Question for Mums about your first holiday with baby

[Lola19]

Hi there,

So I know we are a long way away from being able to book any holidays abroad in the uk anytime soon (thanks Covid) but my partner and I love going on holidays, we typically like to have a few day drinks (not to get steaming drunk FYI just to enjoy it) and then carry on drinking while we explore or laze by the pool and then again dinner and more drinks! Sorry I sound like an alcoholic here lol. But my question is how did you find your first holiday with your baby? I’m curious if it’s ok to drink throughout the day as long as we aren’t drinking to get in a drunken state? And if you were able to stay out lateish with the baby sleeping in a buggy etc or do you have to go back early because of the baby? Just curious as I have no idea what it will be like!

If you stay in a hotel you will have to take the baby with you in the evenings really. some hotels have baby sitting services. Villas are good as baby can sleep in their room while you eat and drink.

My husband and I were the same before we had kids. Honestly holidays are very different with children, they cannot sit by the pool for hours on end but that doesn't mean holidays are boring, you just have to adjust your expectations and be flexible. every baby is different - if your baby needs dark and quiet to sleep well, then they're probably not going to fare well in a noisy restaurant but I know babies that cope with this just fine. Time difference is another factor to consider as it could mess with routine. I'd also be wary of drinking too much....babies don't give too hoots if you've had one too many the night before. In fact, I'm sure they know and behave accordingly to make your life as difficult as possible

Holidays with babies are totally different to before. You can’t lie in the sun all day because firstly, that’s dangerous for the baby and secondly they won’t want to. Depending on the age they are when you get to go abroad, you have to worry about them falling in water and running off too!

I also wouldn’t recommend drinking all day when you have a baby to look after.

That being said, it’s also amazing because you get to see their little faces as they explore the sand, water, new foods etc...

I’d recommend the Ikos resorts as they are very child friendly but also amazing quality. Plus room service and a mini bar is included in their all inclusive offering so you could have cocktails on the balcony whilst your baby is asleep.

That's exactly the kind of holiday we used to enjoy before DS arrived! Obviously everyone will have different views but I think it's useful to adjust your expectations of what a holiday is. I now think of it as more of an 'experience' than a 'holiday'! That's because there is no real holiday or break from being the parent of a baby/toddler. They are lots of fun but endlessly demanding. I guess it also depends a lot on your baby and your parenting style though. We introduced a fairly strict bedtime routine quite early on and then didn't want to mess around with it too much because DS was sleeping through the night. I also find that I can never fully relax in a new place since I had a baby. I probably sound like a bit of an anxious mum!

It was different. Going on holiday with a baby/kids will never be the same as going on holiday without. Some people love getting away with their baby/kids, where as I do like getting them away I do not find the holiday half as enjoyable as if it where just me and hubby. I took baby away when he was 5 months to Gran Canaria. At 5 months he was quite easy, slept alot but was a big family holiday so had lots of people to help with baby and hubby and I were able to leave baby on occasion and do a few things by ourselves. I didnt feel comfortable drinking too much, hubby and I kind of decided who was going easy and the other drank heavily with the rest of the family (fyi it was usually hubby that got drunk). Baby slept in pram while out, he was very good, sometimes he slept right through and he stayed in the pram till next morning. Heat took it out of him he slept so much, luckily we had appartments and the inlaws apartment was right next to the pool so we got a cot set up in their appartment and we were able to laze about outside the appartment while being at the edge of the pool while baby napped for hours. I dont know how much time we would of had to spend in our appartment for baby to sleep if we hadnt of had this option. An older more mobile baby/tot would of been a whole different game constantly needing watched, entertained and napping less. We had a holiday booked last year which COVID ruined but he would of been just turned 5 and it was really a holiday for him i would of been constantly on edge watching him by the pool, watching others around him and you know kids they cant sit still for 2 mins! I dont want to put you off, these holidays are still enjoyable, quality time with the family but are just a whole different experience altogether.

Has anyone been on a travelling style holiday (moving from place to place) with a kid? We had to postpone our honeymoon (camper van trip round New Zealand) and would love to do it when the baby is about 6 months old.

My holidays pre DD were the same as you, lovely hotels, cocktails, beers in they day whilst sight seeing. Took DD on holiday when she was 18 months old. Thought we would possibly be able to go hotel bar after dinner for a couple of drinks but we didn't do that once as we were up so early, we were heading to bed by 8pm, or at least back to the room. I was worried about the sun so were up early to enjoy the pool, then DH and I took it in turns to take her the kids club (we stayed with her as obviously too young to be left), then took it in turns to occupy her in the hotel to stay out the sun, then took it in turns for naps. So we both enjoyed the sun but alone (it was nice to have time to read my book). As PP say it's a totally different holiday but seeing her enjoy the pool, eat lots of ice cream and run around in the sand was amazing. Although I'm counting down to the time I can have a city break with DH.

Once I had kids I always found that I needed a holiday after my holiday :) I didn't feel comfortable personally about drinking while looking after the baby, just in case anything were to happen so me and ex OH used to take in turns and one of us would always stay completely sober. I still used to enjoy one or two though. Both of mine were fine in the nights to recline in the pushchair and nap while we enjoyed the evening entertainment but we found we couldnt' do it every night as they were grumpy the next morning! On those evenings we'd settle baby down and sit on the balcony and relax.

When we had just the one things were easy, we took her along to parties and on holiday (only UK). Tbh OK short term but long term a routine is invaluable. If we drank, only one of us would so the other was able to drive etc in case of emergency. Not an issue these days as we've both been tee total for years, we have 5 kids so it is better this way and we don't miss it. Not had a holiday for over 7 years though, we do lots of day trips instead. It's like hosting a kids party every day at our house already and we're adding again.