To think there is no point going on ‘Holidays’ with little ones

[Thinkofallthestoriesthatwecouldvetold]

Back last week from a camping trip with 4 year old…first day/night exciting and v sweet…after that, just a load of hard work and basically a nightmare
I don’t expect to be sat on a sunlounger all day as pre kids…but do holidays with kids ever have any element of relaxation? When? What age?
I was more exhausted than when I left, loads of washing to do and paid a load of money for the privilege 🙈🤷🏻‍♀️

I agree - but that’s being a parent. As long as the kids enjoy themselves, that’s what matters. I usually kick back in the evening when they’re in bed.

@EmptyGlassHalf Ahh…you see, we don’t have an early or easy sleeper most of the time 😅

YABU

Camping was always going to be shit with kids

I've never had a bad holiday with mine and travelled since they were all newborns, a couple of times a year.

Even with little ones I got a few days alone on a sun lounger when going away, as DH pulls his weight

Butlins is your friend at that age.
I took DD camping at 4 but we went to Latitude which had tonnes of children friendly activities which was great. Or we did city breaks to London or Edinburgh/Glasgow not relaxing but different. I didn't take DD abroad for a sun holiday until she was 10 and old enough for a bit of independence and I could relax by the pool and read a book.

Relaxation no 🤷🏻‍♀️ sorry, but change of scenery helps, in my opinion.

Went to Portugal this summer 😁 and having the beach to take the kids to was great! They loved it! I loved it! It wasn't relaxing because I had to keep close attention on them. But coming back home was like "WHAT DO I DO NOW??!!! 😱" back to the same thing, local park..... 🙄

I know I seem to be in the minority here, but I loved holidays with the kids when they were young. We have three children, almost all grown up now. I have amazing memories of taking the kids away when they were young. We did all sorts of holidays ranging from camping in the UK, apartments/villas in Spain, the full Disney and beyond in Florida. It is hard work, I wouldn't deny that, but no harder than being at home, and you get to see/experience things that you don't at home. I think that once you have accepted that holidays will be very different to how they used to be, it's fine.

I don’t know, for me it’s much easier being back home and Dd is better behaved too

I think it can be but needs lots of planning. I'm away now and sat on holiday let balcony on MN with glass of wine. Two sons are playing in view. We were at the beach earlier. I always factor in space for them to play, space for me to chill, restaurants and activities within walking distance whicu usually equates to spending a bit more. But it's worth it for the peace.
I bet your little one had a cracking time and lots of happy memories.

We travelled from when DT’s were tiny - long haul flights were the only way to see family. We didn’t go camping or around a pool - not something we like to do but lots of beach, wildlife and visiting new places.

This couple with a toddler have traveled around Australia in a camper van and done road and rail trips in Europe

It depends on what you do I guess. We went for the "same routine, different place" for a few years. A family we know flew their bikes and toddlers to Istanbul and cycle camped their way back home.

As a single parent who has taken dc on holidays by myself since they were younger than yours, I think of holidays as family time and something for dc to enjoy. I don't have an expectation it will be anything other than hard work with no downtime.

Mine are 4 and 6 and at the moment we do uk self catering with lots of day trips. It's not relaxing, but the kids have fun and it's not terrible for us. Mine are both asleep by 7:30 so we can have relaxing evenings with a few beers and a BBQ.

Butlins is your friend at that age.

This.

Camping is not s holiday. Camping is drudgery.

Well thats why we have never gone camping! But holidays can be great with little ones, we've had loads of great ones with ds. You just have to be careful about the type of holiday.

Camping is a test of endurance, not a holiday. It's a rite of passage, but not an enjoyable one for the adults.

I see holidays differently as a parent. I know it won’t be relaxing but I pick places the kids will enjoy as that’s the aim these days. Makes my life so much easier! Think you just have to reset holiday expectations. I do think there is a point to then, it’s just a different point to pre children.

I loved it. And I miss those days. Tiny kids on holiday, wide eyed at new sights and experiences (and a different roof over their head) and all the treat things that came along with holidays (not remotely expensive - one of my DDs fondly remembers how it was the one time of year when they were allowed Kellogg's variety packs of normally forbidden cereals!).

Genuinely, we all had a ball. And we're still holiday people.

Your problem was camping!
All inclusive is your friend if you really don’t want to have to do anything. Or self catering with a lot of eating out. It’s why we don’t go very often Id rather go every 3 years somewhere relaxing and an actual break than pretend camping once a year is a holiday!

I think with young children the word holiday is the wrong word. However it is great bonding time.

Wait a few days and look back it willl look better.

I did haven at that age.

Mines 5 and we had plenty of fun camping, however went with multiple families and kids so strength in numbers.

I've always enjoyed holidays with my DD, we've taken her away abroad 4 times before she was 5. You have to tailor the holiday to ensure plenty of sleep/naps, but we've always managed to have a decent amount of time on sun loungers when they're napping in pushchair, and evenings spent in the bar area after dinner again with kids playing, then sleeping in the pushchair.

We always go for all inclusive hotels though so we don't have to worry about food/drinks etc

Camping? URGH!
Caravans are fine, cottages better, no more than 5 days, beach is great, cricket set, football, make 'em run! :-)

This 100%. We have never gone on holiday just us 3, always with friends/family who also have kids

We had a caravan when ours where toddlers and loved it, you get to have the camping experience but without having to take a torch to the toilets late at night, decent heating and proper shelter in bad weather, proper bed to sleep in. Yes it was hard work but the memories were amazing! Easy to cook if we couldn't be arsed to go out. And no harder work than at home. I've heard caravanning is not as cheap as it used to be though!