First Family Holiday A Nightmare...

[ladybird30]

It's our first family holiday abroad with our 2.5 yo DS. I wasn't massively up for booking it, I'll be honest. Toddlers + holiday for me is a recipe for disaster but my OH was adamant we "needed the break"

The reality is, as I expected, we're having a rubbish time... We've been here 3 days and have managed to have a fall out or a generally rubbish day every single day so far... I'm tearing my hair out. I feel x10 more stressed than I would if we were home doing the usual.

It's left me wondering if our relationship is actually just utterly awful..? Or is it just the situation we're in right now, I don't know. I just want to get on plane back home already...

Is this a normal experience of holidays with a toddler? Every other family with kids a similar age seem to be having the nicest time...

@onenewleader I've already said I'm not doing anymore holidays until DS is at least 4! We are staying a very child friendly hotel and gone out to child friendly places like the aquarium/safari but my DS is so active and full of energy he isn't at the age where he'll stop and really look at the fish etc. He just wants to run around (what toddler doesnt)

Like you say, a massive learning curve/lesson learned!

I am just back from 9 days away. We have 2.5 year old and nearly 3.5 year old. We picked a place where we knew it was not too crowded so they would have some freedom on the beach and pool. We didn’t Jam Pack the days with loads of different activities because it’s too much for them. Mine get hyper if overtired so we kept it chill the majority of the time. Holidays with toddlers are different experiences. You don’t get to see and do everything but you can still have fun. There will be moments of stress, tantrums and tears.

There absolutely can be relaxation. One toddler doesn’t need two adults all day long. They could take it in turns to have the morning or whatever off. Or if the toddler naps they can chill on the balcony, same goes for after toddler’s bedtime. Two adults, less or no cooking or chores decor has scope for a nice family holiday.

Rather than go-to an aquarium or similar go to the park or the beach?. Let your little one run around or play in the sand. It would be a lot less stressful and you and your husband might even be able to enjoy a coffee and a chat.

They play in the pool, run around on the beach, go to the playground, eat things they wouldn’t be allowed at home and should be quite happy. If more variety is needed there’s probably soft play somewhere. Shattered and early to bed while you sit with a glass of wine. Definitely sounds like an OH problem. Is there a kids club for that age?

At that age you don't need to be doing days out on a holiday, just mess around at the pool all day and they will be wiped out.

I spent six weeks abroad every year with two little ones, starting with two under the age of three.

Amazing times.
Lots of playing in the park and on the beach. Ball games, digging, collecting ‘stuff’. Cheap shopping for a bucket, spade and a brush (water and ‘painting’ play), a small paddling pool and some cheap beakers and spoons, along with some sea animals.
Picnics, walks till they napped, time for us.

Gorgeous time to read stories or listen to music, as they settled to sleep.