Taking LO on holiday

[kirstybumx3]

We are looking into going abroad at the start of July.
Rio will have just turned 1 (20th June)

Has anyone else taken a baby on holiday around this age? was it difficult?

I am concerned more about the flight I think, as he will have to sit on my lap and is already difficult to keep in one place for longer than 10 seconds

Also, any suggestions on where to go? family friendly, nice and warm, preferably all inclusive and no longer than a few hours flight from UK.

 

[lau86]

We took our son when he was about 8 months old to Majorca. He wasn't happy on the flight but equally he didn't scream the place down. There's not a lot you can do at that age, he was too young for the I pad or any programmes. It didn't work out, he came down with a diarrhoea bug, he actually got it the day we left so he didn't get it from abroad. Just horrible coincidence. We were there for a ten day holiday but left after 5 because it was just awful with him.
We took him to lanzarote when he was 20 months old. Longer flight but we entertained him more with books, snacks and toys. It was brilliant there wasn't much time to chill out but we did a long walk to the resort in the morning, had a drink or two there, came back for Lo nap in the afternoon then dinner and the mini disco in the evening. We went all inclusive which I thought would be easy but there was hardly anything for LO to eat (he is a bit of a fussy eater anyway but their food is just completely different so I understood why he wouldn't eat it) and I was very bored by the food by the end.

 

[vegazbaby]

we are flying with virgin to vegas with lo when he is 15 months
we had a look at their website and were able to by an EXTRA seat for £75
he has to sit on my lap for landing and take off and wont get a special seat but
its an area where we can stretch out with him, worth checking with your airline to see if they offer the same thing

 

[iiTTCii]

We have booked for Ibiza for July as it's only a short flight. The things I looked into were the flight times, a lot going to Ibiza were either 6am (so would have to be up around 3am) or late at night. We had to pay more for a 9am flight. When I was looking for a hotel, I looked for a family room so that we could put LO to bed at night and we would be able to sit out on balcony/living area without disturbing her. I also looked at transfer times, there was a hotel I really liked but it had a 2 hour transfer and I thought it was too much after a flight.
We usually go to hotels where they have a la carte restaurants but we haven't bothered this time as we probably wouldn't get the use out of them. We have gone for an all inclusive hotel as I think it's easier for drinks etc but it's quite a basic hotel.

I've also bought a trunki, as although you can't take an extra case, you are allowed to take a piece of hand luggage for LO with a 10kg weight restriction so I'll try and cram as much into that as possible.

I'm gonna order my formula/nappies from the airport to collect when I'm there so it's not using out weight allowance.

I've bought a cheap buggy from aldi to use and bought a 'shade a babe'
https://www.mothercare.com/Shade-A-Babe/802797,default,pd.html

 

[alicecooper]

Ah yeah I've taken kids abroad at all sorts of ages. It's not so hard really you just need to be organised. I recommend Salou (Spain)

 

[sue_88]

I'm taking my LO to Tenerife in May, and Spain in August.

I only have allowance for me as going with Jet2 and they're a bit tight with baggage, so I am needing to be really careful with planning and packing. Luckily Tenerife is my sisters house so washing machine, and Spain is our house so again a washing machine so don't need to take much.

Also, we're going from Blackpool and airport shopping is shit so no Boots etc to do click and collect airside. So have to take nappies with me, well at least night nappies and just a generics brand during the day from the local supermarket, and some food & snacks for the plane.

I'm hoping it'll be relatively easy flying etc as she's quite laid back but just started to crawl commando so that all could go to pot! But it's only a few hours.

 

[carbafe]

We went to Salou too as it was a short flight and transfer. We got an apartment with pool as it meant we could put Lo to bed and sit in living room we also had a kitken for doing milk and baby food. I didn't take many pouches as thought I would be fine getting stuff there but it was hard . As LO was just over one I had stooped breastfeeding and he was on cows milk. I was bit worried about spanish cows milk so checked out what the Spanish brand name for aptimal was and got that when we arrived or you could take some with you. LO was great actually we used to take him out for dinner the get him in his PJs and sleeping bag and he went down to sleep in his pram with the sunshade down and we could sit for a few drinks on each night then just transfered him into the cot at the apartment. He was a good sleeper though. X

 

[liz1985]

We took ds to cyprus when he was 9months. It was fab. Flights were ok. He slept the whole flight home which was good. We stayed in a holiday villiage which wouldnt normally but was great with a lo, loads of kids so didnt have to worry about him been loud or messy in reasurants etc.

 

[Jamandspoon]

We have booked for Ibiza for July as it's only a short flight. The things I looked into were the flight times, a lot going to Ibiza were either 6am (so would have to be up around 3am) or late at night. We had to pay more for a 9am flight. When I was looking for a hotel, I looked for a family room so that we could put LO to bed at night and we would be able to sit out on balcony/living area without disturbing her. I also looked at transfer times, there was a hotel I really liked but it had a 2 hour transfer and I thought it was too much after a flight.
We usually go to hotels where they have a la carte restaurants but we haven't bothered this time as we probably wouldn't get the use out of them. We have gone for an all inclusive hotel as I think it's easier for drinks etc but it's quite a basic hotel.

