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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why parents take a toddler abroad on holiday

135 replies

boozybritabroad · 23/05/2019 16:06

I'm currently on holiday. At the airport saw parents stressed out with toddlers. Airport shop toddlers wanting LOL dolls causing arguments, parents losing their shit. On the plane toddlers running riot - parents losing their shit. At the hotel toddlers screaming all day. Surely it's better just to leave them at home so you can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet?

OP posts:
Kaykay06 · 23/05/2019 16:45

Perhaps OP you should choose a child free destination in future.
I’ve been all over with my kids, Australia, America etc from tiny to recently so well travelled and occasionally they decided to get a little crotchety but no more so than some adults I’ve witnessed in airports etc tbh.

Toddlers aren’t robots, they don’t behave 100% of the time although neither do older kids and don’t get me started on teens much more difficult at times, what’s the point in having them if you don’t take them on holiday? Or out for the day? Sometimes it’s hard enough without worrying some crabbit person is judging you because your child had an upset or off day and you’re doing your best.
Yup agree with pp op off you go and enjoy your hols and leave us to our awful kids eh HmmHmmBiscuit

BarrenFieldofFucks · 23/05/2019 16:47

I quite like my kids, I wouldn't leave them anywhere for a holiday. They are quite well behaved that said,but even if they weren't there will be good spots in amongst the not so good.

We recently took our not quite 18 month old away, with the 8 and 6 year old. The latter two had never been on a plane and they quite fancied a sun holiday...so off we went.

2toddlers · 23/05/2019 16:47

We are looking at booking a holiday for the end of June, we've spent the last few days trying to find somewhere toddler friendly. Thank you so much for pointing out we can leave the little darlings at home, why didn't we think of that? Gosh I can't wait for all the quiet we are going to have, whoop! I'm sure they'd manage, maybe ask my mum to pop in every few days like my brother does with his cats.

nc100 · 23/05/2019 16:49

Fundays 🤦🏽‍♀️ should've realised. I thought she'd gone behind the little curtain and pinched their hoover 😂

Now that would be noisy!

The boozy brits are the most annoying. Some places the language is foul, it's embarrassing

SunshineCake · 23/05/2019 16:50

Journalist

Boring

Idiotic.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 23/05/2019 16:50

WTAFF!!!!!

are you chiodless OP?

I Mean so am i, and i don't partically enjoy screaming children, amazingly neither do the parents, but what i do love is the sight and sound of children enjoying themselves, actally happyly screamming children is a lovely sound, and seeing fanilies spending time together.

ThursdayLastWeek · 23/05/2019 16:50

I’m very much of the 'same shit, less convenient location' school of thought.

But that’s why we’ve had fun local days spread over the year, I haven’t just left them at home!

Ilikeviognier · 23/05/2019 16:51

Ha this is hilarious! Leave them with who for a whole week? Plus parents deserve a bit of sun/not to cook etc for a bit so it’s as near as we get to “a holiday”. And it’s not all bad. There are nice moments both at home and abroad.

If the toddlers are annoying you i”d suggest you go to adult only places- like we did before kids.

Mummyoflittledragon · 23/05/2019 16:54

My dd was fine to be left home alone overnight as a toddler. She helped herself to yoghurts and a drink if peckish. But I don’t think she would have managed a week.... now she’s 10 of course I leave her and go away for a fortnight. 🙄

Or were you meaning I should be leaving her with other responsible adults? Gosh I’ve been doing it wrong all that time. Dh and I are her responsible adults. Not all of us are cheeky fuckers and dump our kids on others or have childcare on tap.

Nat6999 · 23/05/2019 16:54

I took DS abroad at 20 months, we had a lovely week, we went out every day until about 2.00pm, came back to the apartment where he had a nap or played in the garden, bathed & changed then to a restaurant in the evening, took his night things, changed him & he fell asleep in the buggy, we walked back to the apartment & put him to bed. He fell asleep both ways on the plane & wasn't an ounce of trouble. I can't imagine going on holiday & leaving DS at home, part of having children is doing everything with them, not dumping them when you want a holiday.

Timide · 23/05/2019 16:55

Give us your number, OP. We will call you to babysit

Chippychipsforme · 23/05/2019 16:56

I'd rather be on a flight with an entire school of toddlers than with Daz's stag do.

NoSauce · 23/05/2019 16:56

OP on an absolute wind up!

Shannaratiger · 23/05/2019 16:57

I wouldn't want to take a child abroad younger than about 3. Parents choice though.

carbuncleonapigsposterior · 23/05/2019 16:58

We always took ours abroad from babies onwards we drove down to France or Italy, for quite a few years, usually had a gite or apartment. Later on we took them to America when they were still quite young. Grown up now.

What are you supposed to do with them Confused leave them at home.

DHhasahobbyanditsnotcycling · 23/05/2019 16:59

I suppose you could pop one of those in their playpen. how long would the food be good for? 5 days, 8 days?

to wonder why parents take a toddler abroad on holiday
tiredteddy123 · 23/05/2019 16:59

Yes YABU....

Jaxhog · 23/05/2019 17:00

It isn't the toddlers - it's the parents! I've been on hols with other people's toddlers and most have been pretty well behaved. If the parents can't look after them properly then you are right.

If they are YOUR toddlers who are behaving like these then, yes, they should be at home - as should you.

The80sweregreat · 23/05/2019 17:00

going anywhere with ds2 was a struggle as he wasn't a good traveller, (even a trip to the shops could be a challenge.)

Some children are good as gold and some people are more laid back about things and don't mind if their children are not good on the plane! You can't leave them at home.

Delatron · 23/05/2019 17:01

I agree with the OP, after a disastrous holiday abroad with a baby and a toddler we didn’t go again until they were 3/4 years old and then they could go to kids club.

Considering how vigilant you have to be with a toddler and how they all have a death wish, add a strange apartment/hotel plus a
pool and a relaxing holiday that does not make.

Same shit different place, with no tv or home comforts. They’re only toddlers for a year! I think we went to centre parks!

The80sweregreat · 23/05/2019 17:03

I agree that a hen/ stag do on a plane is probably worse than a toddler. At least they might sleep a bit and not try to open the door at 35000 feet!

Oblomov19 · 23/05/2019 17:04

None of the OP's things ever happened to me when we took our 2 toddlers on holiday. None. Hmm

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 23/05/2019 17:06

I've done both. I left DS with my parents while we went on honeymoon and on a few city breaks in Europe. But they were all just a few days. Anywhere we were going as a big holiday, it was a family affair and DS was part of our family. Why wouldn't you take your children?

Lifeover · 23/05/2019 17:08

We have taken DS all over the world since being a baby, right through the toddler years. Loved every single holiday from Disney to cruises to all inclusive to city breaks. I actually like my child, I don't want social services removing him because I turned chav and left him at home alone, I also value my time with him on holiday.

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 23/05/2019 17:55

Look,I tried. I really really tried, the cat refused to look after her and the guinea pigs were worried she might eat them.

So we ended up hauling her with us. Strangely enough it wasn't the end of the world.l.who knew?