Caribbean villa vacation with one year old

[Anonymous]

I also feel like maybe a two week villa situation could involve a nanny. Definitely bring the nanny.

[Anonymous]

OP here, wasn't expecting this negative feedback. Getting a nanny to help during the day and bringing a playpen to contain the baby. We both are very hands on and love to spend our time with the baby so didn't think of all the negativity mentioned.

Booking the cook so we can focus on the baby and our family. Thanks

[Anonymous]

We traveled a ton when DS was a baby/toddler because we lived abroad and wanted to take advantage of all the travel there. We lucked out that other than wanting to be on the go, DS was relatively easy. never had an interest in electrical chords and other than the cat's food, never really went after things he wasn't supposed to. You got some good advice and seems like you have plans to make it doable. My three pieces of advice

1. Be reasonable about your expectations. You'll have fun, but it won't be a super relaxing vacation

2. Do a walk through of the house and move anything that could be breakable if your kid knocks into it. Vases on bookcases, ceramic figurines, etc. Our toddler could be a bull in a china shop. No sense of spatial awareness and just kind of barged on. I'd also let the villa know you're bringing a 1 year old. They may adjust things

3. Make impromptu gates. One place we stayed at, we used a suitcase to block off a room we didn't want DS to get access to. If there are things or rooms that you want to make sure they can't get access to, tape a note on the door to remind yourself, DH, the chef, and the nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, wasn't expecting this negative feedback. Getting a nanny to help during the day and bringing a playpen to contain the baby. We both are very hands on and love to spend our time with the baby so didn't think of all the negativity mentioned.

Booking the cook so we can focus on the baby and our family. Thanks

You can’t be that hands on if you bring your nanny on vacation…

[Anonymous]

FWIW I just did this w a 3 year old and it went better than expected. I was very vigilant around the water. I got a water safety watch thing that my dc could wear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, wasn't expecting this negative feedback. Getting a nanny to help during the day and bringing a playpen to contain the baby. We both are very hands on and love to spend our time with the baby so didn't think of all the negativity mentioned.

Booking the cook so we can focus on the baby and our family. Thanks

You can’t be that hands on if you bring your nanny on vacation…

She didn’t say her nanny, she said she was getting one. Because someone suggested she needed one.

[Anonymous]

Wow these reactions are over the top. We have 4’kids so always vacation in nice houses for the extra room. With just one kid this is easy, as it’s nerve wracking when you have to constantly make sure older kids short the doors to the pool or rooms you don’t want the little one in. You two outnumber the one toddle so this is a piece of cake. Bring your own pack n play bc I never trust rental ones. Bring some type of pop up tent/shade for the beach bc I like lower ones than a big beach umbrella. We have a cool little mat that folds up into a bag and is used to make your own mini splash pool. Just dig a small, shallow hole and line with this mat and add water. I always bring a few toys that work both in the bath and at the beach/pool. If the toddler is heavy enough for a puddle jumper just keep that on at all times when you are near water. These reactions of bringing gates, etc. Wtf??? As far as sleeping, we often put the pack n play in the master walk in closet bc it would be dark. If your baby can really only sleep in total darkness, bring tin foil and tape on the windows in his room. Otherwise I’d just bring a decent stroller so you can walk around and baby can take naps in that if needed if you are out for lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow these reactions are over the top. We have 4’kids so always vacation in nice houses for the extra room. With just one kid this is easy, as it’s nerve wracking when you have to constantly make sure older kids short the doors to the pool or rooms you don’t want the little one in. You two outnumber the one toddle so this is a piece of cake. Bring your own pack n play bc I never trust rental ones. Bring some type of pop up tent/shade for the beach bc I like lower ones than a big beach umbrella. We have a cool little mat that folds up into a bag and is used to make your own mini splash pool. Just dig a small, shallow hole and line with this mat and add water. I always bring a few toys that work both in the bath and at the beach/pool. If the toddler is heavy enough for a puddle jumper just keep that on at all times when you are near water. These reactions of bringing gates, etc. Wtf??? As far as sleeping, we often put the pack n play in the master walk in closet bc it would be dark. If your baby can really only sleep in total darkness, bring tin foil and tape on the windows in his room. Otherwise I’d just bring a decent stroller so you can walk around and baby can take naps in that if needed if you are out for lunch.

