Two-year-old child has never been outside the town we live in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read all the responses, but I think the issue is a mental block more than anything. The more you travel, the less you will dread it. My DS is 18 months and he's been to the west coast twice (third trip next week!), Europe once, a few shorter flights, multiple 4-5 hour train rides, and one road trip to Philly. Several of these trips I made by myself with him, without DH. It isn't fun being in transit with a toddler, but you get through it and it's really not a big deal.

^ P.S. this travel was mainly for my benefit. Obviously DS won't remember any of it. DH and I like to travel though, and neither of our families are local. I would hate to be stuck in one place.

[Anonymous]

I can't relate to non world traveler 2 years olds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think that traveling is important as is exposing your child to as many things as possible at an early age (before five). You still have time, OP.

Which they then forget, because that is how their brains work.

OP, just pretend you took her places. She'll never know.

The brain synapses are there from travel, PP. Has nothing to do with memory. Travel is great for little kids.

+1 as well as emotional pathways. A baby learns he/she is safe in a totally different environment with different sounds, smells, and sights. Promotes self-sufficiency and well-being as well as risk taking.

Like PP wrote, retrievable memory has nothing to do with it. The baby's senses have all been enlivened.

Batshit crazy posts like this are the only reason I read this forum. I'm a 41 year old man that spends his workdays in front of three monitors. Thank you, Kevin

[Anonymous]

You all are just plain old batshit crazy. Travel enlivens a freaking 2 year old’s senses? Ok, but so does licking the driveway. Get a grip people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all are just plain old batshit crazy. Travel enlivens a freaking 2 year old’s senses? Ok, but so does licking the driveway. Get a grip people.

Lol!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are just plain old batshit crazy. Travel enlivens a freaking 2 year old’s senses? Ok, but so does licking the driveway. Get a grip people.

Lol!

OP's two year old hasn't been in the car for more than 20 minutes. Stop embarrassing yourself, PP. There is a far bigger issue here than her child not seeing the world - this child sees nothing.

[Anonymous]

Take your family on a vacation already! My kids don’t do well in a car because they are not used to, but train and plane is fine. Just do it!

[Anonymous]

Omg, I can't wait until the "you're selfish if you travel with an infant or toddler" folks discover this thread about "travel enriches pathways in baby brains" because that would be the most epic clash of ridiculous arguments ever.

NP with a DC who is fine in the car, but is a terrible traveler generally. The idea that any kid can travel just isn't true. As an infant, DC would refuse to sleep while being carried or eat outside the home, despite leaving the house with DC frequently from birth. We had to fly internationally when DC was 9 mos and everyone was miserable.

It's possible to "enrich the pathways" (which is perhaps one of the DCUM phrases ever) without a long trip. As PPs have mentioned, bringing baby to new experiences and surroundings doesn't mean you need to go abroad or even to another state.

I would see if you can gradually extend the length of car rides, since that would allow you to go on longer distance trips. DC is now 2.5 will tolerate 1-2.5 hour stretches in a car with a fun toddler singalong playlist, switching up toys we give to DC, playing little "games" like "I spy," handing rear-facing DC bunny crackers overhead from the passenger seat. When it really gets bad like in bumper-to-bumper traffic, we do hand DC a tablet. And then in between stretches, hit up playgrounds at parks along the way or fast food restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't relate to non world traveler 2 years olds

+1

They're the worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't relate to non world traveler 2 years olds

+1

They're the worst.

They probably eat Cool Whip and shop at Wal-Mart. Ew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think that traveling is important as is exposing your child to as many things as possible at an early age (before five). You still have time, OP.

Uh, I'm not concerned about taking my kids places when they're 2. My 5 year old doesn't remember what we took him to last year or the year before.

not about the memories. for 1, what about going somewhere that mom and dad like? not everything about the kid. also, travel teaches you and your fam how to be flexible, adaptable, open-minded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is not that your child hasn't travelled, it's that you're too anxious of a parent to do new things with your child. Think about how your anxiety may be limiting your daughter in other realms. The more at ease you are with parenting her, the better her childhood will be. Whether she travels or not.

THIS

[Anonymous]

My five year old has flown probably 15 times and has her own passport. We don’t travel so she will remember. We travel because we love it! It’s not the specifics she will remember but I do something imprints on young minds.you are letting your fears get the best of you. All 2 year olds are wiggly. That’s no reason to not go somewhere. Take a train ride to Baltimore or philly. Visit a kids museum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think that traveling is important as is exposing your child to as many things as possible at an early age (before five). You still have time, OP.

Which they then forget, because that is how their brains work.

OP, just pretend you took her places. She'll never know.

The brain synapses are there from travel, PP. Has nothing to do with memory. Travel is great for little kids.

+1 as well as emotional pathways. A baby learns he/she is safe in a totally different environment with different sounds, smells, and sights. Promotes self-sufficiency and well-being as well as risk taking.

Like PP wrote, retrievable memory has nothing to do with it. The baby's senses have all been enlivened.

Oh come off it.

A farmers market sounds different than a grocery store.

You don't need to go to a different continent.

+1 Crazy Talk!

[Anonymous]

The person who said synapses are formed from travel doesn’t know what synapses are. (I am a psychologist)

I traveled a lot as a young kid and do remember bits from that time. But, I haven’t taken my 3 year old on any trips yet and am not at all worried about it. We’ll travel when we are ready, and her development will be just fine.