Grumpy 1 year old on holiday

[Gobolino80]

We've taken 1 year old DGS away on holiday for his 1st birthday and it's like we've taken a completely different baby on holiday! We're staying in a self catering holiday let in Cornwall, I totally understand that the unfamiliar surroundings are a lot at that age but he's so crabby it's unbelievable! We arrived on Sat and if anything he's worse today than the first day. He can be distracted for about 5 mins and then it's back to crying/whingeing. His mum and dad are tearing their hair out as it's so unlike him. Does anyone else have similar experiences of this that they'd like to share to make me feel better?!

he loved his routine and feels overwhelmed with all the change

and possibly feeling under the weather

it’s not hard to understand!

Most young children have no need to travel. It unsettles them.

We took DS to Cornwall when he was 1 and he was similarly grumpy. It became apparent a few days into the holiday that he had a double ear infection. On another holiday when he was two he had hand, foot and mouth disease and wouldn't eat anything. If it is unlike him to be grumpy I would guess that he may well be feeling poorly.

Could it be something simple like teething? We had lots of holidays with babies when mine were small and never found surroundings bothered them so long as they were with us, none of mine were happy being held by strangers. We did have a lot of strange surroundings in foreign countries such as tents, static caravans and campervan a couple of years.

“We've taken 1 year old DGS away on holiday for his 1st birthday…”

Let’s face it, it wasn’t for him was it? 1 year olds don’t need self catered holidays in Cornwall. He’s out of his normal surroundings and comforts and he’s communicating it.

It's probably completely unrelated to the holiday and he's just under the weather with something. Give him some Calpol and see if there is any improvement.

We took DTs to France when they were almost one. They were awful for a few days. NO fevers / ear pulling / anything to suggest they were unwell. Turned out the both had double ear infections.

Hi,

I don't think that you can get mad at your 1-year-old son for being upset. He is 1 for g**'s sake. One year in your life is nothing. His whole life is that 1 year.

You took him to Cornwall. Let him cry. He can't help it.

No one is mad at him! We're just a bit baffled at the dramatic change in him that's all. It could be a bit of teething but he's sleeping really well at night, we have kept him topped up with calpol in case though. The town is full of families with children as young as DGS, I didn't realise we weren't supposed to bring babies on holiday eye roll

Hi Gobolino,

Sorry for the misunderstanding, I thought by the tone of your message you were angry with your DGS for crying.

it is difficult for them because it is a new environment which they are not used to, and therefore may tend to act out

however, it might just be because he is teething or is unwell, so calpol as a precaution will do him the world of good.

I wasn’t saying that you weren’t allowed to take your DGS on holiday, or simply just saying that it will be difficult for him.

hope he settles down, keep me updated.
have a good time in Cornwall though.

love Trish xx