To think a holiday with a toddler could actually be fun?

[SleeplessInSouthEast]

Yes, appreciate there are bigger things going on in the world but holiday was booked way back for us to go to Portugal so my extended family can meet my little one for the first time since she was born and it's non-refundable. She's almost 2.

The thing is, all I hear and read is how stressful going away with little ones is, from packing, to the flight, to entertaining them whilst away etc, how it's never really a holiday for mums as we have to spend our entire time planning/sorting/switched on, etc etc.

Frankly, I'm starting to dread it now! We haven't been away anywhere, not even a domestic short break for over 3 years and pre-kiddo. I just want us all to have a fun time and not come back feeling it was a waste and we should've stayed home!

AIBU to think it's actually possible to truly enjoy a holiday abroad with a young toddler?

Would welcome any tips and wisdom from MNs with positive experiences!

(One idea was to do an online click and collect shop before we set off to the supermarket near the hotel for nappies, milk, yoghurts etc)

Thank you!

@PermanentTemporary

Once I made my own rules for holidays I did start to enjoy it - the big problems always came from kind generous relatives taking us on holiday with them to places and accommodation that was incredibly unfriendly for toddlers, also without understanding that dh would be so stressed being away that he'd go to bed for the week.

Once I learned to make my own plans and to refuse gifts that weren't helpful, it was a lot better.

I thought Playdoh worked well for travelling, though I'd never realised how strongly it smelled until I opened some on a plane! Making some salt dough might be better.

I can totally see where you're coming from here. We've already had a few incidences (non-holiday related) of going along with friends and family plans and offers but it just ended up being more work for me in the end and really resenting it. Not wanting to be ungrateful but you're right sometimes the best course is just to kindly decline and do what's best for you and your family.

Argh sorry to hear about your flight. Hope the return is much more peaceful for you!

Sorry previous post was supposed to be a reply to @tokyo1

Portugal is a nice short flight, perfect for your first one with a toddler. Mine found everything about airports and planes very interesting at that age and really enjoyed travelling.

I think you will have a great time, there might be some stressful bits but you will make great memories, take lots of photos and when looking back on them when your kids are turning into grumpy teenagers you will wish there were toddlers again 😀
Kids that age don’t need lots of toys, they’ll love just seeing new things, finding a new park will be a big adventure. We loved Portugal when our kids were that age, it’s really a very very child friendly country from what we saw and if nothing else it will be sunnier than here 😀

What were people doing before they had a child that makes holidays with one so massively different? I know it can be difficult to do adventure holidays perhaps, or go clubbing till 6am maybe. I did a white water rafting break once which I wouldn’t have been able to do with a baby, but I would still have been able to go for a day of white water rafting in the holiday if it was that important to me.

Mostly on holidays I visit the sights, museums, galleries, places of interest, tours. We swim, we hike, we go out for dinners. We go to the beaches or riversides, use metros or boat trips or cable cars, trams. We try new foods and explore, have street food or picnics. It’s all standard, child friendly stuff they enjoy and we enjoy.

It’s harder with multiple older children and teens because everything is more that double the price but that’s not where you’re at.

My toddler loves going anywhere, major bonus of having a kid who doesn't sleep much (gotta find the positives wherever I can). Some toddlers struggle with the disruption to their routine. Provided you know how to work activities around them, go and enjoy!

I love going on holiday with my dd. Always have. We've been taking her abroad since 8 weeks

We went abroad with a 2 and 4 yo. Not the most relaxing break by a long way but we survived and broadly enjoyed.

We had three amazing holiday to Northern Majorca when my DC were 1.5 years , 3 years, then 7 and 2 years old.

We stayed by the beach in a casa, visited local markets for food and spent the whole time sitting on the beach while they played in the sand. Took turns to watch them. Packed lunches of sandwiches, fruit and yoghurt and then we ate out every night at local restaurants, strolled along the sea front with a visit to the ice cream parlour and were back to the house by 8.30pm most nights.

