What age did you first take your child abroad?

[Leabee1234]

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.

Not till she was 10. We don’t like ‘chill by a pool somewhere hot’ type holidays at all and DH was having to travel a lot for work (I’d had to before DD). We had lots of good holidays in the UK - so many interesting places, good beaches for rockpooling/bodyboarding etc.
That first holiday abroad was Sorrento at Easter so we could do Pompeii, Paestum etc etc in perfect weather for sightseeing ( not too hot) and she was old enough to really enjoy it.

DS was 6 months, that was easy, then not again til he was 4.5 and DD was 2.5. Then not til they were 6 and 4 and from then on have travelled quite a lot.

She was 5 weeks old when we brought her to UK from our home abroad.

From being tiny babies. They’re dual nationals and DD1 lived in a 3rd country from 6 months - 3.5 years old. Abroad is not a big deal to navigate. You don’t even need to necessarily fly there e.g. eurotunnel to France. Just like in the UK there are fabulous places for kids and things that are not very child friendly. Choose accordingly.

First child was 3 for her first trip, second was exactly one year.

Do whatever you’re comfortable with, as long as he enjoys himself he won’t be bothered about being abroad. In fact kids that age probably prefer somewhere more familiar.

5mths and 8mths

3 months

Mine are aged between 20 and 12 years old and none of them have been abroad. I'm 44 and been twice, aged 19 and 20.

Mine have never been abroad - don't really see the point in taking young children abroad for holidays, as they are just as happy with beaches, attractions, parks here in the UK. Once they are old enough to be interested in other countries and cultures then fine. Majority of parents just pick the holiday based on their wants, and the kids just follow along.

Why would you want to drag little kids around in the type of temperatures we've had this summer. The UK has been bad enough!

aged 4

Ours were 13 and 15 when we first took them abroad (we had a city break) . We'd been on holiday a few times every year in the UK to different places.

9 months

That's a very oddly aggressive answer
You know the rest of the world isn't hot right? And perhaps had considered that if they ant to go somewhere hot then places have pools and air con so it feels nice? And that parents are totally fine to take their kids where they want?!

I do find it strange when people feel the need to criticise other people's choices when justifying their own, particularly as no justification was required

'we like going on holiday in the uk' would have sufficed wouldn't it?

we went on ‘adult’ holidays when they were tiny and took them. By 3+ we sacked off abroad as expensive (seats etc) and they were as happy camping.
At 14-16 they now enjoy stuff and don’t need kids clubs

Drove to the South of France when our daughter was 9 months old. When she was 16 months old we flew to Australia, 24 hours, just stopping for re fuels. She was unbelievably amazing, so good and a happy little traveller, 🤗

A child with autism? I would go too young if it upsets the child.

We relocated then the children were young so regular travel between countries with the youngst being 4.

She was 1 (plus a few months) but only because we have a close family member abroad who hadn’t met her previously due to Covid restrictions.

The travel was easy enough really as we timed the flights well and we just lucked out that she happened to sleep both ways (and whilst we were there actually, far more than she ever did at home), we were staying with a family member so pretty home from home really and could borrow lots of things to make life easier from friends out there who had children/ grandchildren.

It was easier for us for those reasons is what I’m saying, although I’m sure I’m looking back with rose tinted specs and there was lots about it that was hard work. I certainly wouldn’t feel bad @Leabee1234 for not taking your DS, far better to stay somewhere you and he feel comfortable and you’re more able to meet his needs and keep him regulated - travelling, disrupted sleep and messed up routine is hard for all children to navigate and sounds like it may be particularly challenging for him, I don’t think there’s anything to feel guilty about in avoiding that.

Do you think a UK trip would be more doable? Honestly my daughter has been very lucky to have some far flung holidays but her favourite still remain the uk caravan ones, she’d genuinely be happy and not feel she was missing out if that’s all we ever did.

I think there is a point when kids at 4-12 where whether you go abroad v a caravan or camping etc here is better fun

Never, and they’re teenagers.

10 months (DS1) and 5 months (DS2) however they are both NT and quite good with travel and food. We would have reconsidered otherwise and you’re definitely not a bad mum for not having been abroad yet! Holidays with NT toddlers aren’t relaxing so I can only imagine how much harder it is.

Also the types of holiday we go on (moving around exploring a country with backpacks) wouldn’t be most families cup of tea but it works better for us and our active boys, so each family is different and it’s whatever works so you all manage to get some enjoyment from it.

This, never. The first time they went was when they paid for themselves when working around 20

Mine were 7 and 5. We could afford it no problem but for me, taking two toddlers on a plane to hot weather sounded like an ordeal not a holiday! We kept it simple and holidayed in the UK until they were old enough to enjoy it and not have to worry about early bedtimes, naps, buggies etc.

We flew home the other day from a hot destination and the plane was full of screaming babies and toddlers, absolutely miserable - mainly with their ears I assume. I’m sure some people have a lovely time abroad with kids that age but it held no appeal to me! Don’t get me started on pacing around in the midday sun with a buggy trying to get an overtired and overheated baby to sleep. Of course, travelling to visit family etc is a whole different matter - I’m talking about summer holidays abroad.

7 weeks

DS1 - 7 months (my parents paid for us all to go away with them)
DS2 - 17 years
DS3 - 13 years

Going abroad is not essential and many families don’t go abroad at all - a friend of mine doesn’t go abroad with her family through choice (her husband is a high earner, she’s told me how they’ve looked at holidays abroad but she would rather stay in the UK so that’s what she’s done). One of their sons is ND and I am fairly certain that has played a big part in the decision making process as he struggles with changes in routines, new things, etc.

DS1 - 5 months to meet the great grandmas.
DS2 - just over 1.5 years (he was born during covid).