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Ski and snowboarding

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Original poster

First post-baby ski trip with GPs

20 replies

Deliaskis · 04/11/2011 16:37

Hi all,

Not posted on skiing before (I don't think anyway), but having had DD mid Feb last year, I had to sit out last season, which was just excruciating, so delighted to say we're booked to go the first week of March this season, and are taking non-skiing grandparents to help with DD, who will be 13 months.

So any tips for dos and don'ts of being in the mountains with little ones?

Our apartment is in Zell Am See so it's a big enough but not massive ski area, so we're hoping GPs will come up the mountain for lunch with DD in a back carrier (I think, not looked into this yet?).

Will have shorter ski days, and can push D around town in the buggy late afternoon as well.

Will eat in most nights I think, unless GPs go out one night and we go out another night.

Won't need formula by then, so hopefully food won't be too difficult.

So any tips? What does/doesn't work, what do little kids like/dislike about holidays in the snow (before they're actually skiing themselves obviously)?

Any comments gratefully received.

OP posts:

exoticfruits · 04/11/2011 22:37

We took DS when he was 10 months. Buggies are useless in the snow. Hiring a sledge was much better and he enjoyed it. Don't expect them to be out in the snow too much. My mother came and they played indoors a lot.Food was fine, we self catered so timing and bed time was fine.
It was really justlike her looking after him at home but walks out in the snow.
How safe do you feel they are with a backpack if it is icy? Are they fairly young? Maybe in March there won't be much snow in the resort, it is fairly low-in which case you can ignore my comments on the buggy and ice.
I don't think that DCs get much out of skiing until they are about 6 yrs.

LIZS · 05/11/2011 13:36

My dad refused to carry ds in back pack in case he slipped sow e hired a toboggan with seat (we took a footmuff to pad it). However Zell is a low resort, the paths/roads will be cleared so you could easily use a buggy there. ds frst went at about a year, wasn't walking properly, crawling and cruising, and really didn't like the texture of snow much. Try to get proper flexible snow boots rather than just wellies if it is likely she will be mobile and decent gloves, hat and glasses(dd hated the cold). Also layers of long sleeved body suit and tights , high neck cotton top and leggings and snowsuit, add a fleece if it is chilly. ds spent time on the swings, watching the ski classes and being trundled about on the sled and mountain trains, but also a lot of time indoors. Warmest time is around 3pm so lunch/early afternoon may be the best bet but depends when she needs to nap.

EssentialFattyAcid · 05/11/2011 13:44

Gosh the GPs are angels - but won't they be bored to high heaven?

exoticfruits · 05/11/2011 13:48

My mother loved spending all that time with her grandson.It was win win for everyone and worked much better than creches.

Original poster

Deliaskis · 07/11/2011 09:45

Thanks for replies, especially recs re types of clothing/boots etc. LIZS thanks! I think you're right tho LIZ & exotic that the backpack might feel a bit precarious if it is icy. Buggy will be fine in town unless there's been tons of new snow, in which case a sledge, and a sledge for on the hill anyway.

GPs love Zell Am See but haven't been for a few years, and are both retired, happy to spend some time away with the three of us at no cost to themselves (in fact when it looked like we might not be going, a few weeks ago, they were v disappointed!). Plus DH and I won't leave them from 8-5 every day or anything, we'll probably ski 10-3 ish with a meeting on the hill for lunch.

Zell isn't a purpose built high-altitude resort with nothing to do but ski, it's a proper town with loads of other things to do, so I don't think they'll be bored. But if they are, we'll have a day or two off skiing and do some things together.

OP posts:

exoticfruits · 07/11/2011 11:43

I should think they will be fine, they can feed the ducks in the lake-and they can get the bus to somewhere else if bored. It is quite a while ago but I think that we got the bus from Saalbach down to Zell. I think there is a new swimming pool with toddler area they could visit.

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 07/11/2011 11:52

Don't forget baby sunglasses!

We did this with DS when he was little, it could have been better as a) he didn't enjoy going out in the snow much, even on a sledge - possibly because b) he got poorly, and we had to take him to the French doctor's and get prescribed a huge list of meds! But apart from that it was good, granny doesn't like skiing much so she was happy to look after him some of the time so we could both get some runs in. We used pushchair and sledge, and did take him up in the lifts a couple of times for meals and views. I don't think we'll be doing it again anytime soon though, as we have 2 now which is harder, and not sure we could afford it now either...

naughtymummy · 07/11/2011 12:12

Can I ask how used the GAs are to having your ds ?Even 10-3 can feel like a very long time. The alps.are not the easiest place to care for a.one year old.We found it quite stressful and not really .worth the.money Tbh .Skiing 11-2 (by the time.you get out and up the lifts and back)Is hard, I found that I was always looking at my watch which spoilt.it for.me. You may find.that.you.and.dh end up.alternating ski days. Sorry to be doom gloom, but forwarded.is.forarmed .

