Val Thorens with a baby and young children: practical tips for a stress-free stay

Heading to Val Thorens with a baby or young children takes a little preparation, because the resort is the highest in Europe (the village sits at around 2,300 metres). With some planning, a few simple precautions and well-suited accommodation, a stay with little ones can be both gentle and memorable. Here are our tips, to be rounded out with advice from your doctor.

Altitude and little ones: caution first

This is the most important point, and it deserves your full attention. Little ones do not adapt to altitude the way adults do, and general guidance calls for caution with infants in the high mountains. Some specialist sources suggest avoiding having a baby under 15 to 18 months sleep above 1,700 to 2,000 metres, but these benchmarks vary and in no way replace personalised advice.

Since Val Thorens sits considerably higher, we strongly recommend consulting your doctor or paediatrician before you book, especially for an infant or a frail child. Only they can assess your child’s situation and advise you according to their age and state of health. This information is given as general guidance and does not constitute medical advice.

Helping baby acclimatise once on site

If your doctor gives you the green light, a few simple steps help make the stay more comfortable:

• Ascend gradually and, on the road, take regular breaks to help the children’s ears equalise (a dummy, a bottle or a drink at the right moment all help).
• Take it easy for the first few days: favour short, calm outings without intense effort, giving the body time to adjust.
• Hydrate often, since mountain air is drier than at lower altitudes.
• Keep an eye on your child’s sleep, appetite and mood, and go back down or seek advice without delay at any unusual sign (marked fatigue, breathing difficulty, persistent crying).

These precautions also apply to slightly older children, who sometimes feel the fatigue of altitude without being able to put it into words.

Useful equipment to plan for

A stay with young children also needs preparing on the equipment side. Remember high sun protection and suitable sunglasses, essential against the high-mountain sun, as well as warm clothes to layer up: a baby sitting still in a pushchair gets cold faster than an adult who is moving.

Also plan for what you need to handle meals and sleep in good conditions. Good news on that front: at Résidence Les Ancolies, a cot and a high chair can be provided on request, which saves you from carrying everything. Remember to ask when you book, so that everything is ready on your arrival. A snow-suitable pushchair, a baby carrier for getting around and a small travel first-aid kit usefully round out the luggage.

Daycare and childcare options in Val Thorens

Val Thorens, awarded the Famille Plus label, has childcare solutions designed for little ones. The École du Ski Français daycare welcomes children from a very young age, generally from 3 months up to 3 years, with care attentive to their rhythm (meals, naps, quiet play and outings in the snow when the weather allows). Places are limited, so it is best to book well in advance, especially during the school holidays.

To share a moment with the youngest, the resort also offers early-development activities, such as baby-swimming sessions open from 6 months and accompanied by a parent, or play and motor-skills areas. Details of the facilities, the ages catered for and the timetables are published by the Val Thorens tourist office, which also centralises babysitter contact details. To broaden your ideas for gentle family outings in the region, the Savoie Mont Blanc website is a good source of inspiration.

Choosing accommodation suited to little ones

With a baby, the comfort of the accommodation makes all the difference. A spacious apartment, with separate bedrooms to protect naps and nights, a proper kitchen area to prepare meals and room to play on the floor, transforms daily life. Ski-in/ski-out access, common at Résidence Les Ancolies, also cuts down on walking with gear and a pushchair.

Depending on the size of your family, several options are possible. To bring together parents, children and grandparents, a large family apartment for 8 people offers the space needed for everyone to find their rhythm. You can compare all the options, from the 4-person to the chalet, on the Our chalets and apartments page. After a day outdoors, a warm moment in the apartment while baby naps makes the stay all the more restful.