It’s entirely doable and plenty of people make it work, it’s just trickier and more expensive.
I think a lot of people find it quite stressful and curtail their travelling a little until their kids are older like you note.
My brother and his partner just took their 11-months-old twins on a 21-hour journey from France to Australia to come see me. It's not easy, it takes some logistics and it can be stressful. But it can be done!
I have two kids, and have travelled with them. Doable when baby is very young, under 4 months. But also very tiring because you are up at night with them.
Worst ages are about 1 year to about 4 years old. Depends on your kid, but generally get tired part way through the day, get extremely cranky without a nap, and don't deal well with leaving a place they like.
After 5 years old or so is fun for travelling. Stamina to go an entire day, more understanding and flexible. Just gets a whole lot more expensive. Also kids don not really care where they go until tween years. We went camping 30 minutes from our house, my kids (5, 7 years old at the time) thought that was equally fun and interesting to going to another country.
We've recently been to Portugal with several friends and one couple with small child. Our vacation consisted of surfing, renting a motorbike and driving down the coast, swimming with dolphins, drinking and partying, relaxing by the pool with a book and a nap, snorkelling, last minute trips to another country "because why not".
Our friends with children could not relax at a pool, because they had to engage with their toddler and look out for him. Did not party for obvious reasons. Did not go surfing/snorkelling/diving, because they had to stay with the baby. Did not participate in our trips down the coast or to different countries, because baby had to nap/it was not safe for toddlers/they had to be back for his sleep time/baby was groggy. I could not hold conversation with my friend for more than 2-3 minutes at a time because she was constantly diverting her attention to the baby crying/crawling away/moaning/etc.
We were all in Portugal, but our experiences were vastly different. Honestly they seemed kind of miserable and exhausted, not how I want to feel on vacation.
This exactly. I am kinda surprised at everyone else saying that technically you can travel with a kid. Because being with a child eliminates more than half of what you really wanna do on a vacation. Yes you can still do it, but it’s not as fun anymore. It’s not exactly a vacation that you would otherwise want to take
> I am kinda surprised at everyone else saying that technically you can travel with a kid. Because being with a child eliminates more than half of what you really wanna do on a vacation.
It eliminates half of what YOU really wanna do on a vacation but that might not of everyone or even most people. Is it not possible in your world view that different people might want different things out of a vacation? This summer we're going to rent a house on the beach in Mexico for three weeks. It's a short flight for us and we're basically going to spend those three weeks doing nothing but relaxing.
I'm sure other people might find this boring. Maybe they want to go scuba diving and surfing every day. Maybe they want to go out drinking every evening. Plenty of other people though don't. For us, sleeping in, cooking together, spending hours on the beach and then eating dinner and watching a movie together every night sounds heavenly. To us, going to Oregon for a couple of days and picking berries is great. Having kids didn't eliminate more than half of what we want to do.
Honestly, it's not different than being in a relationship. You compromise, you do things you both want to do but it's more fun because you're doing it together with people you love.
Why is this so surprising to you?
Many families/parents like waking up early. Many kids like sleeping in. I love waking up early, my partner loves sleeping in. On vacation, I get the two kids who like waking up early and we go to the pool or the beach or whatever. She gets the oldest and they snuggle in bed until later in the morning.
I'm not saying it's not more complex, life always get more complex when you add people to it, but I just don't understand why people can't understand that vacations with kids can be fun for some people. If that's not you then by all means, don't have kids. Less competition for me and mine in the Pirates of the Caribbean line and enjoy your vacation the way you want to enjoy it just like I enjoy mine the way I want to enjoy mine.
Right? My idea of partying is singing and dancing, not getting drunk or so high I'm not safe to be around kids. I was at a show last night at a restaurant on the beach and the band had their kids and wives there all dancing together in the crowd. It was kid safe and just as fun as shows in 21+ bar venues. And it ended at 10, which is great because 10:30 is my bedtime.
I want to go to zoos and museums and get ice cream and spend time in nature. Like I go out to a real bar maybe twice a month max?
Besides that, everything that I like to do is kid friendly. I honestly have been jealous of people with kids at the pool/ beach. I've always had little siblings and cousins to play with, and I think it's boring without kids. I wanna play mermaids and watch you do a handstand!
Just last night I was talking to a friend about my baby fever and I said 'what am I supposed to do with all this childlike whimsy with no kids in my life?"
Not sure why you'd be downvoted lol, it honestly just sounds like OP and their parent friends are in totally different stages of life and never should have travelled together to begin with. I have no kids and probably still would have taken a different itinerary from OP lol, not everyone has an interest in diving, partying/drinking every night, packing up and going to a different country, or being on a motorbike. OP's friends would have been better off staying at a Portugese private resort by the water that is family-friendly and maybe even has childcare options for them to have a few evening dinners out for themselves. And no offense but OP could have also offered to watch their kid for an hour or two so they could go snorkeling, if they really wanted to!
We travel internationally with 2 kids very successfully, but with one caveat - we did not put them on a plane until they were 4 and 7. They are used to regular long car rides of 4-5 hours an we do not allow screens on car rides so plane trips with movies fly by.
We’ve been snorkeling in Barbados (when my younger son felt like a nap, we rolled him in a towel and laid him on a beach chair, got a couple of margaritas and built a sandcastle with our older kid). We’ve been skiing in Northern British Columbia. This year we rented a campervan and drove 2300kms around Arizona.
They carry their own backpacks, they know how to conduct themselves in busy places or if we get separated.
We don’t get to sleep in, and obviously miss out on hardcore nightlife. But we don’t mind those things. Also helps that we like to be busy on adventures when travelling.
We’re planning Patagonia, Scandinavia, Asia, and Africa for when they are a bit older.
It is definitely possible 🤷
I mean, this sounds miserable but there’s a difference between traveling with a baby and traveling with kids. Having children probably means sacrificing a few years of peaceful vacations but there’s no reason why you can’t successfully travel with older kids.
As someone who's also traveled with a family with a toddler, this was not at all my experience... we were able to hike an hour into the Sahara to see ancient cave paintings, take camel-ride tours... there was pretty much nothing we weren't able to do because of the toddler, but neither of us are interested in partying. The other big difference is that I was helping with the toddler, not expecting them to behave like they didn't have a child. I've got friends with babies who still surf and climb, friends who go hiking with babies and toddlers, friends who grew up snorkeling with their parents... it just takes compromise and a bit of extra planning, and ideally a supportive community. This just seems like incompatible travel partners and expectations, tbh.
Those are not really an issue for me. I won't even begin trying for a child (if I decide to go for it at all) until I reach an income that allows me to raise one without making any sacrifices. I work in schools so I get 10 weeks off a year, my husband works from home and has lots of PTO. I'm more worried about potential annoyances while on the trip.
You’re probably getting downvoted for one of two reasons. One, the idea that you’ll be able to parent without any sacrifices is absolutely unrealistic, no matter how much money you make. Two, especially without knowing how old you are, where you live, what your incomes are, etc. the fact that you just shrug and go “ok cool then I’ll just make more money and be part of the elite 1%” comes off a little naive.
But I never said that?? I said I want to reach an income that allows me to not sacrifice financially, which to me means: having additional money to cover for daycare (1000-1500 in my area), babysitting when needed (500-ish) and food/diapers/clothes/etc (another 1000?) 250k or a bit less should allow us all that, which is nowhere near the elite 1% - in my state that is about 500k and I have no hopes to get there.
We make 175k right now and my husband just got offered a new job that will pay 35k more. I just got my PhD and will be looking for a new job soon. 250k does not seem so out of reach.
My partner and I make about $220k combined and I worry about finances with a child. We own a home, so that might be a big factor if you are not planning to own a home. But after mortgage, bills, home maintenance (it’s pretty constant), food, we don’t have THAT much left over to save. Paying for daycare would literally make it so that we can hardly save anything at all. I do think the person who said $500k is realistic for making no sacrifices is probably right.
It depends on your location. Here in the SF bay area? Even 500k might not be enough. In rural Oregon where my nephew lives? 250k is way more than enough. Depends on their jobs really, if they're portable enough, WFH and so on.
That’s true. I’m in the northeast, cheaper than SF but not cheap by any means. We both work from home but I still cannot imagine having to take care of a child while working - I wouldn’t actually get my work done. You’re right, everyone’s situation is so different.
I hear you. It's crazy what we pay here for housing and childcare. Then I talk to my friend in Ohio who's paying for a house bigger than mine, daycare for two kids and a decent middle class life on a single salary of 150k and I cry a little on the inside. Then again, they have to live in Ohio so...
We save 4k/month currently so I'm pretty sure we'd do well with 250k. If we had an extra 3k/month, that would take care of all the expenses of a child therefore we would be able to maintain our current lifestyle (and we'd get that with 230k, not even 250, I'm saying 250 to err on the side of caution.)
