in thinking that 4 days in London will be too much for my 2yr old?

[AllHailDaddyPig]

I am aware I might seem rather PFB about this, but I need opinions - I'll happily be told I'm being silly.

My DH has planned a trip for us to go to London for 4 days in Feb. My DD turns 2 at the end of this month, and she's very reliant on her routine - as I'm sure most toddlers are. She is very fussy about things, and doesn't cope well with change/unexpected things...she gets really upset if you try and change things. I do persevere though, I just pick my battles.

Even over christmas, with the routine only changing a little (we spent a lot of time having meal out, visiting people at times we normally wouldnt), and she really struggled with it. She was tearful, over tired and not herself, it affected her sleep as well.

So I am worried about this trip. Given that christmas was enjoyable, and she was surrounded by familiar people/toys/places, she still found it really hard and I was surprised at how much it affected her. So surely London would be much worse, DH wants to do all the sightseeing and has a very detailed list of all the things he wants to do...there are lots of things I want to see as well but I just think that poor DD would hate it, she would be so bored wouldnt she? DH doesnt seem to understand that she won't be interested in all the landmarks! And she won't have any familiarity/routine at all, and I am really worried about how this will affect her, and ultimately if it's worth it?

DH keeps saying 'Oh it'll be fine, we'll work it out' but yet he doesn't want to have a 2 hr birthday party for her as it might 'overwhelm her'

Obviously I know, it wouldn't be the end of the world, and she'd be basically ok, but is it really worth it? Just doesn't seem like it's going to be very fun for her and she is going to miss her routine. As I said, I like to pick my battles, and don't want to go if it will be too much for her.

Thankyou in advance, I know I probably seem very precious but please be kind

If you know where you want to go, you can look up bus routes in advance on the tfl website. Bus stops have a clear diagram of where buses go to from that stop or nearby stops, and they now announce which each stop is, so it's all much easier.

Get oyster cards and travel by bus and tube. Or daily Travelcards. It's MUCH cheaper, Don't pay for individual journeys - also in central London you often have to pay at the mchine at the bus stop before getting on - with a travelcard you hop on and off and just wave it.

I LOVE the London Eye, but don't think it is the best for toddlers!

Hmm I would say forget the tower unless your prepared to be carrying dd or miss out on a lot of it .Been with younger dc and did not enjoy went withds2 and we both really enjoyed it

Lots of cobblestones so hard to push buggys lots ofsteps etc

what about asking dh what he's planning and sticking on he'd for us to tear to pieces to look at and advise

Have to say we love London often take dc ,16,13,7 and ds3 5 who is in a wheelchair so would reccomend the buses for ease of getting around

I live in London and have 2 DSs

Here are my top places for a toddler:

Science Museum - interactive bit in the basement called The Garden.

Natural History - dinosaur exhibition may scare her. Insect bit is good. Mammals - every child should go and see the blue whale.

(Both these are big and you could easily spend too much time and get worn out and fed up. Don't attempt too much!)

Covent Garden- London Transport Museum

Corams Fields - this is a brilliant playground near Russell Square and Great Ormond Street Hospital. Very safe and enclosed. Nice little snack bar

Kew Gardens - great for running around. Little aquarium in the basement of one of the glasshouses

St James' Park - great for ducks and geese

South Bank in general is good for wandering about. The Eye may be boring for a child this young and there's no escape if she decides to have a tantrum, but there's the aquarium (expensive though)

Princess Diana Playground in Kensington Gardens - another lovely safe playground

I would also avoid the Tower until she's older
Hamleys is over-rated IMO, vvv expensive but your daughter may love the pre-school floor

In general - Id say plan less rather than more. Always factor in a place to run around.

Time Out book "London for Children" is good

Oh yes, you could go for a trip on the DLR to Mudchute city farm. That's quite a nice little trip

OOh yes, I also second Battersea Park Zoo. Better and smaller for a younger child than London Zoo

I live in London and if weather ok then you could plan your route to include various kids playgrounds which are dotted around but out of the way IYKWIM

There is a small one in Drury Lane (which is close to Covent Garden, one just off Marylebone High Street (back of oxford street) and also great ones in Regents Park (Baker Street) and also Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park (near Harrods).

Greenwich Park also has childrens play area.

TBH I found life so much easier when dcs were toddlers just pop them in the buggy to go to decent shops with spells of playtime also involved and go (agree no need to take tube alot of the time just walk) whereas now they don't want to particularly go where I want to.

When ds2 was 2.5 we went to New York for a week and that was good too. Found alot more kids playgrounds there interspersed with sightseeing.

Also agree with plentiful supply of snacks etc

I think you owe it to your child to give her new experiences in new places. Have you not taken her on holiday? If you wait until she seems more flexible, you might be waiting a very long time!

