Family suggesting vacation to exotic places with 14 month old

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he's still napping 2 a day...no way I'd spend that kind of money to be stuck in a hotel room

You aren't as rich as many of us.

What an unbecoming look, PP.

+1

+2. To quote someone who would know, "Money can't buy you class."

[Anonymous]

I didn't want my DC's first experience in an exotic place to be DisneyWorld or Legoland. It was important to be to have him see a little bit of the world while he was young - important to me anyway. I took him to Ireland when he was 15 months old (great place for toddlers, if your family is willing to calm down their plans a bit) and then Argentina when he was around two. It is harder since we have #2 but we still managed to get to Iceland last summer and are going to France this summer.

It can be done. And no - we are not rich. Like others have posted, we just prioritize travel.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends. I wouldn't go to India or anywhere water sanitation is a real issue. But the rest depends on the kid and your attitude. Are there still 2 naps? Does she sleep in the stroller and on the go? Is the super cranky if off schedule? There would be a time change so think about that too. I love travel and want to take my kid everywhere. But she doesn't sleep in the stroller and is a pain if not napped well. And otherwise a very very sweet happy kid who likes airplanes. So we went to the Bahamas at 12 months with a room and a nalcony so she napped and we chilled. And are going to another carribean island now that there is one nap. I have friends who have taken their dd on 6 flights before she turns 2 and she was great. You know your kid and your family. Do what works for the kid and for you and stand your ground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not enthusiastic about it. My family has a way of badgering me into spending time with them.

This is your answer.

I was a world traveler before my first child. I thought DH and I would put her in one of those backpacker child carriers and see the world with her. She was a terror once she started walking. We took her to Costa Rica shortly before she turned two. Parts of it were awesome, but parts of it were horrible. She was not a good traveler at that age and it made regular things very difficult. Other people have different children. My point is that you know what works for you and your family. Do not be bullied into a situation that will not work for you. You can always join them on a big trip in 2-3 years.

[Anonymous]

We took DD to Panama at that age with my whole family and had a blast. That being said, the trip was my idea, I planned it, and my family is super helpful. I never got any grief about nap schedules or anything, and that made me willing to be more flexible on a couple of days where we had long day trips planned.

So my answer would be that travel at that age can be great if it's what you want, if you have some control over schedule/lodging, and if you are with helpful people.

I also will say that we're really lucky and can afford a lot of international travel (which we love), so it's not a big deal to us that DD isn't going to remember lots of her trips. I might feel differently if that weren't the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family is pressuring me to take a vacation with them when DS will be 14 months old. They are suggesting places like India, Costa Rica, and South Africa, as if they have never been around a toddler before.

Am I wrong in thinking that this is a horrible idea?

As others have said it totally depends on you.
Of your choices I'd go with Costa Rica. If you'd rather a different place say Madrid or Rome or San Diego. tell them so.
If you simply aren't up for travel with your 14 month old ( which is fine) tell your family so.
If you need help with setting boundaries with your family there's a really good book someone here recommended to me. I can't think of them name, but when I do I'll post it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, you are never "wrong" for thinking - whatever -
Stop believing you need a reason to say no
Stop believing you will need to justify, explain or convince
re: whatever decision you make - about anything.
Always - you are allowed a preference.

I remember seeing this exact response on the thread about the mom who was acrid to have her five years year old daughter spend the night with grandma.

[Anonymous]

*was scared, not acrid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not enthusiastic about it. My family has a way of badgering me into spending time with them.

If you don't want to do this, then you shouldn't do it. It sounds like your real issue is in setting boundaries with a boundary-challenged family. Carolyn Hax is always recommending this book to people who have families like yours. https://www.amazon.com/Lifeskills-Adult-Children-Janet-Woititz/dp/1558740708/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1499284681&sr=1-3&keywords=adult+children

[Anonymous]

I took my kid to all of those places prior to the age of three. And contrary to what a PP said, you don't need a lot of crap for a toddler. I see people lugging so much crap to a trip to the mall, it's absurd. It really just depends on how you parent and what your tolerance is. Don't crowdsource your parenting decisions, do what works for you. Nobody else can decide that anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't want my DC's first experience in an exotic place to be DisneyWorld or Legoland. It was important to be to have him see a little bit of the world while he was young - important to me anyway. I took him to Ireland when he was 15 months old (great place for toddlers, if your family is willing to calm down their plans a bit) and then Argentina when he was around two. It is harder since we have #2 but we still managed to get to Iceland last summer and are going to France this summer.

It can be done. And no - we are not rich. Like others have posted, we just prioritize travel.

The french are great with kids. We had a little old lady in very small walk in deli style place shoo a couple of teens out so that there was room for DS's pram...just make sure you speak a teeny tiny bit of french.

[Anonymous]

We took our 15 mo to Europe a few years ago to see family and friends. He had a little difficulty sleeping with time change -- but difficulty sleeping was nothing new. We had a great trip and it is almost easier with that young of an age than when we took him to Costa Rica a year after that. Although that trip was fun too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't want my DC's first experience in an exotic place to be DisneyWorld or Legoland. It was important to be to have him see a little bit of the world while he was young - important to me anyway. I took him to Ireland when he was 15 months old (great place for toddlers, if your family is willing to calm down their plans a bit) and then Argentina when he was around two. It is harder since we have #2 but we still managed to get to Iceland last summer and are going to France this summer.

It can be done. And no - we are not rich. Like others have posted, we just prioritize travel.

I would like some tips on Iceland with 2 kids please (if you make it back to the thread).

[Anonymous]

No way would I take my 14 month old to India or Africa, unless I was from there and wanted to visit family. Caribbean with a direct flight may be ok, but probably only for an all inclusive resort with stuff to do with babies. We went to Mexico with my parents and sister+hubby+baby when my niece was 2 and it was a great time. But 2 years and 14 months is a HUGE difference. Can you skip this year and promise to go next year if you are dreading the trip? My husband wanted us to travel to see his family when my baby was little - the trip is at least 24 hours with 2 transfers each way. I simply refused since it sounded like a complete nightmare to me. Yes, I was the bad guy but I'm ok with that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he's still napping 2 a day...no way I'd spend that kind of money to be stuck in a hotel room

This. Just say no thank you.