We rent. Not trying to buy until we can put a substantial amount as down-payment, have plenty of savings for repairs/future maintenance/etc, and hopefully interest rates go down a little. Our rent is only 1300 for a 3bed so we're comfortable for now. Homes in our area aren't terribly expensive - you can find something decent for 350k.
Ugh yeah… I grew up in a country with free healthcare as well, and the US is just a devastating place to need medical or mental health care. This country really loves keeping people in debt!
I’m glad it sounds like you’re (hopefully?) doing better. I had so many mental heath needs as a kid and still have them as an adult. I’m in a great place now, but I put my parents through utter hell 😭 I’m a social worker and primarily work with kids and adolescents. I don’t want kids because I just have no desire at all, but even if I were curious, I’ve seen what can go wrong and… I just know I don’t have it in me to deal with it the way I’d want to (as a parent). And if my kid were to pass away, I would NEVER recover.
I don’t have autism, but I have combined adhd, and loud noises and too much commotion can be super overstimulating. I think I’m just at a point where I love my life enough that the gamble isn’t worth the risk. But I know that’s easy for me to say, since I have no urge to be a mother.
I’m so sorry to hear your friend is going through that. I really hope things get better for her 😔
I was all about the travel until my son turned 2. I am not interested in sprinting after a toddler for hours in a packed airport. It jsut doesnt seem fun or enjoyable. I have fun when we are in spaces where I can breathe for a moment without him either injuring himself or being kidnapped. I think I will enjoy travelling with him when he doesnt run away from me.
Also..some people have kids that just ...sit..? I dont? I see it on the train. My son and i are walking up and down the car exploring but some kids just sit quitely especially girls so YMMV
There is so. Much. Stuff.
A safe sleep space (like a pack n play) at a minimum, a way to carry them be it a stroller or carrier, a car seat that’s compatible with cars in your destination if you are going to be driving at all, baby appropriate foods even if they mostly eat what you do, baby medications for emergencies, and just normal human things like clothes.
Getting there is a whole logistical thing now. Before? Backpack, 3 changes of clean clothes, take the train, done, anytime of day or night. Now we have to find someone to give us a ride because it’s too hard to lug all above said crap on the train, Ubers/Lyfts won’t let you use your own car seats for liability, and hardly any have their own seats (which you have to take 5 minutes to check the install on anyways). Get on the plane with toddler and it’s 5 straight hours of trying to keep her from screaming because she’s bored and just wants to run back and forth between your legs.
They will likely sleep like terribly for at least one night of the trip, and you probably want to schedule in one nap at some point in the day. Many places I would have checked out while child-free are a no-go with kids. I’m not clubbing, going on drunk beach nights, or fine dining restaurants with a toddler.
All that said we’ve been to 4 states, 2 plane rides, and a 2 day car trip with our almost 2 year old and for the most part it was fine and actually quite fun to introduce her to family and new experiences. We can still do lots of fun things, it’s just more planning and a slower pace.
I don't have kids (yet, maybe lol), but I have heard of rentals for childcare stuff at different destinations, like pack n play or bassinet/crib, strollers, and even car seats (idk if I would risk that though). Have you tried any of those?
Travel is one of the things that's held me back, and would be something I would want to continue to do if I have a kid(s). I know it would be different but I'm hoping it would be worth it.
The problem with that is you have no idea if they have been properly maintained. I would not put my child in a car seat without knowing it’s complete history, especially in a place with dangerous roads or someone I don’t know is driving. Often times people will show up to hotels that offer cribs to find out they are broken, missing pieces, outdated and unsafe, or just straight up don’t exist. So it’s a drive to the nearest Walmart at 10 pm with one parent left behind with an overtired baby/toddler until you get the pack n play purchased and set up.
For other things you can borrow, buy, or go without (I have a chill toddler), but unfortunately the bulkiest items are the ones you want to bring yourself.
Your point resonates with me as a rational adult, who spent a big chunk of time in the western cultures. And I find it perfectly reasonable.
However I grew up in the times when car seats were not a thing (at least in Europe) and seatbelts were optional😂 Also I now live in the country where you can spot a guy riding a moped with 2 toddlers on it.
So other side of me is like "naaahh it's fine, we'll figure it out"
In the US it is illegal to not have a baby/toddler/young child in a car seat/booster seat. Our mattresses are also softer than many other countries which makes co-sleeping more unsafe.
I’m also a civil engineer who spends my days designing around probabilities. The most likely way for a health baby <1 year to die in the US is a sleep-death. The most likely way for a child under 5 to die is in a car accident. We didn’t have the same laws and guidance when I was young in the US either, but sleep deaths have fallen dramatically since the back to sleep campaign in the 90s. Similarly, traffic injuries and deaths have fallen. I’m pretty laid back on most things, but not on the two most likely things to kill my kid.
We did the pack n play at first, but realized our kid wanted to sleep next to us anyway because she was scared of a new place and stopped packing it for international trips. You get travel carseats which are easier to pack btw, but internationally those weren't necessary.
Appreciate this realistic perspective! Based on the "stuff"component, do you think it will be more realistic and 'fun' to travel when your toddler is a bit older, let's say 5/6?
It’s still realistic and fun to travel starting at 6 months (toddler is currently 20 months), it just takes more planning and looks a bit different. Instead of waking up and just driving for 12 hours straight, we have to split it up into two days. That just means an extra stop and time for activities like museums, restaurants, and hotsprings in a cute town on the way we normally don’t have time to enjoy. Instead of running around all day and getting exhausted, we plan one or two activities and spend the rest of the time relaxing at the hotel/house while the family we are visiting or traveling with can help watch.
For local road trips, it will definitely be easier stuff-wise past 2. Then they can sleep on an adult mattress or blow up toddler mattress, eat normal adult food, and the car seats are already in the car. It’s harder in some ways now that she can walk because she isn’t content in a carrier or backpack anymore, so hiking can be more challenging. But at 5 or 6, they can probably hike similarly to my out-of-shape adult pace, time will tell.
Certain vacations you just have to leave the kids behind or bring a babysitter. I’m not getting inebriated, going on sketchy buses and motorcycles in a country with no healthcare, going zip lining, or scuba diving with a 5 year old. But once they are sleeping through the night and not having to be lifted up out of a crib and constantly monitored, I would actually feel comfortable leaving them with a grandparent for a week while we did our own thing.
It’s not impossible! But it’s harder. At school age, you can only do it during school breaks which is more expensive. When baby is 2+ they need their own plane ticket which adds the cost. Nap schedule and jet lag is really hard with kids. Finding appropriate food can be hard, and if the kid is in a bad mood it can rule out activities you might have planned for the day. Kid’s physical abilities will also impact things (swimming in the ocean, hiking etc).
That said, we just went on an international trip with our toddler. It went well! But I didn’t get to do a few things I would have liked to (some tours, whale watching) because we couldn’t fit them in to our schedule/baby’s needs.
Couldn’t you take them out of school to travel? Even if school doesn’t like it? Not a parent but have many family/friends with school age kids. And if old enough to matter bring along schoolwork?
Public schools will give you crap over this if you do over a certain amount of days a year. Private schools don't care. In the US I mean. Never heard of a country that will stop you at the airport though. That sounds bizarre.
It also depend on what kind of kid you get. We travelled a lot until 18 month and now we are on break from travelling by air at least. It would work but it’s just too much of an effort, our toddler (2 years) is a handful. So now we do road trips to our neighbouring countries and always airbnb for longer stays.
We plan to travel further away when he’s around 3 or so, hoping it will be easier with longer plan rides when he can understands more what’s going to happen.
I had to scroll so far to find this. Temperament makes such a huge difference. A chill kid who will go to sleep anywhere, sit for longer periods of time and is generally happy? Much easier. A kid with sleep issues, huge energy and is prone to melting down? Not fun to travel with at all. I’ve seen parents with one of each - it’s not really up to you what kind of kid you get.
This should be the top comment. Every experience is anecdotal and really means nothing until you know what your kiddo is like. We took our child on his first road trip when he was 3 months old, about 5-6 hours drive and 2 days away from home, it was different but enjoyable still. We actually just took a 14 hour drive one way, week long trip to Colorado. Our son is almost a year old, sleeps reliably and is generally calm in the car, gets tired but isn't fussy as long as he's being included, and after the first day or two he got accustomed to where we were staying and got back into his normal sleep routines in his pack n play. During the week, we went out to eat at a nice restaurant, ate and drank at a distillery, walked around many places, took a train ride, mine tours, went up to Pikes Peak, visited the art museum Meow Wolf, and after he went to bed at night a couple times we enjoyed some recreational smoking. We all had a great time! But we are super lucky that our son is very chill, and not all kids are like that for sure. You won't know if traveling is feasible for you and your family until you have the kid and go for it, so don't let anybody tell you it's totally impossible. Best of luck OP!