I know people who go abroad with children and expect it to resemble holidays from their youth, staying up late in bars while their kids sleep in buggies or play on devices to keep them quiet. That's hard work! Not saying this is you but if expectations are changed, and you know it's going to be different from child free holidays, then that helps.

Flights have always been fine too. I'd go and enjoy - we have two in school now so have to work around the school holidays - so this year off to Amsterdam and Berlin (and Scotland ❤️) as its cheaper than a package in school hols. But I treasure those holidays in Majorca, almost long for them. Enjoy!

We've great holidays with our young kids but not sure how we'd have done it hand luggage only.
Most airlines have restricted the sizing of what you can take on now so it's only the tiniest of cabin bags.

Holidays with toddlers are great. There is an element of "same shit, different place" so it's not a relaxing break, but if you embrace the experience you can make some wonderful memories.

My tip would be to "invest" in a buggy they can sleep. Don't need to spend a lot, but something like this: baby-travel.uk.com/products/zeta-vooom-ocean-blue can be picked up for £40-50 and then you can get them to nap while your wandering round for the day or even achieve the holy grail which is getting them to nap in the pram while you enjoy a bite to eat and a drink.

Even better if you'll be with family as they can take her off for walks round the restaurant/square/garden while you have 5 mins peace

Have a great holiday!

It’s fine. Also almost 2 year old here. We still do interesting stuff and meet people.

We have an upcoming flight next month. Last flight he was 19 months and wouldn’t watch tv, but now a few months on likes bluey so I have ordered some kids headphones and will download to iPad.

Any toys on plane were a pain. He just dropped every 2 seconds. And crayons went on floor.
So, sticker books, a few story books, one of those ‘where is x’ type books to look at.

Loads of snacks for flight.

Ds will nap in pram. Next trip is city based but he will nap after lunch, and il head to places I like more then. If yours will nap in pram, that’s the ideal time to park him up in shade outside and read or relax by pool yourself

We took our two abroad when they were 2 and a half and 18 months old. A week in Menorca near a nice shallow beach. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Time on the beach, pool was still too cold as it was early May. They wore sunsuits so there was less to have to sunscreen. We did get time to relax on the balcony when they were in bed or took turns to get a walk by ourselves if they were napping. We just timed things around when they needed to eat or sleep and focussed on stuff they would enjoy. Our apartment had some beach toy stuff left by previous occupants and we used that and added a couple of things. We took a few books and little pocket sized cars etc which we put in our and their pockets (no luggage allowance required!). Little plastic animals/people etc are also great fun for them on the beach too as they can pop them in the "castle" buildings and make them swim in the water etc and they can be washed in the sink so ready for another day playing.

I still remember the youngest being confused that there was no tv though :)

It can be lovely as long as you manage your own expectations. It will not be the type of holiday you will have had before. It will not be relaxing. Your toddler might be unsettled and not cope with the change of routine/weather/environment. We took ds1 to tenerife age 2 and whilst it was very nice it was hard work. We ended up taking turns with him a lot so the other could have a swim/relax and spent more time in the hotel room than we wanted to because he struggled to nap in the heat. With subsequent children we always had an apartment or villa with our own space and brought a pushchair until they were at least 3.

I think you need just need to lower expectations when holidaying with small children. Things that are already stressful like airport stuff etc will be more stressful. Take snacks, colouring, novel new toys, ipads etc.

You won't get to relax as you will need eyes on the toddler at all times when by the pool or at the beach. That's not to say you won't have fun together but you will be constantly on the go.

Hotel rooms are always a bit of a nightmare with everyone in one room. Meals need to be planned so they're not sat waiting for hours getting hangry. Sleep routines go out the window.

Basically like at home, all activities will revolve around the toddler and things are that bit harder because you don't have all the home comforts to hand. But generally I think it's worth it.

We had a beach holiday when my son had just turned 4 and his sister was a baby. I was miserable and his behaviour was terrible but he still talks about it and is desperate to go back! Going to grit my teeth and try again this year.

