Skiing with 3.3yo and 8mo

[DirtyThree]

My dad has offered to take us all skiing. Am due with DC2 next summer so I imagine it'll be March 2015 and DD will be 3.3 then.

My brother is a ski instructor and would be coming, DH has been a few times and I've been loads. DF will be 67 then but is quite proficient and DSMum isn't that fussed so has offered to have DD when we all want to hit the slopes. (They don't yet know about DC2 who woukd then be 7-8mo but I would think between us all we could share slope/babysitting times).

But will DD be too little do you think? I will ask my brother as he taught littlies but I wondered if anyone had any first hand experience of taking really young ones in a ski holiday?

Ours have been on skis since they were 2 and 3.5 so it's possible, just have low expectations on what they will achieve! Ours would ski between our legs or holding into the end of a pole and go round and round the magic carpet for a bit, but not for very long. Ideally you would go somewhere you could do something else - swim, say. Go for ski-in ski-out too if possible as lugging around toddlers and kit is a pain!

Ours adore skiing and are now at 7.5 and 9 better than me and can't be kept on piste, but the first couple of years can be quite trying!

That's good to know, thank you. And great tip about ski in and ski out!

I'm slightly concerned about feeling aware of "wasting" precious slope time not to mention cost of the lift pass so think it would be v useful to have my stepmum there to look after the kids as she's not that bothered about the actual skiing. Not sure I'm too keen on the idea if bunging the kids in a crèche as whilst I appreciate their uses, to me it's not much of a family holiday if we don't all hang out!!

Do you have any resorts or accommodation you'd recommend? We were thinking a chalet would be good as have previously preferred that to hotel or self catering.

We live near the Alps and most of the ski schools at the resorts near us take kids from 3 so you could book ski school for your little one while you ski. Book a resort that has lots to offer for kids like sledding, tubing, snow park etc, that way they will be entertained too.

You coild look for somewhere (a smaller resort, prob not France) that still offers 'points' cards. That way you pay for what you use and don't have to shell out for a full area pass.