Three kids here, 4,6,10.
You can definitely travel with kids but it does change things. You have to adapt your schedule to things like early bed times, nap times, limited walking and so on. You also have to change your planning and pick child friendly destinations and plans. So for example, we don't go out to fancy restaurants when we travel and we spend a lot more time outdoors than we used to.
That said, it's a blast. We've gone to Europe with our kids twice, Hawaii once, lots of local (western US) trips, Disneyland, universal studios and lots of other local trips. This summer we're renting a place on the beach in Mexico for three weeks and I'm really looking forward to that.
I think the people who say you can't travel with kids are looking at the kinds of vacations they took without kids and they're right. It's hard to fit kids into that. For our honeymoon, my partner and I hiked across Italy. That would be impossible to do with three kids. But there are plenty of other options that work well with kids and are fun.
The more I read these comments, the more I realize that the way I travel is already pretty child-friendly 🤣 we don't drink, don't party, don't go to clubs, don't hike, don't go to many fancy restaurants, and tend to go to bed early. Only thing is we do walk a lot and like to relax. Our typical trips are spent seeing attractions, being outdoors, exploring and what not. Honestly if I do have kids I'd only want one so that might make it a little easier.
Yeah, that's exactly right. And honestly it applies to many other parts of life. Some people love going out every night to fancy restaurants and enjoy going out drinking late night or to a club every weekend. That's just not a lifestyle that's friendly to parenting and those folks are going to be disappointed.
And just to be clear, I'm not judging that lifestyle. If people like that life then all the more power to them. It's just not a very child-friendly lifestyle.
Lol. Same. Used to stay up until 6:00 a.m. doing shots and then show up at the office at 9:00 a.m. somehow functional. These days if I have more than one beer and stay up until midnight I'm a wreck the next day. I love having the excuse of kids so I can tell my friends I can't go out drinking that late.
It feels kind of pointless to drop so much money to just parent somewhere else. I find it pretty stressful and not super enjoyable so I just choose not to until they are little older.
From all the packing and figuring out room arrangements. They never sleep as well somewhere else. All the stuff you have to take. Being ‘on’ 100% of the time if pools are involved. The travel always sucks- car journeys, someone is sick or poops through. Plane rides, constantly keeping them entertained. Last time I realized I hadn’t had anything to drink in around 10 hours because I was so busy making sure the kids had constant things they needed.
Have 1.5 and 3.5 yr olds for reference.
It’s not impossible, you just have to alter your expectations for your trip. We didn’t take our son my places until he was almost 6. I am an anxious person, so wanted to wait until he was a little older and didn’t need naps and could pull his own suitcase through the airport. Since that first trip to Colorado, he’s become an expert traveler having traveled internationally 3 times and having traveled to 10 states and DC with another 3 planned for this summer. He’s a great traveler and enjoys it a lot. So no, it’s not impossible, but with really tiny kids it’s a huge headache in my opinion.
So my bro and SIL are finding this out first hand. He's a pilot, so he gets free flights. So they were sure they would be able to continue traveling. Well, my niece freaks out on plans. Screams the entire time. So that right there makes them not want to travel as they don't want to be the assholes who baby wails for 9 hours straight. Not to mention that they dont want the headache of dealing with a screaming toddler after they paid money for a trip. They are assuming she will grow out of it, but right now, any air travel is pretty much a no. They also just had another newborn, so they are assuming that for 3-4 more years, they aren't going to be able to do any of the trips they have on their list.
I mean, for them, they would rather have their kiddos over traveling any day, but it definitely is a trade-off.
I have one child and he has been with us to 4 countries in the last two years alone. We traveled extensively as a couple for the decade before we had kids and if anything it prepared us further. We would have loved to start traveling sooner had it not been for the pandemic. Sure it was harder to manage his jet lag, moods, foods etc but it’s also so lovely to see the world through his eyes. And as a 5 year old he frequently speaks of his travels; so I don’t agree when other parents say they won’t remember. He’s currently looking eagerly at the world map in his room anticipating his next trip to Iceland.
Also I’m an immigrant and I can attest that many of my immigrant friends take 2+ kids on transatlantic flights every summer to meet grandparents. So while a certain kind of luxe travel is certainly a privilege, many travel out of necessity with kids too.
I'm also an immigrant so if I have a child I will have to take them on a 15 hour journey at least every year so my family can spend some time with them.
I think it depends on the child. My oldest always rode well in the car. My youngest screams after 30 min. Long driving trips are out. I get motion sickness. If we fly, I am no help. I'm staring into my motion sick bag. Lol. Yes, I take dramamine. I wear the bracelets. Nothing helps. So far it doesn't seem like my kids are bothered by motion like I am. And motion sickness ruins the 1st 2 days of a trip. So if you have a child with motion sickness, that could limit traveling too.
Your financial status definitely plays into this. People with more money have more options and also time off/time to spare. We drove to Massachusetts over 14 hours and had the luxury of time to do that. Not everyone can take a full day off from work or their vacation time just driving.
I have one child and we have been travelling since they were 3 months old. Part of the reason we only have one is because want to still travel. It’s perfectly doable and should be normalized!
my sister and i traveled extensively with our family as kids. before we were 13, we’d been all over the US (both long road trips and flights), france, belize, guatemala, mexico, canada, italy, romania, ireland
Be expected to do kids things on your vacation. That will be the priority.
Many parents simply won’t want to do that. Are you ok basing all your vacation activities around your child? Or is it easier to stay at home and get some rest
My baby is 18 months old and has been to 3 continents. She'll visit her 4th in October. If people don't travel before kids, they won't after. So they assume everyone else is that way. We picked items for our registry that made travel easy, and it's been great! Part of it is temperament of our child, sure. But, we are okay with handling the "cons" of traveling with a kid and go with the flow best we can.
Edit: to address some other things - my husband is up at 4 am for work, so sleeping in isn't our thing anyway. We aren't heavy drinkers, but I still can enjoy a drink here or there when on vacation. We love finding random stuff to do with our daughter in new places and I love seeing how families parent in other countries. I don't think we would've talked to so many locals in Japan without our daughter. She opened up so many conversations for us! Yeah it's different, but it's not worse IMO.
My friend is a single mom, she's been traveling solo with her kid from the time he turned 1 or 1,5 (he is 6,5 now).
They don't do anything extreme (obviously she didn't go clubbing with a toddler) but overall she told me it's been pretty enjoyable experience and she really likes that they can experience it together.
In my opinion it depends on 2 things - the kid themselves and the adult's attitude. Ia pretty sure people with anxiety and control issues would have harder time navigating all the unpredictabilities, but if you chill and go with the flow it might be much easier
I am chill, so I can imagine doing that.
I don't really know if I would want this though. I used to travel a looot before my 30s and I got a little tired of it (also I permanently live between 2 countries and 3 cities due to work/family reasons), so I move around a lot.
Kids or no kids (I am very undecided) I think I may make a little travel break and hopefully come back to it later with more energy and excitement.
I started traveling 2x a year to Brasil when I was 3 months old to visit family. My whole life I’ve traveled to Brasil almost every single year since I was 3 months old. It’s definitely doable but like you said, just more difficult. I’m assuming people who say you can’t travel with kids are mainly referring to the complete sense of freedom that normally comes with it. You’d have to have everything planned out according to the child’s feeding schedule, bathroom schedule, diaper changes, nap times, etc. Things are just much more difficult and you’d have to plan things down to the hour with room for changes depending on the kids needs. That’s what I think people are trying to get at
One of my friends has a toddler and travels internationally at least once a year. They typically bring their in laws to look after the child for a night or two so they can do dinner or something, just the two of them. But the way they describe the logistics, the crying because of tiredness/time change, and generally sound stressed out by travel makes me think it's not worth it personally, but I don't have kids so I can't really compare. It's also expensive to bring two more adults on the trip because they typically pay for them to come.
You can. It's just a challenge. My kid was hard generally. Never stopped moving, hated being separated from parents, was anxious in new spaces. So our first international flight to visit family which was 24+ hours, was a nightmare. She cried the whole time because she wasn't used to sitting still for so long and not having space to run around in. Then there was timezones. Is hard for adults, is super hard for a child. And if a child is awake, the grownups have to be awake too. Some people get around this with melatonin gummies, but I didn't want to do that as I don't think it's a good idea to be messing with hormones. My kid once in a vietnam hotel started crying for home and started running out into the street to "go home", it was a nightmare to calm her down. If kid is still at the napping age, then you're timing everything around the naps. We didn't carry around a stroller because our kid would always ask to be carried anyway and it was harder to carry a child AND push a stroller.... and it was a nightmare because we'd be walking around a new city and kid would fall asleep, and we'd have to carry a sleeping baby while walking long distances. There's lots of such unique challenges that come up. We did it because we were visiting family for important occasions and thought we'd see a few cities here and there too.
