Travelling with a baby for the first time can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. In September, we packed our bags (and the pram, bottles, baby monitor, nappies… you get the idea) and headed to Valencia with our 5-month-old for our first proper family holiday. Here’s everything we learned, loved, and would recommend to anyone planning their first holiday with a baby.

Why Valencia?

Valencia is an ideal destination for travelling with a baby. It’s flat (hello, pram-friendly strolls), has beautiful green spaces, a relaxed vibe, and the weather in September is still sunny and warm—but not unbearable. Plus, it’s not as crowded as peak summer, which made feeding, nappy changes, and quiet moments much easier to manage.

Where We Stayed

We booked a family-friendly apartment near the Turia Gardens—an absolute game changer. Being able to pop back “home” for naps or a change of clothes (or let’s be honest, a meltdown) made everything less stressful. If you’re considering your first trip with a baby, we 100% recommend booking somewhere central with kitchen access.

What We Packed for Baby Travel at 5 Months

Packing for a baby holiday is an art form. Here are a few things we were especially glad we brought:

  • Lightweight travel pram – ideal for narrow pavements and restaurants.
  • Baby carrier – perfect for naps while sightseeing.
  • Travel steriliser – great for bottles on the go.
  • Portable blackout blind – helped recreate a sleep-friendly environment.
  • Plenty of baby clothes – because blowouts don’t care about your itinerary.

If you’re planning your first holiday abroad with a baby, make a checklist a week in advance—you’ll thank yourself later.

What We Did in Valencia with a Baby

  • Turia Gardens: This former riverbed turned park is pram heaven. There are plenty of shady areas, fountains, and even a baby-friendly playground if your little one is starting to sit up.
  • Valencia Old Town: We took things slow, wandering cobbled streets, stopping for coffee, and feeding when needed. Many restaurants were super accommodating with space for a pram or high chair.
  • The beach: In September, the beach is calm and spacious. We brought a pop-up sun tent and stayed in the shade during peak heat.
  • Oceanogràfic: One of Europe’s largest aquariums, this was surprisingly baby-friendly—cool, quiet, and stimulating (fish are baby TV!).

Baby Travel Tips We Swear By

  • Stick to your usual routines—loosely. Familiar naps, bedtime rituals, and feeds made a big difference.
  • Plan one big thing per day. Trying to cram too much in = overtired baby and exhausted parents.
  • Use your flight time wisely. Feed during take-off and landing to help with ear pressure. Bring a change of clothes for both of you.
  • Don’t stress about crying. Everyone was way more understanding than we expected.

Final Thoughts on Our First Family Holiday

Travelling with a baby isn’t always relaxing in the traditional sense—but it is incredibly rewarding. Watching your little one experience new sights, sounds, and sensations is such a joy. And Valencia in September? Absolute perfection.

If you’re considering your first holiday with a baby, especially around the 4-6 month mark, we can’t recommend it enough. Just take it slow, be flexible, and don’t forget to take pictures—you’ll want to remember your little one’s first adventure forever.

Dubai

🛫 Flying with a 7-Month-Old: Tips for Surviving (and Thriving)

Let’s be real: flying with a baby isn’t fun—but it’s 100% doable with the right prep.

Here’s what worked for us on a 6.5-hour flight from London to Dubai:

  • We booked a night flight to coincide with baby’s longest stretch of sleep. Surprisingly, it worked.
  • We requested a bassinet seat in advance (call your airline—it’s not always automatic).
  • Carried baby in a sling through the airport. So much easier than collapsing a pram at security.
  • Packed a full change of clothes for baby and ourselves. Because we did not want to smell like sour milk at 30,000 feet.
  • Took pre-filled bottles + sterilised water, as well as ready-made formula in case of delays.
  • Used dummy or bottle during take-off and landing to ease ear pressure.

💡 TIP: Most Middle Eastern airlines are incredibly baby-friendly. Emirates, for example, gave us a baby kit with wipes, bibs, and toys!