We've travelled twice with our toddler when he was 17 months then 20 months. It's different for everyone of course but our son loves travelling, seeing buses, trains, planes. He's easy to entertain with books, sticker books etc. Doesn't phase him at all and he's really good when away because he just loves being out and about and seeing lots of new things.

Go and have fun.

Things that helped us : toddler carrier for the airport. New books / toys. Lots of snack. Being very flexible with sleep and routine: You're abroad and on holiday, it won't be the same as at home. DS slept less during the day and much later than usual but he was absolutely fine cause we were doing so much. However we did also retreat to the room if we felt he needed some down time.

100% would be adding a proper suitcase on to the booking, you can just take one between all of you. That way you'll be able to take everything you want or need.
Other than that it should awesome, toddler holidays can be fab!

I travelled extensively with my toddler and loved (almost) every moment we were away together. You’ll be experiencing everything through their eyes which is so much fun. The jet lag meltdowns and D&V explosions are truly awful but you’ll only remember the good parts when you’re old. Go for it !

@SleeplessInSouthEast

I know this will sound silly but any examples of other toddler-friendly other than going to the pool and beach? We're travelling hand luggage only and she doesn't have her own allowance so limited on things like toys to take...do you even take toys on holiday?

As you can tell, she's a first child 😅

Make sure your extended family know this so they don't turn up with armfuls of gifts!

I would also def pay for a case to be checked in. It’s far easier to then have very little hand luggage so your hands are free for toddler wrangling. And less chance of having to faff at security.

Ok maybe I've given myself something else to stress about. Is 4x bags + small change bag not enough for a week away? (2x small rucksacks + 2x 10kg bags + 5kg change bag + folding pram which we've been told we can take to the gate)
We're only going for a week and I'm intending to do laundry at a nearby launderette half way through plus DD is no longer on formula and is happy to drink any milk which she only really does twice a day anyway now and sunscreen I'm picking up when we get there.

Is this unrealistic?

It's probably doable regarding the luggage, but I wouldn't personally as I have no desire to do laundry on holiday.

My top tips for holidays with a toddler - take a set of the little plastic stacking cups. They can be played with in the bath, on the beach for sand castles, in the pool, in the villa etc. They take up hardly any space.

Relax about food rules and let them have ice creams etc. It's only a week and as soon as you get home it's back to normal, it's fine. My 3 year old ate chips every night for tea last time we went aboard!

Hope you have a great time op, I'm jealous!

I used to take stacking cups and some play kitchen items and lots of re-usable stickers at that age.

My son is younger at 11 months, but we’ve just got back from a week in Seville and it was very enjoyable! We timed flights roughly when we would expect him to nap. He loved seeing the sights and meeting new people, as well as trying new foods (including his first lick of gelato!). We probably would have gone for fewer days pre- baby, but this amount of time meant we could plan 1 main thing for each day and then spend the rest of the time wandering. We went to Porto when he was 7 months too, and had an equally good time. I think you’ll have an amazing holiday!

I wouldn’t advise only doing hand luggage - you’ll be washing clothes all the time. Can you put one case in the hold? Then you can fit a few toys in. Yes, you will need a few for the early morning and late afternoon /evening.
I went on holiday every year when my two were small. Do child friendly things or mix them in with things you want to do. We did a days sightseeing trip when in menorca and found a local play park and had an hour there. Air conditioned natural history museums can be good - check out which have kids activities on. If you’re doing the beach mostly maybe do a day trip to a water park for a change.
Crucially keep your little one shaded quite a lot- spare hat is essential. We always ate when they did on the evening and got them to bed and then got the wine and snacks out later. If they’re busy much of the day they should sleep fine if it’s not too hot.
Get done thing new and interesting for the flight- book, sticker book, comic - whatever they like. Take their snacks. Get them to drink during takeoff so they swallow.
And yes, make sure her dad pulls his weight.