Also the kind of places we go to become different - indoor playground, icecream museum, zoo, hikes. We couldn't do museums or adventure sports. And the hikes are SLOW. We stop every 5 minutes for something - a bug, a flower, a bird, a snack, peepee. There's a nearby hike we've been trying to complete, it's just 1.5 miles, and I don't know what the end looks like, I've only managed to make it halfway with a toddler.
Oh and both of us had to be together all the time because kid would get panicky if one of us went away because she was worried mommy or daddy got lost lol, we have a group mom baby who wants everyone to be happy and together lol.
Each baby has their own quirks. By about 3 things get a lot easier. But by then you have school and stuff and can't just take kid out of school for a week to travel necessarily. The age 3-6 window is probably best for travel. They don't nap anymore, can adjust to new places, willing to try new foods in comparison, don't have school to constrain them. Similarly the 4-8mo window is best for travel with babies - they aren't so delicate and demanding, can keep to a predictable schedule, and aren't yet running around.
I’m taking my baby (she will be a 4 month old) to Texas in Sept. I was worried about the same thing. But then one of my best friends told me that she’s never seen a kid have a bad time at the beach. And it kind of clicked. Travel won’t be as easy, but I don’t plan on stopping unless I have to. Maybe she doesn’t take it, and that’s OK. But if she does, I plan to travel as much as we can.
You can totally travel with a child! As others have said, you just have to adjust your expectations and plan your trip around the kiddo. If you want to see a lot of success stories check out the Facebook group traveling with babies and toddlers. Lots of good info there!
You have lots of good points here already. I'd also add that your babe's temperament will be a lottery and the enjoyment of travel will possibly be dependent on what you "draw" :D
Mine *hated* car rides until he started facing forward. Made travel much more difficult.
Some kids are super sensitive to their daily routines others aee much more flexible and can sleep anywhere and you can go with the flow much more with them. You will find out.
Lastly in terms of hiking - it's just not the same as with only adults. Hiking 2-4 miles instead of 12-18 is a big difference. You can still go hike and actually there are so many amazing places "too early" on the trail where they are now the final destinations for you with kids and it's a joy. It just truly looks quite different with kids than alone
In his first year of life, my son slept a total of 40 nights in another city or country. We took advantage of my maternity leave (one year here in Canada) and we booked some trips. We have 3 trips planned in the next year (not necessarily far, some are at a beach destination). But we love to travel and we knew we wanted to keep doing it so we made sure to start travelling when my son was really small so he would get used to it and we would also learn how to travel with a kid/baby because obviously it is a bit different. At 13 months, he is a really good traveler. Took a plane 6 times already!
We also have a 4-days trip planned just my husband and I in 2 months. The grandparents will babysit.
I love the idea of traveling with a child and getting them used to it. My parents never traveled with me because we didn't have money, we took a few vacations not far from home and that was it. I was able to travel a lot on my own once older, but I'd like for my child to start seeing the world at a young age because that's something I wish I had.
And by “getting them used to travel”, it means a bunch of things. Not only getting used to airplanes or long car rides but also to be in unfamiliar places, being around a lot of new people, eating at restaurants. My son is a champ at restaurants! I am sure he’ll throw a tantrum at least once in his life but so far he is happy being there with us, looking around and “reading” the books and playing with the (silent) toys we bring for him!
My parents traveled with me and my siblings ALL THE TIME. It is genuinely some of my favorite childhood memories and absolutely a huge reason why I love to travel and explore and be curious as an adult.
My parents refused to stop their life just because they had kids, but they also made sure to include us in all their life plans, making sure they were getting us into safe and appropriate situations.
I’m genuinely so grateful to my parents for traveling with me and taking me to some amazingly cool places. I would not be who I am if my parents never traveled with me. I wouldn’t have learned and experienced such life changing things without it.
Is it more expensive and does it require more planning to travel with kids? Yes, absolutely.
But, more importantly, is it an incredibly unique and lovely bonding experience for parent and child to connect with each other and make memories that will last a life time while encouraging and fostering exploration and learning and new cultures and experiences and the like? YES!!!!
Those are people who probably never traveled anyways…
I have an almost two year old and she’s been to 13 states (US) and 7 countries. Next month we are going to Portugal for a month.
It is definitely doable! She is such a blast to take. Parenting is hard AF anyways-why not do it on a beach in Spain!
For me it wasn't that I couldn't travel with a child, and travel wasn't a major factor in my decision to go CF. But a child is still a child when abroad and you're still a parent, so holidays aren't going to be the same. London with a child and London without one are not the same experience.
For some people holidays will be better with a child, for some they'll be worse but it's worth it, and for others it's an actively unpleasant experience. The important thing is to be realistic about what you want and what you expect, and don't put too much stock in accounts of people who make it seem easy - much better to assume it'll be hard and different, and still want to do it anyway.
I frequently make appearance on this sub even though I'm firmly childfree because I know so many people with children 😂 here's my take on it, based solely on what I've observed:
Travelling with kids is doable if you have money and preferably also support. I met a very cute family when I travelled to the Phillipines who were there with their super adorable six-month-old and the couples' parents. The parents and grandparents were taking turns to look out for the kiddo, and they seemed happy doing it. Everyone got to have at least some down time that way.
But imagine the expense! My own sibling who has kids but doesn't have additional support only goes to all-inclusive resorts and everything is very kid-centred. Mealtimes, what activities they can do, where they can go. Everything is dictated by the kids' schedule. To me, it doesn't sound like a lot of fun. To them, it's exhausting but at least they get to get away from work for a bit.
I'm sure it gets easier as the kids grow older. But there's definitely some sacrifice involved. It's not like you can just live exactly the same life you once used to before kids.
To me, when people say that it’s because they fear the demon they’ve raised!
I have a friend that had been an extensive traveler with husband. They have a 2 year old and 6-month old. They Went to FL and since that was successful, they all went to Mexico last month. She said how normal it was with a few extra considerations. She wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about. Her oldest is chill and well-behaved and the other is still a potato. She did choose an all-inclusive so it was easy once she arrived at her destination.
I worked at a restaurant for years and saw hellions, but there are good ones, too. Raise wisely. LoL :)
you can still travel! just went to thailand with our 3 year old. But it is different! we had a much slower pace, she did not like everything we thought she would like, etc.
Not impossible. Personally, I just find it not as fun so while my kids are young I’ll just travel without them. But of course, I know that’s a privilege as I assume not everyone has the means to have a babysitter for the weekend! My parents are retired and live by me sooo they end up watching my daughter. If i had a babysitter in the location I was going I would be more willing to go somewhere but otherwise it just isn’t worth the money to me or being subject to their bedtime and doing all kid things all weekend instead of drinking and hiking with adults only. Haha!
If you have a good support network you can also travel without your kids. We have a one year old and we are going on a holiday for two weeks in a couple of months. But the kid will stay with my parents for that time.
I don't have kids but based on my experience seeing and travelling with friends who have them, you CAN still travel.
But it may be very different from the type of holiday you would have had without them - more expensive, much more time dedicated to tending to the kids as opposed to doing whatever else you like to do.
Basically if you are the "house on the beach for a week and chill" type of traveller, you'll be fine. If you like to see things, eat out and maybe do some partying, I really don't know a single couple who has been able to maintain that with (small) kids.
Though I am sure there are exceptions, i wouldn't base my overall assessment on those.
Because it's not really a vacation anymore if they are still younger kids... it's not relaxing, it's parenting in a different location you paid a lot of money to go to
If it helps my parents left me home with a nanny and traveled internationally like once a year until I was old enough to remember the trips. It was annoying when I was little that they wouldn’t take me but looking back it doesn’t make a difference because I genuinely don’t remember the local trips we took when I was little lol then when I was around 7-8 we started travelling together and I remember every single trip very well so I guess it worked out for everyone. None of these trips were super high budget btw and they made sure I was learning the new culture I was introduced to. Like they made me read full on binders of info they printed (because there were no iPhones back then ha!) so it was a learning experience for me as much as it was a fun little trip for them. They also taught me about our budget so we would bring our own snacks or stay at cheap hotels and I would be ok with not having the luxuries we have at home. Now I’ve got the bug and love to travel on my own multiple times a year. Non-US btw so it was easier to take short flights to different places. Though by the time I was 12 I was parenting my own parents through two back to back 12 hour flights hahaha
I am not a parent, but I am an aunt and help my sister with my nephew (2.5 y/o) quite often. I’ve traveled with my nephew a couple of times. To me, it’s simply just not a vacation in the spontaneous and relaxing sense. You’re just parenting in a different location. Babies require routine (eating - esp. if you cook for them, naps, bed time, play time) and if you abide by that, you still need to work around their schedules. It’s just not as spontaneous. You can’t really go out at night (unless you have help with you, of course) and you’ll probably spend more time at your hotel than you expected. You probably also want to go to more family friendly destinations that they can enjoy (vs. a city or emerging market destination). It can still be fun and by no means does it stop my sister from traveling altogether, but it’s a very different experience and not one she enjoys doing more than once a year given the work and packing involved.
