 Poster: A snowHead
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My wife and I usually go skiing with a group of friends each year, usually staying in a chalet in Europe. We've had a couple of years off (pandemic followed by pregnancy), and are looking to go again this winter, but this time we will have an 18 month old child in tow. So we're after advice, having never taken children skiing before.
18 months old is too young for any ski-school, but it would be nice to hire some boots and skis and let him have a play around on them while we're there. Will any shops hire kit for children that small?
Any recommendations for resorts and accommodation? (unsure whether we're going on our own or in the usual group, and I have no idea whether any chalets will accommodate small children?) One of us will probably stay with him the whole time rather than putting him in nursary, but we're open to hearing all the options.
I'm very interested to hear any advice from people who have experience taking small children on a skiing holiday.
Thanks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We did it for years - and our most successful holidays were when we brought a non skiing member of the family (usually Lady F's Mother or Sister) to help with the kid/kids and went self catering.
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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?
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@FireFury, IME few 18 month olds will get much out of having a go at "skiing" but almost all will enjoy toboganning - which is remarkably good exercise for whoever is pulling him back up the hill. You need a small slope and two people - one to "catch". Not all kids enjoy that "out of control whizzy" feeling though - one of my grandchildren hated it. She became a good little skier but always very controlled and cautious. the other 7 grandchildren loved it from the outset.
They ALL, without exception, enjoyed playing around in the snow with a little bucket and spade. Even a short stick will do. But depending on the weather, and how they are dressed, they will soon get wet. Whether they also get cold and miserable, depends..... their capacity to endure it usually exceeds that of the supervising adult.
It is supposed to be essential to have them in sunglasses all the time. Most of my kids and grandchildren just tore them off and trampled them underfoot. A hat with a good brim is a good idea if it's sunny - and plenty of suncream, obvs.
I would always try to hook up with another family, or a family member as @Old Fartbag suggests. Not just to help with childcare but for social reasons too. And yes, self-catering every time for me - few 18 months old are sufficiently good at going to sleep in a strange environment to be left, for example in a hotel room.
I've no experience of leaving small kids in nursery. If he enjoys a nursery at home he'd probably be fine, but it all adds to the cost. There are some hotels in Austria which specialise in the facilities for kids - somebody will be along with a few suggestions. They sound great, though a lot more expensive than doing your own thing. Depends on your budget.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@FireFury, the smallest boots we could find about 10years ago were made by Head and came down to mondo 14 or so, suitable for a 2.5-3 yr old.
At 18 months, strap-on plastic skis are likely your only option. They are good for pretending they are skiing, but useless in any “real” sense. They don’t really slide, don’t have an edge, and are very loose fitting - which is a good thing, as they have no release mechanism. Even towing a kids on the flat with them on is pretty much impossible as the skis wonder off in random directions.
At this age, the upside of them skiing is near zero (they won’t learn anything useful) and the downside is that it could put them off. 5 mins with the toy plastic skis was enough for me to realise they were an impediment to future skiing.
As already suggested - a sledge and a bucket and spade are likely to be much more practical and fun than skiing.
Easter worked much better for our kids than Xmas or feb - the better weather means they don’t have to wear so many layers and can actually move, rather than being bundled up so much they are immobile.
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Easter worked much better for our kids than Xmas or feb
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Yes, best later in the season but with an 18 month old, unless one of you is a teacher, you are much better off outside school hols. Late March would be good.
Probably a good idea to get junior used to sunglasses. Straps didn't deter mine from pulling them off. One of my most skinny and wriggly grandchildren can climb out of a proper five point car seat - sunglass straps would be treated with disdain except she quite likes them because they make her feel grown up!
There's something to be said, if you want to stay with the child 24/7 (which we generally did) for having a winter holiday with various activities in the snow and giving up the idea of skiing altogether. Would make it much cheaper! There are reportedly some places where parents can "share" the same ski pass, which is a good idea if you want to do some solo skiing. In that case, having accommodation really near the slopes will be important.
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I agree with @snowdave.
I think ours were around 3 or 4 before putting on skis. In the resort, we bought a little plastic sledge (with the brake handles), which we attached to a smallish duffle bag with bungie cords so it could go on a plane (and it then came on every holiday). There is a picture of my eldest Daughter (now 30) being pulled about - wearing a woolly hat and tiny goggles.
When our Son came, he felt left out as he was too young to ski - so we bought those little plastic ones mentioned above (which even came with "Ski Holes" as he called them), which allowed him to proudly stump about the apartment in them and thus not feel left out.
We found Ami Chaud mitts (I think sadly no more) and Lego Onepieces were good....also Trespass made decent stuff. Make sure you have a second pair of Mitts, as they get wet.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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If you do want some time to ski together or at least go and get a coffee without little one look for resorts with good private nannies. We have used several different companies in Morzine and without fail the nannies have been just amazing and our boys adored them. Its much more flexible and relaxing for all involved than a creche.
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FAQ
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