Holidays With A Baby

You've given birth and could do with a holiday! So do you book a package holiday in a hotel and take a couple of weeks away from cooking? Sounds good, but think about it.

Hotels are a bit restrictive, especially when it comes to babies. The walls are thin - you've heard the people in the next room too! - babies are noisy, and there's little point asking them to be quiet. And if you have a toddler in tow as well, can you by sure the highchair has been cleaned properly? The Health and Safety Executive recommend that highchairs be sterilised between use and the chances of busy hotel staff being that conscientious is pretty slim.

Consider renting a self-catering cottage or villa. OK, so you will have to cook at least some of the meals. But you will appreciate the freedom of having a kitchen in which to prepare bottles and you can breastfeed without overgrown kids passing silly comments.

Not so long ago if you wanted to holiday abroad you had to take a package tour. Today the proportion of holidaymakers booking package tours has fallen below 50%, with the majority now taking advantage of cheap flights and a wide choice of self-catering cottages and villas. Of course there are many great areas in the UK for a holiday and the summers are getting warmer, and if baby is ill it is better to be within reach of health facilities that you are familiar with. Whether you wish to stay in the UK or travel further afield, you'll find a good selection of self catering holidays here.