Holiday

My kids started going on holidays abroad when they were 6months and loved it.
At 2 years old all 3 of them had the most wonderful time and totally made the holidays wayyy more fun than if we had left them behind.
A week is a long time to be away from parents. I left them for 6 days once, for a work trip, and it was too long for all of us.

Both our kids went away when they were under 2 (on hot and cold holidays) they were absolutely fine and loved them.
Packing & organisation was a bit stressful but fine once away & tbf that would be the same if you went without them.
Glad we did it with DS2 as otherwise due to the pandemic he wouldn't have had the experience until much later in life.

I'm taking my 2yo and 4m old to Menorca next month. It's not the height of summer and the resort is family friendly with creche/kids club. There are lots of resorts that fit the bill! This is my first time on a resort holiday so not sure how I feel about it as it's not my usual holiday MO, but it's a family holiday for all of us. I couldn't leave my toddler (or baby) behind!

You could all go on a family holiday to a place like this, book the little one in to the onsite crèche/kids club for a day or more so you still get 1:1 time with your partner as well as toddler having fun, a holiday with you and some family time too. Cruises have similar options too!

We've also done Air BnB UK holidays and hotel stays with 1 and 2 babies.

Go on the holiday with your family

Now I've found the opposite, the only marriage I know that broke up was the one who was always offloading her children on her parents. We always thought he found it easier to leave as they weren't a properly bonded family.
There aren't many years to enjoy your children, take the two year old and have a wonderful time or leave him with your parents but both will disrupt his routine.

We took our children abroad from 6 months onwards.

We took holidays without our children from 9 months onwards.

Both are wonderful. Both are good for you as a couple. Both are good for your children.

Decide what you would like to do and do it, guilt free.

I wouldn't have gone on a holiday abroad without my 2 year old, but I prefer UK holidays and they're easier to manage with little ones. If I had supportive parents/in-laws who I trusted to mind my child while I was away and my child was ok with being left (which mine absolutely wasn't), I would take a short break, parents only. Probably not a full week, but a long weekend for sure.

If your DC has a good relationship with grandparents and you want to go, then you should go. It sounds like you want to.

I took my just turned 1yr old to a hot country, for 10 weeks, on my own, a v long flight with a change over away.

It can be done, but if you don't want to, then don't.

I’ve just taken my 2yo abroad to a hot country. We did an all inclusive hotel with kids pools and play areas. She absolutely loved it! Normally she goes to bed at 7 and has a short nap but on holiday the excitement of the pool and the heat meant that she had 2 long naps during the day ans stayed up at night for the kid’s entertainment. Just go somewhere family friendly and don’t book stupidly long flights or late flights.

travelling with a 2 year old can be challenging but he will have such a great time especially if you go to a kiddy friendly hotel with fun activities. even just a beach holiday is great with a 2 year old. as long as you take plenty of sunlotion and don't go out in the mid day sun, it should be fine. my nephews just came back from Singapore (2.5 years and 1 year old) and they had an awesome time in beach/pool/theme parks/zoos etc.

if you want a couple holiday. that's OK too.

At two I think your child is likely to be better off with both his parents in a different country than with other family at home.

DS2 is 2 now.

We've done a fortnight in the Maldives at 11m

An overnight at Legoland

A week on a farm

A few nights at a friends house

A few nights at a lodge

He's enjoyed every one in his own way and we've kept his routine at bedtime.

Take him and have fun.

Equally, there's no guilt needed if you decide to leave him home with family.

I travelled loads with my kids when they were little and I think it helped them build flexibility and not become so stuck to routines. Routines are good for kids but good to adapt them sometimes I think x

Do whatever you feel comfortable with.

I wouldn't have left my child at that age but that's my personal choice. I wouldn't judge anyone who did.

Don't let anyone pressure you into doing something you don't want to either. If you go, go because YOU want to, not because you feel like you should.

TBH, leaving my DC behind wouldn’t even have occurred to me (we have always gone away for their benefit as much as our own).

You cannot put a price on some couple time when you have young children.. ! Having a child is like a hand-grenade going off in a relationship.,ALL the relationships I know of (I'm 61 now) that worked long term were between people who nurtured their relationship as partners ..

Do it. Your child will be safe, loved and looked after and will never remember anyway !! Win win

Go for 4 nights somewhere with short flight and short transfer so you are not traveling all day. No need to feel guilty, you DS will probably have a lovely memorable time with family. Of course you can go away with little one and there will be lots of nice moments but lots of tiring ones too. It's not a holiday holiday,. If you can afford it book a nice uk seaside break with 2 ur old ad well. I wish we'd done it more whilst family were able to help before illness took over, make the most of it to be a couple

I think you’re being way too rigid about his routine. Yes, it’s good to have some routine but he’ll never learn to be adaptable if he doesn’t experience anything different now and again. Lots of people take toddlers on holiday with no issues.

Take him with you OP. We took both dds on holiday when they were about 9 months. They were fine.

The first time we took dd on holiday abroad she was 4 months old and we had a lovely week in Mallorca. We took her to Tenerife, Tunisia and Rhodes before she was 2. It's perfectly possible to have a great holiday with a child but it's not going to be a boozy late-night trip.
If you are unsure about leaving him for a week then think about going for a few nights instead.

We went on holiday with a 2 year old and had a great time. But it wasn't a holiday like we had as a couple.

It depends what you want. A 2 year old won't care where he goes as long as he has fun, is loved and there is someone looking after him. Lots of parents go on their own and have a great time and then another week as a family somewhere. But equally not everyone has able parents to provide care and then a couple holiday just doesn't work.

Don't have a guilty feeling. I went on a project which meant trips abroad form 16 months onwards for 3 years. I loved the silent mornings and adult conversations for dinner. Equally DH travelled for work since DD is born. DD was safe and loved by the other parents and I know of children being happy with grandparents when parents go for work trips.

Just go somewhere less hot if you want to take him with you. 2 year old would be fine without you, would do fine in the heat if handled properly, would be fine on a cooler holiday, is fine with no holiday at all. No mum guilt needed whatever you choose

Go, it will be great for you and DH and give you time to be a couple again and not just mum and dad. We do it every year and the kids love staying with Granny and me and DH realise we still like each other.

It may be more disruptive to his routine to spend a week away from you and your partner? I took my little one away abroad just before she turned 2 and again at 3 and routine was a bit messed up but she was fine as with me etc ? Totally worth it for the fun and adventures taking them on holiday!

I’m on holiday at the moment with my older children. It’s hot here but there are loads of people with toddlers etc who seem to be having a lovely time.

Equally, I think it would be fine to have a holiday just the two of you, but only if you would enjoy it.

Tbh both of the above options - and the option fo not going away are all fine so really it’s a happy situation to be in. I’d probably choose the family holiday myself but that’s a purely personal choice.