VIP SKI Blog

While some parents are happy to travel with a baby that’s just a few weeks old, others prefer to wait until their baby is at least 6 months old. Before booking your ski holiday, planning and preparation are key, so take the time to research family-friendly resorts and accommodation options.

If you are travelling with a young baby, we recommend choosing a ski resort with a short airport transfer time such as Morzine or Les Gets (approximately 90 minutes from Geneva airport).

It’s also worth noting that young babies can sometimes be affected by altitude so you might prefer to avoid high-altitude resorts like Val d’Isere until they are a little bit older, but you can discuss this with your GP.

At VIP SKI, we want our guests to be able to enjoy a day on the slopes, a long lunch or some much-needed relaxation time in the spa or hammam safe in the knowledge that their baby is being well looked after by our childcare team so we provide childcare for babies from 12 weeks.

In our award-winning ski hotel Bear Lodge in Arc 1950, we offer childcare in our specially designed Bear Cubs playroom. This lovely light-filled room is right on the piste and is perfect for outdoor play and easy for parents to peek without even having to pop their bindings.

On the other hand, some parents prefer to holiday with grandparents who are on hand to help with our littlest VIP guests. Morzine is one of our favourite resorts for a multi-generational ski trip. Read why here.

We also offer an evening babysitting service in our chalets on the Chalet Host's night off on request so that friends and family can enjoy a special meal together in the resort.

Teaching very young children to ski requires patience and careful consideration. While some parents (especially ski instructors) may introduce their baby to the joys of skiing from as early as age 1, this is not something that we would recommend. Most under-4s get cold and fed up incredibly quickly and much prefer building snowmen, sledging and riding in the bubble lifts.

Start by exposing your baby to the snow environment and gradually introduce them to skiing through play and gentle movements. If you’re really keen to give them a taste of skiing, then we recommend hiring a pair of plastic skis that strap on to their snowboots and letting them have a slide on a very gentle hill on the nursery slopes.

Packing for a ski holiday with a baby requires a bit of forward planning. It’s not always easy to find baby items in a ski resort if you forget something important. Here is a link to our printable Packing Checklist.

When choosing accommodation for your ski holiday, opt for family-friendly options that cater to the needs of babies and young children. Look for chalets or hotels that offer amenities such as cots, highchairs and baby-proofing services. Consider the location of the accommodation in relation to the ski slopes and childcare facilities and ensure that it meets your family's specific requirements.

To make things easier and save on valuable suitcase space, at VIP SKI, you can pre-order essential baby items up to two weeks before you travel with us and nappies, wipes, and infant formula can be delivered to your chalet before your trip. (Please note that swim nappies are not available to pre-order so if you’re staying in one of our chalets with a swimming pool or Bear Lodge, you might want to bring a handful if you have a baby who loves the water!)

We can also provide the following items free of charge upon request:

• Sterilisers 
• Changing mats 
• Potties 
• Bed guards 
• Buggies 
• Toilet steps 
• Toilet seats 
• Table booster seats 
• Stair gates (available in selected chalets) 
• Children’s cutlery and crockery 

Top tip: Although we do have 3-wheeler buggies that you can borrow in resort, we recommend bringing a baby carrier to use at the airport when you’re boarding and waiting for your luggage at Geneva and if there is going to be lots of fresh snow during your holiday.

There are plenty of activities to enjoy with a 1-year-old on a ski trip such as sledging, building snowmen or simply exploring the village together. Lots of ski resorts (and many of our chalets) have swimming pools and soft play areas that are fun to visit.

You might have seen videos of people skiing with their baby in a baby carrier but we would NEVER recommend this as it is incredibly dangerous. Not only does it expose your baby to becoming very cold without you realising but the potential for accidents, such as falls or collisions with other skiers, makes it simply not worth the risk.

Many ski resorts allow babies on pedestrian ski lifts, but it's best to check beforehand. Ensure that your baby is securely held in your arms or a carrier and that you're prepared for any weather conditions.

Older babies and toddlers love going up and down in bubble lifts or cable cars (there is so much to see!) and it can be a nice way to join up with the rest of the family or group of skiers for lunch or a hot chocolate.

In Val d’Isere, we recommend taking the La Daille gondola up to the Folie Douce, the Solaise cable car up to the Refuge du Solaise restaurant (The gondolas are open 7 days a week from 9am to 4:30pm) or the Fornet cable car up to Le Signal restaurant.

If you're staying in Morzine, why not take the Pleney gondola up to join your family or friends for lunch at Snack Le Pleney accessible on foot from the top of lift? (Restaurant open daily from 9am to 5.30pm.)

From Bear Lodge in Arc 1950, Les Chalets de L'Arc is a great place to go for lunch or a hot chocolate with the rest of the gang. (Restaurant open daily from 9am to 5pm.) 