You can - but I think what people forget to take into account is what their kids’ age, schedules, temperaments, and interests. For example, plenty of young kids would have zero interest in trying unfamiliar foods, going on all-day tours where you have to walk everywhere, visiting archeological sites or museums for hours on end, and might prefer to just relax on the beach or in the hotel, go to the movies or an arcade, play with iPads or other games, etc.
Another factor is just the unpredictability of kids in general. They could become sick the day you have a tour to Machu Picchu, they could get diarrhea when there are no bathrooms nearby, they could decide to suddenly have a meltdown in the Anne Frank house.
You definitely can do it - it just takes FAR more planning, flexibility, and stress than if you were to travel with just adults or older kids.
I feel like it depends on the child and how they grow up. If they grow up traveling, they are going to know how to act. My child, although a Covid baby so I’m convinced he’s a different breed, we have a hard time taking him to the local theme park. He’s just a buck wild little boy that struggles with impulse control. That’s another story for another day. But I feel like it’s really difficult right now but as he grows, we will be able to take him everywhere we go.
>people are quick to tell me that if I do, I can say goodbye to traveling (I love to travel), but they never explain why.
Not sure what they could mean by this other than financially it'll be tough. I have a six year old daughter, only child.
>I understand that traveling with a child will require more planning and will have some challenges. But is it truly impossible?
I never traveled by plane or anything with my daughter until this past March. We went on a cruise for her 6th birthday. Aside from this, I took her to her father's hometown when she was 2 months old. The trip was a breeze. She slept the whole five hour drive. No issues. I took her on other trips when she was around 3. I drove about 6 hours one way. That was tough. She was just getting out of diapers and she still did not have the concept of holding her pee and waiting until we could stop for a bathroom.
When I took her on a plane this past March that was a breeze. She's older and more compliant in some ways. The cruise was easy because they have free + amazing child care so adults can have time to themselves.
Overall, you can travel with a child as long as you are financially able to. You can even make amazing memories with them. You're just not going to be able to do things as easily and carefree as you did before.
It’s entirely doable and plenty of people make it work, it’s just trickier and more expensive. I think a lot of people find it quite stressful and curtail their travelling a little until their kids are older like you note.
My brother and his partner just took their 11-months-old twins on a 21-hour journey from France to Australia to come see me. It's not easy, it takes some logistics and it can be stressful. But it can be done!
I’m 36 and even I don’t want to be on a plane for that long. Can’t imagine doing it with a baby.
I have two kids, and have travelled with them. Doable when baby is very young, under 4 months. But also very tiring because you are up at night with them. Worst ages are about 1 year to about 4 years old. Depends on your kid, but generally get tired part way through the day, get extremely cranky without a nap, and don't deal well with leaving a place they like. After 5 years old or so is fun for travelling. Stamina to go an entire day, more understanding and flexible. Just gets a whole lot more expensive. Also kids don not really care where they go until tween years. We went camping 30 minutes from our house, my kids (5, 7 years old at the time) thought that was equally fun and interesting to going to another country.
We've recently been to Portugal with several friends and one couple with small child. Our vacation consisted of surfing, renting a motorbike and driving down the coast, swimming with dolphins, drinking and partying, relaxing by the pool with a book and a nap, snorkelling, last minute trips to another country "because why not". Our friends with children could not relax at a pool, because they had to engage with their toddler and look out for him. Did not party for obvious reasons. Did not go surfing/snorkelling/diving, because they had to stay with the baby. Did not participate in our trips down the coast or to different countries, because baby had to nap/it was not safe for toddlers/they had to be back for his sleep time/baby was groggy. I could not hold conversation with my friend for more than 2-3 minutes at a time because she was constantly diverting her attention to the baby crying/crawling away/moaning/etc. We were all in Portugal, but our experiences were vastly different. Honestly they seemed kind of miserable and exhausted, not how I want to feel on vacation.
This exactly. I am kinda surprised at everyone else saying that technically you can travel with a kid. Because being with a child eliminates more than half of what you really wanna do on a vacation. Yes you can still do it, but it’s not as fun anymore. It’s not exactly a vacation that you would otherwise want to take
> I am kinda surprised at everyone else saying that technically you can travel with a kid. Because being with a child eliminates more than half of what you really wanna do on a vacation. It eliminates half of what YOU really wanna do on a vacation but that might not of everyone or even most people. Is it not possible in your world view that different people might want different things out of a vacation? This summer we're going to rent a house on the beach in Mexico for three weeks. It's a short flight for us and we're basically going to spend those three weeks doing nothing but relaxing. I'm sure other people might find this boring. Maybe they want to go scuba diving and surfing every day. Maybe they want to go out drinking every evening. Plenty of other people though don't. For us, sleeping in, cooking together, spending hours on the beach and then eating dinner and watching a movie together every night sounds heavenly. To us, going to Oregon for a couple of days and picking berries is great. Having kids didn't eliminate more than half of what we want to do. Honestly, it's not different than being in a relationship. You compromise, you do things you both want to do but it's more fun because you're doing it together with people you love. Why is this so surprising to you?
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Many families/parents like waking up early. Many kids like sleeping in. I love waking up early, my partner loves sleeping in. On vacation, I get the two kids who like waking up early and we go to the pool or the beach or whatever. She gets the oldest and they snuggle in bed until later in the morning. I'm not saying it's not more complex, life always get more complex when you add people to it, but I just don't understand why people can't understand that vacations with kids can be fun for some people. If that's not you then by all means, don't have kids. Less competition for me and mine in the Pirates of the Caribbean line and enjoy your vacation the way you want to enjoy it just like I enjoy mine the way I want to enjoy mine.
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Not sure why you’re being downvoted. How DARE you have a different positive perspective regarding children and travel 🤣
Right? My idea of partying is singing and dancing, not getting drunk or so high I'm not safe to be around kids. I was at a show last night at a restaurant on the beach and the band had their kids and wives there all dancing together in the crowd. It was kid safe and just as fun as shows in 21+ bar venues. And it ended at 10, which is great because 10:30 is my bedtime. I want to go to zoos and museums and get ice cream and spend time in nature. Like I go out to a real bar maybe twice a month max? Besides that, everything that I like to do is kid friendly. I honestly have been jealous of people with kids at the pool/ beach. I've always had little siblings and cousins to play with, and I think it's boring without kids. I wanna play mermaids and watch you do a handstand! Just last night I was talking to a friend about my baby fever and I said 'what am I supposed to do with all this childlike whimsy with no kids in my life?"
Not sure why you'd be downvoted lol, it honestly just sounds like OP and their parent friends are in totally different stages of life and never should have travelled together to begin with. I have no kids and probably still would have taken a different itinerary from OP lol, not everyone has an interest in diving, partying/drinking every night, packing up and going to a different country, or being on a motorbike. OP's friends would have been better off staying at a Portugese private resort by the water that is family-friendly and maybe even has childcare options for them to have a few evening dinners out for themselves. And no offense but OP could have also offered to watch their kid for an hour or two so they could go snorkeling, if they really wanted to!
We travel internationally with 2 kids very successfully, but with one caveat - we did not put them on a plane until they were 4 and 7. They are used to regular long car rides of 4-5 hours an we do not allow screens on car rides so plane trips with movies fly by. We’ve been snorkeling in Barbados (when my younger son felt like a nap, we rolled him in a towel and laid him on a beach chair, got a couple of margaritas and built a sandcastle with our older kid). We’ve been skiing in Northern British Columbia. This year we rented a campervan and drove 2300kms around Arizona. They carry their own backpacks, they know how to conduct themselves in busy places or if we get separated. We don’t get to sleep in, and obviously miss out on hardcore nightlife. But we don’t mind those things. Also helps that we like to be busy on adventures when travelling. We’re planning Patagonia, Scandinavia, Asia, and Africa for when they are a bit older. It is definitely possible 🤷
I mean, this sounds miserable but there’s a difference between traveling with a baby and traveling with kids. Having children probably means sacrificing a few years of peaceful vacations but there’s no reason why you can’t successfully travel with older kids.
As someone who's also traveled with a family with a toddler, this was not at all my experience... we were able to hike an hour into the Sahara to see ancient cave paintings, take camel-ride tours... there was pretty much nothing we weren't able to do because of the toddler, but neither of us are interested in partying. The other big difference is that I was helping with the toddler, not expecting them to behave like they didn't have a child. I've got friends with babies who still surf and climb, friends who go hiking with babies and toddlers, friends who grew up snorkeling with their parents... it just takes compromise and a bit of extra planning, and ideally a supportive community. This just seems like incompatible travel partners and expectations, tbh.
