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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Center Parcs with baby - is this a bad idea?

22 replies

OrionNebula · 03/03/2023 11:01

Hi, so I have booked to go to Center Parcs with a friend and our two girls who will be 4 and 3 at the time. Booking is for October, but I am now pregnant with no 2 and the week of our booking is my due date 🫣
So obviously will rearrange - thankfully we paid extra for the flexible booking. I'm looking at Feb/March 2024 when baby will be about 4 or 5 months. But I am just wondering will that be difficult to manage? Will there be activities that DD can do with me supervising but without me having to participate as well as will obviously have baby to mind? Wondering if anyone has been with a very young baby and what your thoughts are!
Other option is to go before baby is born but prices over the summer are just crazy...

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AreWeNearlyHairnet · 03/03/2023 11:18

We went with our three month old and 3.5 year old last year and it was brilliant. We took the baby swimming every day, and when she'd had enough she snoozed on me on a lounger and I read my book and my partner and son carried on swimming.

We just took her everywhere in a sling (your baby will be too young to go in a bike trailer, so maybe choose a cabin close enough to the activities that you don't need to cycle).

As parents we just took it in turns to accompany our oldest while he did other stuff, or popped baby in the sling and took her along. My son did horseback riding, jeeps and jet skis and they were happy for me to supervise with the little one in a sling. I remember checking beforeh about the pony ride one and they said it was fine as long as I had both hands free to supervise my oldest. Maybe email to check before you book any activities though? It was a very chilled out little break.

AreWeNearlyHairnet · 03/03/2023 11:19

I think you can also filter the activities on the Center Parcs website to find out which ones require adult supervision.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/03/2023 11:22

I'd just check the pool ratios as presumably you all want to swim together so need to check that 2 adults and 3x under 8s are allowed in together.

Original poster
OrionNebula · 03/03/2023 11:23

Ok thanks that's great to know! I suppose because I am going with a friend not DH it wouldn't be fair to ask her to mind my DD as well as her own but if it's possible to filter activities by those that require supervision etc that will make life easier

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Original poster
OrionNebula · 03/03/2023 11:32

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/03/2023 11:22

I'd just check the pool ratios as presumably you all want to swim together so need to check that 2 adults and 3x under 8s are allowed in together.

Thanks I'll check that.

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Imenti · 03/03/2023 11:39

I currently have a 4 year old (almost 5) and a 6 month old. I would be very cautious about going away with both kids essentially on my own (I know your friend will help, but it's not the same as having another parent there).

I find it quite difficult to give both children the attention they need when on my own - even yesterday in a soft play and out for lunch with my friend and her 2 kids (teacher strikes) it was a hard balancing act and pretty stressful to be honest. I often feel that one or the other has to wait for me which isn't the best feeling, especially when you're away and your elder one has lots of opportunities to do exciting things.

It depends for me, on the level your friend will be willing to give you. Will she just pick up the baby and comfort them if you're attending to your eldest? You won't know yet if the baby will even go to your friend as well - my second is so clingy to me at the moment, she can only be calmed by me or her Dad. You also don't know what the baby will be like at sleeping - and I guess you will be on your own for all night wakes and feeds?

Defo check the ratios for swimming as well. We are going to CP in June and already decided that it's so much faff getting the baby in and out the pool (for a very short amount of time) that she'll just go in a couple of times and one of us will take my eldest every day, probably at the baby's nap time - divide and conquer! I don't want to put you off, but it seems like a big risk to take for what could be a very stressful time for you and potentially a waste of money on a holiday where you should be able to relax and enjoy yourself a little! If funds allow, I would try to move it before the baby comes and make some really good memories with your eldest one before they have a sibling.
Good luck! X

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/03/2023 12:02

Looks like you won't all be able to swim together.

Center Parcs with baby - is this a bad idea?
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/03/2023 12:03

Unless both the girls are 4 during the trip?

Original poster
OrionNebula · 03/03/2023 12:08

Hi sorry yes they will both be 4. My LO is 4 in July and my friends girl in December.

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Original poster
OrionNebula · 03/03/2023 12:08

@Imenti thanks - lots to think about there

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Starseeed · 03/03/2023 12:10

It’s the best type of holiday to go on with a baby/small children IMO. It’s all safe, relaxed, lifeguards around in the pool, you can have a really laid back week and let the bigger children free in the pool, parks and soft play.

