1st Holiday with a 1 year old

[Scoaf]

So we are booked to go on our 1st holiday with our 1 yr old in the summer.
We are going on a cruise around Europe with extended family.
Just after some tips and tricks of travelling with a 1 year old.
We're flying to meet the ship so have a 3 hour flight in the early hours. 😳
My LO doesnt like to sit still for 5 minutes so im not too excited about it tbh 🤣
All advice wlecome.
TIA

Distract distract distract, snacks, little games, books etc, iPad if needed.

I did it last year and honestly wasn’t that bad but we’re dreading it.

Out of curiosity as I’ve been looking at cruises does it allow 1 year old in the pool or is there a designated splash park? Or is it a winter type cruise?thanks

We flew for the first time with 19m old and it was fine! Loads of running round in the airport, some familiar toys on the plane as well as some new ones and books. Lots of stickers. Lots of snacks. Download some things from CBeebies to your phone.

Other practical things that helped - I had a small zipped bag of everything I wanted near her on the plane inside my hand luggage, and put the rest of the hand luggage up out the way. The zipper bag itself was entertainment.

Cabin sized buggy was allowed in overhead compartment rather than checked in and it meant we had somewhere for toddler / stuff when waiting in passport queue.

@Fran92
Thanks for your reply.
Unfortunately no children that aren't potty trained are allowed in the pool and from what i can see they dont really have a splash area...( annoyingly- we weren't aware of this as we didnt book) from what i have read, most cruises are the same unless like you say they have a splash area or baby pool.
I have got a little tablet for his birthday to help entertain and some new toys... also saw a trick of sticking different coloured electrical tape on the seat infront so ive got some of that too.
Its the early morning too. Do I let him sleep on the way to the airport? Do i feed him when he gets up or at his usual time ?
All very confusing.

@SummerBaby23
Ah great thanks. I have got him some new toys and have a busy pillow with all zips and clips and buttons on which i am hoping will keep him entertained.
Im worrying about him being that screaming baby on the plane 😱

Distractions, foods, drinks, toys they can play with on your lap, child friendly headphones to listen to an iPad, books. We flew long haul a lot, lived overseas 10 hours away and i brought them back alone often - organisation and an aisle seat are my tips. Also be firm about sitting still as it's non negotiable, practice leading up at the table etc.

@Fran92

Under 3's splash areas (no need to be potty trained)

•	MSC Bellissima
•	The MSC Preziosa
•	MSC Meraviglia
•	And MSC Seaside

•	Allure of the Seas.
•	Anthem of the Seas.
•	Freedom of the Seas.
•	Independence of the Seas.
•	Liberty of the Seas
•	Oasis of the Seas.
•	Odyssey of the Seas
•	Harmony of the Seas
•	Symphony of the Seas
•	Wonder of the Seas

And p&o

•	Azura – Children’s pools (Aft) and the Coral Pool
•	Britannia -The Reef Adventure Zone and the Lido Pool
•	Oceana -Children’s Pirate paddling pool
•	Ventura -Children’s pool (Aft) and the Beach comber Pool

Plus all Disney ships and Caribbean princess.

It is maritime law that says nobody can use the pool who isn't potty trained, this extends older children/adults with medical conditions that mean they are incontinent which means it's no good for dsd either

Give a bottle on take off and landing to help with ear popping.

I wouldn’t try and plan the sleep- they will rebel anyway.

www.amazon.co.uk/DYZI-Suction-Cup-Spinner-Toys/dp/B0BCX8CB4J/ref=asc_df_B0BCX8CB4J/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=606460068382&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1641042314588717733&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045057&hvtargid=pla-1879730263362&psc=1

these are apparently good for sticking onto seats and windows to entertain little ones.

On the holiday the best toy I always found at that age was stacking cups- I was going to say to use in the pool- but I guess redundant point.

Please do check though with the lines as they do re purpose areas. Cruising kid's website was the source

I wouldn’t worry too much about sleep. My 1 year old loved his afternoon sleep so we picked an afternoon flight hoping he would sleep all the way. He went to sleep fine on my DH, but as he had to be on an aisle seat, the cabin steward knocked him as she went past and woke him up, so that was the end of sleep. I took picture books, easy jigsaws, my boy loved putting things together so I had a few brick toys as well. For the cruise take your own inflatable pool, you may need one to put in shower area, if there’s no bath. We cruise and the little ones we see have a great time, I don’t go in the pools, they are very deep and cold, but on P&O they usually have a splash zone, Royal Caribbean have great splash areas.

Take extra milk/snacks, the engines will probably kill him to sleep. If not, have a few quiet toys, something downloaded on your phone/iPad for him to watch. Also, take a spare change of clothes or two in separate ziplock bags with nappy/wipes (the toilets are too tiny for a huge nappy bag!). My dc, who never leaked, always had poo explosions on planes!

I would also take a small inflatable paddling pool with some pool toys if your dc isn’t allowed in the pool.

Thank you @gogohmm bery helpful

@Scoaf I like the idea of the tape, sounds good! I’m thinking of keeping my LO up for the journey to the airport/ in airport but ell will need to be woken at 3.30 am! And then hopefully sleep on the plane. Last time I did it they were just getting over an illness so was having two naps a day at the time and fell asleep on the flight for just over an hour which helped!