Any experiences? My son will be 28 month old by the time we go (still planning Inshallah).
I am a bit nervous on how I am going to handle him and do Umrah at the same time. My husband will be with me and i was thinking about taking turns in prayers etc… Will it be possible? Is April/May too hot there? Any ideas how to make it some what a little easier?
He is not talking yet so usually there is a lot of screaming hwen he wants something and doesnt get it. We are still working on some sign language and some word sounds but he really wants what he wants and wants it right now kind of kid…
Went Umrah last yr with my 20 month old nephew.... Alhumdulillah he was fine.... we went towards the end of May.... outside is hot but wasn't unbearably so. You can just pack treats for him in a baby bag and have that with you. When doing Safa Marwah, you can rent a wheelchair and have him sit in there with you (they normally stop buggies going in - but not always).
Doing Tawaf should be no problem.....my mum (who's 57) held my nephew the whole time and managed to do Tawaf perfectly fine!
...although Masjid-al-Haram is not totally air conditioned, there are big ceiling fans everywhere... stays relatively cool.
Madinah-al-Munawara is all air conditioned.... stays perfectly cool inside.
I would suggest that you do both Tawaf and Saye at the 2nd or 3rd level - (even 4th for saye). It's less crowded and it's covered. It will be hot so make sure you have a water bottle even though zam zam is available.
I did see wheel chairs but didn't see any strollers there - you might want to check on that.
For the rest of the prayers while you are there:
I would also suggest to take a hotel close to the haram so it's easy for you to go back and forth for prayers.
Both of you have a cell phone. They are cheap there incase you get lost - you can get in touch with each other.
The women and men areas are at different places. I DOUBT that you can pray side by side. It's crowded so you pray where you find space.
There's a woman's section downstairs in Masjid-al-Haram.... lots of kids running around and playing....my nephew is seriously on his feet all day... the only time he "sits" is when he's having a nap... lol.... he was fine Alhumdulillah...
....but yes, having a hotel near the Haram is definitely a must.
Njgal, you're right... she wouldn't be able to pray with her husband.
You get LOTS of kids crying while their mommies are praying namaaz.... no one bats an eyelid.. you get kids crawling infront of others while they are praying... no one minds... I didn't see anyone who got annoyed at this... they're kids.. it's expected of them....
Inshallah, you'll be fine!!
Thank you so much, this is great information!
I wasnt thinking about praying together, but something like my husband goes to pray then when he is done he will take my son and then i will go praying.
He can sit down for few minutes, totally depends on his mood but i am afraid that i will be praying and he will start walking here and there and i am afraid of losing him... does that happen?
are they and dayCares there at all?
But it does sound like it will be do able. I will be staying at Dallah Tabah, I am told that its very close to Haram but not sure how close though.....
For the tawaf, it will be easier for you to perform it on the 2nd or 3rd levels, as the crowd will be thinner there. You can also get a wheelchair for your son to sit in, or for you to sit in and hold him, for both tawaf and sa’ee
No I dont think there are any daycares anywhere in the Haram
Yes what you have mentioned does happen and is every parents’ nightmare. With the huge crowds it very easy for a child to get lost, so you have to always be very very very careful. I would never leave a child who can walk unattended while praying there. I have seen some people who those elastic straps that they attach to their child while praying, so the child has a little bit of room to maneuver themselves, but cannot get more than a few steps away from you
Set up a point for you and your husband of where to meet after all prayers, or in case you get separated during tawaf, sa’ee etc, and always use the same meeting point. Use the same gate to enter as well. This will all lessen the odds of getting lost and panicking
I went for Umrah in April, it was very hot but not unbearably so. Drink plenty of water at all times, zamzam or bottled. Make sure you have a hat for your son and sunscreen
Insha Allah everything will go well, may Allah accept it from you! ameen
Nope, there aren't any day cares there....(well, not that I know of)
....I have seen a few women who have those band things on their kid's arms / feet and attach them to themselves too. The child can move around but obviously not too far. Just sit him infront of you when praying with this band thing on... should be fine. :)
...not sure of that hotel... haven't heard of it... will try to find out how far that is :)
Dallah Taiba in Madinah right? That's pretty close to Masjid-al-Nabawi...
Where you staying in Mecca?
I havent really booked yet. the other one was hilton.
