To not want to take a young child on holiday abroad?

[Faerie87]

I am expecting baby number 1 in the next week. My partner and I have no holidays planned this year or the following year because of the new arrival. However I know my partner would most likely want to go on holiday the year after when I am back at work and earning again.

Is it unreasonable of me to think a holiday with a one year old abroad is a massive waste of money?

My partner, his daughter who is 11 and myself a long with my sister, her husband and two children who are 5 and 2 went to Disney Land Paris last year and my sister now regrets going. The 2 year old was really ill and ended up being sick on the train from the terminal at the airport and then for a day after that and her 5 year old was so overwealmed by the experience she did not really want to do anything!

Would you take little ones on holiday abroad or is it too much hassle? We are planning if we did have a break next year to do the Lakes or Wales but not to go abroad due to traveling with a small child. Also when would be a good age to start taking children overseas?

We took ds abroad from 6 months but stuck to villa and beach holidays in countries where I could speak the language and which weren't too hot. It worked beautifully - mostly France or northern Spain.

My workmate took her newborn backpacking round SE Asia for the year, her bf came out to join them for a few weeks at a time. She loved it and said it was very easy with a baby.

YANBU, I wouldn’t bother but I think I’m probably in the minority.

Family holidays in the early years were to see relatives elsewhere in the country or short hotel breaks. We like pool holidays and I don't think a holiday with a toddler and a pool was advisable. We are very boring on holiday though and lack imagination

I’ve taken my dc abroad since they were tiny.... second dc was only 8 weeks when we went to Malaysia. I enjoy it but it is hard work. I think it’s easy when the are really tiny, then is hard from about age1-3.
We are going abroad soon and dc are 5 and 3. I’m hoping it will be fine!!

Totally up to each family. We took DS abroad when he was about 6 months, but to Europe so it wasn’t a long flight. It was lovely as he still had a long nap conveniently at lunchtime and as he wasn’t crawling at that point we just took him everywhere in the buggy.

Also went to US when he was 18 mths and that was hard work but still a good holiday ( not Florida though- Boston so shorter flight)

Much harder work when they are toddlers, plus once they are 2 you have to pay for their air fare.

We have travelled abroad at least once a year with our twns since they were 7 months old. We love it and actually it was really, really easy when they were tiny- It was the toddler years (18m-3ish) that were harder. You just have to adjust expectations that it won't be like holidays before kids but good weather, nice food and a break from routine is a big draw. I understand that you have been put off by previous experiences but don't let it put you off. I actually think our abroad holidays are no more stressful than our home ones (being stuck in a caravan in the uk in the rain with a bored child is more stressful than being on a beack in spain with one!) Also, although you have to pay for flights etc we find we spend less away than at home when were are there!

Travelling with a one year old is really not that bad. Travelling with a 2 year old can be a complete nightmare. Just my experience!

I understand your reservations. When we had our DD we initially said that the first year we would just have short breaks in the UK. However, just before she was one DH had to go to Sydney for work for 3 weeks. The company kindly said that he could either go business class or, if he went Economy, they would pay for me and the baby too. The opportunity to go to Australia at someone else's expense seemed to good to miss so in the end he stayed out a month and DD and I joined him for the last 2 weeks. I found travelling with a baby that age not at all bad as they are pretty portable at that age.

Different story a year later when we decided to go to Jersey. one hour flight - what could go wrong? OMG - DD had the biggest meltdown ever and screamed uncontrollably almost the whole way. It was awful.

However, from 3 onwards we holidayed abroad nearly every year sometimes by plane sometimes by ferry and car and it was absolutley fine.

It's whenever you feel ready tbh. Dd is a dream on a flight (even now at two) but so far this has only been to see family.

I don't want to go abroad on holiday yet because she's a terrible sleeper and I know I would get really annoyed/upset because I couldn't even sit out on the balcony in the evening. As a baby she was a screamer and I just wanted to be comfortable if I had to deal with that. I know enough that baby's change holidays anyway that I'm not prepared to set myself up for a shit time.

But the holiday is for you at the baby stage. I'd wait and see how you get on once they're here. If the idea doesn't put your nerves on edge then go for it!

I’m abroad right now with my 14 month DS, DH and his parents and it’s bloody hard work. He does not stay still and it’s really hard keeping him entertained during meals! The (4 hour) flight was fine but that’s because he slept for half of it.

