7 tips for going to altitude with your baby

1 – Choose a medium-altitude resort

If you’re going to a high altitude with a baby, doctors advise you not to take him or her above 1,700 metres before he or she is 15 months old. The main advantage of mid-altitude resorts is that, in both summer and winter, there is less of a drop in temperature than at high altitude.

In summer, you’ll enjoy more pleasant temperatures than in the plains. In winter, the cold can be intense at too high an altitude.

Many village resorts are located between 1000 and 1500 metres altitude. They are ideal for holidays with young children. If in doubt, consult your doctor or paediatrician.

2 – Protect baby’s ears in the car

Rapid changes in altitude can cause ear infections in babies and young children. They don’t have the reflex to swallow to unclog their ears. Take a break every time you gain 500 metres in altitude, or even 300 metres for the youngest children.

During the breaks, give your child something to drink (swallowing helps to decompress the eardrums). Sucking on a dummy during the climb can also help them to cope better. Finally, drive gently so that your baby can adapt well to the climb.

3 – Remember to keep baby well hydrated

In the mountains, the air is drier than on the plains, so you need to give your child something to drink more often. If you’re going for a walk or a hike, remember to take a bottle of water or a water bottle. In winter, keep it close to the body or warm so that the water is not too cold to drink.

4 – Protect him from the cold

The paradox of the mountains is that you can be very hot (particularly when hiking) with modest, even cool, temperatures. The sun beats down harder and the effort is often more sustained than in the lowlands. Babies, on the other hand, are more sensitive to the cold because they don’t move. You’ll need to dress them warmly (unless the temperature is very high) and make sure they don’t stay still for too long, especially if you’re carrying them on your back.

Remember to take regular breaks during a hike to prevent them from becoming too numb.

5 – Equip him with quality sunglasses

In the mountains, the sun’s rays are much more intense than on the plains. When there’s snow (in winter or at altitude in summer), the reverberation accentuates the effects even more. Wearing sunglasses is essential for you, and even more so for your children.

When buying sunglasses, make sure they have a protection factor of 4. With babies, remember to check regularly that their glasses are still on their noses! Babies have this annoying habit of taking their glasses off the end of their nose.

6 – Protect baby from the sun

In summer as in winter, the sun’s rays are intense in the mountains. In just a few dozen minutes, you could be sunburnt.

To combat this risk, apply sunscreen with a high sun protection factor to your baby. Remember to reapply regularly. But above all, cover your baby with long sleeves and a fairly wide hat. This will reduce the risk of sunburn and sunstroke.

Of course, to look after your child, you need to be in good health, so remember to keep yourself well protected and hydrated too!

7 – Choose a resort with the Famille plus label

In France, some destinations are more committed than others to welcoming families. They have grouped together around a label that guarantees their commitment to families: the Famille Plus label. These resorts often provide childcare equipment: baby cots, high chairs, changing tables, pushchairs (for hire), etc. This means you don’t have to pack your car unnecessarily.

They also offer child-minding facilities for the very young, baby-changing areas at various points in the resort, and routes suitable for pushchairs… And they have special rates for families! In most Family Plus resorts, you’ll also have access to lists of accredited accommodation with family-friendly features.

See also our article on winter holidays with babies!