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Advice on skiing with babies/toddlers (in general or Bad Gastein)

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
There are a group of us going to Bad Gastein at the end of February, 12 adults and 3 babies/toddlers. We've been going skiing together for a few years but this will be the first year we'll have children with us. We were initially thinking we'd split childcare between us, but we're starting to think it'd be good to get at least some childcare, if possible, to enable us to ski more together (and save our sanity - I find looking after my little one hard enough work so looking after 3 might be a bit much for any of us alone!). The chlldren are around 6 months, 12 months and 16 months respectively.

Firstly, does anyone have any general advice on what's worked for them taking babies/toddlers on skiing holidays? We've been on holiday with our little one but as this is the first time we'll be taking him skiing I'm not entirely sure what to expect.

Secondly, does anyone know of any childcare providers in Bad Gastein that might work? I've done a search and found nothing online other than hotels which offer childcare to their guests. Would any be willing to let us pay to use this even though we're not staying there? Happy to consider creches/nurseries or hiring a nanny to look after the 3 of them in our chalet (or anything else that might work). We're not hugely wealthy so flying out a nanny isn't feasible but I appreciate childcare always costs a fair bit. Preference for English speaking if possible, though I'm not sure how important that is at their age (our 16 month old says a few words and understands some things but most communication and interaction is still non-verbal).

Thanks for any advice!
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Hi Drogue,

We snowboarded in Austria and France when my kids (2 & 5yrs now) were 3months and 4months, respectively. You may need to check minimum age for some of the childcare options open to you, i can't recall whether it was 6months or 9months when we went.

I've considered childcare in the years since then, but find it to be prohibitively expensive. So my wife and I usually take turns on the childcare front and swap over at lunchtime - with whoever is snowboarding riding with family/friends group whoever has travelled with us.

This has the added bonus of allowing us to share a lift pass, further reducing the cost.

Between the 12 adults (or whichever ones are responsible for the 3 kids) is it not possible for a couple of you to take a childcare shift (half day/full day?) at a time, thus minimising anyone missing out?
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
giddyman wrote:
Between the 12 adults (or whichever ones are responsible for the 3 kids) is it not possible for a couple of you to take a childcare shift (half day/full day?) at a time, thus minimising anyone missing out?


That's what we may end up doing. Each couple could do 2 days off skiing, or 4 half days if splitting, but if we can find some childcare to reduce this it would be better. Whether that's just mornings so we each take 2 afternoons off, or full days, or on a few days, I think it'd help us relax a little more (not to mention get more skiing in).
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Yeah, i know what you mean. I think we were lucky with the ages ours were on our first hols with them.

It's amazing how relaxing pushing a buggy along to the nearest cafe and enjoying a hot chocolate is. Laughing
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I'm going with a 3 month old to Megeve in March. Tried finding childcare for the odd day so we could all (4 adults) ski together for a couple of day, but no luck. All booked.
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@Drogue,
Have you tried contacting the tourist office, they may have a list of baby sitters. We did this years ago when our kids were toddlers.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
The ski school in Dorfgastein takes them from age 2 in their kindergarten. It is snowplay mostly. Eexpensive though- 60 euros per child per half day 9-1 including lunch . Further up the valley they need to be 3 or 4 at least, from memory
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@T Bar: we did, sadly they don't know of anywhere, which suggests we may be out of luck.

@hackingdr: I wouldn't mind the expense, but none of them will be 2. I think any form of ski school will be too old for them, we're mostly just looking for someone who can look after them, with any snowplay or activities being a bonus (we'll bring some toys with us and ours is usually happy playing himself with the occasional bit of attention).

I'm amazed there seems to be nothing, as I'd have thought the more real-town and family-oriented nature of skiing in Austria would mean there'd be others wanting a similar thing, even if there isn't the demand for an English-language ski nursery or multiple specialised companies.

If anyone has any more ideas it's be greatly appreciated, as we're pretty flexible on what kind of childcare it is but would really like to find something that gives us the option of skiing together. At the moment it looks like we'll be doing childcare ourselves. It'll still be fun playing in the snow in the mountains, and we can take them to the thermal spa for a swim, but it may not be as much of a skiing holiday as I'd hoped. I think in future we'll go for more baby/toddler-focused ski companies that have their own childcare, but with a group of half families and half singles/couples this doesn't suit everybody so well.

Thanks for all the help!
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We started skiing again when youngest was 4 . Best ski kindergartens were in North America. couldnt stomach a flight to the rockies, but killington and smugglers notch were good, the young ones could do as little skiing/snowplay/colouring books as they felt like. The oldest as a 7 year old got really hooked then.
A good time to take them in Europe is the week before Xmas. It is usually the first week of the season. The nannies in the crèches are really up for it and not yet disillusioned. Youngest spent a great week opening two of every new toy and book in claviere with Crystal when she was about 6 or 7. Xmas was a let down.
Oldest (ex-seasonnaire) now mid 20s says esprit etc are really geared up for kids nowadays.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
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We started skiing again when youngest was 4 . Best ski kindergartens were in North America. couldnt stomach a flight to the rockies, but killington and smugglers notch were good, the young ones could do as little skiing/snowplay/colouring books as they felt like. The oldest as a 7 year old got really hooked then.
A good time to take them in Europe is the week before Xmas. It is usually the first week of the season. The nannies in the crèches are really up for it and not yet disillusioned. Youngest spent a great week opening two of every new toy and book in claviere with Crystal when she was about 6 or 7. Xmas was a let down.
Oldest (ex-seasonnaire) now mid 20s says esprit etc are really geared up for kids nowadays.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Drogue, it’s hard to believe that others have not faced your problem in Bad Gastein!

This website has babysitters and you can also look at neighboring areas like Zell Am See

https://babysitter24.at/en/babysitter/search?q%5Bgeo_loc_id%5D=1174625&q%5Bplace%5D=Bad+gastein

You can also try harnessing the power of mumsnet by posting to their ski forum.

https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/skiing

Merinannies supplies nannies to other areas like St. Anton - they might be able to give you a lead on Bad Gastein.

Finally, call the poshest hotel in the area and see if they will give you a contact.

Good luck!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I know it’s pointless for this trip but if you’re ok staying in a hotel you may want to look into kinderhotels. They start child care at 6 weeks and most in a ski location have a ski school for small children (2 or 3 I think). We go to the one in Oberjoch, not a huge ski area but it’s enough for morning skiing for a week with kids.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
The lack of childcare options is what has stopped us going skiing in austria with the kids, despite the fact we think they would love it. The Kinderhotels look great, though again in school holidays they become prohibitively expensive. Its why we have opted for nannies in 3 Vallees self catering this year in France. Would love to be skiing a smaller resort.
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