Holiday tips with toddler, feeling anxious

[platespinner44]

We've booked our first abroad holiday for about 5 years. Me, dh, two tweens and a toddler. The toddler is full on. Doesn't like to sit still, has some epic tantrums but is also very fun loving.
We booked a Spanish resort with a pool, park and entertainment but now it's actually booked im wondering if we've made a mistake. I'm so nervous about the travel, about what it'll be like when we get there. Will she cope with the heat? What if one of us gets ill? Will we sleep at all? Are we just going to be chasing her around a pool all day and trying to stop her from hurting herself?
I was desperate for a holiday and I don't want my older two to miss out just because we have a toddler (they had a few abroad holidays when we were younger but always with lots more family on hand to help, and they were both pretty chilled kids - but with Covid and pregnancy and early baby years we haven't managed to get away for a long time).
Please can anyone reassure me or offer any particularly helpful tips? I'm an anxious traveller at the best of times but for some reason I'm having regrets already when we should be looking forward to it.

Completely understand why you are feeling a little nervous and stressed - it's your first time abroad in 5 years and that can be daunting for everyone (and it's not the same kind of relaxing holiday with a toddler) so don't be hard on yourself. I took my LO away last year for the first time and she was 2 at the time. She was tired out from the sun and didn't eat much of the food at the hotel but other than that she absolutely loved it. Just don't set your expectations too high. Play by the pool, get a bucket and spade and a pool float. Accept that they might be picky with the food because they're tired and too hot and I think the food just tastes different to them (even chicken nuggets!) My DD who normally has a healthy appetite ate ice cream, chips and cucumber for the duration of the holiday and although I kept giving her different things to try I just went with it. One thing I would recommend is trying to stick to a nap routine if you have one. It makes life more bearable and are more likely to enjoy the entertainment at night. I stuck to giving my DD a bedtime drink of milk and letting her fall asleep in the pram at the same time every night so that she still felt some semblance of routine. But just take it as it comes. You've got this. Have a great holiday x

I also meant to say that the buggy is your friend!! X

Dd has recently decided she will no longer accept our usual buggy, she's fiercely independent and just wants to walk everywhere! But I'm thinking of getting a very cheap stroller for holiday so she can fall asleep in at night if we're out.
I have no expectations. I just want a bit of sun. We've done the UK holiday parks to death and I feel like my older 2 deserve an abroad holiday now too.
I don't know why I feel so anxious about it, I just do.

Start playing at aeroplanes with your little one. I spent ages playing at pretending to board, sitting and clicking seat belt on and then waving out the window🤣oh and explaining that when seat belt light is on we need to stay on seat. My eldest was a calm toddler but my youngest just wanted to be on the move the whole time so prepping her for not being able to was important. Went on a 5 hour flight when she was 14months. She slept for one hour and I spent most of the other 4 following her up and down the aisle. It was exhausting but it kept her happy. Take lots of little toys but the laminated safety card the paper sick bag and the folding tray were all the biggest hits.
I think holidays with toddlers aren't really holidays but they are still lots of fun. DH and I tried to take shifts to make sure that for some point every day we each got some down time.

It's so frustrating when they start wanting to walk everywhere isn't it because you want to give their independence but then you're also thinking, I know you still need it sometimes so please! 😝

I understand the anxious feeling. The thing is you might go and wonder why you were ever worried. But it doesn't make the anxiety just now any less valid. I second what pp said with taking turns to make sure you all get a bit of r&r.

We took my 2 year old abroad and it was different to previous holidays but still brilliant. We spent a lot of time in the pool which was fine and bought a little float he could use/play with over there which was a big hit. I got into a routine of going to our room after lunch for an hour where he’d either nap or watch something as a bit of “chill out” time and to avoid the heat of the day.
we mixed between letting him have a longer nap and staying up later to some nights he’d fall asleep in the pram and other times just accept that one of us needed to take him up to bed earlier.
flight was also fine, iPad and crayola no mess colouring and sticker books for us through it plus snacks

Don’t go, it will be shit

If I did it again I’d take sweets for the plane though as he struggled with his ears popping.
Also I dropped my standards around his diet and decided that if all he’d eat was plain pasta for dinner then that was fine as long as he didn’t go hungry

You will have a fab time
Eldest was 2 when we took her abroad first time. She refused to go in the pool and screamed at the beach....but we still had a great time. (It was a villa and pool was deep and cold - buy a cheap inflatable boat or paddling pool if they won't go in main pool)
Youngest was also 2 her first time and wouldn't eat anything but ice cream.....so that's what she ate. Don't stress about it - just go with the flow.

Remember to take naps...take LO back to room to nap before lunch and before dinner....and join them

Your tweens will be a great help.they can carry their own bags, help keep an eye on and play with little one.

You are unlikely to get ill....but if you do it will be fine.

We took our DC to Spain last year (they were 18 months & 3) and the canaries last month (23 months & still 3 🤣). I was really anxious before our first holiday as I envisioned them being a nightmare on the plane and not settling in a new bed/strange room, but... They were great! In fact, they loved it and we're in bed early every night (and slept through) as they were so exhausted from all the fun they'd had during the day.

Nothing anyone can say will alleviate your anxiety but just know, it won't be half as bad as you're imagining. You'll all have a great time (just remember to take a ridiculous amount of snacks for the flight).

Thanks for this 😂