 Poster: A snowHead
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Our 1st baby will be 4months in January (and was planned that way to to fit in ski hols!!) but the now the time has come around to book, my wife is having second thoughts about leaving him with his grandparents for a week.
Were thinking about going as a group with my parents and take turns to do the babysitting. Just wandering whether anyone has experience of taking little ones away and how much work it is? e.g. all the baby paraphanalia we would need to take, cold weather etc etc.
Any thoughts / advice appreciated 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jbo, no such experience, but congratulations! 
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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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Leave the wife & baby at home and go with The Lads. The reasons for doing this are plentiful.
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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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Jbo, last year we took Tommy to Les Gets with Ski Famille. He was six months old at the time and MrsFE really felt like she couldn't leave him for a week. Our original plan was to take one of his nursery nurses as a nanny, but that plan fell through and we were very unsure about booking him in for childcare with strangers, even though Ski Famille was a company specialising in family skiing.
I needn't have worried - the chalet was perfect for babies and young children, the staff attentive and responsive to the needs of even the tiniest tots, and the whole experience geared to allowing parents the maximum amount of pampering and slope time whilst providing a brilliant level of care for the little ones. I'd recommend them to anyone!
A family-centric TO will also more likely have all the paraphenalia needed - cots, high chairs, changing mats, cutlery, crockery, sterilisers and the like - so it makes the whole thing a) doable and b) non-stressful!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Jbo, we have done this one before here and you will probably find several threads if you look hard enough using the search function. But go for it. The Creche at Lake Louise takes babies from 18 days....
Where are you going to?
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Jbo, we took Mouth Junior when he was 9 weeks old then again when he was 14 weeks. There is no way I would have felt ready to leave him at this stage even with grandparents and can understand your other half's concerns here in fact left him for first time ever this weekend and he is 22 months!). We drove and took all stuff with us eg formula milk. It worked very well and all in all we spent a total of 6 weeks with him skiing before he was 4 months!
The best thing would be to take grandparents and they will love baby sitting (ours came out to do a weeks stint).
I would not hesitate to recommend it but would advise driving - you are in more control of your journey and schedule.
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Jbo, Out first trip with little ones was when they were 14 months (twins) but the next year we had a 3-month old as well.
Perfectly easy with some planning: yes to suggestions above to take usual food, milk and nappies and of course a selection of toys. I would suggest a sling is easier to carry little one around than any pushchairs - if going with a TO or chalet they may have the ones on skis to hire.
We always drove as to us it made the journey less stressful as could stop as and when required at our timetable and pace. But whatever suits....
While we had parents with us - they ski'd and we used a variety of creches with chalets or locally booked nursery when we organised it ourselves.
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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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| hyweljenkins wrote: |
| Leave the wife & baby at home and go with The Lads. The reasons for doing this are plentiful. |
The reason not is that divorces are expensive 
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a couple of ski holidays without wife and kid, and you'll have made the divorce money back in no time.. then you can get some new gear..bargin if you ask me 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for the advice everyone! We are looking at going to Serre Chevalier, from Bournemouth via Gatwick so the journey is going to be relatively long and a few people prob wont thank us on the plane!
But thank you all for the positive comments, Im sure the better half will feel much happier reading this!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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People who take babies on aeroplanes are just wrong!
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You know it makes sense.
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We've got a 13 week old and have decided agaist a ski holiday this year due to the extra effort involved. A holiday is meant to be relaxing and we (well, the wife did) decided that we'd (the wife would) worry too much all day if she (the baby) was left with complete strangers this early in life.
I hear Scotland is meant to have a record breaking season coming up so i'll need to satisfy myself with trips to glencoe and nevis range this year... no bad thing i suppose.
Next season, the grandparents have already agreed to come out with us, where-ever we go, to babysit while we go skiing. 
good luck, and i'll look forward to read about your experience on snowheads
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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We took our first child to the US for a ski trip - he was one. I think that was too young and too far. I wouldn't go on a plane with a baby under 6 months either unless it was an emergency. I think unless you're absolutely desperate to go I'd give it a miss. Is your wife OK for skiing? I seem to remember it took my wife a long time to recover but then she had a horrendous time giving birth . . .
Sorry to be negative. I must say babies at that age are pretty portable, and actually when they can walk there's some new challenges to deal with. Nevertheless, it may not be the holiday you thought it would be.
If you do go, let us all know how you got on!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Boris, I'd forgotten about that one 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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johnnyh, wise words - MrsFE really struggled last year - her confidence was shot to pieces and she felt terrified of hurting herself and not being able to look after Tommy. That, and the physical toll of the previous months, meant it was pretty miserable for her on-piste. This time out we're going to spend some time at Xscape to rebuild her confidence to match her excellent technical skiing ability.
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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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Jbo, congrats!! You shouldn't worry about the altitude as at 4 months his/her lungs are developed enough to cope with the "thin" air and altitude sickness doesn't tend to occur below 3500m/11500 feet. Just keep junior at resort level and all will be fine.
I agree- best tip is to tag the grandparents along, enjoy!
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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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hi we took out little one to Norway in january when he was 9 months - its was -20 most of the time, and apart from one day it was great
he has ben twice a year since ( now 4 ) never any problem - in fact the only problem we are having now is that as soon as he sees
Xmas decorations in shops he wants to go skiing - so we are off the peissey for Xmas this year, and if it doesnt snow we wil have trouble
so i would say go for it
all the nannies are helpful, and we never had problems with them.
the first time we took him to geilo - with crystal, the creshe was on slope at the gondola so you could nip by all day.
just make sure you pack warm clothes, and plenty of milk- remember to take steralising bags if there are bottles involved
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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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In our experience babies are flexible and will fit in with whatever pattern you want. Whether that's sharing looking after them whilst the other is skiing, taking non-skiing grandparents, putting them in the local creche (doesn't matter that they don't speak the language!), or even skiing with them (from about a year ).
