Going to resort with 5mo?

[ifaistos]

I've been invited to a Swiss resort for a few days end of march. Ds will be 5mo then. Don't know much about skiing and mountains and sil tells me babies suffer at high altitudes. Can anyone give me their experiences of taking babies along on skiing holidays? I'm not fussed about skiing myself but would like to do some walks if poss. One thing I'm worried about is his skin. Is it ok to use sunscreen on babies under 6mo? He's got bad eczema on his face. I've got eczema too and sunscreen really irritates it. I wiuldn't want to make it any worse for him.

I took DS1 one skiing when he was 4 months old. Never heard of an altitude risk what about babies who live there permanently?

Yes, you can use sunscreen, but better to keep him out of direct sun if possible.

I googled and couldn't find anything on particular about the altitude thing but wanted to check. I suppose the difference with babies who are born there is they don't undergo a change in altitude, which is what can cause sickness.
How did you find it going with your 4mo - anything I should bear in mind? Is it worth taking the buggy or no use in the snow?

Unless you are going to a very high resort, and taking your baby right to the top, I genuinely can't see altitude as a risk. Given the number of companies that are set up for skiing with babies/children these days, I would have thought someone would have looked into it by now, and I have never heard even any anecdotes of babies having problems.

We took a BabyBjorn type thing, didn't bother with a buggy. He was much happier being carried anyway, and there would have been too much snow in resort. By end of March though, it might well have all gone at that level.

The hotel we were in was fully set up for babies so had sterilisers etc there, although I was still BF, but it meant I could clean my pump etc (expressing on a mountain side halfway through a day's skiing, now there's another story...) If you are not in a hotel and need to sterilise, you might want to get some of the travel steriliser bags, either cold water ones, or microwave ones.

I got a pair of those BabyBans sunglass things, but he wouldn't keep them on (they are now used as 'goggles' in the bath). We borrowed a really snuggly snowsuit. At that age though, he wasn't really outside all that much. The following year, with a toddler was far more challenging, and we've not made it back again the last couple of years with pregnancy no.2 and baby no.2 and a DH who keeps disappearing overseas etc....

We did go so that we could ski, so DS was in creche during the day [bad mummy], and it was the first time he had been left. TBH, he was so young, he didn't know any different [really bad mummy]

It isn't usually the altitude of the resort that si a problem but if you take them up the peaks and to places such as the Rockies. Those who live there acclimatise to an extent. However most European resorts are well below 2000m and fine. Cleared walks around the rsort level should certainly be ok. If your buggy has large wheels the paths should be cleared enough otherwise hire a all terrain or sled with a baby seat in resort and use with a footmuff.

You should be able to get a suitable sunscreen, in resort if needs be as in Switzerland you can get brands like Weleda much more easily at a pharmacist. Friends stock up on their favourite one there for theri sensitive skinned dc, by Spirig iirc. You'll see lots of local babies with muslins/blankets draped form the pushchair hood to screen them. Make sure he is wearing layers, snowsuit and a hat so you can adjust when the temperature drops or if you take refuge in a restaurant. Babies do feel the cold more than an adult who is moving.

I was told its the pressure in the ears that is the problem for under 2's. Not so much the day to day walking about but going up in cable cars to the highest points as babies tend to be in some discomfort.

Lots of Swiss resorts are geared up for walking. There should be some lovely trails.

Lizs, are you the Wengen fan I spoke to on here last year ? I've just returned from there at half term. Stayed in Lauterbrunnen. Lovely as ever

probably . Missed out on CH trip this year :(

If your baby is generally fit and well I cant imagine it will have any problems with high altitude. Surely babies simply adjust like anyone?
Also check with your GP a suitable suncream for your baby who has Ezchema.
Importantly you may wish to purchase when there, or here in boots or an outdoor ski wear shop, some sunglasses for babe as the sunlight is very strong. Babies in the Alps on the snow always wear sunglasses.!
Good luck and have a lovely holiday.

Aaah well, probably a good thing, snow has been better.

There was no snow at all in the valley, so much so I was able to do a run up to the falls and back.