To ask who's taken a baby on holiday and is it terrible?

[Lalalalalandy]

Have the opportunity to go away this year in July when DC will be 1.5.

It's to Greece so would be hot but I'm not a massive beach/sunbather so no problem keeping in the shade.

Anyone done similar with a similar aged child? I want to go but at the same time am wondering if it would be a nightmare at that age?

I wouldn't be alone, would have family with me.

We went to all sorts of places when DCs were little- 10 hours flights with a 1 and 2 year old- all ok. Tropical heat, Spain, France etc.
Top tip is go with the flow and abandon any idea of a ‘routine’!

Took DD when she was around 19 months and DS was 16 months his 1st time. Would do it again. We did shorter flights though of around 2.5 hours as I wouldn't want to chance any longer

I've always taken my kids on holiday with me, it's fab and they've loved it!
Invest in a sun shelter for them so they have plenty of shade. My little ones used to sleep in it in the shade next to my subbed at the pool.
Don't overthink it, if you have family you'll have loads of support. Have a fab time!

Don't go on a nightflight! Holidays with little ones are great but night flights are hell on earth with kids x

@Lancssss

I was stupid enough to do it with both mine at that age, it was crap each time. First time far too hot, really hard to keep them in the shade all the time. In a villa with a pool with no fence round it. No stair gates in the house. It was stressful and we’d have all enjoyed days our from home much more and saved a bloody fortune! Family persuaded me and I should’ve just said NO.

Yep! 100 times this!! ⬆️

I think you have to lower your expectations when you’re away as to what a holiday with a 1yo will mean. I took my eldest away at 11m and it was hard but we enjoyed it much more when she was 2. We found at 2 she did a really good post lunch nap so we could relax for that period and it worked well. At 11m she was still on 2 naps and it was limiting. I think by 2 she genuinely really annoyed the pool for a long time whereas at 11m she was doing 20-30 mins before she’d had enough.

Flight was fine both times though. Worst bit was the airport.

we went with in laws. my niece was just under 2 she was sick on the plane , my baby was 3 months old, he bombed his nappy on the plane. Villa with a pool, niece was watched constantly, i was stuck in the Villa. way too hot. Nightmare week.

We took ds to Spain when he was 18 months old, he was fine, we took the buggy out if we went out for dinner at night & took his pjs with us & I changed him & let him settle in the buggy & then popped him in bed when we got back. It was very hot but he was fine, we always had an umbrella on the beach or were in the shade round the pool. The only time we struggled was on the plane as we flew home at 8.30pm & he was very tired but there were some other lovely passengers who kept him entertained. My only advice is don't fly Ryanair as they were useless, things like we were supposed to get the buggy back as soon as we got off the plane but it was put to go on the conveyor belt at baggage reclaim & struggling with a disabled husband, hand luggage & a very tired baby wasn't much fun. Take something familiar for your baby to have on their bed, we had a travel cot so I took my own light mattress & bedding in our luggage, I took some nappies, factor 50 sun cream, some of his favourite snacks & enough milk to last a couple of days but the shop near the apartment complex had everything we needed. Just try to keep in your normal routine as much as you can, you will be fine.

Depends a bit on the personality of your baby. With ds1 it was fine, he was chill. Ds2 was unsettled for the whole holiday at that age, so quite clingy, waily and anxious despite the entire extended family whom he loved being there. The look of huge relief when we pulled into our driveway at the end of the holiday still makes me feel guilty - poor kid probably thought he'd never see his home again!

Took 4yr old DS1 and 20 month old DS2 on a trip around world. 13 countries - 58 cities in 9 months.

The bestest most fabulous time we have ever had.

Top tips
✔Dedicate mornings to an activity that baby/toddler will expend energy. Park, soft play, swimming pool. Have a good lunch and a then let them have a good long sleep in the afternoon in the pram (whilst you sightsee or do what you want - read, relax)

✔✔Stick to mealtimes - always keep food on hand for emergencies.
✔✔✔Hotel accommodation at this age isn't great - best to get something with a bare minimum of catering (fridge/kettle/micro)
✔✔✔✔Pick accommodation with a balcony/sitting room so evenings can still be enjoyed.

Mostly - adjust your expectations. Travelling with children is a gift - but if you are expecting long boozy lunches and late boozy nights, you will be disappointed.

I think your holiday sounds like it will be very nice especially as there seems to be no danger zones (like a pool) for a toddler. We did similar holidays. The best thing we bought was a foldable buggy that go in the overhead cabin on the plane (we had the babyzen yoyo) and on the holiday we also took a little scooter(we had mini micro). And a speedo swim jacket thing as it makes holding them easier in the pool/sea and if in the pool they can even swim in it. For the plane take a lot of snacks (but not sugary ones as toddler can’t run around on a plane-take things like biscuits, rice cakes, a bread roll, apple etc). Take a a few changes of clothes on the plane and also a full change for you in case toddler accidentally spills something on you. I recommend lots of stickers and sticker scene books and plain paper and colours. (You can draw a simple scene that they colour eg a blue sea and they then stick stickers on). Those tubes of animals, toy cars and a clear pencil case to keep them in. We also used to take the characters from a busy book with us too (eg paw patrol) or whatever they are into. At that age they love if a parent pretends to be a character too and eg slides along the arm rest etc. Two story books too. If your relatives have an aisle seat, and I recommend whoever is holding the baby to have the aisle seat too, the toddler can stand in the aisle for a little bit. And if you can get the front row(where bassinets are put) there is actually enough space for them to play on some airlines. foldable small wipeable changing mat (or disposable maybe). Self consciousness at the door. But in real life people are very nice and don’t mind toddlers. Oh and a lollipop to help the toddlers ears for take off and landing. And a small blanket/jumper as they can feel cold on the plane.

