Newborn babies are exhausting, and the beautiful journey from baby to toddler does not become any less tiring.  In the first couple of years after having a baby it can be simple to forget how to relax when your sole focus is taking care of someone else – yet when the baby fog starts to clear and nappy mountain starts to subside, eventually the thoughts of holidays do creep back into your conscious.

Taking a baby or a toddler away for the first time can be a little daunting and for many off-putting.  However there are options, ‘easier’ holidays that will delight your little one and give the parents a rest!

Whether you book a short break in a local hotel or book a cheap cruise, the time spent away from normality will be time well spent.

Go all-inclusive

All inclusive holidays offer a nice easy vacation for parents; choose a resort which is children friendly and you will find entertainment for little ones, fully qualified nursery staff who offer evening babysitting so you can enjoy a rare night out alone, swimming pools complete with slides and toys and restaurants with play areas for adventurous toddlers.

Food needn’t be a worry, either, since all-inclusive resorts offer a wide variety of options so you are sure to find something your little one likes. The on resort store will stock everything you need from nappies, wipes and baby jars so if you forget to pack something you will be in safe hands.

All aboard: try a cruise

A cruise is a great way for parents with small children to relax and see a bit of the world.  On board there are plenty of activities for little ones, with special sessions catered to the age of the child.  In addition many cruise lines offer exceptional childcare facilities with nurseries on board and in cabin babysitting, so you can enjoy a little bit of time to yourselves whilst sailing on the sea.

When cruising you get to see lots of different places, so make sure you take a pushchair – however you only have to unpack and pack once, which makes life much easier with a baby.

Self catering in the UK

If the thought of flying or travelling any great distance with your young child fills you with fear, a holiday within the UK could be a simple option.

Booking a cottage with friends who have children of the same age will afford you a nice break with a strong social element.  You can pop the babies to bed and then pour a nice glass of wine whilst ordering take away which relieves the pressure of trying to eat with the children – not always a peaceful occurrence.  Plus if you holiday with friends you can offer babysitting nights, so again a bit of time on your own with your partner to really relax into the holiday.

Leaving baby behind?

A final option for those looking for an easy break and time to relax, is to leave the baby behind with the doting grandparents and book a few nights away in a luxury hotel where you can spend your days sitting in the spa, having a round of golf and sipping Prosecco in the bar on an evening.  All of this and you will be safe in the knowledge that your little loved one is being spoilt rotten by those who adore her as much as you do.

This is a featured guest post by Jane Blackmore, a freelance writer, editor, blogger who likes nothing more than hopping on a plane and showing her three children the world and all the culture that lies inside it.

Does anyone remember sunlight? With spring underway, it’s making a comeback after a winter season that dragged on for longer than first anticipated.

It’s now ok to go outside without fearing being stuck in a blizzard or having your view obscured by freezing fog; but one look at your garden might dampen your spirits, especially if you’ve not tended to it for years.

You might find that the grass is growing and needs to be mown, some of the plants that still remain are dying and that the whole area doesn’t seem like a safe or welcoming place to spend long spring and summer afternoons. Fortunately, with summer still a long way away and the days getting longer, you have plenty of time to fix all that.

A place to relax

First and foremost, when turning your garden into the best living space imaginable, you should think about getting something to sit or lie down on – preferably both! A hammock like these could work, especially if your garden has a couple of trees where you can attach both ends to, while a bench or some cool patio furniture might make your garden seem more inviting.

It’s possible to get an outdoor sofa such as this one for your garden too that will be able to cope with a little rain or extreme sunlight – two things that can ruin a nice warm spring or summer’s day. Furniture alone doesn’t make a garden though, so you will want to sort out plants and the exterior of your home to complement it.

A place to play

If your garden has a lawn and it looks a little on the unkempt side, giving it a trim won’t do any harm. If anything, it will give you a green canvas from which you can work out what you want to with it – grow some new plants, install a water feature or leave it for the kids to play football on.

Make sure that any plants you do decide to grow should be seasonal, as they’ll be easier to take care of.

As a finishing touch, the addition of a glass veranda placed over the top of your patio could look great on your home’s exterior and can add a touch of class to your home. It could provide something to sit or stand under when it’s lashing down during an outdoor dinner party or, perhaps, some much-needed shade for when it gets a little too hot to stand in direct sunlight.

Guest Post In Association with Nationwide Ltd