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Original poster

Dreading first holiday abroad with DS

128 replies

80schildd · 26/09/2025 09:53

Nothing is booked yet but my DH is adamant he wants us to go abroad (Tenerife) in early December when our DS will be 17 months.

I just can’t see past this being really stressful, the travelling, not being able to relax, worrying about food etc.

Am I being unreasonable to think this? He says he will be fine once we are there. Positive stories from anyone who has done it would be welcome!

OP posts:
Chocolateisameal · 26/09/2025 09:55

We took our baby to Lanzarote, just before I went back to work after maternity leave. It was brilliant. It was lovely and warm, baby could play happily and we could relax. The food was easy to sort out, go self catering if you’re really worried.

weareallqueens · 26/09/2025 09:57

We took DD to Dubrovnik when she was about that age. I’d not go there again with a wee one as it’s not particularly child friendly and was too cold for swimming pools but we enjoyed it the trip with her. Not quite a typically relaxing holiday but none are with kids. Take a buggy and lots of familiar things to help him settle. Lots of snacks for the plane.

BoredZelda · 26/09/2025 09:57

Tell him you won’t be going.

Pyjamatimenow · 26/09/2025 09:57

Not unreasonable. it is tricky travelling with kids of that age.
As long as you lower your expectations of what a holiday is you’ll be fine. Take lots of things for him to do both ways on the plane and pack changes of clothes for you all for the flight incase he throws up.

Blinkingmarvellous · 26/09/2025 09:59

We did it with a 2 year old - we flew on her birthday but Fuerteventura not Tenerife. Are you booking a seat for your son? It's a long flight to have him on your laps.
Once we got there it was fine - pool, beach, toddling around the hotel, sitting on the balcony during naps.
The thing we got wrong was booking bed and breakfast not half board. I think most toddlers are better with familiarity and it was more relaxing for us too not to make decisions about where to eat.

Ablondiebutagoody · 26/09/2025 09:59

I think it will be amazing! My first holiday abroad with DS as a single parent was Tenerife. We had a great time. Just be careful with the swimming pools. Outdoor, unheated ones will be very cold for him in December.

TomatoSandwiches · 26/09/2025 09:59

You don't have to go if you don't want to op.

Radiatorvalves · 26/09/2025 10:03

I think you’ll have a great time. I did a lot of travelling with my kids when they were young and never regretted it. Some long haul solo due to DHs job, flying to Med (due to his job). Enjoy!

Worriedalltheday · 26/09/2025 10:03

What is stressing you out,? It’s literally just a few hours away. And you have one child between 2 of you. You just to plan well. And make sure that your dh is actually a hands on parent instead of dumping you with all the work. My kids have been flying since 10m old on 11+ hour flights because our family lives on another continent. I have an almost 3yo who is amazing on flights because she somehow knows how it now works.

MidnightPatrol · 26/09/2025 10:06

People on here are very strange about taking children on holiday.

I’ve never found any issue with it - and always still had a good time! Yes it’s different to pre-kids - but what isn’t?

Will they sleep in the pram? At 17 months I’d be going out for dinner in the evening and letting them sleep in the pram.

What isn’t there to worry about food? Particularly in Lanzarote.

Otherwise - they’ll probably like playing on the beach. Just go earlier or later so not in the heat of the day. Use the lunchtime nap for some chill time.

TheSandgroper · 26/09/2025 10:07

We took dd on her first road trip at 15 months. You should see her photos. She had a ball.

We planned little things. We travelled around nap times, kept meal times much the same. As such, there was plenty of quiet time in the tent with books but that was fine. We didn’t do art galleries or anything that would be difficult. Be aware of when dc is overwhelmed and needing mums arms around him.

Make plans with dc in mind, manage your expectations and you should be fine and make some wonderful memories.

JadziaD · 26/09/2025 10:09

You should unpick what the concern is.

Travelling - do you mean the act of getting on planes etc. Yes, 17 months is a bit of a tricky age for this as they can't have their own seat but are too big for those bassinet things. But Tenerife isn't a million miles away so it will be okay. Airports are very accomodating of people with young children so with just a bit of planning to make sure you have the right type of bags etc, you should be completely fine.

Car seats - a lot of people worry about this. If you hire a car hire a car seat with it. If you get a taxi, pre book and ask for a car seat. You can buy those more portable seats but 17 months is quite young for those.

Food - I don't really understand the problem with this one. If you're in a hotel, you can order food that your child will eat or buy it if you're in self catering. We always brought some of the kids' favourite convenience foods as well - a few ella's pouches, oat bars etc.

Sleeping arrangements - this was always the most stressful for me becuase we have children who were quite tricky sleepers (for different reasons). Definitely make sure your hotel has a king size bed in case the portable crib thing they provide doesn't work out for you!

Travelling with 17 month old children is definitely not the same carefree relaxed life as when you are pre-children, but it is totally doable!

SeptemberNCing · 26/09/2025 10:10

As long as it’s a child friendly resort, it should be fine.

The flight might be hard work but otherwise a decent resort will have food for small children, kids pool, etc.