As long are they are fed, warm, and cuddled they don't really worry!
I know of no families that regret introducing their child to proper winter at an early age.
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Jbo, I've been taking our 3 kids for 3 years now but that was only when our youngest would have been 18 months old. Have to say that I had had the choice again we would have left him at home with granny. As this is your 1st I can imagine that this would break your heart doing so (trust me though you'll learn) and would suggest taking granny or grandpa with you, or even better a really hot Swedish nanny  I've never had great experiences with creches so if you can afford to take someone along to look after the bambino I would recommend that option
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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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My parents took me when I was 6 months - plus a Swiss nanny to look after me. She put me on a balcony and the sun went off me: I got pneumonia (first of 2 times).
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Jbo, Go for it...... I'm sure you won't regret it.
The grandparents come with us to help out. When Harry was tiny, we took it in turns to stay with him. Taking him out (well wrapped up) to change over. As a Mummy, I was glad to have familiar faces looking after him, and also glad to do something non-mummy for a few hours a day. I'm sure Mrs Jbo will benefit from having a few hours away from baby and spending some time with you (if you ski together). Harry has now progressed to strapping on his own skis, but we are sure, watching us over the last few years prepared him well.
Driving is without doubt the best way to go with a baby. We have always driven overnight. Harry pretty much sleeps all the way and wakes to see snow covered mountains.
Good luck
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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If you and your missus are organised go for it. We did with our first at about the same age. We are planning to do the same with our new one who is due in 7 weeks. I have booked a fortnight in Les Arcs 1950 in March so she will be 4 months old. BUT I am taking the mother and father in law for the first week then my wifes 2 cousins for the second week to help baby sit etc. That means my wife and I can ski together for at least some of the time. We are staying in a self catering apartment so we aren't in the way of others eg in a chalet.
It works out to be a bit pricier but it means that we enjoy the holiday and it is a treat for the extended family and earns me brownie points. Plus it means that whoever is at home can get the dinner on and the beers chilled.
I would seriously recommend going. We fly alot and we have never had a problem, just make sure your baby is drinking on the way up and on the way down so its ears equalise.
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We took our little girl aged 7 months. We went as a group and shared the baby sitting. Worked a treat. I wouldnt have wanted to leave her home
without both of us for a whole week.
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You know it makes sense.
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Without wanting to be vulgar, the idea of taking grandparents/siblings/carers etc along is great in principle, but turns a week away from a moderately-expensive jaunt that costs about twice the price of a week away to southern Europe in summer to a ruinously-expensive trip that could get you two weeks all-inclusive in the Maldives. It's not that I don't think it's worth it, but I really don't know whether I can bring myself to paying for my parents to come along for the ride with the remit only to look after Tommy. That's a whole load of expensive childcare!!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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is right
we went when our first was 4 months- stayed at bottom of cable car in Argentiere- we popped back to breast feed- no problem.
Little bits of off piste and up to top of Grands Montets but not often.
took my mum- who fell over in car park and ended up in plaster- but apart from that fine!!
Trips won't be quite the same for a while- but the satisfaction of taking junior to the snow park on going the skier cross is amazing
http://uk.youtube.com/v/v1bzO_olPOo
of course if you don't go- you just might never go again.........
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Poster: A snowHead
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Taking the folks along needn't be ruinously expensive though, but only if you DIY. You will need to pay for two extra flights, but get an apartment that will do for 4 of you, and it doesn't need to cost the earth, they won't need a full area lift pass,and the cost of childcare for a baby can soon mount up.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Exactly. It is a choice:
Dont go skiing whilst you have young children
Go but leave the kids
Go but use local childcare
Go and take someone to help
I am lucky to go skiing with mates and with my family. I have tried all the options (apart from my wife and I without the kids) and taking someone works for us. It is more relaxing knowing that your child is happy and that in itself is worth a few quid. So long as you are flexible you can still enjoy your life even with kids!
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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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Blindside, I am a firm believer in enjoying life.
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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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Even in Durham???? cheers
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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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Blindside, yes, even in Durham, but I prefer enjoying life in the Alps.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Helen Beaumont, Here here!!
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Jbo, exactly the same situation except not planned with the same precision last season. Took 4 month old away in April (so not exactly the same then clever willie). Confidence in the childcare is crucial so if you can take the parents, do it. One thing to watch out for is the height of the resort, you want to stay lower if possible but with a fast link and quick return if necessary and for B.F. We drove so we could take the kitchen sink. By alpine stds need big room too to accomodate cot.
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FastEddie, not sure why Grandparents don't pay their own way. Mine certainly did.
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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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Jonpim, mine too - we have a deal. They look after the kids at times, I take my dad away from my mum for a time.
It's fair - they all have the same mental age
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As some people have said, the grandparents are quite happy to pay their way as theyre also skiers and we'll take turns between baby sitting and skiing. I looked at the drive option and for the time it will take and the cost in fuel, it works out better to fly. Although I may look for flights from Bournemouth to reduce the overall length.
Thanks for the positive comments on taking the baby! I used this forum last year for advice on skiing when pregnant (Mrs Jbo was 10 weeks when we went to Breckenridge) and we went for it, (although taking it very carefully with me right behind her the whole time) so I suppose were more of the risk taking type! 
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