Holiday abroad with toddler - suggestions please! (Or should I stay home)

[Emalina]

Hi Mums

DS is 13 months old, we didn't go away at all last year because it just seemed like too much hassle. DS is now in a really good routine and DH & I would love to go away.

We realise our days of lounging by a pool with a cocktail are over for the time being but we do love the sun. I'm anxious about being able to entertain a toddler abroad without the mountains of toys we have at home though. He does love the water and swimming though. Also wondering if taking him somewhere hot will be too much for him.

I now realise it would have been so much easier to go away with him before he was 6 months old as I was breastfeeding so didn't need to worry about sterilising bottles, making up formula or child friendly food.

These are things I now have to bear in mind - so any ideas about where to go and what to do to entertain a toddler abroad?

Would love to hear other people's experiences. :)

we took our ds away for the first time when he was 15 months old to corfu would not recommend corfu though as there is a lot of mozzys and the flight is about four hours from what i can remember.

i would look closer to home, majorca is nice, mainland spain.

as for entertainment, we took a few small toys like cars, bought a bucket and spade whilst we were there and spent most of our time walking (ds in the pushchair), on the beach or in the swimming pool. he didnt have a bottle by then but had a cup with a lid on so we took a couple with us. when we were there we bought a bottle of robinsons juice and water and kept it in the hotel room to make up drinks to take out with us, as for food it wasnt too bad because many places will make you a bowl of scrabbled egg, toast, or other child friendly foods if you ask. many european countries are more accomodating when it comes to children than we are here in britain

We have taken DS abroad a number of times, France when he was 8 months, Lanzarote when he was 11 months and the US when he was 18 months ( although I wouldn't recommend that one again)

As your DS is young, you don't need to think about having other children around, although a pool is nice to splash around in. At that age we found self catering to be best so you have your own kitchen to keep stuff.

Now that he is 13months you don't need to sterilise the bottles any more and as countydurhamlass says most places are fairly accomodating for childrens diets.

I would advise avoiding anywhere too hot, France was lovely as at the time DS had a long lunchtime nap which meant we could go out for nice lunches,

LEave him with grandparents in the UK and you and DH go and sip those cocktails.

I've just booked a two week break in Cyprus for september me, hubby and my (now)17 month old son. We have waited till september when he will be 25 months old as the worst bit about the last holiday was the plane journey and the fact that he did not want to sit on my lap and cried all the way home from Majorca. SO this time i have booked him his own seat on the plane and am keeping my fingers tightly crossed that he will be easier to entertain after he is 2.

As for entertaining them there, give them a bucket and spade with some water and sand and they will be happy. But you are very right in thinking your sun bathing days are over

Do you have good friend with a little one the same age? If you do I recommend renting a place in France with a pool. Sharing makes it more of a holiday. you can have a Mums day out and a Dads day out. You can take it in turns to babysit and go out in the evenings.

Find somewhere toddler friendly like this: so you don't have to take all the toys with you. And most of all, take advantage of being able to go away in June while you can. The prices are so much cheaper and the weather is often better too.

The best description I was given was that a holiday with a toddler/young child is not actually a holiday (as you used to know them) but is simply a change of scene!