Skiing with 3 month old - Resort Recommendations

[LRob2506]

We are due a baby early December and hoping to get a ski trip in mid march.

We go every year as extended family so have plenty of hands to take turns looking after the little one while we all get a turn on the slopes, so not worried about that aspect.

We usually stay in high resorts 1800m+ which are ski in ski out, however I've read that little ones under 1year shouldn't stay at that sort of altitude. Has anyone been skiing with a 3 month old and can anyone recommend a resort that's at a lower altitude but doesn't require getting a bus to lifts. Understand lower slopes may not have snow mid march but would like to be able to get to the lifts/main areas without needing to take a bus?

Did exactly this when DS was 12 weeks (also a December baby!). We went to Morzine, partly because we like it but also because it’s a short transfer and you can get up to Avoriaz if the snow isn’t amazing. Although I was feeding so never out for more than a morning and the lower slopes had enough snow for me!
Plenty in the village for the non skiers to do too.

Yes, we've thought about Morzine. We MTB too so go often in the summer, although never skiied there. Was just worried about there being no snow at all as it's only 1000m. Did you find somewhere to stay that wasn't too far to walk to lifts?

Where do you normally like to ski? I wouldn’t worry too much about altitude, nowhere in Europe is that high at least not at village level. We took both of ours to the mountains when they were less than 3 months, one was only 6 weeks and absolutely fine. Otherwise a lot of villages in Austria are low altitude eg Lech 1400ish, St Anton and Ischgl similar I think and there is usually snow up top in March. Or somewhere like Zermatt that has a glacier at the top. Europe is not reliable for good snow at any time of the season these days and the snowfall is very unpredictable so you might also get lucky in March.

Forgot to add, Lech, Ischgl and Zermatt all possible to get to lifts with no bus if you pick the right accommodation though if not enough snow/in a bad year it might not be possible to ski all the way down without lifts and Zermatt is quite spread out ie if you are worried about needing to get back to baby quickly you might not be able to do the Cervinia/Italian side.

We did have a baby with us but we loved Radisson Blu in Trysil, Norway. It's ski in/out and below 1800m.

I’ve never heard that re altitude in Europe. My 2 kids and my 5 nieces and nephews have all been to Val d’Isere (1850) as babies and were all fine and the chalets had baby equipment, the nanny agency took them etc. so I think many other people go with babies. We’ve also done Colorado a few times with babies/young toddlers which is much higher than the alps, Vail for example is 2400m, and the daycare was full of babies- it’s just recommended that if you’re not local yoy fly into Denver first and drive up rather than going direct so you can adjust. It wouldn’t be something I’d consider an issue in the alps though so I’d just pick the resort I wanted to go to.

@TheawkwardturtleWhen going with family we usually ski in France, we've stayed in various resorts across the 3 Valleys, La Rosiere, Val d'isere and then also a couple of resorts in Italy, Sauze and Pila although we found Pila ski area just wasn't big enough for us.

We've been to a few of the Andorra resorts in the past too but worried they are too low and struggle with snow these days. We wondered about Austria but haven't been before so wasn't sure where would be best. Where did you take your 6 week old?

@LRob2506we went to the dolomites in Summer when our son was 6 weeks (stayed at around 1400m I think but took him on gondolas much higher to go hiking and it was fine). I’m Austria I liked Ischgl best for the actual skiing, it had a very good variety of runs and really well connected to maximise skiing (probably most similar to Val and the other resorts in France, good for intermediate to advanced skiers), though Lech town was prettier, all restraunts along same main street in Lech so easy with babies/toddlers. And St Anton back in the day was amazing for Apres but with a 3 month old that won’t be you! Tbh I think you’ll be absolutely fine at Val or 3 Valleys with a baby though, they adapt quickly and we didn’t notice any difference in eating/sleeping with ours at higher altitudes. For me the main thing was making sure I was never too far away in case I had to come back quickly on the days we were both skiing and they were with a nanny but sounds like you’ll have family around anyway which makes it easier.

