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?

Sprinkles apologies if I sound rude. I was quite offended by the 'what a shame' comments because I haven't taken my daughter abroad. There are places abroad I would love to go to and my daughter would really love to go to Japan but it is way beyond what we could afford. My original comment was a bit tongue in cheek - I didn't intend it to be taken so seriously. But it is true that I have no desire to battle with crowds at an airport or deal with security or hang around waiting for hours. It simply doesn't interest me. There are plenty of places and experiences we can have in the UK. It all depends what someone wants from a holiday. Sitting by a pool, drinking wine and eating in restaurants does not interest me. Doesn't interest me in the UK, doesn't interest me to do it abroad.

We go away every year and Ds is 4. First two years we did a villa in Spain third year Wales and iow fourth year Orlando. This year he is 5 and we are taking him and his 8 week old brother to Greece.
The hardest of all the holidays was prob when he was about 18 months and the flight but only as he was a bit wriggly.
We haven't found it very stressful you just have to change expectations. I don't care he won't remember Spain, I remember it and it was lovely.

We have decided not to go abroad until our little one is out of nappies. She's a highly strung one year old and I just can't imagine that it would be worth it for us. 3 year old is more then happy with caravan holidays as long as there is a pool.

Can I ask those of you who brought very young babies ( below 5 months) were you breastfeeding. We were going to bring 3yodd on hols (thinking Spain)with 4 month old dd in September but the thought of formula, bottles , sterilizing seems one hassle too far. Have travelled se Asia solo and this seems insurmountable!!!

I think it’s the case that everyone likes different types of holiday and that’s a good thing! People saying young children can’t enjoy Disney are perhaps misinformed tho. We took dd1 when she was 5 and she could go on all the rides if she wanted to. It is geared up to families unlike places like Alton towers. We went back when dd2 was turning 1 and dd2 was 8 and dd1 loved the little rides, meeting characters etc. As pp have said, holidays with children are not generally relaxing but can still be fun. I don’t generally enjoy holidays in the U.K. other than short breaks - extortionate attractions, lack of good food choices and crap weather and I loathe camping with a passion, but that is just my opinion!

@switswoo81 my DD was 4 months and was EFF when we were in Portugal and still will be in America next month when she turns 7 months. I took MAM self sterilising bottles and used them in our self catering hotel microwave. It was really easy and we had a wonderful family holiday!

Mine were older but yes the 5 month old was breastfeeding exclusively. 7 month old sale but with BLW in the mix so could do when on holiday easily

We are abroad now with our just 2 year old and almost 6 year old. It's the 2 year old's first time away and it's actually been much easier than expected. The trickiest thing is the tiled staircases everywhere which she just wants to climb up and down.

During the day, she's happy sat in the shade colouring and playing and having the odd wander about. She hates the water so won't go near, luckily (in this instance!).

We barely see the 5 year old as she's loving the kids clubs, pools and discos so we are spending most of the holiday supervising from afar.

Go for it! Little one won't remember it but you will and you'll have lots of photos to show them.

It’s totally up to you, OP. If it doesn’t appeal don’t do it!

We travelled loads with small children and always found the benefits outweighed any downsides. We took DC1 on a European city break at 6 months and had great fun. Also took him to the Caribbean at 9 months and had such a lovely time splashing about in the pool and sea. We even braved Australia and New Zealand when he was 18 months. Flight was a bit tiresome, but it was a great trip.

I can see why some people find it a hassle, but I actually think little ones can be easier and more fun to travel with than older kids. Wait until you have teenagers 😆

Thanks myotherbag. That’s a good idea. Would love to go in September when it’s cheaper (teacher on mat leave)

My dd is almost 2. I've let my passport expire as the thought of a) taking her on a plane b) having to constantly be stopping her do things eg running around the pool c) her not sleeping well (doesn't sleep well anywhere that isn't home) d) worry about heat and suncream just doesn't appeal. She is a run off at all opportunities child and will not sit still ever. Some kids are happy colouring etc whereas others are just non stop. All of my mum friends have been abroad more that once already with their same age kids and loved it. We're going to cornwall this year.

Depends on baby, we could have taken DS1 anywhere, very easy baby, DS2 was a totally different story!

We went away in the UK when DS2 was 6 weeks, booked before he was born, the trip was rather more of a test of endurance than a holiday!

Wait till baby arrives, but what PP have said a cottage, villa, with baby equipment makes life a lot easier.

