Holiday tips with a one year old

maynooth_rules

Hi everyone.
In June we are thinking of taking our 11 month old on his first holiday abroad. We are struggling for ideas though. Before he came along me and the wife loved travelling holidays (did Cambodia and Thailand. Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia and also the Greek Islands). Essentially every holiday was moving on after 2 or 3 days in a place. Obviously now we have to look at different options. I'm leaning towards renting a villa but that's all new to me. Any recommendations would be gratefully appreciated? Also any tips for bringing a 1 year old a trip would be appreciated.

LirW

I went on holidays with both of mine when quite little, was pretty straight forward, no problems flying either.

IT depends on your kid really, you can even do travelling around if the kid is laid back.
Otherwise if you're renting out a villa, the classic would be pretty much anywhere with warm and beach because they are usually also well equipped for people travelling with children.

If you want it super easy go to an all-inclusive club, you pay it all upfront and can chill at the pool and eat the whole day. Good option with children. Might not be the most exciting of all holidays but as new parents with a toddler it can be pretty relaxing because you have it all in one spot.

mloc123

I used to think my friend was being negative when he said don't bother, but...

We went to Iceland, France and Chicago all before our guy was 2... the flight home from Chicago sealed the deal. That was a year ago, we have not flown since. Maybe in a few months when he is 3...

gozunda

mloc123 wrote: »

I used to think my friend was being negative when he said don't bother, but...

We went to Iceland, France and Chicago all before our guy was 2... the flight home from Chicago sealed the deal. That was a year ago, we have not flown since. Maybe in a few months when he is 3...

It's always the other passengers I feel sorry for ...

Balmed Out

Make sure to avoid studio apartments where ye will be tip toeing around after the baby falls asleep

Will I Am Not

Suppose it totally depends on the child. I’ve got an 18 month old and there is absolutely no way he would sit on my lap for 3 hours plus.
He would be fine over there but he’s just too adventurous and energetic for a flight at this stage.

Myself and the wife are strung out for a sun holiday
We have been all over Ireland lately, currently en route to the South West and getting the boat to Wales when it gets warmer. Just have to make do for now.

Cakerbaker

Id recommend somewhere that has a beach rather than, or as well as a pool, just can’t relax by a pool when there’s a chance they might crawl / run into it whereas on a beach you can set yourself up back from the water a bit and they can have a bit of freedom. Digging and building sandcastles helps entertain.

Don’t go for a hotel room, weve stayed in a few apart hotels and the extra space for buggy etc, the bedroom so you can watch Telly in the evening while baby is asleep and the kitchenette for preparing some of babies food are invaluable.

Plenty toys and snacks for the plane. Pick somewhere that doesn’t have a very long flight. And ideally not a long transfer at the other end.

We did holidays at 7 months and 19 months. It takes a bit of extra planning and you need to pick a holiday that is baby friendly really but it’s still enjoyable!

Harika

We went to "Holiday Village Majorca Cala Millor" as this is a resort build around children's needs it was quite relaxing as they have food basically 24/7 available, doctor at call, creche service, cot and so on. There are different locations available, overall I agree with all of the above as travelling with a one year old is a different experience as travelling on your own, and far more stressful.

John_Rambo

The Fake Sheikh wrote: »

Can I just say to the OP, don’t give your 11 month old boiled sweets, that would make you one of those incompetent morons he’s talking about...

Ha! good point. My kids are older, I forget the little things! Stick to the lollies. Actually, one of mine used to suck the corner of a muslin. I guess a soother or anything like that will do.

gozunda wrote: »

It's always the other passengers I feel sorry for ...

This crap? Tourists that don't like kids on flights or in restaurants? A very Irish thing, an attitude the peasants have that think a Ryanair flight to Malaga is the opera in Vienna.

Ignore.

John_Rambo

Cakerbaker wrote: »

Id recommend somewhere that has a beach rather than, or as well as a pool, just can’t relax by a pool when there’s a chance they might crawl / run into it whereas on a beach you can set yourself up back from the water a bit and they can have a bit of freedom. Digging and building sandcastles helps entertain.

Don’t go for a hotel room, weve stayed in a few apart hotels and the extra space for buggy etc, the bedroom so you can watch Telly in the evening while baby is asleep and the kitchenette for preparing some of babies food are invaluable.

Plenty toys and snacks for the plane. Pick somewhere that doesn’t have a very long flight. And ideally not a long transfer at the other end.

We did holidays at 7 months and 19 months. It takes a bit of extra planning and you need to pick a holiday that is baby friendly really but it’s still enjoyable!

+ 1. The beach is an essential ingredient.

Great post. Lots of good advice.

irishrover99

I'm sure you have this covered already but make sure you have travel insurance.
My 11 month old got pneumonia while in SE Asia and without the travel insurance we would have been screwed.
The pneumonia all started from the onset of her teething and i know that might sound strange but then she got a teething fever and then a cold and it just got worse from then.
The heat makes it very hard to look after a sick child.

