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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think going on holiday with a baby/toddler is never fun?

170 replies

Makeupbabes · 13/06/2016 22:38

Is it just me who finds this?
We went away last year only to Prestatyn but my god did I find it hard, so much so that we actually left a day earlier as I couldn't wait to get back to normality.

I found my 18 month old DS to be a bit overwhelmed (& wouldn't sleep well or nap) by being away & we did seem to struggle with ways to entertain him. It's actually put me off going away this year.

Also the thought of going abroad & taking a toddler on a plane makes me feel very anxious! Does anyone else find holidays with toddlers hard?

OP posts:
Whathaveilost · 14/06/2016 13:26

The first holiday with DS2 was when he was 6 months and DS1 was 3
It was great. We just planned accordingly and accepted it wouldn't be the sort of holiday that we used to love.
We went at the beginning of the season to Spain where there was family entertainment in the evening. I hated it but DS1 loved all the children's entertainers and dancing to Steps or something. We knew we had to leave early but would have a beer in the apartment once they were asleep.
The beaches were great and it was nice building sandcastles and stuff.

We didn't resume our back packing and skiing holidays until DS1 was about 7 and DS2 was about 4 and even then we kept it simple and even then we would split it so one term time holiday we would have a kiddie friendly beach holiday, summer a back packing one in family friendly countries and at Feb half term they went skiing.

When they are very small it does take a bit of organizing but heck it's worth it!!

lovetoskimum · 14/06/2016 13:26

Agree Butlins, Centre Parks and Haven, all great for kids. My thoughts, kids happy = happy parents !! Who sit a sip a beer/prosecco :) :)

Nattytile, loved reading your post, keep them coming :)

WankersHacksandThieves · 14/06/2016 13:28

Why would you get a lodge with a hot tub and then not even tell your kids and let them use it? Did you want to have children? Do you actually like them?

All the same shit different place stuff makes me quite sad to be honest - does no-one get any joy in raising their kids? I know it's hard work and things aren't always perfect, but to see it as a drudge all the time can't be healthy for anyone.

lovetoskimum · 14/06/2016 13:31

What, where did all ski this year ?? Did children ski ??

We go yearly :)

Whathaveilost · 14/06/2016 13:34

lovetoski We went back to La Tania at DS2's request, he likes it there.
The boys are old now but they learned to ski mostly in Switzerland, Austria and closer to home, in the Cairngorms.

Whathaveilost · 14/06/2016 13:36

Actually learntoski thinking about it DS1 learned in Andorra but DS2 was too young so he had to go to the creche.

lovetoskimum · 14/06/2016 13:38

What, lovely, we have skied every year since daughter was born, she is now nearly 7 and flies past me shouting Mummy too slow :)

Great family holidays :)

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 14/06/2016 13:38

I love it Smile. We have a 2.5 year old and an 11 month old and are off to Spain for 2 weeks next week. We went away to Wales earlier in the year, and have had a couple of weekends away.
We still don't get any sleep, we're still up for the day at 5.30am, we don't get to relax, and lying by the pool with a cocktail is a thing of the past but we get to explore different places, play on the beach, eat nice food. It's a break from the routine of toddler groups, cooking meals, pre school drop offs and getting home for naps.

AppleSetsSail · 14/06/2016 13:42

You're absolutely right.

I found beach holidays with babies and toddlers an absolute nightmare. They can't really manage the direct sunlight, and they require supremely vigilant supervision. Obviously.

Skiing is great as long as the toddler is booked into ski school and there's a creche. Wink

I found it hard to cope with even visiting friends not having a babyproofed house when I had toddlers.

Same shit, different location.

suit2845321oie · 14/06/2016 13:49

Agree, with eldest it was shit. She cried constantly, didn't sleep in the buggy, kept everyone else awake. Awful awful. Middle one was fine as was youngest.

Hold on though as holidaying with older children is really fab

pettyprudence · 14/06/2016 13:49

ooh I love going away with dc (5&2) - we tend to have mini breaks camping or in a cottage in the UK and then go to a beach in Europe 1-2 times per year. We always book a chalet in a campsite in Europe so the dc can have their own bedroom and me & dh can have dinner & drinks outside in the evening (the dc are hopeless at staying up late). In the mornings we tend to go for a walk, then brunch in a cafe, lunch & naps at chalet then afternoon at pool/beach. This isn't wildly different to holidays pre-dc, I've just abandoned any hope of reading a book by the pool for a little while. I love that we are outside all day, all together.

AppleSetsSail · 14/06/2016 13:51

I agree that holidaying with older kids is amazing. I feel like I deserve a medal for getting this far, but holidays are now pretty magical.