I've also bought a trunki, as although you can't take an extra case, you are allowed to take a piece of hand luggage for LO with a 10kg weight restriction so I'll try and cram as much into that as possible.

I'm gonna order my formula/nappies from the airport to collect when I'm there so it's not using out weight allowance.

I've bought a cheap buggy from aldi to use and bought a 'shade a babe'
https://www.mothercare.com/Shade-A-Babe/802797,default,pd.html

I bought one of the shade a babe before we moved to Singapore, please be really careful how long you use it for! It doesn't allow much air movement inside the buggy when it's on and because it's black it REALLY heats up inside Very very quickly. I ended up only using it once and then have gone back to the hood on the buggy and a cheap parasol. Emilie was soooo hot in there and we were only out to walk down to the shops.

 

[Marythefairy]

I have a trunki for dd1. She loves it and it looks great. However if you need.packing.space.it's pretty rubbish. It's heavy on its own and because it's solid you can pack it super tight. If lo has a baggage.allowance I.would recommend a normal hand.luggage case or a large changing bag. I get loads more in my okiedog bag than in her trunki and I always need a changing bag when away anyways

 

[carbafe]

We got this sunshade https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunshine-Kids-30035-Shade-Maker/dp/B002WB237I/ref=tag_stp_s2_edpp. It was great and on a stroller we could pull it down to touch his feet when he was going for a sleep but air got in the sides ( it doesn't black out)

 

[Sams123]

We are going to mexico in 4 weeks when our lo will be 7months old! Its a super long flight but we figured it is easier to do now than when she is moving around! Then we are there for 2 weeks, at the azul sensatori which is super child friendly- steriliser in room, proper cot, toys on room service etc! The time difference is 6 hours and we will just let her adjust over the time we are there. Cant wait! X

 

[sue_88]

We got this sunshade https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunshine-Kids-30035-Shade-Maker/dp/B002WB237I/ref=tag_stp_s2_edpp. It was great and on a stroller we could pull it down to touch his feet when he was going for a sleep but air got in the sides ( it doesn't black out)

I've got the same. The idea of something black completely encasing the pram freaked me out so was glad when I saw this.

 

[kirstybumx3]

My MIL has just said "don't you think you're being a bit selfish taking Rio away at that time of year, it'll be far too hot for him!"

Now I'm feeling guilty and think maybe we shouldn't go away after all! Although I really want to.
How did your babies cope with the heat?

 

[shelx]

Ignore her he will love it we are bringing our LO in june and he'll be 10.5 months. My niece was in spain last year at 11 months and they spent alot of time at the beach. They bought her a small paddling pool, kept her in the shade and kept changing the water to keep her cool. Night time was just as easy hoping my LO will be the same!

 

[Blah11]

Im taking my 3 away to Greece end of June. Baby will have just turned 6 months and im praying she won't be an early crawler lol

 

[staralfur]

My MIL has just said "don't you think you're being a bit selfish taking Rio away at that time of year, it'll be far too hot for him!"

Now I'm feeling guilty and think maybe we shouldn't go away after all! Although I really want to.
How did your babies cope with the heat?

We've been to Mexico twice with LO, the first time we went it was averaging around 40 degrees with humidity, and she was (for the most part) fine. She did get cranky a lot easier and refused to walk anywhere until it cooled down in the evening, but generally she had a great time.

The second time we went it was a bit cooler but still around 30 degrees. She acted completely normal and it didn't seem to affect her at all.

Just make sure you're finding shade when you're settling outside and use hats, sunscreen, etc.

 

[liz1985]

We took ds in october so it was a little cooler but still late 20's early 30's every day and he was fine. Were planning on taking both away next summer in July and august and not worried. As long as your carefull lo's will be fine. Babies live in these countries full time and they are fine.

 

[Blah11]

^ difference is babies native to hot countries stay indoors mainly. In Spain its never the Spanish out in the midday heat, only the stupid brits looking like lobsters.

 

[Kiki1993]

This isn't my experience with my own child but when we went to Egypt The couple across from us had a lovely little girl! It was a 5 and a half hour flight and baby was overall good (there was a grumpy old man moaning about how the reason they went outside school holidays was to avoid kids but F him!) The little girl cried during take off, took about 15 minutes to settle, the air hostess was good with her - fussed over her ha! I noticed the mum had the books that have fabrics on them, a puppet book, she sang songs with her.. she napped at one point and the only other time she cried was during the landing! I didn't mind as a person that didn't have a child on the flight, the girl was distressed at times but she brightened up my flight when she smiled! ha, it was hilarious when we got of the plane, her face looked so shocked because we are from scotland she obviously hadnt had summer yet (it was april and she only looked 6 months old so wouldnt have experienced heat) .. was nice, the dad chatted with my OH during the flight, I chatted with mum when she could spare a breath lol!
They made it look easy but she did say she was nervous about it and it was challenging to keep her happy ha!
In contrast on the way home from Egypt I got a child aged about 7 behind me who kept kicking my chair, i asked her to stop, quite obviously so mum could hear and she did it harder. Mum said nothing to her! She was loud the whole flight, the air hostess came over and asked her to use indoor voices and it took like 5 warnings before mum actually did anything!
I can't wait to go on holiday with my baby.. when i have one lol!