Original poster

Deliaskis · 07/11/2011 14:53

Thanks for further replies. Good point MyNameIs about sunglasses.

Also thanks naughtymummy for raising potential downsides, as you say forewarned is forarmed. Mum has her 8-6 one day every week, so they are used to having her, but not day in day out. We're going to give it a go and be prepared to limit skiing if necessary. Maybe treat it as a 'holiday' rather than a 'ski holiday' IYSWIM, and be prepared to be flexible depending on weather, DD's mood, GP's sanity etc.!

OP posts:

naughtymummy · 07/11/2011 15:50

Have a lovely time

naughtymummy · 07/11/2011 15:51

Sorry one more tip,.do.consider buying daily.passes, as you may not.ski.as.much as you think

madwomanintheattic · 07/11/2011 15:59

mine have been used to ski resorts from tiny. ds1 was in daycare at 10 weeks with his 23mo sister so i could ski. they paged me to come in and feed him as he was bf.

we've used backpacks, sledges and enclosed buggies (warmer) in all sorts of resorts (i have 3 dcs, all of whom have come along as babies) and have had various degrees of success with people who have come along as 'helpers' (inc gps). mostly we've used resort daycare in the end. (might be worth looking at a few sessions to free up the gps?)

sunglasses a must, and great snowgear - but mine have all been reasonably happy rolling around in the snow and sledging/ horse drawn sleigh stuff etc. as well as the usual routine from home - so take lots of toys etc.

in fact dd1 learnt to walk in a ski resort when she was 13 mos

it is much harder than you think, though. not been to zell, so can't give specifics.

Original poster

Deliaskis · 07/11/2011 16:25

Thanks again more good advice.

naughty the skipass thing isn't so much of an issue as we get a local pass deal as we own our apartment there.

madwoman good to hear another person who has made it work, but appreciate it won't be easy. TBH, if GPs have had enough, I will have a day off or whatever, rather than booking daycare at this stage.

Because it's our own place we're completely au fait with the area and the apartment is obviously a bit more 'home from home' so if we end up spending some time indoors playing in our fleecy jumpers and slippers etc. then that's fine too!

OP posts:

madwomanintheattic · 07/11/2011 16:26

yy that makes it a lot easier.

exoticfruits · 07/11/2011 16:32

I would think that the grandparents would love all that time, most especially if they are not used to it.
It is the best solution simply because there is no need to clock watch or ski separately. Leaving in a nursery or a creche is where you do both those things, or feel incredibly guilty if you don't.
I left DS in one at 2 yrs and I had to steel myself to go, he was miserable. After that I stuck to my mother and it was brilliant.
Unless your parents are going to be difficult (I can't imagine why they would) there is nothing to worry about and I would assume you could get a week's pass and ski-why not?

There seems to be a lot of doom and gloom-as long as you have keen, loving grandparents it is a doddle! When DS was a baby he and my mother were perfectly happy, we saw them at lunch and skied the rest of the time-and we were in a purpose built French resort-not a town like Zell.

exoticfruits · 07/11/2011 16:35

If you have your own place it will certainly be a doddle! Have fun!
When I am a grandmother(if I am) I would be a bit miffed if people assumed that I couldn't look after my grandchildren without being bored or enjoy amusing them in the Alps in the snow!

madwomanintheattic · 07/11/2011 16:42

should add the gps here are v keen skiers, (mil is pushing 70 and wants to learn to snowboard) which lends an extra level of complexity to the childcare arrangements.

exoticfruits · 07/11/2011 16:53

If they are keen skiers then you will have to be fair and let them out on the slopes! My mother was a non skier which was a huge help. I intend to ski until extreme old age-if health allows. There are plenty of OAPs on the slopes.

Original poster

Deliaskis · 07/11/2011 19:17

Yes GPs don't ski which helps, as no way would I expect a keen skier to not ski just so I could! I feel a bit sorry for them tho as had they had the chance to learn, they would have loved it, but they both have too many war wounds from other sports now to be comfortable trying it - I hope too to be skiing when I'm 70 but appreciate it would be much harder to learn from scratch at an older age.

We also do other holidays with my parents, just got back from Spain actually, so we're all used to mucking in together and they love extra DGD time.

So am finally allowing myself to get excited and start looking forward to it, it was a bit 'will we won't we' for a while due to leave from work and finances, but now we're all booked I can finally let myself be excited about it!

Thanks again all
D

OP posts:

naughtymummy · 07/11/2011 19:23

Important sure it is easier in your own place. Especially if you know the town.We have also just decided to go for it this season. Dcs are 7 and 5 now so no childcare to sort out. :)

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