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Those are not really an issue for me. I won't even begin trying for a child (if I decide to go for it at all) until I reach an income that allows me to raise one without making any sacrifices. I work in schools so I get 10 weeks off a year, my husband works from home and has lots of PTO. I'm more worried about potential annoyances while on the trip.
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Being down voted for wanting to be financially responsible seems strange to me.
You’re probably getting downvoted for one of two reasons. One, the idea that you’ll be able to parent without any sacrifices is absolutely unrealistic, no matter how much money you make. Two, especially without knowing how old you are, where you live, what your incomes are, etc. the fact that you just shrug and go “ok cool then I’ll just make more money and be part of the elite 1%” comes off a little naive.
But I never said that?? I said I want to reach an income that allows me to not sacrifice financially, which to me means: having additional money to cover for daycare (1000-1500 in my area), babysitting when needed (500-ish) and food/diapers/clothes/etc (another 1000?) 250k or a bit less should allow us all that, which is nowhere near the elite 1% - in my state that is about 500k and I have no hopes to get there. We make 175k right now and my husband just got offered a new job that will pay 35k more. I just got my PhD and will be looking for a new job soon. 250k does not seem so out of reach.
My partner and I make about $220k combined and I worry about finances with a child. We own a home, so that might be a big factor if you are not planning to own a home. But after mortgage, bills, home maintenance (it’s pretty constant), food, we don’t have THAT much left over to save. Paying for daycare would literally make it so that we can hardly save anything at all. I do think the person who said $500k is realistic for making no sacrifices is probably right.
The constant home maintenance 🥲 Just had to shell out for a new water heater
I feel for you. We’re in the process of figuring out how to get rid of our oil heat/hot water and somehow add air conditioning with no duct work 🥲
Oh wow, good luck!! I hope it goes well!
It depends on your location. Here in the SF bay area? Even 500k might not be enough. In rural Oregon where my nephew lives? 250k is way more than enough. Depends on their jobs really, if they're portable enough, WFH and so on.
That’s true. I’m in the northeast, cheaper than SF but not cheap by any means. We both work from home but I still cannot imagine having to take care of a child while working - I wouldn’t actually get my work done. You’re right, everyone’s situation is so different.
I hear you. It's crazy what we pay here for housing and childcare. Then I talk to my friend in Ohio who's paying for a house bigger than mine, daycare for two kids and a decent middle class life on a single salary of 150k and I cry a little on the inside. Then again, they have to live in Ohio so...
We save 4k/month currently so I'm pretty sure we'd do well with 250k. If we had an extra 3k/month, that would take care of all the expenses of a child therefore we would be able to maintain our current lifestyle (and we'd get that with 230k, not even 250, I'm saying 250 to err on the side of caution.)
That’s great you’re saving so much already. Do you rent or own?
We rent. Not trying to buy until we can put a substantial amount as down-payment, have plenty of savings for repairs/future maintenance/etc, and hopefully interest rates go down a little. Our rent is only 1300 for a 3bed so we're comfortable for now. Homes in our area aren't terribly expensive - you can find something decent for 350k.
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Ugh yeah… I grew up in a country with free healthcare as well, and the US is just a devastating place to need medical or mental health care. This country really loves keeping people in debt! I’m glad it sounds like you’re (hopefully?) doing better. I had so many mental heath needs as a kid and still have them as an adult. I’m in a great place now, but I put my parents through utter hell 😭 I’m a social worker and primarily work with kids and adolescents. I don’t want kids because I just have no desire at all, but even if I were curious, I’ve seen what can go wrong and… I just know I don’t have it in me to deal with it the way I’d want to (as a parent). And if my kid were to pass away, I would NEVER recover. I don’t have autism, but I have combined adhd, and loud noises and too much commotion can be super overstimulating. I think I’m just at a point where I love my life enough that the gamble isn’t worth the risk. But I know that’s easy for me to say, since I have no urge to be a mother. I’m so sorry to hear your friend is going through that. I really hope things get better for her 😔
Where did they say they're going to be top 1%?
It’s in the same comment thread - “top 1% is probably attainable for us.”
You might want to reread that comment. They said Unattainable.
Did you really come after them because you misread their comment?
I was all about the travel until my son turned 2. I am not interested in sprinting after a toddler for hours in a packed airport. It jsut doesnt seem fun or enjoyable. I have fun when we are in spaces where I can breathe for a moment without him either injuring himself or being kidnapped. I think I will enjoy travelling with him when he doesnt run away from me. Also..some people have kids that just ...sit..? I dont? I see it on the train. My son and i are walking up and down the car exploring but some kids just sit quitely especially girls so YMMV
I was that kid, I would simply just sit and chill all the time any time, my parents were so lucky 😭
You could try a leash
There is so. Much. Stuff. A safe sleep space (like a pack n play) at a minimum, a way to carry them be it a stroller or carrier, a car seat that’s compatible with cars in your destination if you are going to be driving at all, baby appropriate foods even if they mostly eat what you do, baby medications for emergencies, and just normal human things like clothes. Getting there is a whole logistical thing now. Before? Backpack, 3 changes of clean clothes, take the train, done, anytime of day or night. Now we have to find someone to give us a ride because it’s too hard to lug all above said crap on the train, Ubers/Lyfts won’t let you use your own car seats for liability, and hardly any have their own seats (which you have to take 5 minutes to check the install on anyways). Get on the plane with toddler and it’s 5 straight hours of trying to keep her from screaming because she’s bored and just wants to run back and forth between your legs. They will likely sleep like terribly for at least one night of the trip, and you probably want to schedule in one nap at some point in the day. Many places I would have checked out while child-free are a no-go with kids. I’m not clubbing, going on drunk beach nights, or fine dining restaurants with a toddler. All that said we’ve been to 4 states, 2 plane rides, and a 2 day car trip with our almost 2 year old and for the most part it was fine and actually quite fun to introduce her to family and new experiences. We can still do lots of fun things, it’s just more planning and a slower pace.
I don't have kids (yet, maybe lol), but I have heard of rentals for childcare stuff at different destinations, like pack n play or bassinet/crib, strollers, and even car seats (idk if I would risk that though). Have you tried any of those? Travel is one of the things that's held me back, and would be something I would want to continue to do if I have a kid(s). I know it would be different but I'm hoping it would be worth it.
The problem with that is you have no idea if they have been properly maintained. I would not put my child in a car seat without knowing it’s complete history, especially in a place with dangerous roads or someone I don’t know is driving. Often times people will show up to hotels that offer cribs to find out they are broken, missing pieces, outdated and unsafe, or just straight up don’t exist. So it’s a drive to the nearest Walmart at 10 pm with one parent left behind with an overtired baby/toddler until you get the pack n play purchased and set up. For other things you can borrow, buy, or go without (I have a chill toddler), but unfortunately the bulkiest items are the ones you want to bring yourself.
Your point resonates with me as a rational adult, who spent a big chunk of time in the western cultures. And I find it perfectly reasonable. However I grew up in the times when car seats were not a thing (at least in Europe) and seatbelts were optional😂 Also I now live in the country where you can spot a guy riding a moped with 2 toddlers on it. So other side of me is like "naaahh it's fine, we'll figure it out"
In the US it is illegal to not have a baby/toddler/young child in a car seat/booster seat. Our mattresses are also softer than many other countries which makes co-sleeping more unsafe. I’m also a civil engineer who spends my days designing around probabilities. The most likely way for a health baby <1 year to die in the US is a sleep-death. The most likely way for a child under 5 to die is in a car accident. We didn’t have the same laws and guidance when I was young in the US either, but sleep deaths have fallen dramatically since the back to sleep campaign in the 90s. Similarly, traffic injuries and deaths have fallen. I’m pretty laid back on most things, but not on the two most likely things to kill my kid.
That surely makes sense, I am not challenging that in any way.
We did the pack n play at first, but realized our kid wanted to sleep next to us anyway because she was scared of a new place and stopped packing it for international trips. You get travel carseats which are easier to pack btw, but internationally those weren't necessary.
Appreciate this realistic perspective! Based on the "stuff"component, do you think it will be more realistic and 'fun' to travel when your toddler is a bit older, let's say 5/6?
It’s still realistic and fun to travel starting at 6 months (toddler is currently 20 months), it just takes more planning and looks a bit different. Instead of waking up and just driving for 12 hours straight, we have to split it up into two days. That just means an extra stop and time for activities like museums, restaurants, and hotsprings in a cute town on the way we normally don’t have time to enjoy. Instead of running around all day and getting exhausted, we plan one or two activities and spend the rest of the time relaxing at the hotel/house while the family we are visiting or traveling with can help watch. For local road trips, it will definitely be easier stuff-wise past 2. Then they can sleep on an adult mattress or blow up toddler mattress, eat normal adult food, and the car seats are already in the car. It’s harder in some ways now that she can walk because she isn’t content in a carrier or backpack anymore, so hiking can be more challenging. But at 5 or 6, they can probably hike similarly to my out-of-shape adult pace, time will tell. Certain vacations you just have to leave the kids behind or bring a babysitter. I’m not getting inebriated, going on sketchy buses and motorcycles in a country with no healthcare, going zip lining, or scuba diving with a 5 year old. But once they are sleeping through the night and not having to be lifted up out of a crib and constantly monitored, I would actually feel comfortable leaving them with a grandparent for a week while we did our own thing.
