No way. How is this a question? If you want little one to stay home, one parent should stay with them.

All go or none go. You would leave your toddler out of a family trip to see grandparents!? Seriously?! Cannot even comprehend why you are considering this.

I have done a version of this trip and it was not fun. But I don’t regret it - we are a unit, even if one of us is frankly holding everyone back.

Anonymous wrote:We, as a family, would not go.

x1000. No way would I leave my sick baby with anyone other than my husband for a week. I would either do one of three things:

1. Everyone stays home. You have four children and your parents' house is not comfortable or kid friendly, so this probably won't be a huge loss for your family (calling a spade).
2. Everyone goes, but you stay at an airbnb or hotel that can accommodate your family better than you parents' home.
3. You go with your two oldest children and your husband stays home with your two youngest (or you go with the three oldest and he stays with the youngest). It sounds like you are the daughter and not the DIL, but obviously whoever is related to the grandparents would go with the healthy kids.

Wouldn’t the grandparents be heartbroken to only see two of the grandkids? I truly can’t imagine visiting our parents with only some of our kids, especially around the holidays..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would consider leaving your 18 month old for a WEEK? It’s a child, not a dog, to be taken or left behind at will.

Thank you PP for your harsh comment - I know my child is not a dog, believe me, we have dogs too The issue we are facing is that we could leave the little one in a very comfy nice house where he will be taken care of perfectly well. I really don't want to break up the family for the 5 days but the little one won't have a memory of the trip and the older ones could have a much nicer time if I as a mom am more available for them, not constantly watching over the little one. Maybe I am overthinking it and should just bring everyone.

I’m not sure what you thought you signed up for—yes, the little one won’t remember and needs constant supervision, and yes, the older kids would prefer you focus on them. That’s life with 3. I wouldn’t treat one child as disposable because his needs are inconvenient.

I would leave them all at home.

Anonymous wrote:You would consider leaving your 18 month old for a WEEK? It’s a child, not a dog, to be taken or left behind at will.

Thank you PP for your harsh comment - I know my child is not a dog, believe me, we have dogs too The issue we are facing is that we could leave the little one in a very comfy nice house where he will be taken care of perfectly well. I really don't want to break up the family for the 5 days but the little one won't have a memory of the trip and the older ones could have a much nicer time if I as a mom am more available for them, not constantly watching over the little one. Maybe I am overthinking it and should just bring everyone.

We, as a family, would not go.

No, your child is sick! What is wrong with you? Stay home.

I would not want to be away from my toddler for a week, so I wouldn’t make that choice unless I had to be away for work or emergency illness or something.

Even if was okay being away from my toddler for a week, I wouldn’t want to go with my other kids to visit grandparents without them.

Or the toddler is too sick to go one parent would stay behind with them. Or we’d all go and play itinerary accordingly - one parent does toddler friendly stuff with toddler, the other parent takes the big kids to play in the snow or whatever.

I would never leave such a young child like this, especially if they're not feeling well. Either none of us go, or we all go. And if accommodations are not up to par, I'd find a COMFORTABLE hotel. To hell with anyone who disagrees.

You would consider leaving your 18 month old for a WEEK? It’s a child, not a dog, to be taken or left behind at will.

If the little one is sick, I wouldn't go at all. Or one parent stay home with youngest while other parent takes 2 older children.

Assume you have 3 kids, 9, 5, and 1.5 and are facing a week long trip up north to visit grandparents. You have the chance to leave the little one with family. Would you do it or would you bring him along? Some additional facts to consider - the house we'll be staying is NOT kid friendly, it will be COLD, and the little one DOESNT sleep well and currently has a cold, runny nose, is teething, etc. What would you do?