DD went on a trip to Disneyland Paris for her 7th birthday and didn't set foot on foreign soil again until she was 14. She's travelled to more countries now than DH and I have by going on school trips. DH has never been overseas with us as he hasn't bothered to renew his passport for the last 18 years. We're technically a high earning, professional couple, so it's not for a lack of cash.

Holidaying overseas isn't a necessity. We've always had a brilliant time renting cottages in the UK. We can load up the car, taking as much stuff as we want to with us. No check in times or luggage restrictions to worry about. Just go somewhere you will enjoy. It never ceases to amaze me how many people haven't travelled to Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, Yorkshire etc, but they've been to the South of France to stay at the same Eurocamp each summer.

I went abroad, on my own (albeit just across the pond on the train) when DD was only 9 weeks old. Did it again when she was 4 months old (flying), and again when she was 12 months old and 18 months. Then did it, still on my own when she was 3 and DS was a few months old.

I didn't see the issue at all, if anything it was a nice distraction. The only matter was my having to adjust to the fact that a 'holiday' with little one wasn't exactly the same than a 'holiday' without kids, but still worth the trip.

We brought our three abroad from ds1 first birthday. It was always great. As the weather is not great in lreland l loved that they could run on the beach / into the warm water without shivering like at home. Loved eating outdoors in mobile sites abroad. Actually loved living practically totally outside while on holidays. Family holidays with young dc was fab. We even did long haul.
Don't decide until time comes but don't just look at it in a negative light.

For me holidays with young children are hard work so I will not pay to do It in an expensive location. So far holiday in UK to keep the cost down.

I agree with the poster above who said 1-3 is hard work but small non-mobile babies and those over 3 and out of the toddler stage are fine.

We didn’t go abroad until my youngest was just ended 3.
My life in a different country just didn’t appeal.

I didn't take my dd abroad until she was 8. Apart from a trip to Republic of Ireland but we have family there.

I've had some wonderful holidays abroad with small children. Everyone enjoys the warm weather, pool on site, paddling in the warm sea, seeing family they don't usually see.

I wouldn't do Disney with a baby or small child - mind you, I didn't do Disney with my older children either.

I can't imagine trying to predict how it would be so far in advance.
I took DC abroad from 18 months and had some lovely holidays, actually they were more fun than the staycations we did in the UK at similar ages. It really depends on you and the child. I don't think there's one blanket approach that works.

Different people have different ideas of what makes a relaxing holiday.

If your idea of relaxation is snoozing by the poolside with a drink and letting your mind go blank, then probably not.

If you think you will actively enjoy looking at the world through different eyes, making up little stories to make the airport queue entertaining, finding 5 different stones on the beach, then go for it.

It depends what you want out of a holiday really. Holidays with young children aren't at all relaxing, and you usually just end up doing the same stuff you do at home (feeding, naps etc) just in a different place, with the added nightmare of limited luggage and trying to keep a baby / small child entertained on the flight. So if your idea of a proper holiday is chilling beside a pool or similar then I wouldn't bother.

But, I've done holidays with small children and the change of scenery is nice, as is having some time together as a family. The best thing I've learnt is not to be too ambitious. Keep to short-haul trips, try to stick to a similar routine, and bear in mind kids get tired easily so all day outings or similar are often too much for young children.

I like holidays with my toddler, we first went away when he was 12 months, second holiday he was 1&a half, third he'll be almost 2.
I don't see why it's a waste of time to be honest. Yes it's different to a childless / childfree holiday but still fun in a different way.

It’s more about you than the one year old - but of course you can have a nice holiday with a little one.

My parents took me abroad (long haul!) when I was 3 months old and then several times a year every year since then until I left home.

Some of my happiest memories as a little child are doing things on holiday with my parents. I have very a few vivid memories of those times when I was very small (like toddler small).

I just remember reading an article warning not to spend loads of money for a holiday when the child won’t remember it and it will be tough, which sounds like a no brainer. My partner likes Eurocamp and a couple of years ago we went to one in the south of France but think we may do north France due to easier temperatures we are not big sun seekers!

@Faerie87 but would you not enjoy a holiday? You don't even pay for a child when they're under 2 anyway.