Worth it to vacation with a toddler?

[Anonymous]

So pre-baby my hubby and I traveled the world. We're in our 40s. Now we have a 19 month old and we have not gone anywhere with him but to see family, and no where just the 3 of us. I'm itching to travel again. Some friends have told me that at this age, it's totally not worth it- no vacation will be a vacation... while others have said, go and do what you want and it will be a different trip, but still good. Does anyone have any advice or experience they can offer? My husband wants to go to Paris, which is our favorite vacation spot, but I'm thinking that's too ambitious and that being up in the middle of the night with a jet-lagged toddler is not going to be fun for anyone, so my idea is to go to the Caribbean or Florida. Somewhere relaxing and low-key (although friends are quick to point out a beach vacation will not be relaxing with a 19 month old). I know it won't be the end of the world either way, but I don't want to waste time and money... FWIW, the longest plane and car trip he's been on have been about 2 hours, although he does this frequently. Should I just give up on this vacation idea for a while or no?

[Anonymous]

I vacation with my now 3 and 1 year old and have done so since DC1 was 6 months old. Vacations are fun but different. I have gone to Europe with older DD and it was great, but I would start smaller.

I think it depends on your parenting style and your kids. Both of my kids are easy going travelers and not super set on routines. This helps when traveling as they can adjust better. DH and I are also somewhat relaxed parents. I will say that travel days tend to be difficult, so we do factor that in- it’s harder to do a quick weekend because the first night in a new place can be challenging- not going to bed right away bc excited about somewhere new, or their sleep patterns are messed up bc they slept (or didn’t) on the plane, etc. So we try to arrive places earlier in the day to give them more time to acclimate.

[Anonymous]

We took our DD all over when she was a toddler - and still do. At 14 months we took her to Cuba, 18 months to Scotland, 24 months to Switzerland. Here are two huge pointers (one you can do and the other you may not be able to do) 1) readjust the time as little as possible. The nice thing about going to Europe and basically staying within about four hours of EST is that she can go out to dinner with you. 2) if you have a nanny - bring her with you! Invaluable.

[Anonymous]

Could grandparents watch him? Ours were thrilled to watch our 1 year old when we went away. I too am not interested in being up all night with a jet lagged toddler. Our problem would probably be the opposite- our toddler sleeps a ton and we'd be stuck in a hotel room from 7pm onwards every night in a great city. Toddler is also a huge napper. Great problem normally, but doesn't work well on all the trips we've tried.

[Anonymous]

We did Paris last summer when DD was 18 months. It was wonderful. We brought my parents with us, which was key, and we all took turns watching her. We put her to sleep around 8 and then DH and I went out every night. She adjusted to the time pretty easily and slept most of the way there on a Fly Tot (she had her own seat). Way home flight was rough bc she barely slept, but it was a finite period of time.

We are having #2 in June and zero chance I’d do a trip like that with two, so I’m glad we did it!

PS - Paris was not DD’s first trip. In her first year and a half she probably took 20-25 flights. Slowed down significantly since I’ve been pregnant and she’s become a much more defiant toddler!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We took our DD all over when she was a toddler - and still do. At 14 months we took her to Cuba, 18 months to Scotland, 24 months to Switzerland. Here are two huge pointers (one you can do and the other you may not be able to do) 1) readjust the time as little as possible. The nice thing about going to Europe and basically staying within about four hours of EST is that she can go out to dinner with you. 2) if you have a nanny - bring her with you! Invaluable.

LOL of course bringing a nanny on vacation with you makes it easier. Then you don’t really have responsibility for your kid. DCUM, you never disappoint. Hot travel tip!

[Anonymous]

We started traveling with our DS when he was 2 months old. He is 10 months old now and has been to 2 other countries, and 7 states. The longest flight we've done was 10 hrs.
Go. It will be different, but go. We love traveling together as a family and hope to not stop.

[Anonymous]

Eh we took a 2 year old to Normandy and it was fine.

The main problem is that later in life the kid will be mad because they won't remember the fantastic vacation they were on. =)

[Anonymous]

It really depends on your childs temperament. I've only done domestic trips with my toddler. It's basically a change of scenery. Not a vacation.

[Anonymous]

We have two children, now 4 and 6, and have traveled with them their whole little lives. The key? BRING A NANNY.

Use the nanny for naps and bedtime. During those times, go to churches, museums, fancy dinners, long walks, etc. During the happy morning hours, go with your child to explore 2 or 3 playgrounds. Eat a croissant (outdoors, because crumbs). Our system was that the nanny always sleeps in and orders breakfast via room service. We take the kids out all morning. Maybe we meet up with the nanny for lunch or not, depending on their wants, then we bring the kids back to the hotel for nap. DH and I head out and get back in time for the kids dinner. Nanny can leave for that if wanted. Then we put them to bed, and nanny stays with them while we go out to eat and do something fun.

So the nanny is actively working a max of seven hours, then passively working 4-6 more at night. Our kids don't wake up once they've gone down at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on your childs temperament. I've only done domestic trips with my toddler. It's basically a change of scenery. Not a vacation.

This. Unless you bring someone to trade off with it’s just a change of venue. I never knew this was why my parents always planned multi-family vacations when my sister and i were smal. The more you know....

[Anonymous]

It’s worth it to me, but you have to have the mindset that it’s going to be an adventure and you’re not going to be able to do as much as you could when traveling without kids. I’m my experience, my kids do better when they have some down time too.

[Anonymous]

Not worth it between 12 months and about 3 1/2 or 4 years old. You are in the no go zone at 18 months. Save your $ for a vacation in the future that you can actually enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We took our DD all over when she was a toddler - and still do. At 14 months we took her to Cuba, 18 months to Scotland, 24 months to Switzerland. Here are two huge pointers (one you can do and the other you may not be able to do) 1) readjust the time as little as possible. The nice thing about going to Europe and basically staying within about four hours of EST is that she can go out to dinner with you. 2) if you have a nanny - bring her with you! Invaluable.

LOL of course bringing a nanny on vacation with you makes it easier. Then you don’t really have responsibility for your kid. DCUM, you never disappoint. Hot travel tip!

Do you think people with nannies aren’t parents?

OP it depends on what you want. I had three in three years and didn’t stop traveling- now on ES we have amazing trips because they are mature and experienced travelers. Put in the work it takes to be able to enjoy life more. Just my .02 and everyone’s different, but it worked for em.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We took our DD all over when she was a toddler - and still do. At 14 months we took her to Cuba, 18 months to Scotland, 24 months to Switzerland. Here are two huge pointers (one you can do and the other you may not be able to do) 1) readjust the time as little as possible. The nice thing about going to Europe and basically staying within about four hours of EST is that she can go out to dinner with you. 2) if you have a nanny - bring her with you! Invaluable.

LOL of course bringing a nanny on vacation with you makes it easier. Then you don’t really have responsibility for your kid. DCUM, you never disappoint. Hot travel tip!

I laughed so hard at this comment as well. At first I was wondering what kind of unicorn toddler this woman has (and that's coming from someone with very well behaved kids!), and then I saw the answer: One that someone else handles!