Skiing with a baby can be a wonderful way to introduce your little one to the joys of the mountains and create cherished family memories that will last a lifetime. With some careful planning, it's possible to enjoy a memorable ski holiday with your baby, surrounded by stunning alpine scenery and the joy of the slopes.

So, pack your bags, bundle up your baby and get ready for an unforgettable family adventure in the snow!

Find out more about our Family Ski Holidays and childcare.

Our nannies get booked up very quickly, so it is vital to book your childcare early, especially for peak school holiday weeks.

We are already taking childcare bookings for next season so get in touch and have a chat with Lou, Cam, Millie or Jess about your childcare requirements.

We have a successful childcare programme allowing both adults and children to enjoy a week in the Alps. We're seeking an experienced Childcare Manager to successfully oversee the delivery of our childcare program (12 nannies, based in 5 different resorts in France).

The successful candidate will have significant childcare experience, knowledge of OFSTED standards and a commitment to excellence. We’re looking for someone to take sole ownership of the childcare service offered as part of our winter programme, including day to day operations and long-term development.

The Childcare Manager will need to be confident working independently but also cohesively with other Managers within the Operations Team. An excellent multi-tasker who works well under pressure and has strong problem-solving skills and an innovative approach to challenges and ideas.

If you have the personal attributes, work skills and experience detailed in the Childcare Manager job specification, and if you think this vacancy has your name on it, please apply by emailing recruit@vip-chalets.com attaching your CV and covering letter clearly stating why you are the right candidate for the role, and the date you would be available for employment.

We’re looking for energetic and creative individuals with a good range of experience. We will only consider those who are qualified to NNEB, CACHE, NVQ level 3 or equivalent, although we also welcome applicants with a teaching or nursing degree, who have good experience working with young children.

We always want our staff to be happy and to get the most out of the job, so we offer a great employment package. We offer a competitive salary (paid monthly into UK bank) and package as follows:

• Travel to and from resort 
• Arrangement of Accommodation 
• Medical Travel Insurance 
• Winter Sports Insurance 
• Uniform 
• 10 days pre-season training 
• Equipment hire 
• Full area lift pass for the season

It's not hard to have a great time out in the Alps, but choosing the right company can make a huge difference to your season.

Interested? Email your CV and covering letter to recruit@vip-chalets.com or call the team on 0203 892 4061 to chat about the childcare roles we have available.

We asked Andrew why he recommends booking a private nanny, and for some of his top tips when it comes to organising a family ski holiday.

Booking a private nanny gives parents the chance to really relax and unwind on their holiday, knowing that their children are in good hands. We offer a flexible approach to childcare with our nannies working 5 and a half days for 8 hours a day. Whether it’s picking the kids up from ski school or organising a trip to the farm, our nannies will be your extra pair of hands on your ski holiday.

Your nanny will visit the chalet on the evening you arrive to meet your children and discuss anything from routines to meal preferences. You can rest assured knowing our nannies are qualified to NNEB or equivalent level, CRB checked and have passed our rigorous training course.

If you’re heading to one of our Austrian ski hotels, then maybe consider our Theodul or Montjola Kids Clubs. These flexible childcare services work around the ski school timetables so once the children have finished their lessons, our nannies will collect them from their lessons and keep them entertained for the afternoon.

As for my top tips, if it’s your first family ski holiday, make sure you pick a resort that’s considered family friendly. I would recommend Morzine, Alpe d’Huez, Avoriaz or Les Gets. They’re all close to the airport, offer great, easy terrain for beginner skiers and lots of activities for non-skiers and little legs. 

We provide childcare in across al 10 of our resorts. We highly recommend pre-booking childcare, particularly on peak dates where they are often booked months in advance. Book for 27 Dec, 7 & 14 Jan to take advantage of our FREE nanny in whole chalet bookings or half price nanny for room by room bookings. 

Jemima: We did lots of arts and crafts, we made a cotton wool igloo and made little pompom penguins to go inside it!

Molly: We baked chocolate cakes which are my favourite and we went for hot chocolates!

Molly: Going on the aeroplane and the bubble lift because we like going up high!

Jemima: We played with Eden and Samuel, they came over to our chalet and we had lots of fun!

Jemima: I loved the jacket potatoes with beans we had for lunch one day, it’s my favourite!

Molly: And we went out for ice cream with Liv and Lydia

Jemima: Ben made us dinner and we read books with mummy and daddy

Both: All the toys to play with!

Liv told us she’s pretty certain Clemmie’s giggles and gurgling were a sign that she had a great time too!

A ski holiday with a private nanny could really make a difference to your holiday, giving you some well-deserved ‘me’ time and just as importantly, ensuring that the children have a fun and enjoyable experience. 

We're now taking bookings for Winter 2016/17. Our VIP SKI Nannies are always in high demand especially on peak dates so we recommend booking early so you don't miss out.