Yes we stayed in a self catered chalet, only 5 mins walk to both the main lifts up.

In your shoes I wouldn’t book a ski trip, or any trip, before you’ve had the baby and you know what sort of baby you’ve got. I was exhausted from lack of sleep and still battling feeding issues at 3 months. A ski trip would have been a nightmare (and I love skiing). Some people have dream babies and are able to do all sorts at that stage. There is a huge spectrum of baby experiences.

Assume you aren’t planning to breastfeed?

Resorts wise, I suggest Flaine. 1600m so not too high but very snow-sure and mostly ski in ski out. Short transfer from Geneva which is very beneficial with a baby. Very easy to meet up with your group as everything leads back to one main area. Lots of self catering accommodation and a few swishy hotels. Chalets thinner on the ground so perhaps not ideal if that’s what you want, though there’s probably a few around (but may not be as conveniently located).

There's plenty of accommodation next to (or near to) the slopes in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, and there are restaurants at the top of all of the lifts, and at mid-station on most of them too, that are accessible for non-skiers so the group can meet for lunch.

Mid-March is still OK for snow in Saalbach-Hinterglemm - I wouldn't book for any later - but as pp^ suggest, maybe wait until after the baby has arrived and then book. You could wait until mod-Feb to book for March, by which time you'll have hopefully got into a routine with the baby - there will still be plenty of availability for March, and if it has been a poor season for snow, you can choose somewhere else.

Never heard that about altitude before…!

I’d focus your search on places where there is stuff to do for the non-skiing person eg a proper town, some bubbles they can meet your at restaurants with the pram etc.

I agree that you may not feel up to skiing with a 12 week old baby - but if you’re prepared to risk the investment, why not I suppose!

If neither of you (parents) suffer any altitude effects then sleeping at any altitude up to around ??? 1700m is unilkely to cause any issues whatsoever. Unless your baby is anaemic or has breathing issues or a heart conditon.
Altitude sensitivity is highly heritable. One of my children is fine at any altitude. The other one suffers like me and stopped eating in Switzerland at around 1800m and at the same age as your baby will be. Son could probably sit atop Everest with no ill effects.

There is also a huge range of post natal maternal health. Skiing 3 months c section might be tricky - i say that as a skier and vetran of 2 unplanned cs.

Very good point. The soonest I’ve skied after an CS was 5.5 months and that was fine but 3 might be pushing it.

Also as @minipie says feeding issues- if breastfeeding you might not be able to get away for more than an hour or so at a time and that doesn’t give you very long to ski by the time you’ve put on all the clothes, got to the lift and taken it up.

Not to say you shouldn’t go for the company, vibes, restaurants etc. but I’d be realistic and keep in the back of my mind that there may not be much, if any, skiing for you.
The altitude is neither here nor there though!

I skied at 7 weeks post c section with my second, it was absolutely fine. Obviously wasn’t tearing down black runs but mostly because I was more conscious that looking after a newborn with a broken limb would be extremely difficult rather than anything to do with how I was feeling. I was breastfeeding and pumping so I just did pump and dump at lunch if I was feeling uncomfortable and did some shorter ski days. I think if you’re otherwise a strong skier and don’t regularly crash/fall over you’ll more than likely be fine by 3 months, you don’t actually use much stomach muscle skiing other than getting up after a fall.

Thanks for advice everyone 🙂 Obviously not planning on booking anything until baby is here, just wanted an idea of other resorts to consider.

Nice to know that altitude probably won't be such an issue. Totally aware that I might not actually get to ski very much but it's more about being away with family than just going for the actual skiing.

I think the resort choice depends on whether you’re going to try to ski or not tbh, which you’ll know after the baby!

Not skiing - choose a pretty, authentic town with non skiing options, like Morzine or Samoens. These tend to be lowish but poor for snow, you have to get several lifts to get to the decent skiing.

Skiing - choose somewhere where it is very quick and easy for you to get onto the pistes - so higher, purpose built, probably less pretty and with less non skiing options.

Either way choose something with a short transfer!!