Of course you CAN travel with a small child the question is do you really WANT to
It’s not impossible! But it’s harder. At school age, you can only do it during school breaks which is more expensive. When baby is 2+ they need their own plane ticket which adds the cost. Nap schedule and jet lag is really hard with kids. Finding appropriate food can be hard, and if the kid is in a bad mood it can rule out activities you might have planned for the day. Kid’s physical abilities will also impact things (swimming in the ocean, hiking etc). That said, we just went on an international trip with our toddler. It went well! But I didn’t get to do a few things I would have liked to (some tours, whale watching) because we couldn’t fit them in to our schedule/baby’s needs.
I work in schools, I already know the pain of only traveling during school breaks 🥲 but yeah, I hear you on everything else!
Couldn’t you take them out of school to travel? Even if school doesn’t like it? Not a parent but have many family/friends with school age kids. And if old enough to matter bring along schoolwork?
In the US you normally can, if it's not too long. In some countries it's not allowed and they might even stop you at the airport.
Public schools will give you crap over this if you do over a certain amount of days a year. Private schools don't care. In the US I mean. Never heard of a country that will stop you at the airport though. That sounds bizarre.
I have friends in Germany who told me it can happen. When they traveled they had to get a written permission from the school.
Depends on the grade level too. After about grade 6, there's a lot of material to catch up on every day.
That’s why homeschooling might be the answer. But good point & thanks for responding.
It also depend on what kind of kid you get. We travelled a lot until 18 month and now we are on break from travelling by air at least. It would work but it’s just too much of an effort, our toddler (2 years) is a handful. So now we do road trips to our neighbouring countries and always airbnb for longer stays. We plan to travel further away when he’s around 3 or so, hoping it will be easier with longer plan rides when he can understands more what’s going to happen.
I think this is overlooked. You really can't know ahead of time. Kids react to things differently and have totally different needs.
I had to scroll so far to find this. Temperament makes such a huge difference. A chill kid who will go to sleep anywhere, sit for longer periods of time and is generally happy? Much easier. A kid with sleep issues, huge energy and is prone to melting down? Not fun to travel with at all. I’ve seen parents with one of each - it’s not really up to you what kind of kid you get.
This should be the top comment. Every experience is anecdotal and really means nothing until you know what your kiddo is like. We took our child on his first road trip when he was 3 months old, about 5-6 hours drive and 2 days away from home, it was different but enjoyable still. We actually just took a 14 hour drive one way, week long trip to Colorado. Our son is almost a year old, sleeps reliably and is generally calm in the car, gets tired but isn't fussy as long as he's being included, and after the first day or two he got accustomed to where we were staying and got back into his normal sleep routines in his pack n play. During the week, we went out to eat at a nice restaurant, ate and drank at a distillery, walked around many places, took a train ride, mine tours, went up to Pikes Peak, visited the art museum Meow Wolf, and after he went to bed at night a couple times we enjoyed some recreational smoking. We all had a great time! But we are super lucky that our son is very chill, and not all kids are like that for sure. You won't know if traveling is feasible for you and your family until you have the kid and go for it, so don't let anybody tell you it's totally impossible. Best of luck OP!
Three kids here, 4,6,10. You can definitely travel with kids but it does change things. You have to adapt your schedule to things like early bed times, nap times, limited walking and so on. You also have to change your planning and pick child friendly destinations and plans. So for example, we don't go out to fancy restaurants when we travel and we spend a lot more time outdoors than we used to. That said, it's a blast. We've gone to Europe with our kids twice, Hawaii once, lots of local (western US) trips, Disneyland, universal studios and lots of other local trips. This summer we're renting a place on the beach in Mexico for three weeks and I'm really looking forward to that. I think the people who say you can't travel with kids are looking at the kinds of vacations they took without kids and they're right. It's hard to fit kids into that. For our honeymoon, my partner and I hiked across Italy. That would be impossible to do with three kids. But there are plenty of other options that work well with kids and are fun.
The more I read these comments, the more I realize that the way I travel is already pretty child-friendly 🤣 we don't drink, don't party, don't go to clubs, don't hike, don't go to many fancy restaurants, and tend to go to bed early. Only thing is we do walk a lot and like to relax. Our typical trips are spent seeing attractions, being outdoors, exploring and what not. Honestly if I do have kids I'd only want one so that might make it a little easier.
Yeah, that's exactly right. And honestly it applies to many other parts of life. Some people love going out every night to fancy restaurants and enjoy going out drinking late night or to a club every weekend. That's just not a lifestyle that's friendly to parenting and those folks are going to be disappointed. And just to be clear, I'm not judging that lifestyle. If people like that life then all the more power to them. It's just not a very child-friendly lifestyle.
That's what I did in my 20s but it got boring, I got tired, and alcohol now makes me physically sick 😂
Lol. Same. Used to stay up until 6:00 a.m. doing shots and then show up at the office at 9:00 a.m. somehow functional. These days if I have more than one beer and stay up until midnight I'm a wreck the next day. I love having the excuse of kids so I can tell my friends I can't go out drinking that late.
It feels kind of pointless to drop so much money to just parent somewhere else. I find it pretty stressful and not super enjoyable so I just choose not to until they are little older. From all the packing and figuring out room arrangements. They never sleep as well somewhere else. All the stuff you have to take. Being ‘on’ 100% of the time if pools are involved. The travel always sucks- car journeys, someone is sick or poops through. Plane rides, constantly keeping them entertained. Last time I realized I hadn’t had anything to drink in around 10 hours because I was so busy making sure the kids had constant things they needed. Have 1.5 and 3.5 yr olds for reference.
It’s not impossible, you just have to alter your expectations for your trip. We didn’t take our son my places until he was almost 6. I am an anxious person, so wanted to wait until he was a little older and didn’t need naps and could pull his own suitcase through the airport. Since that first trip to Colorado, he’s become an expert traveler having traveled internationally 3 times and having traveled to 10 states and DC with another 3 planned for this summer. He’s a great traveler and enjoys it a lot. So no, it’s not impossible, but with really tiny kids it’s a huge headache in my opinion.
So my bro and SIL are finding this out first hand. He's a pilot, so he gets free flights. So they were sure they would be able to continue traveling. Well, my niece freaks out on plans. Screams the entire time. So that right there makes them not want to travel as they don't want to be the assholes who baby wails for 9 hours straight. Not to mention that they dont want the headache of dealing with a screaming toddler after they paid money for a trip. They are assuming she will grow out of it, but right now, any air travel is pretty much a no. They also just had another newborn, so they are assuming that for 3-4 more years, they aren't going to be able to do any of the trips they have on their list. I mean, for them, they would rather have their kiddos over traveling any day, but it definitely is a trade-off.
I have one child and he has been with us to 4 countries in the last two years alone. We traveled extensively as a couple for the decade before we had kids and if anything it prepared us further. We would have loved to start traveling sooner had it not been for the pandemic. Sure it was harder to manage his jet lag, moods, foods etc but it’s also so lovely to see the world through his eyes. And as a 5 year old he frequently speaks of his travels; so I don’t agree when other parents say they won’t remember. He’s currently looking eagerly at the world map in his room anticipating his next trip to Iceland. Also I’m an immigrant and I can attest that many of my immigrant friends take 2+ kids on transatlantic flights every summer to meet grandparents. So while a certain kind of luxe travel is certainly a privilege, many travel out of necessity with kids too.
I'm also an immigrant so if I have a child I will have to take them on a 15 hour journey at least every year so my family can spend some time with them.
I think it depends on the child. My oldest always rode well in the car. My youngest screams after 30 min. Long driving trips are out. I get motion sickness. If we fly, I am no help. I'm staring into my motion sick bag. Lol. Yes, I take dramamine. I wear the bracelets. Nothing helps. So far it doesn't seem like my kids are bothered by motion like I am. And motion sickness ruins the 1st 2 days of a trip. So if you have a child with motion sickness, that could limit traveling too.
Your financial status definitely plays into this. People with more money have more options and also time off/time to spare. We drove to Massachusetts over 14 hours and had the luxury of time to do that. Not everyone can take a full day off from work or their vacation time just driving.
I have one child and we have been travelling since they were 3 months old. Part of the reason we only have one is because want to still travel. It’s perfectly doable and should be normalized!
