The Maldives are a dreamy holiday destination, with its white sand beaches, warm turquoise water, colorful sea life, and excellent cuisine.
While it’s a honeymoon destination for many, it’s also a family-friendly place to vacation.
But, is it a good place to bring a baby?
I’m a mom of three and I’ve traveled to the Maldives with kids, including with a 2-year-old. When planning the trip, I did quite a bit of research to make sure it was an appropriate place to visit for a little one.
Based on that research and our experience in the Maldives, here are my reasons why you should visit the Maldives with a baby, and why you may want to hold off. I’ll also go over some things to do in the Maldives with a baby, what to pack, some helpful tips, and other destinations you could consider for a beach vacation with your baby.
Reasons You Should Travel to the Maldives with a Baby
It’s a relaxing place to be with a baby. There aren’t many things to check off your ‘to-do’ list each day besides, lounge at the beach, swim in the turquoise water, splash in the swimming pool, and marvel at the sealife (hi, Nemo!).
The ocean water is calm and shallow. My son loved sitting in the water and splashing with his brothers. It was much less stressful than other beaches we’ve been to with waves and steep drop offs. We even had baby sharks swim right past us in the shallow water.
There are other families with babies in the Maldives. While you may equate the Maldives with honeymoons, it’s also a destination for families (including ours!). Do your research and book a family-friendly resort and you’re bound to meet up with other families (if you want to). As a mom, knowing I’m in a place with other families helps me relax a bit because I don’t feel like we have to be silent and invisible to the other guests.
The Maldives are full of family-friendly resorts. Plenty of resorts offer kids clubs, babysitters, high chairs, cribs, baby food, toys, cribs, etc.
The Maldives are great if you’ve got other kids too. There are activities for kids of all ages. We were able to let our elementary age kids ‘roam free’ to get ice cream, play soccer with other kids, etc., while we looked after our youngest.
In most resorts in the Maldives, kids (including babies) eat and stay free.
You don’t have to cook or clean in the Maldives. Being a mom or dad is tiring enough. A Maldives vacation gives you a chance to take a much-needed break from daily tasks.
Many Maldives resorts have kids’ clubs and/or babysitters. However, kids’ clubs have a minimum age (usually 2-4) for kids to attend without a parent. Usually with a baby, you’ll need to stay in the club. Your resort may offer babysitting services.
Buffet dining means you have plenty of options for your baby (if he/she is eating solids). A la carte restaurants are also flexible with the menu for babies.
The Maldives are gorgeous. Sometimes Instagram doesn’t equal reality. But those breathtaking photos of the Maldives you’ve seen… it really looks like that. Why not spend your holiday with your baby in a beautiful place?
Maldives resorts take care of logistics. Once you arrive in Malé, your resort representatives will help you with your transfer (plane or boat) to and from the resort. One less thing for you to worry about!
Reasons Not to Visit the Maldives with a Baby
Access to medical care. If you decide to stay on a resort island that requires a seaplane transfer (or even a boat transfer) from Malé, you’re always a flight or boat ride away from the hospital in Malé. Many resorts have doctors on the island, so if this is something you want (we did), make sure you ask the resort if there’s a doctor on the island (full-time, part-time, qualifications, etc).
If your baby has medical issues or not being close to a hospital stresses you out, the Maldives isn’t the best place for your family.
The sun in the Maldives is strong and the heat is intense. Even if your baby has spent time in the sun where you live, you may not have experienced the intense sun and heat of the Maldives. We dealt with this with all of our kids by using rash guards (my older two kept taking them off but my little guy wore his most of the time) and staying out of the sun during midday hours. You can also take advantage of beach umbrellas and shade at the pool.
Water, water, everywhere. If your baby is walking (or even crawling), you’ve got to worry about water safety. Water villas are a definite no, but you also need to be cautious with beach villas – many have unfenced pools and villas may or may not have inside locks that are out of reach of little ones. Our villa had locks, but we were still very alert and no matter where we were on the island, the ocean was just steps away. If this would stress you out, wait until your child is older.
You can’t just run to get diapers at Target. Resort shops have slim pickin’s and are extremely expensive. We almost needed another bottle of sunscreen and luckily we didn’t because the price of it made my stomach turn. You’ll need to bring enough diapers, wipes, baby snacks, and anything else your baby needs for the entire trip. We almost had a close call with running out of diapers!
It may be a long journey for you to get to the Maldives. Depending on where you’re coming from, you may have to take multiple flights and one or two long ones. Our total travel time to the Maldives from Europe was just under 13 hours (a 5.5 hour flight to Doha, layover, then an almost 5 hour flight to Malé). Travel time from the US can be around 20 to 35 hours, depending on your flight schedule and where you’re departing from.
Once you arrive in Malé, you’ll need to make your way to your resort by seaplane, domestic flight, speedboat, or a combination of those.
Are you comfortable taking your baby on a long journey with multiple flights?
Are you ok with the possibility of delays?
Has your baby been on a flight yet?
You may need to take a seaplane to the resort. They’re loud, hot, and cramped. You’ll need to hold baby on your lap.