🏨 Where We Stayed (and Why It Mattered)

We booked a suite-style hotel on Jumeirah Beach with a separate lounge area. Game changer.

✅ Gave us space to hang out once baby was asleep
✅ On-site restaurants = easy dinners without leaving the hotel
✅ Requested cot, baby bath, and even a steriliser from the hotel
✅ Access to beach and shaded pool within 2 mins of the lift

💡 TIP: If budget allows, get a room with a balcony. We had wine and takeaway dinner out there every night once the baby was down—it felt like a date.

☀️ Dubai Weather in November (and How We Handled It with a Baby)

  • Average daytime temps: 28–32°C, but much cooler mornings and evenings.
  • We went out early mornings (7–11am) and late afternoons (4–7pm).
  • Stayed indoors or poolside in the shade during the hottest part of the day.
  • Used a SnoozeShade over the pram, wide-brim baby hat, SPF 50+ baby suncream, and breathable muslins for cover.

Baby coped really well in the heat—but hydration (bottle every 1–1.5 hours) and keeping cool were priorities.

🍼 Our Baby Travel Essentials (What We Actually Used Daily)

We way overpacked, but here’s what was truly useful:

  • Lightweight, folding pram with a big sun canopy
  • Baby carrier for airport and crowded places
  • Swim nappies + baby wetsuit for the pool
  • Pop-up sun tent for beach time
  • Sterilising tablets (we used the hotel sink)
  • Baby monitor for evenings in the hotel
  • Portable blackout blind for naps in bright hotel rooms
  • Cooler bag for milk
  • Teething toys (7 months = everything in the mouth)

We found local supermarkets stocked everything, including Aptamil formula, Pampers nappies, and baby food pouches.

👶 Baby-Friendly Activities in Dubai

We kept things simple—but Dubai’s accessibility and modern infrastructure made it easy:

1. Jumeirah Public Beach

We went early, laid a big towel in the shade, and let baby play with beach toys. We stayed under 90 minutes and always left before the heat built up.

2. Dubai Mall & Aquarium

Sounds random—but Dubai Mall is air-conditioned, has lifts everywhere, baby change rooms, and plenty of cafés to stop for feeds. The aquarium tunnel was magical—baby was mesmerised.

3. Souk Madinat Jumeirah

A quieter, shaded shopping area with traditional architecture and canals. Lovely for a gentle stroll and coffee break.

4. Hotel Pool Time

Every afternoon, we set up under a parasol by the pool. Baby napped in the pram while we dipped in and out of the water.

💡 TIP: Keep a muslin soaked in cold water to cool baby’s legs and arms in the heat.

💤 Nap Schedule & Routines While Travelling

We didn’t try to replicate our home routine exactly—but we did:

  • Keep nap timings similar (give or take 30 minutes)
  • Stick to our normal bath-feed-sleep routine at night
  • Use white noise + blackout to help with unfamiliar sleep spaces
  • Make sure baby had one proper nap in the cot/room daily (the rest in the pram)

Was it perfect? No. But keeping a few familiar touchpoints helped.

💬 Final Thoughts: Would We Recommend Dubai with a Baby?

Absolutely.

Yes, it takes more planning. Yes, you’ll carry twice as much luggage. And no, it’s not a “relaxing” holiday in the traditional sense. But seeing your baby light up with new experiences, adapting as a family, and making it work together? Totally worth it.

If you’re considering travelling with a 7-month-old or looking for a baby-friendly holiday destination in November, Dubai is surprisingly perfect. Sunshine, comfort, and enough modern convenience to make things feel doable.

Travelling with a Baby – Quick Checklist: Dubai Edition

✅ Passport + printed birth certificate (some airlines require both)
✅ Travel insurance that covers babies
✅ Pram, carrier, blackout, bottles, sun protection
✅ Hotel with cot + separate sleeping space
✅ Pack more baby clothes than you think you need
✅ Plan nothing for day one (just settle in)
✅ Keep outings short and flexible
✅ Bring your sense of humour (you’ll need it)