The first vacation with a baby: when anticipation turns into your first journey together

We at the Paradies know this phase full of new, wonderful impressions very well. As young parents, we are currently experiencing this wonderful time firsthand with our own children, and we know exactly how daily routines get reshuffled and how valuable it is when every little detail clicks perfectly on vacation. Based on this personal experience, we have continuously refined what we offer here at the Paradies. We want to give young parents the peace of mind that everything has truly been thought of.

Expert Tip: How to make the first trip a success

To find out how to make the first vacation a success from a professional perspective, we brought in some expert support. In April, we were delighted to welcome Laura Lösch to the Paradies. As a certified EISL lactation consultant (Still- und Laktationsexpertin®) and "Artgerecht" coach, she has been guiding families for many years on topics such as baby sleep, introducing solid foods, and bonding. She also shared her personal impressions of our hotel on her own blog.

We asked Laura three questions about what really matters on the first vacation with the little ones:

Laura, from your experience as an expert and a mom: What is the biggest worry parents have before their first trip, and how do you take that pressure off?

I think the biggest worry for many parents is often that they might disturb others. They are afraid that the baby will cry too loudly, won't sit quietly at the table during meals, or will attract attention in other situations. Another big topic is sleep: How will the baby sleep in the hotel? Will a vacation mess up their usual routine? Here, it is important to take the pressure off on all levels and not go into the trip with too many expectations. Things are allowed to be different on vacation than they are at home—and that is completely fine. Babies can adapt to new situations, too. And often, the motto rings true: Relaxed parents, relaxed kids.

The beautiful thing about a family hotel run by young parents is that they understand exactly how families with little children feel. They have total understanding if a baby cries, if your arrival is delayed, or if not everything goes according to plan. It is exactly this empathy that creates a relaxed atmosphere where both parents and children can feel equally at home.

Many parents feel like a first vacation is really just shifting everyday stress to a different location. How do you manage to get real relaxation with a baby?

Fewer expectations and fewer rigid plans often make for a much more relaxing vacation. You don’t need to structure every single day or try to do everything exactly the way you do it at home. Traveling with children often means adjusting your own rhythm a bit and being more spontaneous. It’s okay for things to be different than in everyday life—and that is often exactly where the relaxation lies.

When parents let go of the idea that everything has to go perfectly, it creates more room for beautiful moments. Not every meal will be quiet, not every afternoon nap will happen at the usual time, and some days will look completely different than planned. That is entirely normal. Children are discovering a new environment, gathering impressions, and reacting to them in their very own way.

And above all: relaxation is possible even with a child. It might look different than it used to, but it is no less valuable. Having breakfast together without any time pressure, a walk in the fresh air, seeing happy children playing, or simply the great feeling of not having to chase after everyday obligations—all of these are moments of true rejuvenation. Anyone who starts a family vacation with a certain lightheartedness and doesn't plan too much will often find that the most beautiful memories happen all on their own.

When it comes to meals and childcare at the Kids Club, guilt often creeps in. What is a healthy approach here?

The same applies here: take the pressure off and give the children time to arrive in their new surroundings. Not every child feels comfortable right from the start or wants to go straight to the Kids Club without mom or dad—and that is completely normal. Especially on vacation, children should be allowed to set their own pace and get used to new impressions, people, and routines step by step.

What’s particularly wonderful is that at the Paradies, parents are welcome to accompany their children into the Kids Club. This way, the little ones can explore the environment together with mom or dad and build up trust. Perhaps this will quickly open up an opportunity for parents to enjoy a coffee on the terrace while the child makes their first connections and discovers the activities on offer.

The important thing is not to overwhelm the children. Often, short stays at the Kids Club help at first so they can slowly get used to the childcare. With every positive experience, their confidence grows, and many children feel comfortable enough to stay there independently after just a short time.

Our Amenities for Young Families
To ensure that you don't have to pack your car up to the roof and that lightness stays at the forefront, we have tailored our entire infrastructure to the needs of young families:

• Light travel: Free rental of strollers, buggies, hiking carriers, bicycles, and balance bikes directly at the hotel. Thule bike trailers are available for a daily fee.
• Perfectly equipped rooms: Cribs with fall protection bed guards, baby bouncers, changing mats, bottle warmers, and diaper bins are all ready for you.
• Hygiene on site: A diaper starter kit is provided; sustainable eco-diapers from Moltex can be purchased directly in the house.
• Dining in the restaurant: For shared time at the table, special baby seats that attach to the high chairs are available. Here, you stay completely flexible with your routine: you can bring your baby straight to dinner with you, or simply feed them beforehand with high-quality organic baby food from Holle (Demeter quality). This way, you can put your child to bed in total relaxation following their usual sleep routine without throwing their rhythm off, and then enjoy your dinner in the restaurant.
• Flexible baby monitor: Our hotel Wi-Fi is set up (without firewall restrictions) so that you can easily connect your own baby monitor and enjoy your time in the spa or on the terrace with peace of mind.
• Safety & peace of mind: Upon request, we can organize hourly babysitting services, and we have a direct line to a local pediatrician in case of an emergency.