Holidaying with a new baby

Timeflies

Everyone seems to be planning their 2015 holidays, so maybe you could help me! OH and I are expecting our first child imminently (four days ago!), which means places we've previously gone on holiday, or activities we've done are less suitable.

For a UK holiday, typically we would go to the Lake District for 5 days or so, staying at the same small B&B that doesn't allow children, and the key themes would be walking, enjoying the scenery and eating lovely food.

Obviously our child will be too small to want to see or do anything in particular, but I'm just thinking what changes we would make as new parents. The first things that come to mind are transporting baby (I guess not everywhere is pram friendly), baby-friendly accommodation, and feeding/changing on the move.

Any tips for good places to visit/stay or tips for travelling with a new baby are very welcome.

ellay864

Congratulations...and hope you're not kept waiting too much longer!!
When they're small it can actually be easier, especially if you're breastfeeding. I found it more of a hassle going out with a toddler than a young baby who I could feed myself, and then carry in a backpack/sling - no need for pram in that case and ideal if you want to go walking. You will need to allow for carrying things you'll need like nappies/bottles if you're out for a length of time without car/pram. As far as accommodation goes you may find that places that don't allow small children will allow younger infants, as it's the toddlers running riot they want to discourage! But in any case there are also plenty of places that will welcome families. Going out for meals can be a bit more problematic as you'll need to have LO in a pram or be holding them through meal - you may have to play that by ear a bit and see the sort of routine s/he settles into. We got lucky with my first as he would naturally sleep when we would eat in the evening so he just slept next to us; DS2 was far less cooperative! It's hard to say until you know just how your baby is and how you are with him/her - some parents find they natuarlly bring baby into their routine as much as possible, others find themselves far more anxious and less keen to do things. Don't try to pre-empt too much and you'll get to know how you feel and what you're ready to do

fawd1

Yeah I agree. Babies are much easier to take on holiday (with the exception of the amount of stuff you'll find yourself packing!). It's once they start crawling/walking that it becomes difficult as they won't be in their pram all day and you see hazards everywhere!

susancs

Holiday parks are great for holidays with a baby as there are usually self catering caravans or chalets which makes preparing baby food and using baby equpment much easier. You can park your car beside the accomodation for unloading all the equipment. You can usually hire travel cots but I always brought our own with us. Also always brought a small heater with us in case the weather was cold (as the sittign room usually had the gas fire in it, but no heating in bedrooms). We usually did a google search to find a supermarket nearby and stopped off to do a shop before we arrived of cleaning items, food etc. to save loading up the car for the whole journey. Most have cafes, restaurants on site that are baby/child friendly if you want to eat out. You also have shallow swimming pools for babies and small children/parents to use.

You can bath your baby and put in night baby gros and grobag and wheel in the pram into the entertainment complex, so you can still enjoy night entertainment as a lot of parents do similar.

The Isle of wight has lots of lovely places to visit with nice old fashioned tea shops, scenery, donkey sanctuary. The Daily Mail usually has a from £10 per person, per 3 or 4 night break offer for spring/summer dates each year (minimum of 4, whether only 2 going so £40 per break) and incudes a lot of nice park holiday parks beside the sea and nice walking areas. You can upgrade to the best accomodation for not much more we found. We stayed at a park resort in Kent that even had a steam train that had a station in the park. and a lovely park in Isle of Wight.

Here are details of a previous offer.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4373435

greenface

Best going outside the kids school hols if you can . Cheaper and often more choice . Whats your budget . Any othr people apart from whats said . Any pets .? GOOD LUCK

HOWMUCH

We have taken our Grandson away on Holiday loads of times from being a baby, I second using a caravan park, we currently have used Breakfree holidays when they have their speical offers on. You have to pay for 4 people but we booked in October for May Day mid week for only £43. He was only 2 last Sept and we took him away 3 times last year. Our next trip is Monday 5th Jan for 4 night, his parents re coming this time. This is in a hotel but during the summer we prefer self catering, much more freedom. When do plan on going?

Kynthia

I'm still adjusting to holidaying with a child, and in many ways it gets harder the more alert and active they get. We've still gone to nice restaurants but find it more relaxing to do so for lunch or very early dinner as then even the nicest places are more family friendly.

When planning accommodation you need to think about whether your child will be going to bed for the evening, as then you'll need a large bedroom or a separate living space so that you can watch tv and talk without waking them. Plus you may want to consider self-catering or somewhere with room service. Many hotels and b&bs allow a baby in a travel cot when they're only advertised for two, such as the lovely Hilton I stayed in.

You get a pram in most places and there are ones that cope better with 'off road' use than others (bigger wheels and more suspension). Plus baby carriers are quite good for when you want to move freely, but you'll need to carry everything you need. Changing a baby is fairly easy, I've done it on a wall, the boot of the car and on my lap when needed. Giving milk on the go is easier than food once weaning, it just depends on whether you need to warm the milk if bottle feeding. Breastfeeding is easier on holidays as you don't need to carry around milk and bottles, worry about cleaning and sterilising each day and warming the milk if your baby won't take the ready made milk at room temperature, but it can be done.

Holiday parks are a good idea, but I found that the entertainment is set around older children that we don't yet have. So we may return when our baby is a toddler. I know two couples with a baby each that rented a villa abroad together and that sounded like a good idea, as then when the babies are asleep for the evening and you can't go out you have a group for entertainment and company rather than feeling stuck in.