Can You Take A Baby On A Ski Holiday?

Embarking on a ski holiday with a baby may seem like a daunting prospect, but with careful planning and preparation, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience for the whole family.

In this guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about taking a baby skiing, from choosing the right accommodation to packing essentials so that you can enjoy a stress-free ski holiday with your little one.

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.