Make sure you have over stocks of teething medicine and other supplies.

Jimbob1977

A child car seat can be checked in for free.

Rental cars are a godsend if the public transport is inadequate. Cuts down on the hassle.

forgodssake

+1for the beach so much more relaxing !being organised re bottles and food helps. Also check everything in , did it a few years ago with 2,3 and 5 year old , we tried to cut costs by bringing hand luggage ...ill never forget looking back at my partner as we were going to check in . He had 2year old in his arms and was carrying bags on back and in hand while pulling a huge suitcase. All done while kids were crying . Honestly he was a man on the edge !! . Also we packed in hand luggage some play doh , tablet loaded with cartoons and some crayons . All helped . Go off on your hols and enjoy !

kerry4sam

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kerry4sam

mloc123

gozunda wrote: »

It's always the other passengers I feel sorry for ...

He never cried or interupted anyone elses flight. But amusing an 18 month old for 8 hours in a confined space is a certain type of hell.

Will I Am Not

It’s usually the drunk, loudmouth adults that are the biggest annoyance for me.

rainbow kirby

My 21 month old son was a total brat last week when we flew back to Ireland for Christmas, if your toddler is big and lively flying may not be ideal - him in my lap wriggling into my 33 week bump was a special kind of hell! We went to Normandy in October by car and ferry and it was a much easier experience.

mdwexford

Don't do it, far too young.

They won't remember it and you won't enjoy it.

ncmc

OP, we’ve brought our kids on holidays since my first was 4 months old, we normally go twice a year, once on the ferry, once on a flight. With a little bit of planning and and realistic expectations, you can have a great holiday. We were like you, we used to do long haul trips and move around a lot. Now we stay in Europe and stay in one or maybe two spots. For me, the flight is the most awkward part, so I prefer to fly for no more that 3 hours or so.

Here’s a top tip. If you book your seats in advance, book an aisle and window seat, if the flight isn’t full, there’s a good chance no one will book the middle seat and you’ll have extra space! In fact, a couple of times, we were allowed bring our maxi cosi car seat on the flight and put it in the middle seat. Obviously there’s a better chance of this if you go at an off peak time.

I agree with the previous poster about checking as much luggage as you can. It’s no fun dragging a load of hand luggage around with a small child. You will be allowed bring your buggy right up to the boarding gate.

I like having my own transport so we always rent a car. We like to do day trips rather than hanging around the one spot and it’s nice not having to rely on public transport. It also made grocery shopping easier so we can cook some meals at home.

Definitely recommend getting a one bed apartment at least, it’s nice to have the extra space and be able to have a glass of wine or beer when the baby is asleep.

We always bring a few bits of food from Home, stuff like weetabix and Ella pouches are handy to have if your child is a fussy eater. My daughter never seems to eat when we’re abroad so she tends to live on bread, fruit and Ella’s pouches!

Honestly, I wouldn’t listen to people who say not to go or that the child is too young. Of course the baby won’t remember it, but it’s nice for Mum and Dad to get a holiday somewhere hot! It’s easier to entertain a baby somewhere hot with a pool than in Ireland if you got a wet week.

Lustrum

Have a look at getting an Osprey 40L back pack (can't remember the model), its been one of my best investments - can fit as had luggage but also keeps your hands free to help with the kids.

We both travel a huge amount for work so our kids have flown a lot with us, the 3 year old has taken over 50 flights. As long as you're relaxed, there's no reason why you can't do a long haul flight with them. If they're in a routine, just try stick to it even on board. Aeroplanes are a great source of amusement for toddlers, there's loads of new people on board to play with and investigate.

Bring your own food for the flights so that you can stick to your normal meal times. If they have a favourite teddy don't forget that, and a blanket for naptimes on board aswell. The tip to book a window and aisle seat is a great one!

spuddy01

Took our little lady on Holiday @ 6 moths old & again @ 10 months old both times flew into Alicante so short trips. Stayed in Benidorm 1st time for 5 days just to see how she got on, she loved the atmosphere to see the excitement on her face priceless. The second time we stayed in Marjal costa blanca for the week.Great spot everything in the one place camping resort with fantastic pools. Would definitely go back as only booked 2 days before flights as ryanair cancellations were happening at the time. Rented a car both times which made it easier to get around and air con if it got too hot to have her outside. Now that she is walking looking forward to see how next years holidays will go but again will try a short stay to see how that goes first.

ncmc

Oh one thing I forgot. A sling or carrier is so handy compared to a buggy, especially on the beach etc.

gaillimh

I would say go for it.
We brought our then 8 month old daughter to France in September and it went quite well.
It helped that it was a short enough flight to La Rochelle - she slept the whole way over.
Flight home wasn’t as smooth but still was fine.
I would recommend to rent a car at the airport so you don’t have to be dealing with public transport, taxis etc with baby in tow.
The car seat is checked in for free.
Under no circumstances would I consider renting a hotel room or a studio apartment.
Make sure you book at least a one bed apartment would be my main tip for you.
You can put the child down to sleep in the bedroom and still chill out,watch tv or whatever in the main living space.
It’s also a must as regards having some kitchen facilities to heat and store food etc.
We are aiming to go somewhere in Europe in May next year - Mallorca or Croatia probably.

