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Original poster

Would you go long haul with 2 under 2.5?

39 replies

DisneyBaby · 04/08/2022 23:55

Can't decide on a holiday for later this year (gonna do a last min cheap deal).
Husband and I would quite like to do somewhere in the Caribbean, either Barbados or Jamaica most likely, but our two girls will be 2 years 9 months and 6 months old. Is that crazy?
We did Dubai 7 hours with DD1 last year and the flight was fine, she happily watched the in flight movies and ate the whole flight but we've entered the tantrum stage with her now so I'm concerned she'll get bored and want to run around and I'm worried about DD2 being so young at 5/6 months when we travel.
Am I crazy to consider it? Anyone else done it?

OP posts:
AmbushedByCake1 · 04/08/2022 23:58

Crazy. The long flight plus the jet lag is not going to be fun.

soupmaker · 05/08/2022 00:00

Hell no. Don't do it.

Toosadtocomprehend · 05/08/2022 00:00

Save a lovely holiday like that for when they are old enough to enjoy!

Kite22 · 05/08/2022 00:01

No

and I hope nobody on the plane I was on did either

Tania64 · 05/08/2022 00:02

Absolutely not. Go to Butlins.

AlwaysLatte · 05/08/2022 00:05

We did it a couple of times. It was mostly ok as we planned the timings so that they would mostly be sleeping. But unfortunately one flight home was delayed by 8 hours so they slept before the flight instead (we got a room with beds at the airport while we waited) and then were fully recharged for the whole flight!

Goodnewsday · 05/08/2022 00:37

We were considering the Maldives at Christmas, mainly because we only have one child (16 months by then) but I think we’ve changed our mind. I wanted to go then as at least with only one then one of us could be having a holiday at all times while the other is on baby duty but with two I’d imagine it would be constant. The problem is if we don’t go now I don’t really know when we will go 😩 I’d say that sounds a lot with two. I think we’ll do cheap weeks in Majorca, Tenerife and the likes while they’re under 4 then go to Florida as the first big holiday

SleepingStandingUp · 05/08/2022 00:53

I wouldn't want to leave them for that long or be away from them that long tbh.

No other interpretation of your post makes sense because you'd be crazy thinking of taking them on the plane WITH you.

Sahgah · 05/08/2022 00:55

I took my 2 DDs long haul by myself when they were 3 and 1 and had to get connecting flights. Not sure how I did it but it was to see family. Not sure I would go long haul for just a holiday.

Anxiousanddramatic · 05/08/2022 00:57

Flew to the Caribbean with my 6 month old a few years ago
It was a day flight I was so worried but he slept most of the way and was pretty content the rest of the time
I just did a 9 hour flight with a 3 year old and a 3 month old
They both slept a lot
The baby will be fine they nap a lot, eat and poop so it's really not hard
The toddler is a different story I made a "plane bag" for him filled it with his favourite sweets/snacks for bribing and activities, colouring,stickers, little toys , puzzles.. and his iPad
He's quite tantrum prone at the moment but he was pretty good
Let them sleep and rest a lot before and after the flight but I don't think having small kids should stop you from travelling
As long as their clean, fed and napped they will be okay and so will you x

VioletToes · 05/08/2022 00:59

I have done long haul with young DC, but only to see family. Absolutely no way would I do it for a holiday 🤯

But, my personal opinion is that those flights are hard on the body and making a young DC do it,, who can't speak/comprehend etc what's going on is a bit shit.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 05/08/2022 08:03

Christ no! Go to center parcs they’ll enjoy it more.

35965a · 05/08/2022 08:06

Not in a billion years.

TheFairyCaravan · 05/08/2022 08:22

Nope. Never in a million years.

AdriannaP · 05/08/2022 08:25

Goodnewsday · 05/08/2022 00:37

We were considering the Maldives at Christmas, mainly because we only have one child (16 months by then) but I think we’ve changed our mind. I wanted to go then as at least with only one then one of us could be having a holiday at all times while the other is on baby duty but with two I’d imagine it would be constant. The problem is if we don’t go now I don’t really know when we will go 😩 I’d say that sounds a lot with two. I think we’ll do cheap weeks in Majorca, Tenerife and the likes while they’re under 4 then go to Florida as the first big holiday

I have been to Maldives with a 1 year old and a 2 year old. Definitely doable with 2 adults and it’s a fantastic place for kids. Some resorts are very kid friendly with kids food, playgrounds, kids pool etc

OP I have been long haul with one child and will go with two but I have a bigger age gap and older child doesn’t tantrum anymore and can entertain herself. I wouldn’t in your situation sorry.

MissBattleaxe · 05/08/2022 08:26

Save the long hauls until they're older. They won't remember at all this age and you'll have no down time.

AdriannaP · 05/08/2022 08:27

@Goodnewsday also the Maldives will be a lot cheaper for you before your DC turns 2. Once she is 2, she will cost you nearly as much as an adult (yes resorts have special offers but it’s still a lot more expensive!)

Aria999 · 05/08/2022 08:28

No.

We travel long haul with small children a lot as we have to see family but I would never do it from choice.

gogohmm · 05/08/2022 08:32

I did but I lived overseas so travelled back to the U.K. every few months (solo with 2 kids) it's actually fine in the toddler years - I always had them strapped into car seats past 2 for the 10 hour flight

sweetlebeetle11 · 05/08/2022 08:49

No, my idea of hell tbh. The anxiety of them screaming on plane would stress me out ( we went long hall 2018 and a mother literally had to walk the Floor for 9hrs solid hrs with a baby that did not stop crying from we boarded until we disembarked. It was horrendous) also beach holidays wouldn't be much fun with a baby.

Hoppinggreen · 05/08/2022 08:51

Nope
There is no point either, they won’t get more than they would out of a short haul holiday and you will be frazzled and spend the whole holiday worried about everything and dreading the flight home

Pinkywoo · 05/08/2022 09:06

My two are almost exactly the same age and we've just got back from visiting family in Italy. It's only a three hour flight but it was still too long, you couldn't pay me to do 7+ hours!

Emily29 · 05/08/2022 09:25

We did Antigua with our 16 month old and would do it again, iPad, lots of snacks and toys! It was absolutely fine and definitely worth it

converseandjeans · 05/08/2022 09:35

No. Take them somewhere in Europe. Lots of places with decent weather.

I would only do that sort of flight if it was a visit to see family say in Australia where there's no other option.

grey12 · 05/08/2022 09:47

We did it. To visit family. It was easy. The baby tbh was an easy baby. She slept most of the time in between my lap and DH's lap or BFd. The slightly older one was mesmerised by the cartoons! I would suggest to get them children headphones.

Regarding the holidays, just go with the flow. Forget routines. Choose a nice resort so you don't have to think too much 😉

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