Morzine for Families & Kids

Most ski teachers wouldn’t recommend starting skiing before the age of three or four at the earliest. The right age will vary from child to child, and depends upon the child’s strength, co-ordination and attitude. For little ones Morzine has a protected sledging area at the foot of the ski slopes, a children's snow ramp in front of the Tourist Office and an ESF snow garden for beginners to learn to ski in safety. ... see "Morzine Skiing for Children" for more

There is a wealth of activities to keep the whole family happy in Morzine – from things that you can do together to activities where the children can be left to play with their new ‘holiday friends’. Your only problem might be fitting in everyone’s top choice! ... see "Morzine Activities - Families & Kids" for more

Children are welcomed and well-catered for in Morzine and the resort prides itself on its ‘family-friendly’ emphasis. There are a number of options for children to ensure that the whole family can make the most of their holiday. Just be sure to book in advance as childcare services are much in demand. Extra services such as picking up/dropping off of children or provision of meals and snacks may cost extra so give some thought to what you and your children want before you book. ... see "Morzine Childcare" for more

There are baby-changing facilities in nearby Les Gets, you can ask at the Tourist Office for a key to a baby-changing room with bottle-heating facilities.

If you didn't have room to bring a pushchair in your luggage you can hire one from Fouchard Sports.

France divides its school holidays into a regional timetable to ensure that the entire country doesn't go on holiday at once - however this staggered system can mean that some months (particularly February) can be busy from beginning to end as one region after another arrives in resort! Planning ahead can help you avoid the crowds...

• Zone A - Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Rennes & Toulouse
• Zone B - Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen & Strasbourg
• Zone C - Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris & Versailles

• When taking babies and toddlers on a ski holiday, you will need to take special precautions against the altitude, sun and cold.
• As you drive up to the resort, the rapid drop in air pressure may cause problems for a young child’s ears. Take a 15 minute break on the road up to the resort, and give young children a drink or something to suck to help them equalise the pressure in their ears.
• Paediatrician Nathalie Blot suggests not taking a child under one to above 1200m altitude. A baby may suffer acclimatisation problems due to the drop in air pressure and decrease in oxygen level. Morzine lies at 1000m, and a baby cannot always equalise the pressure in his or her ears as easily as an adult. The local doctor recommends taking the journey up the mountain to the resort slowly.
• She strongly advises against taking any child under three years on a gondola lift as they find the changes in altitude too sudden.
• The cold is another danger for very small children, whose temperature regulation systems are not yet fully developed. Waterproof boots, good quality mittens and ears protection are essential to protect from frostbite. Do not take a baby skiing with you on your back – immobilised, he will quickly lose heat, and the risk of collisions or falls on the piste is always present.
• Remember children lose heat faster than adults so dress according to the weather conditions and make provision for it changing - hats, waterproofs and gloves are essentials. Helmets are recommended for skiing and boarding too.
• Remember to protect your child's eyes and skin from the sun - not only are the infra-red and UV rays less filtered by the atmosphere at altitude, but 85% of the rays are reflected by the snow. Use category 3 or 4 UV sunglasses/goggles, and reapply SPF30 suncream at least every two hours.
• It's a good idea to have a contact phone number and address in your child's pocket in case you become separated on the mountain.