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Original poster

What age did you first take your child abroad?

103 replies

Leabee1234 · 03/09/2026 19:23

What age did you take your child abroad for the first time? My son has just turned 3 and I haven't taken him abroad yet. He also has autism and he gets very overwhelmed and even UK holidays are quite stressful.
I was thinking of going abroad next year but not sure I have the nerve to do it with his needs yet.
I feel like a bad mom seeing the young toddlers going abroad at a young age but not sure whether to stick to UK holidays until hes older and can handle it more.

OP posts:
Honeyandwine · 03/09/2026 21:14

10 years and 6 and don’t regret it. We went on holiday six to eight times a year in the UK and both children loved it. We decided to take them abroad for us rather than them. The children loved it but were equally happy on a beach in Cornwall.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 03/09/2026 21:20

Our first born was 3 months. We flew out to Germany to stay with some friends with a dc a similar age. The 4 of us took it in turns to ski while 1 was in charge of the babies in a little cafe at the bottom of the slopes!

it made me remember that there was still a world outside of the baby bubble and I’m so glad that we went.

itstoolateforsnacks · 03/09/2026 21:57

8 months. Hellish. That’s when we learned holidays would never be the same again for a long time!! Don’t feel guilty op.

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3 year olds Families SEN
bababamama · 03/09/2026 22:04

7 weeks, moved overseas

Denim4ever · 03/09/2026 22:09

Our DS was 2. It was on Eurostar and he was at the needing to walk up and diwn the train stage. He loved it though. I discovered I couldn't get seedless grapes and that French 2 year olds ate 'baby pastas' with a spoon not normal shapes with a fork.

At 3 we went to live in the US for a while. Flights were fine. New York 3 and 4 year olds sat in strollers (buggys) on game boys. Parents were fine with this but horrified by Little Life backpacks with reins straps. This was 18 years ago with iPhones coming in during our time there. So just before the 'hand the toddler the phone' phase. Which they would have been more up for than I was.

ILoveMyCaravan · 03/09/2026 22:11

6 months, long haul. Same with the second child and then regularly for many years. Can’t remember really having many issues.

FredbassetOT · 03/09/2026 22:11

Dd 15. I took her abroad because she was doing mfl for GCSE. We went to France this summer too although she'd been on a school trip at 13.
Ds is 14 and doesn't have a passport.
I've travelled for work but DH hasn't been abroad since we had kids.

GameOfJones · 03/09/2026 22:14

DDs were 7 and 5 when we first took them abroad..... couldn't face it before then but we had some lovely holidays and they think the Isle of Wight is abroad anyway since we have to catch the ferry 🤣.

They still haven't been on a plane though. We've driven to France and The Netherlands and have done a cruise from Southampton (worth checking out, they're very SEN friendly!)

DH didn't go abroad until he was 18 and could book and pay for his own holiday.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 03/09/2026 22:14

He doesn’t care about being abroad or not at age theee he just wants to enjoy himself with his family and have fun. A centre parc or butlins or Legoland hotel would be great. Once they are at school they might start caring about flying to other countries. I would stick to uk for now in your shoes.

TheSeventh · 03/09/2026 22:16

1st, 6 months. 2nd, 3 month. 3rd, 3 weeks. All to the USA.

AgnesMcDoo · 03/09/2026 22:16

10 months for 1st (Menorca) and 9 months for second (Turkey)

Echobelly · 03/09/2026 22:18

With my oldest about 9 weeks, but then it was to my parents' house abroad (short haul) and I travelled with my mum and she and my dad were there - husband joined us a week later.

AnneElliott · 03/09/2026 22:21

DS was 3 and we went to Menorca. He asked every day if we were going home yet 🤷‍♀️

Shamesame · 03/09/2026 22:21

7 months, she’s coming up to 2 and has already had 6 trips abroad (all short haul) but she’s a pretty adaptable easy going kid. My husband didn’t take his first flight until he was 20.

Comeonbabylightmyaga · 03/09/2026 22:23

My first was 6 months I think, 2nd however was about 4. He has ASD and it wasn’t as easy. Stop being hard on yourself.
Wait until you are both ready.

Comeonbabylightmyaga · 03/09/2026 22:25

Ps first few trips were a nightmare but it got easier (for me). Ds is now an adult and as long as he plans for each eventuality and knows his oks and not oks, it’s doable.

Thecatspjymas · 03/09/2026 22:27

3 months for both of them and they are regular travellers (9 and 16 months)

DaisyDooley · 03/09/2026 22:30

8 weeks.
Shes been all over with us and is a seasoned traveller.

DogAnxiety · 03/09/2026 22:31

You should go when you think you and he are ready - not before.

My friend’s boy has moderate LD and autism, and has no issue with travel per se, he is a great eater and not that bothered about change, contrary to the stereotypes. He absolutely hates the heat though and doesn’t enjoy med holidays in summer for that reason.

One of my kids is very adventurous but needs A Plan (think, a printed out folder with each day laid out). The other is much more easy going but gets stressed out on transition days.

Basically, you know your own kid so go with that, but foreign culture and language and food might not be the barrier you think it is. Often it’s not about the foreignness but about change and unfamiliar things like airports, flight schedules, sensory issues (we had major issues with anywhere sandy for example) and inflexible catering arrangements - still shudder at the hotel where everyone got served the same single meal and no modifications permitted 🧟‍♀️

Kickinthenostalgia · 03/09/2026 22:34

Dd was 6, and DS 11 when we went to Disneyland Paris. Dd was 13 when we took her to Disney world Florida. DS didn’t want to go to America due to trump. He’s autistic so felt he wouldn’t feel safe, which was fair enough with everything going on. We plan to go to Iceland in a few years. I think they both want to come for that.

DogAnxiety · 03/09/2026 22:36

a tip I found useful was using the same chain accommodation provider in lots of different places - we used major caravan site operators eho have a presence throughout Europe : Castels, Sandaya, Centerparcs Eu, etc. Their accommodations are fairly standard, particularly the latter two, and you can even totally avoid the airport stress if you are prepared to drive. Also, that means you can take lots of familiar stuff from home with you.

Travelfairy · 03/09/2026 22:39

1 for both kids...would have done younger if opportunity arose

FettleOfKish · 03/09/2026 22:41

Just before 6 months, again at 8 months, then 18 months, 22 months and will be going again at 28 months in 6 weeks time. I am a bit nervous for this time as he’ll have his own seat for the first time so harder to keep him sat down but he loves planes and traffic lights(!) so we’ve already started talking a lot about how he’s got to sit still on his bottom when the light is on and can move when it’s not. We’ll see how it goes! Flying there direct with DH and back with a layover in Heathrow just me & DS.

I work in travel and our family are all a flight away so it’s natural for us to fly regularly.

ExOptimist · 03/09/2026 22:44

Mine were 8 weeks and 10 weeks when I took them abroad for the first time. Went on the ferry and then a 3 hour drive in France. We were staying at my parents' holiday home, wonderful holidays. Both slept through the night from 12 to 6.30 from 7 weeks old so I wasn't too tired.

Doidothis · 03/09/2026 22:47

Three months. Travel is such a huge part of our lives the thought of stopping it for years just because we had a young child was really depressing. I think it shapes a child at any age to experience different cultures and meet people from all around the world.