Anonymous wrote:Thanks all for the reassurance! My husband and I have gone on vacation alone several times now, but it just felt a little weird purposefully only taking one of the kids with us. I would predict that she’ll be extra clingy when we get back, but I only work part time and she has a beloved nanny the rest of the week, so hopefully it won’t be too bad.

Np I think it is fine but, when the 2 year old is older you should take her on a solo trip and leave the older child behind with grandparents and or camp. Just to be fair.

My preferred solution would be to bring ILs to Europe too! But if that’s not possible then yes, leave the 2yo behind.

Enjoy the time with your oldest who will appreciate and remember the trip vs. your youngest who will have no memory of it and make most of the trip more difficult. Plan something special with your youngest when you get back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t the European family want to see her?

This doesn’t matter, and shouldn’t factor in OPs decision.

Why not??

I wouldn’t do it. We traveled to Europe with a 6 yo and 1.5 yo. Everyone had fun. I would not leave a kid that young unless it was an emergency.
But it’s obviously a personal decision.

DH never wants to leave our youngest behind. Instead he stays with her.

Last year I took my two older kids and parents to their native country in Asia. DH stayed home with 2yo.

DH just took older kids skiing and I stayed home with toddler. We do this often when older kids play sports, go to cub scouts, etc.

We went on a Disney Cruise recently with all 3 of our kids and was really surprised at a family who left their 2yo at home. They only brought their older child. I thought that was odd because Disney is geared towards kids. They told us they wouldn’t be able to enjoy themselves with a toddler.

I would never do it.

Completely fine.

I think it’s more than fine. Siblings should be able to have one-on-one time sometimes with caregivers. Your son will really enjoy this time getting to do “big kid” travel and your younger one will be doted oh by grandparents. You can do a family trip in a few years once your kids are closer to 5 and 8.

Omg it's FINE. 2 year olds are terrible to travel with and 5 year olds are pretty reasonable. You have loving care for her.

Make a plan to take her when she is also 5. Remove the guilt.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with doing with this, but I wouldn’t.

I also wouldn’t travel to Europe with a 2 yr old.

My preference would be wait 2 yrs and go as a family. But I don’t think you are heartless or a bad parent for going and leaving the toddler in (competent) grandparents’ hands.

Seems fine to me. Wasn’t there an almost identical thread last year? Maybe search the archives for responses to that?

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t the European family want to see her?

This doesn’t matter, and shouldn’t factor in OPs decision.