We went to Morocco when my GD was around 18 months. My DD enjoyed the pool with her. She loved the busyness of the souls and she went in a sling when doing waterfalls etc. I minded her when they went quad biking and took her to bed earlyish with me. I got up with her as well. The morning that we were leaving, I took her to a park. It was a good holiday for everyone. You've just got to be honest about your needs. She was surprisingly easy on the plane. We'd let her run around the airport until the last minute.

You'll be taking a toddler on holiday to be fair which is a very different experience to taking an actual baby (which is far easier as they're immobile).

We took DS at 10mths to Majorca, 18mths to Disneyland Paris, 2 to Disneyland Paris (then stupid Covid happened) then DS 3 and DD 7mths to Menorca. This year we're going back to Disneyland Paris in May (DS 4 and DD 15mths) and Barcelona and Salou in August (DS 4 and DD 18mths). We've also done multiple UK trips and CenterParcs trips.

Honestly....they're the best holidays I've ever had and I've travelled a LOT. Both sleep on the plane, we don't do routines, nap when they want, loads of snacks and just go with the flow. Both love the water so that's a bonus. At 18mths DS was watching the Disneyland fireworks and going to bed at midnight, clapping his hands and cheering all the way through them. Definitely wouldn't have needed family help to look after 1 toddler with 2 adults.
The only element I found stressful was packing, taking bottles, sterilising equipment etc but with a toddler you won't need any of the baby stuff.
Go and enjoy 😊

Much too hot in Greece in July to tour towns/tourist sites with a buggy in the daytime.

Didn’t enjoy holidays with either DC at that age because DC didn’t sleep and we were exhausted. Self catering became a PITA. And I couldn’t do most of the things had previously enjoyed on holidays. DH felt differently and still enjoyed holidays.

We didn’t holiday abroad when our DS were little, just too much hassle. Our first trip with the US when they were 6 and nearly 5, tbh I wouldn’t have chosen to go then, but we coincided a holiday with DH business trip.

We did Fiji at 6m and 12m and it was ok - not in any way relaxing really. At 6m he’d sleep next to me in one of the beach cabanas and I could read or nap but was a nightmare at mealtimes, especially dinner if they took a while. At 12m he was constantly on the go and we were just chasing after him - all thoughts of relaxing on the beach while he played in the sand forgotten. Sweating buckets pushing the pram. We put him in daycare one morning and just lay on sun loungers not talking to each other!

It might’ve better with a group if they don’t mind pitching in and they’re ok with you doing your own thing (eating early etc) if you need too.

We went when our dd was 9 months and been twice a year ever since. All of them have been amazing and you adapt the holiday to the age. When she was really little we would go for an earlier dinner and back to the room to put her to bed where we would have a glass of wine and play cards or something and as she became a toddler she would get involved in the entertainment at night which she loved. I would 100% go try not to get stressed and go with the flow. Oh a thing we did when ours was that age was take a little padding pool so they can have a little splash but not in deep water and play with a few toys in between our sun lounges. Oh god I can’t believe how quickly it goes mine are nearly 16 and 13 and it’s gone so quickly hope you have a brilliant time making new memories!

It depends on your child.... we done it with DD, lovely fond memories...
Done with DS at 9m (& DD 6y), total nightmare to the point we didn't go again until he was 3y.

We took DS to loads of places as a baby/toddler - Scotland, Hungary, Corfu, Tendring, Wales. It was fine, it just took a bit more planning than it previously did. If you go somewhere hot, make sure you take a UV swimsuit and a few spare hats, as well as plenty of factor 50 sunscreen. We avoided extremely hot (35°+) places.

It depends on the child and the holiday I’d say . Dd was 20 months on her first holiday in Porto Santo but hotel wasn’t very child catered and she was bloody hard work ( probably cause I had unreal expectations), however Ds turned one when we were in mainland Portugal, it was fabulous best holiday I’ve ever had .

Your holiday sounds great- I’d definitely go. I’ve never had a bad experience with mine, you just have to adjust your expectations a bit. And I know it’s more expensive but I don’t travel with them on my lap beyond about a year old and instead book an extra seat. We did a few transatlantic flights when DD was between 1 and 2 and with a bit of practice she’d watch Peppa and Paw Patrol with headphones on the iPad, then break it up with snacks and naps and it was actually really easy.

I think it really depends on the temperament of the baby.

We took my first Daughter on holiday every year for the first 3 years. She was a really chilled out baby and was great on the flight etc but I can't say it was the most relaxing holiday even though she was well behaved.

There is no way on this planet that I would take my youngest. She is nearly 2, but she hates new places, screams at new people, very clingy & very needy and I can't even begin to imagine how awful the flight would be, let alone a holiday 😂.

Done it loads with my 3 and it’s been totally fine! Always making sure they can’t drown but apart from that we’ve had fantastic holidays with babies.

hoomae and the temperaments of the parents

My temperament wasn’t suited to parenting in heat!

Can he walk? Because if he doesn't yet but probably will be by then you may be in for a shock...