Do we take the kids with us to New York?

[Hmsxox]

Me and my partner have been looking to go New York next year (dream of mine) we were planning on going for 3 nights alone, with the kids staying with my mum. We have 2 children ages 7 and 2, and recently I’ve been torn wether to take the kids with us now, If we did we would go for 4 nights instead and book overnight flights, my 7 year old has always wanted to go to America and I think it would be an experience for him but I’m very worried about an 8 hour flight with our 2 year old and thinking the whole trip it would be more stressful than enjoyable? But I’m also thinking that I would feel guilty not bringing them along when We are there.
We plan on sight seeing and doing some shopping so nothing the kids can’t do with us. What would you do? Has anyone had experience with long haul flights with a toddler?!
Thanks in advance x

If time and finances allow I would travel with them. Your youngest would have his/her own seat at the age of 2. Would not rely though on the airline to fully provide; take some of their favourite foods for them both to eat on the plane (any uneaten items like fruit should be left behind on the aircraft).

Your flight leaving the UK would depart during daylight hours; the return leg will be overnight arriving back into the UK early the next morning. Jetlag affects people differently and some children cope with the time change far better than adults.

What accommodation would you be thinking about?. I would go for a suite based hotel chain along the lines of Staybridge Suites or Homewood Suites. American hotel rooms tend to be one king bed or two queen (double) beds.

I've done plenty of long haul flights with my kids and they're not much worse than short haul ones to be honest. Mine sleep, eat, plug in.

I'd say it depends on what type of trip you're looking at doing, whether you think your kids would enjoy it or whether you had planned to be alone?

We've had a couple of lovely weekends away without ours and they had fun with my mum whilst we indulged!

I'd say no. Four nights in NY is not very long and i think you'd be able to do more without children in tow. My favourite museums in NY are the Met, MoMA and the 9/11 museum, none of which are especially child friendly. I also enjoy browsing round Macy's and Bloomingdales, which I'd find hard with a child. Another top tip to avoid crowds at some of the larger attractions is to go late in the evening, which again is not really an option with kids. I also love the buzz of Times Square in the evenings when it's dark and busy. I'd be worried about losing a child, and lastly, it's hard taking a buggy over Brooklyn bridge, but it's a long way for little legs to walk.

For me, half the fun of New York is seeing places that have featured in movies and popular culture. A 7 year old won’t really get the same benefit from it as you will on an adult’s trip. They’d probably get as much fun out of a trip to London tbh.

Money no object? Take the kids and Mum to babysit so you can enjoy a couple of nights out and have an extra pair of hands on the plane. If that’s too expensive then leave them at home, enjoy the time as a couple, you’ll see so much more without them in tow and promise the 7YO you’ll go back one day as a family when his sibling is old enough to appreciate it too. Oh and I fly a lot with mine as we live in the states but family are back in Europe, it’s fine on the plane, not enjoyable or relaxing but we cope. I just personally wouldn’t think of NY as an ideal holiday with a 7 year old and a toddler and the offer of babysitting from Mum would be too good to resist for me!

No I would not take them.
It's very very busy, bustling, at times toes to heals with the person in front, pushchairs do not fair too well within these crowds.
Sightseeing would be rubbish for little ones.
There's very little there for small children and given that it's only 4 nights and such a long flight, I would consider just adults.
I honestly didn't see or encounter anything there other than Central Park for kids.
I would not recommend taking children.

DH and I went for 5 nights 12 years ago and left the DC then 6 & 8 at home, just been back with them this summer for 3 days, we were on the go from pretty much arriving at the hotel. It was exhausting, but worth it.

NYC nightlife is amazing and people don't normally sit down to dinner at good restaurants until 8 PM - and it's not a kid friendly environment at that time of night. So unless you get a babysitter you're not going to be able to enjoy a lot of what NYC has to offer.

I’d either go alone OR I would just take the 7 year old

Certainly not the 2 year old for a long haul city break.

Alone with partner I meant

Definitely wouldn't take the youngest. You say the eldest has always wanted to go to America but NY is a very small part of America and might not be quite what he expects.
I'd leave both the DC with your mum and enjoy the trip doing whatever you want without having to take a child's needs into consideration.
Promise him a trip to Disney next year or whenever.

I wouldn't take them this time as the youngest is too young - you will probably lose your evenings as the toddler will need to go to bed reasonably early, surely? I think you will waste too much time with the children in tow considering it's such a short trip anyway.

Go without them, enjoy your time with your partner, and the kids can have quality time with grandparents.

Don’t be put off by long haul with 2 year old, even for that short a time it is totally doable (we did a long weekend in NY with our 18mth old - I had a ridiculous amount of snacks and entertainment but glad I took it! And at 2 s/he will watch a screen more than an 18mth old so reckon it will be even easier). But I basically agree it is needless stress and your money is better kept for a later visit when they’re eg 12&7.

No way.

Enjoy the sightseeing and shopping kid free... and the meals out etc.

I have a 5yo and there's no way I'd take him as at this age he'd be bored and spoil it for us.

Thankyou for your input everyone! We’ve decided to just go alone and go with the kids in the future when my daughter is older so it can be enjoyed by all! We’ve booked a week away to Center parcs for us all a few weeks before we go NY so the kids can enjoy that

Sounds like a plan. Enjoy your trip(s)!

That sounds perfect, hope you have a blast

I've done it both ways (sort of) Mine were the same ages 7 &2. First time I took DS1 and we had a blast (Ds2 stayed with Mum). Got a City Pass and did sooo much and the Magic School Bus was at the Natural history museum so he even got a book signed by Miss Frizzle(looong time ago). This was part of a huge cross country trip we did, flying over to both Disney parks as well.
Then I went with Uni as part of my degree, with a group of fellow student all 20 years younger than me and OMG, had so much fun, apart from the fact that they all flaked by midnight and I crawled in at 6am.

Looking to go with my nowDH, now kiddies have flown.

New York is excellent for kids but I wouldn’t take a 2 year old.

I would have taken the 7 year old and left the 2 year old.