Picking your destination
Be pragmatic. If you only have a week to spare, obviously don’t try to book a break island-hopping in Thailand. If you are looking to go long-haul, make sure you give yourself enough time either side of travelling to adjust to the new time-zone and routine. Regardless of where you’re heading, remember to factor in time and cost of travel to and from the airport, either side. When considering where to stay, look for options with facilities for making your own food, heating bottles, etc. All-inclusives can also be great, if you find a good one. Try scouting out somewhere which has cafes, restaurants and things to do within walking distance of your accommodation; that way if you want to go out in the evening, you can pop younger ones in a buggy and walk back rather than having to disturb them to get in a bus or car – and if a creche or kids club is an option, grab it.
Crucially, remember that lazing by the pool is not always a possibility with babies, who (selfishly) don’t react well to constant heat, so having a ground-floor room you can take them back to to sleep, change nappies etc, is important; somewhere in town that you can walk to while they snooze, is also good as it will prevent you from feeling trapped by their anti-social sleeping habits. Speaking of which, if it’s possible to get a separate bedroom for the kid(s), do that; studios are fine for a couple but not so great when you have a child who goes to sleep before you, unless you like spending your evenings in silence, with the lights off.