Hi, We are expecting our first in August, and that is when we plan to start the whole dreaded visa process, just wandered any one else with experience, what is it like out there without the help of your family.

hi darren well i suppose it's just the same here if you don't have your family to help you with children ....but i am sure you will manage plenty of kindy's out there and they are alot cheaper than the ones in england ......thats if you both are going to work out there ....but travelling to oz with kids is really nothing to be scared of..... just a little forward planning ...most airline staff are very very helpful ...we took our baby boy to oz when he was 3 months old and he slept most of the way and was good during the stop over in singapore

We came over here when our daughter was 18 months. We have never sought any family help in raising her, so it made no difference to us. Go for it, it will be the best thing for the three of you in the long scheme of things. We take our daughter everywhere with us, as do most people over here to be honest, it is a very family friendly country.

Sometimes when you have a baby it takes a lot of getting used to, with lack of sleep amongst other things. Filling out visa applications and getting all the necessary documantation together is a real pain and you may not manage it for a while after the birth. Why don't you do it now while you are still sane, then the wait won't seem too long when you get around to thinking about it again.

We have 2 kids and have always managed without any help. Babies seem to be easy from 3 months onwards - then the action starts when they can walk and pull everything off tables and out of cupboards - you've heard the stories. My daughter calmed down at 2 and was very managable again, and my son was wild until 4.

Good luck

Queenie

Its just fine- and Oz is really family friendly. You need to make your own "family" of friends. Join baby/ toddler groups -even if you don't think its your thing-they are great for meeting other parents. We visited Oz with our 4 month old and she travelled beautifully- all babies are different but its good to know it can be a breeze. I will always remember carrying her in her sling through Singapore airport after a 12 hour flight. Most of the passengers looked knackered - she was smiling and giggled happily at everyone.

Good luck with your 2 great adventures
Ali

I think Aus is better equipped than Uk for such things. Plenty of choice of baby groups/toddler groups. All sorts of things. New mums groups, baby massage, gymbaroo, swimming etc etc. You will be spoilt for choice. Not having your close family here will only be a problem if you let it. Friends are always the best people to use as babysitters, you will then return the favour and so it goes on.

Good luck, enjoy.
Diane

Hi Darren,

We live on Sunshine Coast, and brough a 5 year old with us last August, and are due our 2nd baby tomorrow.

The Sunshine Coast is amazing, due to the majority of people not originating from here (where are you going????), so most of my friends are in the same boat.

We all help each other with minding from time to time, school run I share which is fab.

Any more questions let me know,

Tessa

[email protected]

I would definitely recommend sending off your application while you're waiting for the baby as it means you don't have to do all the waiting once the baby is here. Just send a covering letter explaining that you want the baby included on the application and when its due. We sent ours off in December, baby was due mid-Feb, and got a reply from DIMIA asking us to go for meds etc at the beginning of March. We are now just waiting for the final answer. Please please please let it be YES!! Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Hi..

We are leaving the UK early September with our 3 year old and 1 year old, we don't live near to family now so I don't expect it to be a lot different, your new friends will become your new family and in our experience help from friends can be easier to get with less guilt than getting help from real flesh and blood.. having said that at the moment we do see both sets of grandparents every couple of months so it will be quite sad for the children (and us) not to see them so often..

Good luck
Julie

... or leave behind??

dilema!!

Thank you very much, would love to start the whole process noww but just want to save a little bit more money and Tessa wow good luck. We are going to Perth

Hiya was just wondering how did your daughter cope with the flights my son is 18mths old and i am dreading the long journey with him, he is a good flyer but we have only done short trips before one to menorca at 9mths which was a 2hour flight and recently one to gran canaria which took 4 hrs he was good as gold going to gran canaria but he did have his own seat he is a reaol fidget and doesn't like to sit still for too long going out we had 9.30 am flights so he slept for 1st hour whichj was his usual nap time and then was awake for rest of flight but wanted to walk up and down the aisle alot coming back we flew early hours of the morning and he slept for the whole flight. i am just really nervous of spending such a long time cooped up with him i don't want to annoy other passengers.

thanks for letting me waffle
Poshrice

Hi there. We are flying to Oz in a couple of weeks with our 2 children 13 and 2yrs. Jonjo (the 2yr) is also a right fidget bum ever since the day he was born! I am cacking my pants thinking of the 'dreaded flight' and how to amuse him for all this time. Not to mention the 2 minute concentration span he has as well!!!! Ideas anyone?

GIN!! LOL

Do a night flight, have a few days in Singapore, then do another night flight!

Queenie