Kids clubs usually require a parent remain with the baby. While the kids clubs in the Maldives are often amazing, most have a minimum age for leaving the child in the club (typically 2-4 years old). Otherwise, you’ll need to stay in the club with your baby.
Things to Do in the Maldives with a Baby (Age & Stage Dependent)
Look at the wildlife (hermit crabs, fish, sharks, etc).
Play in the sand.
Swim in the shallow, clear, warm water of the Indian Ocean.
Play at the kids club (accompanied by a parent).
Try new fruits and food at resort restaurants and buffets.
Go for a boat or kayak ride.
See dolphins on a cruise.
What to Pack for a Maldives Vacation with a Baby
- Basics for your baby – clothing, toiletries, medicines, etc.
- Swim ring or infant life jacket
- Diaper supplies – diapers, baby wipes, diaper cream
- Formula and feeding equipment if using (bottles, brush)
- Cotton, linen, non-synthetic clothes
- Any meds, creams, etc that your baby must have
- Sunscreen (reef-safe, and some mineral sunscreen to put on nose and under eyes)
- Aloe vera or after-sun cream
- Rash guard
- Sun hat (helpful if it has a chin strap)
- Multiple swimsuits
- Waterproof diapers
- Baby books about the sea, fish, and sea life. It’s fun to see what you’ve just read about!
- Activities, favorite toys or comfort items
- Noise cancelling headphones for baby if you’re taking a seaplane
- Light scarf for breastfeeding at Malé airport or your resort
- First aid kit (including thermometer, baby pain reliever, antiseptic, nail clippers, baby-safe bug repellent and after-bite cream, etc)
- Mini fan (to use at the beach, at the pool, or in the outdoor area of your room)
Helpful Tip: Bring extras of everything that your baby must have (diapers, medicines, specific toiletries if your baby has sensitive skin)
Tips for Visiting the Maldives with a Baby
Water Hazards – If you have a walker, think about booking a garden villa, a beach villa without a pool, or be sure to confirm your villa doors lock from the inside. That way you won’t have to stress about your baby getting out and entering the pool or the sea.
Essentials on Seaplane – Pack essentials (diapers, swimsuits, sunscreen, etc) in your carry-on on the seaplane in case your big suitcases don’t arrive on the same seaplane flight as you.
Baggage Weights – Confirm before traveling, but seaplane luggage weight allowances are typically a little less than normal flights. Make sure you’re at or under the seaplane weight limits for your checked bag and carry-on (if you’re overweight, it’s pricey!). And remember that there’s no baggage allowance for a baby on a seaplane.
Mamma’s Sanity – Before booking a big trip like this, wait to make sure you’ll be able to enjoy travel. For example, if you’re not sleeping at all, don’t travel to the Maldives to continue being sleep deprived. This applies to papà too!
Travel Insurance – Get comprehensive travel insurance. Make sure it includes trip cancellation (for example, if baby get sick and you can’t go), which is sometimes a separate policy. I’ve made the mistake of getting travel insurance but not cancellation insurance – it was a big pain to sort it out.
Bringing a Stroller – Find out if resort has strollers available. If not, do you need one? If paths are soft sand, you won’t want one. If you have a long layover(s), you may want a travel stroller for the airport.
Sleeping on the Flight(s) – Try to book the bulkhead bassinet on your long flight so your baby has a comfortable place to sleep and you can get some sleep too.
Cleaning Bottles – If you’re bottle feeding, find out if the resort can help you sterilize or pack sterilization tablets.
Pay for Laundry – Yes, it’s easy to wash out clothes during your trip. But, if you need to, have your resort do some for you. We had our resort wash our travel clothes and the price was quite reasonable.
Limit Heat/Sun Exposure – Head to the beach early in the morning (we often went out before breakfast), nap/rest midday, and head out again the afternoon. Avoid being out during hottest hours of the day.
Location, Location, Location – If you’re nervous about being far from a hospital, think about staying in a resort close to Malé, just a speedboat ride away.
Family Vacation Alternatives to the Maldives
Depending on your budget, where you’re traveling from, travel time constraints, and the time of year you’ll be traveling, you could also look into visiting one of these destinations with your baby:
- Mauritius
- Hawaii
- Caribbean
- Sardegna
- Greece
- Thailand
- Bali
I hope this has helped you decide if traveling to the Maldives with your baby is right for your family, and if so, that you’re excited about visiting!
Be sure to check out all of our Maldives with Kids posts:
Maldives with Kids – How to Plan the Perfect Trip
7 Reasons to Book a Family Trip to the Maldives
6 Helpful Tips for Your First Visit to the Maldives with Kids
30+ Maldives Family-Friendly Resorts – Compared by a Mom (Includes Table & Notes)
How Many Days to Spend in the Maldives
Family Packing List for the Maldives
Maldives with a Baby – Yes or No?
Maldives with Teens
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Review – Family Paradise in the Maldives
Overwater Villa or Beach Villa – Choosing One for Your Maldives Family Trip
Family-Specific Questions to Ask Your Maldives Resort – Before You Book
Taking a Seaplane in the Maldives
Tips for Taking a Seaplane with Kids
Maldives Regrets – From Resort Choices to Packing Mistakes