Imenti · 03/03/2023 12:18

OrionNebula · 03/03/2023 12:08

@Imenti thanks - lots to think about there

You're welcome Maybe you're a more relaxed character than me and it will be totally fine! 🤣 I personally wouldn't do it though - too many unknowns with what the baby will be like, my second is completely different to my first. I'm not afraid to travel or do things with both my kids on my own, but I wouldn't voluntarily take them away for a few days by myself.

Something else that struck me is feeding and napping - what if baby needs a feed at the same as an activity you've arranged for your eldest, would your friend be happy to take responsibility for her? Or they want to stay in the pool and you need to get out with the baby - or if your baby needs a nap and they won't settle (as happened to me yesterday and I was dealing with a whingey baby for 90 mins in Bluewater!). As we know babies, don't all keep to a schedule as much as we'd like them too!

I don't mean to sound super negative but without Daddy there I think it would be really hard. Enjoy your break whenever you decide to go 😃 Xx

BabyMoonPie · 03/03/2023 12:20

I think if you're trying to do everything for both your children you'd struggle. Me, DH and our daughters aged 5 years and a baby went last summer and had a great time but that was because we each took a child and did something age appropriate with them. A lot will depend on if the baby is happy to sleep a lot or just be held / in a sling while you do activities. If they are fussy it's not going to be fun for anyone. There are some activities you leave the children at for a few hours and our eldest likes them so that could be an option. Obviously if your friend could take both older girls sometimes that would help too

Original poster
OrionNebula · 03/03/2023 13:18

Thanks, lots to think about.... my DD didn't get into any kind of nap/feeding routine until about 6 months so I'm just assuming new baby will be the same... planning to BF again so that will make being out and about easier. The main issue will be how restricted we are on activities. But of course my friend can do stuff with her DD, I wouldn't insist we did absolutely everything together. And she prob would be happy to take the older two from time to time.

Will give it a bit more thought!

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evemillbank · 03/03/2023 14:00

It's a great place to go with a small child and baby!

Bells3032 · 03/03/2023 14:44

I took my daughter at 8 months old in October. We had previously done a weeks trip to Jersey and a 10 day cruise with her. And this was by far the easiest...we have actually booked to go back next week (she'll be 13 months).

There's not a huge range of activities but there is a baby sensory class and obv can take them swimming. my little one didn't love the wave pool but the little baby pool she loved playing with the little fountains etc.

Everything is so baby friendly - high chairs everywhere, cots and high chairs in the lodges, restaurants have soft play areas which the older kids in the family took my daughter into (may be harder with a 4 month old as my daughter was crawling by then) and just didn't feel anxious or self-councious at all.

If you're comfortable with it there is a cresche as well if you want some free time.

We took her mini-golfing and for lots of lovely long walks. she was very very happy.

Original poster
OrionNebula · 03/03/2023 22:26

@Bells3032 sounds amazing! Thank you!

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ProjectsGalore · 03/03/2023 22:30

I messed up and ended up going with a 3 year old and two week old baby. Cycling was not much fun!!! It was fine. I took microwave steriliser bags and breastfed and just took baby nestled into a sling everywhere. Can the 4 year olds ride bikes? It would be easier if they could. I put baby in a trailer in the car seat along with the 3 year old.

bumpytrumpy · 03/03/2023 22:35

OrionNebula · 03/03/2023 13:18

Thanks, lots to think about.... my DD didn't get into any kind of nap/feeding routine until about 6 months so I'm just assuming new baby will be the same... planning to BF again so that will make being out and about easier. The main issue will be how restricted we are on activities. But of course my friend can do stuff with her DD, I wouldn't insist we did absolutely everything together. And she prob would be happy to take the older two from time to time.

Will give it a bit more thought!

Go for it! You'll be grand. Baby will just fit in in a sling or buggy. Honestly, you can do it - just be organised & flexible

CeriB82 · 04/03/2023 07:42

I never took a baby there but I’ve been going for years and ive seen babies so small I swear they were born there!

bootswiththefur · 04/03/2023 20:24

This post has some good tips - realmumreview.com/top-tips-for-center-parcs-with-babies-toddlers/

We went when my daughter was 6 months but this was before covid, its generally a very baby friendly place. We found with younger kids there was plenty to do that was free too once you got there.

Original poster
OrionNebula · 05/03/2023 09:32

@bootswiththefur thanks very much, I'll take a look at that!

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