We stayed on ile de Re - very quiet place but nice.
We found we went to the shop and bought stuff in every day - which we never would have before baby came along.Also got takeaway pizzas etc a couple of nights as baby was asleep by 7:30pm.
I would highly highly recommend the place we stayed.The website does not even do the place justice honestly. It was fabulous.
The lodges have their own private pools on your private deck that you can raise and lower the base of. Perfect for small babies and having them splash about in shallow water.
http://www.mv-lodge.com

The town the lodges are in is very sleepy granted but the island itself is lovely and if you have a car you’re sorted.
Small distances between the towns

appledrop

Go for it. We went to Italy with our 14mth old + it worked out much better than expected. Here are some things I would recommend:

The most important thing is a short flight. Our was 2 hours + worked out better than expected. He slept for half the flight each time so then we just had to entertain him for an hour. Anymore than this is to much when that young.

Check in all luggage. We just had the buggy + baby bag after check in + this made things so much easier. We could take turns looking after him in airport rather than worrying about luggage.

Rent a car+ car seat. Yes I know you can bring your own + cheaper but as first times we just felt it would be to much hassle. One with rental was grand.

You don't have to rent a villa but would definitely go for somewhere with kichnette etc. We actually stayed in apt in hotel grounds which was brilliant as could get room service some evenings if wanted to stay in + had seperate living area. This was vital for making good for baby etc.

Your babies regular routine may change just go with it! Our little guy went back to 2 daytime naps with heat etc but worked in our favour as meant we could go out most evenings for early dinner as he would stay awake a bit longer

Go for it! The night before we went we were wondering were we mad but worked out better than expected. It's never going to be same as before but fun in other ways + so cute when they are enjoying splashing in the pool!

appledrop

P.S If you child eats weetabix bring your own! We didn't thinking sure everywhere has weetabix but they didn't so baba wasn't impressed.

RunRoryRun

We brought our 3yo and 7month old to France in may. Direct flight to Perpignan - not too hot that time of year so not uncomfortable. Got a 2 bed cabin - pools were quiet as kids were still in school, restaurant, shops onsite....was ideal. Packing for babies is a pain - you can bring a buggy for free and if you check it in I'd advise investing in a buggy bag - a big solid one. Airlines are delighted when they see them coming cos it cuts down on damage to buggy's in transit. Added bonus of stuffing the empty space inside it with nappies, formula, toys, books etc..... They never open them. It's class!!!

ShamoBuc

Been on various holidays with our kids at various ages. Camping in France was a good one. Nice pool, close to a beach, covered decking area, bring what you want in your car etc, lots of options. Also I remember the baby sleeping in the buggy on the decking most of the day, the heat knocked it out of him. Long walks in the evening when it was cooler.
Went to lanzarote aswell, longish flight which can be an issue. It all depends on what you want. If your child has any particular food or drink they like, stock up on it as they might not be available. Brining a few spare favourite blankies, toys etc is a must. The last thing you need is to only have 1 and it falls out of the buggy when out walking.
Not sure why some people would tell you not to do it though. Do it and enjoy it.

John_Rambo

mdwexford wrote: »

Don't do it, far too young.

They won't remember it and you won't enjoy it.

Did it (numerous times) 1 year old - not too young.

They may not remember it when they're 38, but they will remember it and love it day to day on the trip. Quality family time is important and it's very doable and very enjoyable.

ncmc

mdwexford wrote: »

Don't do it, far too young.

They won't remember it and you won't enjoy it.

I don’t understand this train of thought, sure kids remember very little until they are 5/6 years old. By that logic, you’d never bother doing anything with them. Why bother bringing them to the park or soft play or the pool, sure they won’t remember it. The thing is, they enjoy it while they are there and parents enjoy seeing their kids enjoy themselves. Same with holidays. Plus it’s nice for parents to get some time in the sun relaxing.

Lia_lia

ncmc wrote: »

I don’t understand this train of thought, sure kids remember very little until they are 5/6 years old. By that logic, you’d never bother doing anything with them. Why bother bringing them to the park or soft play or the pool, sure they won’t remember it. The thing is, they enjoy it while they are there and parents enjoy seeing their kids enjoy themselves. Same with holidays. Plus it’s nice for parents to get some time in the sun relaxing.

My parents brought me on holidays from a very young age. My first holiday was a trip to Ireland (from London) to visit the grandmother when I was a few days old. I went to France, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Belgium and Portugal all before my first birthday.

Can't remember at all of course but it is lovely to look back on the photos. My parents have very fond memories of bringing us abroad when we were kids and my Mother said it was easy. Much easier than taking us on holidays when we were older children.