TRAVELLING even short distances with babies and young children can be a logistical nightmare, as every parent knows.

From bottles to high chairs to pushchairs, the list of equipment needed to look after youngsters sometimes seems never-ending. So much so, that a new survey suggests it is the top concern for 70% of parents when considering a holiday with their baby, with almost half being worried about forgetting something vital.

Forty per cent said they would wait until their child was at least three months old before taking their first holiday because there was simply too much stuff to take away, according to the research conducted on behalf of Luxury Family Hotels.

In the same survey, 48% were concerned about disrupting their baby's routine by taking them away, 44% said they were too tired and 39% were worried about their baby crying and causing an embarrassing scene in public.

Adrian Burley, Marketing Director of Luxury Family Hotels, says: “We know that holidaying with a small baby, especially for the first time can be daunting. It's a big milestone for any new parent and family. At our hotels, we aim to take away any potential stress of the first trip away by providing as much as we can for babies and hands-on support from our very child-friendly staff to ensure that parents can relax and enjoy themselves.”

Luxury Family Hotels provide everything a baby needs on a trip away, including bottle cleaning and sterilising, two hours' free childcare a day in the Ofsted-registered crèche, a baby listening service, cots, highchairs and changing mats.  The hotel group even offers a Mary Poppins pick up service on a Sunday morning, where children are collected from the room and given breakfast by its team of OFSTED registered child carers, allowing parents a chance to have a lie in, breakfast in bed, read the papers or enjoy a relaxing spa treatment.

In the survey of 1000 parents[1], 61% said they chose to holiday first in the UK.  One in ten new parents chose to stay close to home, admitting that their first break was less than an hour from home.  Nearly half (45%) were a bit braver, stating that for their first trip they travelled two to three hours and an equal amount stated that they travelled three or more hours.

The main priorities for parents when selecting a holiday with their new offspring was the provision of baby equipment, friendly staff and someone else doing the cooking.

To help new parents relax and enjoy their very first trip away Luxury Family Hotels has created A Baby's First Stay Away package at Woolley Grange Hotel. Rates start from £369 for a two-night break (Monday-Wednesday), which includes breakfast and a two-course candlelight dinner each evening for two adults, plus a swimming lesson with a qualified baby swim instructor in the warm indoor pool.  A special Baby Breakfast Club is also on offer so parents can have a lie-in if they wish.  Each family will be given a personalised welcome hamper and all the baby equipment needed to ensure their stay is a home away from home.

Top 10 fears for parents when going away with baby for the first time

A recent report[2] found that four in five of us would rather holiday at home than suffer the stresses of travelling abroad.  Almost nine in ten people said they enjoyed holidaying in Britain because it did not leave them feeling exhausted when they got home.  Eight-seven per cent of those polled said fresh air, more family time and less travel left them feeling happier and healthier. It also showed a third of people slept better while on a domestic holiday.

Adrian Burley added: “We know from experience that a lot of parents opt for a UK escape with a new baby given it is less stressful than heading on a plane to a new country. It also allows for more quality time enjoying the first of many family breaks.”

[1] Luxury Family Hotels parents research (of social media followers and via NappyValley.net) surveyed April and May 2017

[2] Research by GO Outdoors

For bookings telephone 0844 482 2152 or visit www.luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk 

Follow Luxury Family Hotels on Twitter @LFHotels, Facebook www.facebook.com/luxuryfamilyhotels. 

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Maria Boyle                                                       Suzanne Trisk

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