Sweetleftfood · 26/09/2025 10:11

Our only problem was food, my youngest just would not eat Spanish food of any sort. He was on jars at that time and we didn't bring enough. He lived on banana, yoghurt and bread but the actual holiday was lovely. We were in a Thompson hotel and his brother was about 4 at the time so both of them enjoyed the entertainment and the swimming pools.

Butthechildrentheylovethebooks · 26/09/2025 10:12

We're in Tenerife at the moment. Theres loads of young kids and the hotel we're at caters amazingly for them. Theres loads to look at / do out and about.

As others said, we always took our kids on holiday from 1 yr old. We did flights to Florida several times. Organising and planning is the key.

Original poster
80schildd · 26/09/2025 10:13

Butthechildrentheylovethebooks · 26/09/2025 10:12

We're in Tenerife at the moment. Theres loads of young kids and the hotel we're at caters amazingly for them. Theres loads to look at / do out and about.

As others said, we always took our kids on holiday from 1 yr old. We did flights to Florida several times. Organising and planning is the key.

Do you mind sharing the name of the hotel? DH has a few shortlisted

OP posts:
Thephantom · 26/09/2025 10:15

I couldn't help but notice all the calm and happy babies I saw while on holiday this summer! Even on the plane. I was amazed. Totally happy babies sitting on their parents laps..didnt see a single baby on technology and i saw quite a few babies. So, clearly it is possible. But it depends on what type of baby you have I guess. You'll never know until you try and maybe don't go away for too long. Try booking an Aparthotel for your first trip which has a supermarket closeby. Ideally not those on-site supermarkets because they could be a bit expensive in comparison, but if there's a Hiperdino or a Superdino or similar within a walking distance food shouldn't be an issue. Just buy something and whip something up for the little one. It's not like they expect Michelin star food at this age 🙂.

Icanttakethisanymore · 26/09/2025 10:17

I think with one kid (who presumably still naps?) you can have a good time. Id just make sure not to go when it’s too hot. If you’re planning on a hotel then I guess he’ll live splashing around in the toddlers pool etc?

TwistedWonder · 26/09/2025 10:18

Took my DS to Greece in June when he was 14 months and we had a fabulous holiday.

He spent so much time in the pool that he fell asleep in his buggy and we could have dinner in peace.

We packed a few toddler ready meals to heat up in case food was a problem but most days he had things like pasta and was fine.

hellodolly2x2 · 26/09/2025 10:19

I think it depends on how ‘hands on’ your DH will be? Will he do his fair share to look after DS or does he think it’s a jolly for him whilst you do all the background stuff whilst he sits on the lounger enjoying ‘his holiday?’

If later then absolutely no. If yes, go for it and enjoy the sunshine.

Bitzee · 26/09/2025 10:19

I’m not normal one to shy away from travelling with kids but Tenerife in December with a 17MO sounds crap IMO.

That’s the single worst age for air travel- too young to watch movies but old enough to not want to sit for very long and Tenerife isn’t a short flight. Also, unless you pay the extra for their own seat they’re massive to have on your lap for that long and because it’s a short haul route you don’t get the option of the bulkhead with a bassinet seat. Also, Tenerife in December is warm but probably not warm enough for a young toddler to swim in the pool so IDK what you’d do to fill the days as I didn’t think there was much going on there beyond beach, pool, eating and drinking. The only concern of yours that I don’t share is food because that’ll be fine- they have supermarkets for fruit and yoghurts and you can always get bread and chips. So yes to going on holiday but I wouldn’t be going there in December!

cygnusgenie · 26/09/2025 10:20

I would always go self catering with young children, an apartment in a nice resort. Then you can control food. Also sit up with a glass of wine on the balcony when they are in bed. I can't see why it would be a cause for worry otherwise?

sittingonabeach · 26/09/2025 10:21

Will DH share the parenting?

Original poster
80schildd · 26/09/2025 10:21

Bitzee · 26/09/2025 10:19

I’m not normal one to shy away from travelling with kids but Tenerife in December with a 17MO sounds crap IMO.

That’s the single worst age for air travel- too young to watch movies but old enough to not want to sit for very long and Tenerife isn’t a short flight. Also, unless you pay the extra for their own seat they’re massive to have on your lap for that long and because it’s a short haul route you don’t get the option of the bulkhead with a bassinet seat. Also, Tenerife in December is warm but probably not warm enough for a young toddler to swim in the pool so IDK what you’d do to fill the days as I didn’t think there was much going on there beyond beach, pool, eating and drinking. The only concern of yours that I don’t share is food because that’ll be fine- they have supermarkets for fruit and yoghurts and you can always get bread and chips. So yes to going on holiday but I wouldn’t be going there in December!

I said about the pool temps etc and DH said some will be heated plus he’s been to Tenerife in December twice and it was really warm but not too hot for DS so ‘perfect timing’…

OP posts:
Helpwithdivorce · 26/09/2025 10:22

We’ve taken out kids since a few weeks old and never found it particularly stressful.
Why are you worried about food? Does your son have severe allergies? When we’re away the kids just eat whatever they will eat. One lived off watermelon only for an entire week. It wasn’t a problem

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