We took our first holiday abroad when our DS’ were 6 & 4.

Many congrats on your baby, hopefully won’t make you wait much longer before you meet them. Good luck.

Been taking my daughter abroad from 10m old, long and short haul, no issues, just had to pack carefully to cover all eventualities, especially hand luggage (snacks, lots of wipes and nappies, colouring bookd etc)

It’s when the child is ill that it turns into a nightmare. I took one of mine at 10 weeks and then again at 6 months and had a wonderful time, both times.
Definitely not a waste of money. I’m not a big drinker though and neither is my husband, though, so if it’s drinking all day by the pool and partying all night that you’re after, best leave it.
Btw, it doesn’t get easier when they’re 2 until about 6, sorry ;) At least 0-2 take a nap

Sorry about the typos with ‘though’ !

sprinkles also 'Greek Island' was just an example and I am sure it's very nice there. Even in the UK I certainly wouldn't spend £70 on visiting a National Trust place - too expensive. I guess we will have to agree to disagree about what type of holidays we would enjoy.
The OP said though that she thinks 'her husband might want a holiday abroad' - yes he could.... or... he could of been waiting 20 years for a chance to take his own kid to Thomas the Tank land. Until she asks him there isn't much point in thinking about it too much.

People do seem to worry unnecessarily. Children are surprisingly adaptable and also pick up on the stress levels of adults. If you're stressed children pick up on that.

I have a non sleeper, ridiculously hyperactive, excitable child but we know that and don't expect his behaviour to be any different when on holiday. We embrace it and approach it as a team - this year we had to have a tag team approach around the pool . But that worked and we both got a break.

Yes the flight can be a nightmare but it's not forever....I've found that other passengers are usually very understanding and helpful.

You also don't need to take loads ....children in Spain or Greece use nappies, sun cream, formula, wipes etc and you can get self sterilising bottles or tablets.

A British seaside holiday would be perfect.

Or try somewhere like Bluestone that is set up for families with young children.

To be honest I agree. They are a pain, if you do go abroad go on a short flight! I took my baby and toddler alone on a 10 hours flight (to see family so not by choice as such!). I wouldn’t recommend it.

We have tended to go away with family so some free childcare from grandparents so we at least can go out for a meal alone once.

Our best holiday has been centreparcs because they made everything so easy.

Holidays can feel like way more hard work and stressful with less sleep than being at home!

Dd did need a doctor actually first visit hotel sorted and took us there and back for free (after she projectile vomited in Reception). We had the health cards so it was all free

switswoo there’s also sterilising bags (boots sell them) they have a Milton-type tablet in them and you just add water and can hang them on a door and just pop the bottles in there. The hotel we were at this year provided a steriliser which was fab. There’s always ways to make it work!

We’ve tried to make the most of getting away cheaply before DD starts school in September and stayed in some lovely child-friendly hotels that would be out of budget in school holidays.

We recently went to Spain with our 1yr old. I refuse to go away with her again until she's at least 3.

We thought it'd be fine as it was a family members villa, we knew the place well as we'd been there many times before and thought this would make it easier.

Nothing was baby proofed, everything was hard edges and tiles, we had to barricade her onto the verandah'd patio with sun loungers so she didn't make for the pool and we didn't even bother to go near the beach because she puts everything in her mouth and a baby with sand in their mouth didn't sound like fun. Her sleep was also dire because of the new surroundings.

We managed an hour in the sun by ourselves all week, while she had a rare moment of napping. It wasn't a holiday.

Ironically, the flight which I'd been most worried about was fine because drinking from a bottle helped equalise the pressure in her ears and then she fell asleep!

Like others have said, before they can move is probably fine but once they walk it's more effort than it's worth.

Depends entirely on the holiday. I certainly wouldn't do Disney with very little ones - too small for most of the rides anyway, and too young to appreciate/enjoy it properly. They need to be at least 5 or 6 IMO. Apart from anything else, crowds and queues can be pretty awful.

We took a just 3 and a small baby on a beach/pool holiday - it was very relaxed. The just 3 adored the pool and the baby slept a lot in her pram under a shady tree. We continued with such holidays for years since both dds - not to mention me and Dh - loved the water - still do.

Much more recently have been on a beach/pool holiday with pregnant dd, SiL and their 13 month old. It was a very child friendly hotel,in Greece, and again worked fine.