Plans to go to Europe with 12-month-old not going to work... what would you do?

[Anonymous]

I was planning to go to Europe with my 12-month-old DD next month, but after a solo 3-hour plane ride in the past few weeks, I decided I can't do it, even though my DH will be there. Grandparents live far, and it will be another $800-$900 and two vacation days to get DD to grandparents, because they won't come here to stay while we are away. Right now, I feel like my options are this:

1. Cancel the trip, and be out the cost of tickets to Europe
2. Spend the extra money to fly the kid both ways to grandparents, even though the whole point of not taking her with us is to avoid taking her on a plane
3. Find a temporary nanny which will cost I don't know how much. Any ideas how much 24 hour care would cost for 8 days? If she still goes to daycare, would that count as 24 hour care?

What would you do?

[Anonymous]

Option 4: just go. What happened on your flight? It’ll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Option 4: just go. What happened on your flight? It’ll be fine.

This.

[Anonymous]

I think all of your options are the same cost. Not going on the trip might cost $2K.

[Anonymous]

Can you bring the grandparents with you to Europe? We went to Paris with our then 15 month old and brought my parents. It was awesome. Flight was surprisingly fine - she slept the whole time on the way there. Way back sucked but it was one finite period of time. She adjusted to the time change no issues.

If not, I’d drop off DD with your parents. Seems crazy to introduce a new caretaker for a week and it’ll cost more than just getting her to grandparents (although annoying they won’t come to you!)

[Anonymous]

Cancel

[Anonymous]

Just take DD to Europe with you as planned.

You can do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Option 4: just go. What happened on your flight? It’ll be fine.

Screamed the entire flight. I can't handle that for 8-9 hours.Plus, I realized there is no point in going on a vacation with her if I can't get any rest. I may as well just go to work and take her to daycare. I'd be more rested and relaxed.

[Anonymous]

I'm also curious what happened on the flight.

As for your options, I would never leave a 1 year old for 8 days with someone they had never met. That would just be completely off the table for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 4: just go. What happened on your flight? It’ll be fine.

Screamed the entire flight. I can't handle that for 8-9 hours.Plus, I realized there is no point in going on a vacation with her if I can't get any rest. I may as well just go to work and take her to daycare. I'd be more rested and relaxed.

Honestly I don't know when vacations feel restful with kids, but definitely not at that age.

Are you really out the cost of the tickets? Most airlines would at least would give you credit right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you bring the grandparents with you to Europe? We went to Paris with our then 15 month old and brought my parents. It was awesome. Flight was surprisingly fine - she slept the whole time on the way there. Way back sucked but it was one finite period of time. She adjusted to the time change no issues.

If not, I’d drop off DD with your parents. Seems crazy to introduce a new caretaker for a week and it’ll cost more than just getting her to grandparents (although annoying they won’t come to you!)

Grandparents wouldn't come, and frankly, I wouldn't want them to join. My parents are difficult, and when I vacationed with them with DD but without DH they didn't help change a single diaper. They watched her while I packed, but that was pretty much it. This was after they begggggggggged me to join them. Other grandparents can't join, either. They don't want to be away from home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 4: just go. What happened on your flight? It’ll be fine.

Screamed the entire flight. I can't handle that for 8-9 hours.Plus, I realized there is no point in going on a vacation with her if I can't get any rest. I may as well just go to work and take her to daycare. I'd be more rested and relaxed.

Honestly I don't know when vacations feel restful with kids, but definitely not at that age.

Are you really out the cost of the tickets? Most airlines would at least would give you credit right?

Eeeh, I'd pretty much be out the cost of the tickets. It's an airline I don't really take, and the tickets expire after a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 4: just go. What happened on your flight? It’ll be fine.

Screamed the entire flight. I can't handle that for 8-9 hours.Plus, I realized there is no point in going on a vacation with her if I can't get any rest. I may as well just go to work and take her to daycare. I'd be more rested and relaxed.

It won’t be a vacation, that’s for sure. But a trip to Europe to visit your husband? That doesn’t sound more appealing than staying home and going to work?

If so, and you really don’t want to go, just cancel it. I wouldn’t involve the grandparents. This is your choice. Own it and deal with it.

[Anonymous]

It is easier with two parents on the flight. Did she have an ear infection that made the pressure changes painful? Could be a medical issue if she cried for 3 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is easier with two parents on the flight. Did she have an ear infection that made the pressure changes painful? Could be a medical issue if she cried for 3 hours.

Don't think it was an ear infection. She had to skip nap time, and is the kind of kid that rolls around her crib to fall asleep. Can't do that on a plane.