Also i wanted to know if anyone knows what is the quality of Hajeej hotel in Makkah and Zomord Kartaj in Madinah? Their prices are attractive but are they worth staying? I dont want something super fancy but a nice place though....
I haven't heard of those hotels.... Hilton is very good... this is where we usually stay in Mecca and Dyar International in Madinah. Because you've got a child with you, I would advise you to stay in a "decent" hotel. The star ratings that the Saudi hotels have are not the same star ratings that we expect and have from UK / USA or European hotels.
I went with 2 young kids under 3 and tho they usually act up when Im out for a long time, and subhanAllah in the Haram they were surprisingly very quiet and well mannered. The older one who was 2.5 yrs actually even wanted to walk for half the tawaf tho she normally hates walking when we go out. But even if your child does act up, I dont think you need to worry...it is just the atmosphere of the Haram that ppl around you will not pay as much attention to your kids acting up compared to if you were in another place...because alot of ppl sit there the whole day with their kids and so you see crying, running around, etc and no one really thinks much of it. So dont worry about that part. And because it's all open you dont really hear crying/screaming as much as you would in a closed masjid.
As ppl mentioned, use a wheelchair at safa marwah because you might get tired carrying him, but when doing tawaf you can even carry him if you want since it doesnt take too long.
As for losing him, I know in the area right around the kaaba there are alot of gaurds who keep an eye out for kids who appear to be alone for more than a certain number of minutes. So if you do lose sight of him, try the lost kids area where they keep the kids they have found wandering off.
And what I know many parents with young kids do is they do take turns as you mentioned. Actually many women put the kids to bed at night and the husband stays back and she spends her time in the haram at night...this is what I did since mine were young and I couldnt leave them too long with my husband in the day. But at night they are asleep so you can go more peacefully. And keep a cell incase your hubby needs to reach you...but make sure the cell doesnt have camera options or if they decide to check ur bags they may not allow you to take it in.
the weather isnt sooo bad but does get really hot in the day around dhuhr time [the ground burns!] Evenings/ nights are still pleasant. So if you guys arrive in the evening that will be easier for you to do umrah then, compared to if you arrive in the daytime.
And the crowds arent so bad that you need to stay in the upper levels...but u can judge for yourself when you get there...in one part of may many arabs from neighbouring countries are on holidays and that time can be abit crowded, otherwise its' okay.
I havent really booked yet. the other one was hilton.
Also i wanted to know if anyone knows what is the quality of Hajeej hotel in Makkah and Zomord Kartaj in Madinah? Their prices are attractive but are they worth staying? I dont want something super fancy but a nice place though....
Both the above hotels are pretty basic. To be honest, if I had a child with me, I would not stay in the above hotels. Zomorod is apparently a 2 star hotel.. .and that's according to Saudi standards... it prob wouldn't get any stars according to western standards. The quality of the hotel really does make all the difference. I know people will say "but you're going for Umrah etc etc and not for a holiday" but the hotel DOES matter as you have to think of the child too. If money is an issue, there are some very reasonably priced 4 star hotels too .... Elaf Kindah in Makkah is pretty good and so is Dar-al-Salaam. Not sure about hotels in Madinah.... Dyar International and Royal Dyar are very very good... my parents prefer them to Hilton so you can imagine their standards are very high. I've only stayed in Dyar International and was very impressed with their service. Movenpick is another good hotel in Madinah but is, again, quite expensive.
Both the above hotels are pretty basic. To be honest, if I had a child with me, I would not stay in the above hotels. Zomorod is apparently a 2 star hotel.. .and that's according to Saudi standards... it prob wouldn't get any stars according to western standards. The quality of the hotel really does make all the difference. I know people will say "but you're going for Umrah etc etc and not for a holiday" but the hotel DOES matter as you have to think of the child too. If money is an issue, there are some very reasonably priced 4 star hotels too .... Elaf Kindah in Makkah is pretty good and so is Dar-al-Salaam. Not sure about hotels in Madinah.... Dyar International and Royal Dyar are very very good... my parents prefer them to Hilton so you can imagine their standards are very high. I've only stayed in Dyar International and was very impressed with their service. Movenpick is another good hotel in Madinah but is, again, quite expensive.
Thank you so much!!!
