4 weeks in Florida with 4 moth baby
 

Hi all! We are planning on going to Florida in March/April for 4 weeks with our (then) 4 months baby. Does anyone have any good suggestions on where in Florida to go? We would like someplace nice, by the beach with ok infrastructure, maybe combine with 1 a week somewhere in the Caribbean. Thank you.

Random order questions and ideas

Our son and his wife brought our granddaughter to visit us in South Florida when she was about that age, but you have to follow a lot of protocols. Babies shouldn't really be out in the sun, they dehydrate easily, they may cry the entire time on the airplane because they can't equalize the pressure on their ears, and their sleep may be all messed up by travel and time zone changes.

Have you talked to your pediatrician about taking a baby out in the sun?
Have you talked to your pediatrician about taking your baby to the Caribbean?
What will you do for a pediatrician while you are away from home?
Are your prescriptions with a national chain like CVS or Walgreen so you can access them?

Have you found a condo to rent yet? You really won't be able to manage a month in a hotel room with a baby that age.
Can you take along someone to help with the baby?

Southwest Florida from Ft Myers through Bonita Beach and Naples to Marco Island is well-developed, beautiful, reliably warm, pretty safe, and has good medical care. When baby is two, s/he will love it.

We enjoyed a stay on Marco Island. It may or may not be warm enough to be on the beach, but all said above is true about an infant. April 1 begins a "lower season" for rental prices.

For pete's sake. What do the people who live in Florida and the Caribbean and have babies do?? How does anyone manage to travel at all with a baby?

It's perfectly possible to travel with your baby. Pick a place YOU'D like to visit. Then find some suitable accomodations. Preferably a condo or suite with a kitchenette.

Sure, have a chat with your pedi about being sun-safe and airplane travel. Check ahead for a grocery and pharmacy for access to baby suppplies. Plan on taking things a little slower. Make sure your stroller has a good sunshade on it. And then GO. And have a great time!!

Txgirlinbda, we are in complete agreement, if you look through our posts point by point.

I always agree with Gretchen. :-)

Who said "don't travel with your baby?" Geez.
Also, plan to nurse the baby or use a paci during takeoff and landing to help with the ear pressure. It is painful and hard to explain to a baby how to yawn.
Yup, Ack and I are kindred souls!! LOL

The area mentioned above is great, and I have also travelled to the panhandle with my children when they were infants before. I frequently recommend One Seagrove Place, and I have stayed here with two of my three children when they were only months old. We brought a tent on one trip and kept the baby under that. Also we took a grandparent on one trip and she stayed in the condo. The main issue was sand but I hear baby powder is wonderful for sand removal. We didn't hear about that trick until later though. Hats, coverups, water. You'll be alright.

We went once to Ponte Vedra and Saint Augustine (the first city by Europeans, that is Spaniards, in US soil), so cute!! Ponte Vedra was relaxing, great beaches, shopping, dining. Saint Augustine was culturally fascinating and so beautiful. BTW, if you are taking your play yard/pack n play or are using one in a hotel I recommend using it with the MamaDoo Kids mattress topper. It makes a HUGE difference in the baby´s sleep! It folds in 3 so it is perfect for travel. Good luck!

The OP is looking for a March April time frame. North Florida beaches (Panhandle, St Augustine, Amelia Island) aren't generally warm enough to be enjoyable that early unless you are Canadian.

Step 1 - apply for a passport for the baby now, since most of Caribbean requires a passport.

I like the Gulf Coast of Florida better than east coast - a bit more relaxed.

Is this baby even born yet if s/he will be 4 months old in April? If not, book something refundable since you have no idea of temperament, any special health issues - or even if you will feel like being away from home for that long.

Marco Island or Fort Myers Beach jump into my mind as possibilities.

Last year our 7 month old grandson visited us in Naples, Florida. They did not have a problem with him flying as he entertained the passengers on the plane or slept. If you do choose Naples,there is a company we used to rent baby equipment called Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Very reasonable.

OP: Georgia and Alabama take spring break in March and April and you can find people all along the Emerald Coast (panhandle beaches). We are not from Canada for sure, and the weather is very pleasant…not too hot. My family will be staying for a week next March in the condos I told you about above, as we usually do for Spring Break.

Southern gulf coast of Florida a great option too, just wouldn't rule out the panhandle.

For a month, buying baby equipment is surely to be cheaper than renting.

You don't mention a budget, but Silver Sands Villas on Fort Myers Beach worked very well for our daughter and baby grand daughter a couple of years ago and it isn't too expensive. It's across the road from the beach and in the middle of everything. The pier and Times Square are a few minutes walk away as a several restaurants. Silver Sands is a group of old-Florida style cottages around a lovely pool. Each cottage has a kitchenette and there is a washing machine and dryer are on site. I think they had a crib that we borrowed. The staff are very pleasant and I highly recommend it. They have a website for further information - www.silversands-villas.com

If you're looking for a monthly condo rental in Mar-Apr, hurry up and book one.

Fort myers beach is not a great family destination. It is a little seedy in certain places, Naples, Marco, or sanibel are nicer.

Anna Maria is nicer still.

My son, his wife and their baby joined us in Key West for a week last spring. There was a place there that rented all sorts of baby and child equipment - from cribs to beach toys - that we relied on heavily. They delivered the merchandise to the place we were staying then picked it up when our son and his family left. You might consider looking for a rental place like that if you plan on staying in a condo. It could sure save you a lot of trouble!

Not sure if you've decided but thought I'd add my 2 cents worth. We loved Delray Beach when our son was 11 months old and have returned a number of times. Great with a baby because: There is a main street that ends at the beach you can walk along with a stroller (lots of shops, restaurants to browse). Also a GREAT park off the main street (he's too small to play on equipment but nice to sit and watch the boats on the intracoastal). Also you are 40 min from Boca, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm. Delray is on the Gulf Current so the ocean is particularly warm. Downside is , not a ton of hotels. Residence Inn Marriott is best -- small kitchens in every unit, lots of room and a balcony so you and hubby can relax outside when the baby is sleeping. I don't agree that you can travel anywhere with a baby -- it's not the same as before. You have to compromise -- there's a time for exotic trips when they are older and a time to stay closer to home and have less stress. This is a time for less stress!!! PS I was a "Florida Snob" before children and Poo Pood it but it was great, easy and stress-free -- now that my son is 10 we go for more exotic destinations!

Why not tell us what your special concerns are re: having a very young baby with you? Baby sitting? Baby-friendly hotels and restaurants? Access to medical care in an emergency?

Then also mention what you enjoy and what you avoid.

Was going to suggest Sarasota area because there are lots of young families in addition to retirees there, and good infrastructure, but it still might be a little stuffy for you.