I don't think the reactions are over the top at all. Water is the no 1 killer of babies. All it takes is a few seconds when you are not watching for the toddler to get in the pool - and then you don't see them because you're busy in the kitchen or whatever. don't be stupid and do this. Even with a nanny because the nanny has time off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow these reactions are over the top. We have 4’kids so always vacation in nice houses for the extra room. With just one kid this is easy, as it’s nerve wracking when you have to constantly make sure older kids short the doors to the pool or rooms you don’t want the little one in. You two outnumber the one toddle so this is a piece of cake. Bring your own pack n play bc I never trust rental ones. Bring some type of pop up tent/shade for the beach bc I like lower ones than a big beach umbrella. We have a cool little mat that folds up into a bag and is used to make your own mini splash pool. Just dig a small, shallow hole and line with this mat and add water. I always bring a few toys that work both in the bath and at the beach/pool. If the toddler is heavy enough for a puddle jumper just keep that on at all times when you are near water. These reactions of bringing gates, etc. Wtf??? As far as sleeping, we often put the pack n play in the master walk in closet bc it would be dark. If your baby can really only sleep in total darkness, bring tin foil and tape on the windows in his room. Otherwise I’d just bring a decent stroller so you can walk around and baby can take naps in that if needed if you are out for lunch.

I don't think the reactions are over the top at all. Water is the no 1 killer of babies. All it takes is a few seconds when you are not watching for the toddler to get in the pool - and then you don't see them because you're busy in the kitchen or whatever. don't be stupid and do this. Even with a nanny because the nanny has time off.

Especially if it’s a new to you nanny you’re hiring from the locality? I would have a harder time trusting them.

[Anonymous]

For goodness sakes you don’t need to anchor furniture and cover outlets in a hotel room. You simply watch the baby.

The water access is an entirely other issue, though, because it’s so dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For goodness sakes you don’t need to anchor furniture and cover outlets in a hotel room. You simply watch the baby.

The water access is an entirely other issue, though, because it’s so dangerous.

It’s not a hotel, it’s a house per the OP

[Anonymous]

Our villa basically had no walls along the coastal side (louvered double doors, all open) so there was no way to contain a kid. And no fence around the pool. Don’t get one like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, most of these reactions seem over the top. When our eldest was 1, we moved from Asia to Europe and had 6 months of garden leave. We traveled all over and stayed in hotels, serviced apartments, etc and it was all fine. We babyproofed, but not excessively (outlets and moved hazardous pieces of furniture but did not secure cabinets etc). If the place didn’t have a crib, we made a bed on the floor. We had a month in a house with an ungated pool and another month in a house on the beach and we either had all the doors shut and locked, or someone was always watching the toddler.

It will be fine. Take 15-30 min to walk the whole house/villa when you get there and identify any dangerous scenarios. Toddlers are ingenious, but they aren’t cats. You can keep them out of places you don’t want them to go. We stayed in one place with a gorgeous balcony, but the gaps were wide enough for a toddler limb to slip through, so we locked the door, put a rod at the bottom and the top to prevent the door from opening even if unlocked, and then moved a sofa in front. If you use your common sense, it will be fine.

I think the issue is that Caribbean villas tend to be extremely open and surround a pool. It’s not like a hotel where there is one exterior door.

[Anonymous]

We went to the outer banks rental with a 1 year old and it was NBD. Just watch your kid while he or she is active. You are a parent, you are used to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went to the outer banks rental with a 1 year old and it was NBD. Just watch your kid while he or she is active. You are a parent, you are used to this.

OBX rental and Caribbean villa are not the same 😂