Going on vacations during the toddler/baby years -- yay or nay

[Anonymous]

My DH and I used to be avid travelers but we are currently in the thick of the baby/toddler years -- our first is 2.5 and our second is just 6 months. We've heard conflicting opinions about whether traveling with the kids is "worth it" during this time. I totally know that traveling with babies/toddlers is not a vacation but I think experiencing new things with them is still important. Maybe we don't spend big $$$ on a trip to Asia with the kids under 3, but a non-stop flight to the Caribbean or out west, maybe?

How do you/did you approach travel when kids were young? Spend the money and take the stress or just stay home?

[Anonymous]

I’ve on the whole enjoyed every trip except 1-2.5 years old. To me that is the least pleasant. Because you have to be on top of them every second and their sleep is messed up and they barely enjoy the new experiences anyway.

Under 1 is reasonably easy to tote along and 2.5+ is easier to manage and more fun.

[Anonymous]

We kept it low key when they were really little. Things within driving distance, air bnbs without stairs etc.

[Anonymous]

They are really too young to remember these trips - at this age, going to the grocery store is just as exciting as going out west or the Caribbean.
If you think you will still have a good time traveling with them, then go. But they won't get anything out of it - other then being more cranky and prone to meltdowns.

[Anonymous]

We travelled with a 2.5 year old to Colorado for 2 weeks and it was lovely. But we did it because she has an older sibling 6 at that time and we went with another family with the same age kid as our oldest. It was fun. The little one went on some hikes and adventures but also stayed home to nap some days etc. I didn't travel with my kids before 12 moths given RSV and that my kids like sleeping in their own beds best. Before they are potty trained and done with naps and can sit still at a restaurant meal its just more stress for me. After about 4, then we can do so much more. My little one is almost 4 and we have lots of adventures planned.

[Anonymous]

We are keeping it simple during the toddler years. Drive to the beach or lake, or fly to visit grandparents. I probably would not bother with the Caribbean because it seem easier just to do a beach condo within driving distance, but I think it could be done if you pick a kid-friendly resort and stick around there the whole time.

[Anonymous]

We traveled during the toddler years. I always prioritized our sleeping arrangements. We would get connecting hotel rooms/suites or airbnbs. That way naps were more reliable and adults could stay up after kids when to sleep watching a movie or having a glass of wine. You can't try to do much but you can get away. Toddlers don't need much - a new playground and a shallow pool are the best things ever.

Only travel during the baby years were to visit grandparents. We also didn't have chill easy going babies so taking our show on the road was not really worth it.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s worth it to see family and friends. It’s fun to have the pictures. And now that my kids are older, they and I are seasoned travelers.

But traveling was really hard at that age, I think especially on me the mom. Personally I don’t have many (or any?) memories of actually enjoying the travel part of travel at those ages. It was mostly a lot of schlepping and sleep deprivation.

[Anonymous]

We've so far only taken our toddler to our grandparents on Cape Cod, which we've enjoyed. We're planning a long weekend in Puerto Rico on a resort for January we think. Will see how it goes! And if that goes well, we were thinking Greece later summer 2024.

[Anonymous]

We always enjoyed city trips at that age--Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Miami, St. Louis. Honestly, anywhere that has a zoo, aquarium, a children's museum, nice playgrounds, small amusement parks. Add in a hotel pool and the kids will have fun.

If you want to go to the beach, just do a weekend at one of the MD/DE/NJ beaches but go the first week of school. It will be empty but still warm enough to swim and the hotels will be cheap.

[Anonymous]

Make a list of trips that you want to take and target ages. Like major National Parks in middle school, European capitals in high school. And then fill in the rest with places you'd like to see.

South America is an awesome place to take younger kids/preschoolers. They love children and are so friendly to them. Coming from the DC area it was shocking that people would be nice to children for no reason. Argentina, Ecuador and Chile were all great.

[Anonymous]

We leave our kids with their grandparents (who are local) and go anywhere and everywhere. It’s great.

[Anonymous]

We had an unpleasant experience taking our baby to the Caribbean - the opposite of relaxing. Going forward, we kept it to local beaches or trips with the grandparents where we had help like Disney (for the sake of the older kids). We were lucky enough to have grandparents willing to take the kids so we could vacation as a couple which was much needed in those early years too.

It is so much easier to travel once the youngest hits around age 4!

[Anonymous]

Why would I say home?

[Anonymous]

We only traveled to see family or with my mom at that age. I needed some way to get a break, else I was wishing I was home where the child had routine and baby proofed surroundings.

Honestly, of all the trips we did with under 5s, a cruise was the best. Kid friendly food was always available, kids club existed for a child free dinner, there was a mini golf course and a baby pool and elevators to play in. Lots of other families. We could choose to walk off the ship for 2 hours and then pop right back for nap time. They aren’t my favorite adult vacation, but it was so easy with little kids.