HormonalHeap · 14/06/2016 13:51

It is what it is! When mine were little we used to take our au pair on summer holidays to make a holiday for ourselves. If you like skiing and they're old enough for ski school than yes it's the best family holiday because when you pick them up afterwards for lunch it's lovely- also skiing is comparable with early nights.

HormonalHeap · 14/06/2016 13:53

Apple enjoy the magic.. There's a nice window wh they're older to enjoy holidays but taking my earring teens away now isn't something I'd subject myself to

HormonalHeap · 14/06/2016 13:53

Earring - warring!

AppleSetsSail · 14/06/2016 13:54

Yes, mine are 10 and 13 and I'm pretty sure it's all downhill from here! Smile

WankersHacksandThieves · 14/06/2016 13:59

Warring isn't compulsory :)

Mine are 16 and 15 this year and it's been fine up till now.

Diddlydokey · 14/06/2016 14:00

YABU. We loved it. We are lucky that DS could be persuaded to nap in his pram so we had quite a few lunches in peace and he'd sleep in there again in the evening.

He just loves the beach and is happy sitting on the shore building sandcastles for hours.

It helps that he's an only - we can give each other time to read a book etc

Whathaveilost · 14/06/2016 14:00

Yes, mine are 10 and 13 and I'm pretty sure it's all downhill from here!

It's not!! Honestly it's fantastic. You can pick some really good locations in Europe of the beaten track, and it doesn't have to be expensive and have some great adverntures.
I was suprised when I was out with DS1's girlfriend the other week when she told me that son has told her about the holidays and all the fun that they had and the places that he has been and how much he enjoyed them.
DS2 still giggles at some of the things that have happened and often has a 'mum, remember when' moment.

AppleSetsSail · 14/06/2016 14:03

Ah, warring. Mine are constantly at war, but it eases up a bit during holidays.

Philoslothy · 14/06/2016 14:08

I love taking ours on holiday from when they were babies to late teens. We tend to have a couple of foreign holidays a year and a few British holidays. We don't do centreparcs but have fine similar in Europe. We do all sorts of holidays with them from road trips in the camper to cruises and we just love it.

Booboostwo · 14/06/2016 14:10

We went to the Martinhal resort in Portugal with 18mo DS and 5yo DD this spring and it was heavenly, I could have stayed forever. They have outdoor and indoor play areas in all the restaurants/cafes, so the little darlings can go scream their heads off while you eat in (relative) peace, there are pools (including an indoor), beach, bike hire, creche/kids club, and every bit of baby/toddler equipment you could ever need.

We've also taken DD numerous times to Greece and once to Morocco but she was a Velcro toddler so as long as she was stuck to me she was happy.

fassone · 14/06/2016 14:19

Agree that it depends on what your approach and expectations are. Also, 18 month olds can be hard work anywhere!
If you expect kids to fall in with lazing on a sun lounger or reading a book, then you'll be disappointed.

Luckily DH gets bored doing that so he keeps DS busy while I head to the spa or for a read. We took a 4 year old to Oz, it was one of the best holidays ever even with the super long flight. Loads to do, out and about every day. I've resigned myself to the fact that I won't get to read 5 books on a holiday for a few more years yet.

Tiggywinkler · 14/06/2016 14:25

A week in 40 degree Portugal with my hideous PILs, 9 weeks pregnant and with 11mo DD was one of the worst weeks of my life. Truly, truly awful. Made me swear off holidays for a long time.

We've since done CenterParcs, Bluestone, and camping with a 4 month old and toddler, and loved each one, which proves that it's not where you go that counts, it's who you go with or leave behind.

Off to Cornwall next month and can't wait!

Once the DC are older I am looking forward to more exciting holidays, but as at the moment DD's perfect day involves pancakes, feeding chickens and running around in circles singing nursery rhymes, we don't need to go far to make her happy yet.

oldlaundbooth · 14/06/2016 14:30

Totally depends on the holiday and the weather.

We've had two hols with DS and both times it was hard work.

But both times were self catering cottages that were miles from anywhere (literally an hour's drive from a big town, no parks nearby, no swimming pools, activities etc ) with DH's huge extended family so not the best recipe for an ideal break.

Both times we were near a lake, which is great but if the weather's crap what do you do?

Self catering simply isn't a holiday for me: shopping, cooking, cleaning up is mundane at the best of times, at least at home you have your local supermarket and stocked store cupboard!

All inclusive is the way forward, but then if you are abroad it can be too hot, kids might get sick etc.

Best to stay at home and be miserable really Grin

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