Tips for travelling with a newborn

Top Instagrammer Zahrah aka the Hillwalking Hijabi stayed with us at Drimsynie Estate Holiday Village, with her partner and the newest addition to their family, newborn baby Muhammad Harris!

Zahrah shares her experience of her stay and her top tips for travelling with a wee bairn.

Our first break with our baby! To say I was a bit apprehensive would be an understatement. Worried about under-packing, feeding schedules, public crying and getting out in wet weather with a newborn were just some of the thoughts going through my mind in the run up to our holiday. Turns out I didn’t need to worry! Drimsynie Estate was such a family-friendly place.

The staff were so welcoming and friendly, and the estate had an arcade room entertaining kids of all ages (including two competitive adults playing darts and pool!)

We stayed in the Pond View Glamping Pod. It was perfect - so cosy for a family of 3. It had a cosy mezzanine sleeping area (good for sneaking a couple of much needed solo naps!) plus a pull-out bed and a pull-out sofa downstairs. Fully equipped with a kitchen and a bathroom, we had all the comforts and flexibility needed for catering to a newborn. And if you ask in advance, the lovely staff will provide you with a travel cot to save you lugging your own (just remember your bedding).

With mountains and Loch Goil on our doorstep we weren’t short of views and managed to get at least one walk in every day. We will definitely be coming back when Muhammad Harris is a bit older and can fully enjoy and appreciate all the facilities!

TOP TRAVEL TIPS

Self-catering is the way to go

While the thought of a hotel room might be tempting when you’re in sore need of a break, when you go self-catered you simply have more space to relax and not feel cooped up with a baby. After baby’s bedtime you can cook and enjoy a meal for two, curl up on the sofa for movie night or enjoy a favourite game. If you formula feed or are weaning your baby, then the kitchen comes in even more handy for the prep needed.

Choose somewhere with food options

Get the best of both worlds by staying somewhere like Drimsynie Estate that has lots of food options including a restaurant and a takeaway so you’re only cooking some of the time. You can even head out for breakfast if you fancy it!

Put yourselves first

As soon as kids get bigger they need a lot more entertaining, but while they’re really small they need very little apart from you! So don’t worry about finding a holiday destination you think your little one will love, make sure there are plenty of things for YOU to do and enjoy, ideally with everything on your doorstep so it’s all easy and you can really relax.

Views for days

If you’re seeking a bit of an escape from daily life (and let’s face it, life with a newborn is HARD), there’s no understating the power of an amazing location and breath-taking views to take you away from everything and recharge your batteries. Being surrounded by nature… mountains… lochs - can make you forget your worries (and stresses!) in a heartbeat. A lot of accommodation comes with a balcony so you can unwind in the great outdoors with no effort at all.

Don’t sweat the packing

While it’s tempting to bring everything under the sun, research the nearest shop so you know you can get what you need in a pinch. There’s a wee shop at Drimsynie which has baby necessities to save you lugging loads of wipes and nappies. Or why not prebook a grocery delivery to your accommodation? Larger accommodation often comes with a washing machine so you can wash any babygrows that get baby sick (or worse) on them if you absolutely run out of baby clothes!

Perfect your baby carrier

Using a baby carrier or sling for the first time can feel pretty daunting but get your practice in before your holiday so you’re completely confident with it. Then you can nip out or go for a walk at the drop of a hat without worrying about whether places are pram-friendly. Your wee one will love being so close to you, and being able to just walk with both hands free will give you that feeling of freedom and independence that will make you feel that little bit more like… you.

Do you have any top tips for travelling with a very wee one?