took it to the gate as well, it was absolutely fine had no issues, that was the only time we did it but was best option then.

Good luck!

I am due my third at the end of May. I have just booked us a house in the south of France for two weeks at the end of August. I coslept with my second as it made things easier, so have booked somewhere with an extra bed for dh if necessary. You will be fine.

Travelling with a 3 month old is bliss.

Toddler... not so much!

Definitely take advantage of this time and go for it! If you’re travelling by plane, feed on the way up and down to help their ears. Don’t panic about packing your house, other countries have shops. We packed a ridiculous amount of nappies but only because we liked the Aldi brand ones. We have travelled a fair amount so bought a second car seat that isn’t whatsitfix. That way it can go in any rental car easily and isn’t anywhere as heavy. Likewise buggy — the silver cross one we had has been battered by many a baggage handler but remains strong (mostly!).

Travelling with a tiny little baby is such a fab experience and can really help confidence in the early days. Good luck and enjoy!!

Took DD to Lanzarote at 12 weeks. Bought a travel bag for the full size pram and carrycot, which she slept in. Car seat came with us. Checked in at desk with everything else in a big laundry bag to keep it clean and dry. DD went in soft carrier through airport. Was fine and she was a dream on the plane.

Thanks everyone! I visited mothercare and saw a Maclaren Techno XT stroller which was lovely and super light weight which was great and it folded down easier than the Silver Cross stroller I was comparing it too. I’ve bought it now as it was originally £275 and I got it for £120 in a ‘flash sale’! Very impressed! Holiday all booked now so no turning back and I’m sure we will have a wonderful first family holiday ☺️

We're taking a 4 month old go Florida (Disneyworld / Universal). I've heard that is actually quite easy to travel with babies that are so young, got to be seen to be believed though.

We do have grandparents on hand though, which will be a great help!

Also I'm planning on taking my full travel system as normal. (Mamas & Papas Ocarro) we're paying for a flight seat so can take the car seat on board and we're going to package the pram ourselves before going to the airport.. baby will be in sling or car seat when in airport hotel & airport itself.

Not because I can't afford 2 prams!