Just do it, take each day/hour as it comes and tailor to suit as and when.

Do you eat much in restaurants already? That is what I find most difficult about being out and about - if the DC has to sit in a high chair for 30 mins before food is served. So I would:
stick to cafes if possible - lots of the museums have good ones
take a book or two
take reins to strap into a high chair.

I think if you and your DH look at the list he has and then do a bit of googling on 'London for children' then you should be able to find things that will suit you all. Or tell us where he wants to go and we will tell you how child friendly they are. To the list of child friendly musuems I would add:
Musuem of London
Museum of Docklands (has a fab childrens play room)
National Army Museum
National Transport Museum
Horniman Museum

All are free apart from the Transport museum.

Again, thankyou for all of the suggestions/advice, I've wrote everything down so that I can discuss with DH tonight. I was sceptical about the London Eye with DD anyway, so I think we'll give that one a miss. Really interesting to hear experiences so thanks! Lots of tips I wouldnt have thought of. And will definitely only plan to do a couple of things a day, just had a look on Giraffe's website, looks fab so that might be a good idea.

LoopyLoops yes, we have taken her on holiday before, seaside holidays in family accomodation (self catering flats, caravans) - very different from a busy city in a small hotel room. She's had lots of lovely experiences already.

The blue cafe in the Science Museum is also good to eat at with kids but get there at 12noon or you'll wait a long time in the queue.

In addition to the things I and other posters have already suggested, I would say visit one of the voucher codes websites and print up some vouchers. You can get pretty much two for one on anything from Pizza Express to London Zoo as long as long as you plan.

And to the posted who said Selfridges baby change is the best, have you been to Westfield yet? They have stolen the baby change crown. The is a carpeted living room in the loos with toys and a plasma screen to amuse toddlers whilst you change. It is quite but in a good way.

And I've said it once but I'll say it again. Do walk down South Bank on a sat or Sunday. There is culture for you and DP and street entertainment for Dc. Great fun.

We used to take picnics most places when the DCs were little.

Time Out London for kids says a child of 2 can climb up the 200+ steps in the Monument. We went with a child of 2 and although he COULD climb up the steps he preferred to be carried. Both ways. If we'd tried to coax him up the stairs we would have caused a massive traffic jam...... I would be careful about some of their optimistic suggestions!

John Lewis and Peter Jones both have very good baby changing facilities.

In addition to every thing everyone else has said just think of all those things she will have seen if she has ever watched a single disney film or me too. Peter Pan - Big ben and houses of parliament, Mary Poppins - St Paul's cathedral steps, the Gerkin in Me too. These just get you started. At two we had a brilliant day where we took the overground train richmond to waterloo walked over the fly overs to the London eye, over the jubilee bridge to westminster pier, water bus to st katherine's wharf 2 minute walk to tower caught bus (rode on top deck) past st paul's, to picadilly, tube back to richmond 4 years later she still talks about her 'transport day'.
I do understand your feelings we barely went anywhere for the first year then at 15 months we had to go to South Africa (12 hour flight) I was really surprised by how well she coped. This then opened the door and before she was three we did Champagne region, Paris, Boston, Cape cod, Long Island and Cognac region. Once you get the hang of travelling with little ones it is great seeing the world through there eyes.

good point fridayschild! DS2 did it at 3 and a half, but 2 - no

With the exception of crowds, queues and anything requiring being still/quiet, a child can enjoy any attraction - the key is you, the parent, noticing things that they will enjoy and engaging with them about it. Or being a bit creative and inventing games to keep their interest - give names to all the suits of armour etc. etc.

But it helps to notice escape routes so you can take her out if she decides she hates a place.

OP, if you can manage a caravan a hotel room will be fine. Just unplug the phone to prevent expensive embarrassment

mrsqboring you talk sense.

It is good for small children to be taken out of their routine ocassionaly. If everything is always the same, how is she ever going to learn to enjoy the experience of new stuff?

is there no family member or close friend that she can stay with? If she is as you say, yes in the long run no harm will come to her or her well being, but will you enjoy london? I doubt it. Also not worrying about your DD feed times sleeping etc night baby sitter???? will give you and hour DH some real quality time together and enable you to recharge your batteries.

Ime art galleries and museums can be fun for a 2yo- if you are prepared to work on it as a parent, talk to her, engage with her, see things at her level

My dd used to love the local art gallery (we made her wave at all the babies), she enjoyed the crypt of Rouen cathedral and was awestruck by the Ishtar gate in Berlin. But yes, it did take a certain amount of input from us. A fun time, not a relaxing time.

my grand daughter is 18th months old.
do you think the princess diana playground is suitable and safe for her - is there enough there for her to do?
thank you for your help

judiS