I decided to stay with Hilton in Makkah and for Madinah I have 2 options so far:1) Elaf Tabibah
2) MovenPick
do you know about those? which one is better?
Also I am going in mid April to early May... is it going to be hot there? I guess i ma thinking what kind of clothes do i need to take for my son? Full sleeves and pants? or short sleeves and shorts?
You are very welcome!!! :)
Movenpick is very good!!! Hilton in Makkah is a few mins away from the Haram....
Erm.... shorts and tshirts will be fine... just make sure you take sunblock and a sun hat... InshAllah the little one will be fine!! :)
Last yr we went towards the end of May and my nephew was fine Alhumdulillah.... It was hot but was bearable.
In the same shopping complex as Hilton hotel, there's the Saudi equivalent of a superstore called Bindawood - you can find everything here, should you forget something for the little one at home....
I've stayed in both Hilton and Movenpick and let me tell you that these are two of the BEST hotels that they have. Hilton is literally RIGHT across the Haram, you will not have to walk much. Plus it's connected to a mall so if you guys get hungry you dont have to go far. Movenpick is also a great hotel. You overlook Masjid al-Nabawi in the breakfast area. It's a beautiful hotel and again it's connected to a mall!!! haha
When I went for Hajj this year, there were many times when I prayed with or relatively close to my husband. I suggest that you perform your umrah in the night. Pray your Isha, do your Umrah (will take 2 hours approx), read Tahhajud, Fajr and then go to the hotel to eat and sleep until Zhuhr. Pray Zhuhr at the Haram and go back to the hotel and sleep until Asr. Pray Asr at the Haram, Eat, shop and then it will be time for Maghraib.
It's better to do Umrah at night because it will not be as hot and the crowds will be less. This way your husband will be close by when you pray.
I stayed at the Hilton. It was a great hotel. I wouldn't recommend having a hotel that is more than 5 min walking distance. The crowds get too much and its hard with a baby. Bring one of those baby bjorn thingies so your husband can hold the baby too while doing tawaaf and sa'ee. And do all your shopping at the Hilton (3rd floor) or at Zam Zam Towers (next door). Venturing out to the souqs will be a pain.
Madinah was amazing. The most serene place I have ever been too. Go there having that mindset that the Prophet SAW is really there, and honestly, you'll feel his presence. You wouldn't even want to leave. The day I left was one of the saddest days i ever had and wanted to capture the moment. Shopping in Madina is good. Shop at Tayyeba Commercial Centre. It's right under a hotel where the women's Entrance is for the masjid. They have good packaged dates (i love love teh chocoloate almond covered dates :) ). You won't have any problems with your baby there. Do your Ziyyarat in the early morning. There is less rush.
a couple of things. whenever your doing your umrah bring water. u will need it. also bring a small bag/backpack for your shoes to go in during your umrah and madinah. bring a pocket sized quran - it's easier to carry around in ur purse and u can read it anywhere. Try to keep your hands free (get a messenger bag/purse that goes around your chest) that way, with one hand u can hold ur hubby's hand and the other to create shield to keep urself being suffocated by people too close during tawaaf. and please bring unscented deodorant. i wish i had a whole box to give them out to pple. also don't bother to wash your clothes urself. there are tons of cheap dry cleaners around. one is right behind the Hilton (it's bengali owned). they are great and fast! The hotel also has, but might be costly.
Really nice advice Afshi! :) Yep, Madinah is AMAZING!!! you are right about the feeling of serenity you get there!!! I'm going to Umrah again this yr, InshAllah, and I really can't wait!!! :)
There is also a date factory in Madinah.... they have the BEST dates EVER.... ask the person who is taking you on all your Ziyyarats to take you there too...
Yep, we always did our Umrah at night too.... after midnight... less rush and we stayed there till after fajr - not crowded so yep, you prob will be able to pray namaz with your husband.... there were many occasions where I was in the same place as my dad and brothers....
Great Advices!
I don't think I can put my son in the Baby bjorn thing, he is too old for that i believe....
so do you guys recommend going to Makkah first or Madinah? I am told to go to Madinah first so less tiredness from travel and all after i get to Makkah... but would that be good?
Also how did you guys got from Madinah to Makkah? Do i have to take a flight? or by car? how far is it?
Any recommendations?