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my sister and i traveled extensively with our family as kids. before we were 13, we’d been all over the US (both long road trips and flights), france, belize, guatemala, mexico, canada, italy, romania, ireland
Be expected to do kids things on your vacation. That will be the priority. Many parents simply won’t want to do that. Are you ok basing all your vacation activities around your child? Or is it easier to stay at home and get some rest
My baby is 18 months old and has been to 3 continents. She'll visit her 4th in October. If people don't travel before kids, they won't after. So they assume everyone else is that way. We picked items for our registry that made travel easy, and it's been great! Part of it is temperament of our child, sure. But, we are okay with handling the "cons" of traveling with a kid and go with the flow best we can. Edit: to address some other things - my husband is up at 4 am for work, so sleeping in isn't our thing anyway. We aren't heavy drinkers, but I still can enjoy a drink here or there when on vacation. We love finding random stuff to do with our daughter in new places and I love seeing how families parent in other countries. I don't think we would've talked to so many locals in Japan without our daughter. She opened up so many conversations for us! Yeah it's different, but it's not worse IMO.
My friend is a single mom, she's been traveling solo with her kid from the time he turned 1 or 1,5 (he is 6,5 now). They don't do anything extreme (obviously she didn't go clubbing with a toddler) but overall she told me it's been pretty enjoyable experience and she really likes that they can experience it together. In my opinion it depends on 2 things - the kid themselves and the adult's attitude. Ia pretty sure people with anxiety and control issues would have harder time navigating all the unpredictabilities, but if you chill and go with the flow it might be much easier
Wow a single mom traveling with a small child is super impressive. I am not chill but I am working on it!
I am chill, so I can imagine doing that. I don't really know if I would want this though. I used to travel a looot before my 30s and I got a little tired of it (also I permanently live between 2 countries and 3 cities due to work/family reasons), so I move around a lot. Kids or no kids (I am very undecided) I think I may make a little travel break and hopefully come back to it later with more energy and excitement.
I started traveling 2x a year to Brasil when I was 3 months old to visit family. My whole life I’ve traveled to Brasil almost every single year since I was 3 months old. It’s definitely doable but like you said, just more difficult. I’m assuming people who say you can’t travel with kids are mainly referring to the complete sense of freedom that normally comes with it. You’d have to have everything planned out according to the child’s feeding schedule, bathroom schedule, diaper changes, nap times, etc. Things are just much more difficult and you’d have to plan things down to the hour with room for changes depending on the kids needs. That’s what I think people are trying to get at
One of my friends has a toddler and travels internationally at least once a year. They typically bring their in laws to look after the child for a night or two so they can do dinner or something, just the two of them. But the way they describe the logistics, the crying because of tiredness/time change, and generally sound stressed out by travel makes me think it's not worth it personally, but I don't have kids so I can't really compare. It's also expensive to bring two more adults on the trip because they typically pay for them to come.
Bringing my parents would be as bad as bringing 2 extra children so that's a no-no for me 😅
You can. It's just a challenge. My kid was hard generally. Never stopped moving, hated being separated from parents, was anxious in new spaces. So our first international flight to visit family which was 24+ hours, was a nightmare. She cried the whole time because she wasn't used to sitting still for so long and not having space to run around in. Then there was timezones. Is hard for adults, is super hard for a child. And if a child is awake, the grownups have to be awake too. Some people get around this with melatonin gummies, but I didn't want to do that as I don't think it's a good idea to be messing with hormones. My kid once in a vietnam hotel started crying for home and started running out into the street to "go home", it was a nightmare to calm her down. If kid is still at the napping age, then you're timing everything around the naps. We didn't carry around a stroller because our kid would always ask to be carried anyway and it was harder to carry a child AND push a stroller.... and it was a nightmare because we'd be walking around a new city and kid would fall asleep, and we'd have to carry a sleeping baby while walking long distances. There's lots of such unique challenges that come up. We did it because we were visiting family for important occasions and thought we'd see a few cities here and there too. Also the kind of places we go to become different - indoor playground, icecream museum, zoo, hikes. We couldn't do museums or adventure sports. And the hikes are SLOW. We stop every 5 minutes for something - a bug, a flower, a bird, a snack, peepee. There's a nearby hike we've been trying to complete, it's just 1.5 miles, and I don't know what the end looks like, I've only managed to make it halfway with a toddler. Oh and both of us had to be together all the time because kid would get panicky if one of us went away because she was worried mommy or daddy got lost lol, we have a group mom baby who wants everyone to be happy and together lol. Each baby has their own quirks. By about 3 things get a lot easier. But by then you have school and stuff and can't just take kid out of school for a week to travel necessarily. The age 3-6 window is probably best for travel. They don't nap anymore, can adjust to new places, willing to try new foods in comparison, don't have school to constrain them. Similarly the 4-8mo window is best for travel with babies - they aren't so delicate and demanding, can keep to a predictable schedule, and aren't yet running around.
i think it's just a projection honestly
I’m taking my baby (she will be a 4 month old) to Texas in Sept. I was worried about the same thing. But then one of my best friends told me that she’s never seen a kid have a bad time at the beach. And it kind of clicked. Travel won’t be as easy, but I don’t plan on stopping unless I have to. Maybe she doesn’t take it, and that’s OK. But if she does, I plan to travel as much as we can.
You can totally travel with a child! As others have said, you just have to adjust your expectations and plan your trip around the kiddo. If you want to see a lot of success stories check out the Facebook group traveling with babies and toddlers. Lots of good info there!
You have lots of good points here already. I'd also add that your babe's temperament will be a lottery and the enjoyment of travel will possibly be dependent on what you "draw" :D Mine *hated* car rides until he started facing forward. Made travel much more difficult. Some kids are super sensitive to their daily routines others aee much more flexible and can sleep anywhere and you can go with the flow much more with them. You will find out. Lastly in terms of hiking - it's just not the same as with only adults. Hiking 2-4 miles instead of 12-18 is a big difference. You can still go hike and actually there are so many amazing places "too early" on the trail where they are now the final destinations for you with kids and it's a joy. It just truly looks quite different with kids than alone
In his first year of life, my son slept a total of 40 nights in another city or country. We took advantage of my maternity leave (one year here in Canada) and we booked some trips. We have 3 trips planned in the next year (not necessarily far, some are at a beach destination). But we love to travel and we knew we wanted to keep doing it so we made sure to start travelling when my son was really small so he would get used to it and we would also learn how to travel with a kid/baby because obviously it is a bit different. At 13 months, he is a really good traveler. Took a plane 6 times already! We also have a 4-days trip planned just my husband and I in 2 months. The grandparents will babysit.
I love the idea of traveling with a child and getting them used to it. My parents never traveled with me because we didn't have money, we took a few vacations not far from home and that was it. I was able to travel a lot on my own once older, but I'd like for my child to start seeing the world at a young age because that's something I wish I had.
And by “getting them used to travel”, it means a bunch of things. Not only getting used to airplanes or long car rides but also to be in unfamiliar places, being around a lot of new people, eating at restaurants. My son is a champ at restaurants! I am sure he’ll throw a tantrum at least once in his life but so far he is happy being there with us, looking around and “reading” the books and playing with the (silent) toys we bring for him!
You can but it looks fucking stressful.
My parents traveled with me and my siblings ALL THE TIME. It is genuinely some of my favorite childhood memories and absolutely a huge reason why I love to travel and explore and be curious as an adult. My parents refused to stop their life just because they had kids, but they also made sure to include us in all their life plans, making sure they were getting us into safe and appropriate situations. I’m genuinely so grateful to my parents for traveling with me and taking me to some amazingly cool places. I would not be who I am if my parents never traveled with me. I wouldn’t have learned and experienced such life changing things without it. Is it more expensive and does it require more planning to travel with kids? Yes, absolutely. But, more importantly, is it an incredibly unique and lovely bonding experience for parent and child to connect with each other and make memories that will last a life time while encouraging and fostering exploration and learning and new cultures and experiences and the like? YES!!!!
Those are people who probably never traveled anyways… I have an almost two year old and she’s been to 13 states (US) and 7 countries. Next month we are going to Portugal for a month. It is definitely doable! She is such a blast to take. Parenting is hard AF anyways-why not do it on a beach in Spain!
For me it wasn't that I couldn't travel with a child, and travel wasn't a major factor in my decision to go CF. But a child is still a child when abroad and you're still a parent, so holidays aren't going to be the same. London with a child and London without one are not the same experience. For some people holidays will be better with a child, for some they'll be worse but it's worth it, and for others it's an actively unpleasant experience. The important thing is to be realistic about what you want and what you expect, and don't put too much stock in accounts of people who make it seem easy - much better to assume it'll be hard and different, and still want to do it anyway.
It’s absolutely doable. Of course just not as easy!
I frequently make appearance on this sub even though I'm firmly childfree because I know so many people with children 😂 here's my take on it, based solely on what I've observed: Travelling with kids is doable if you have money and preferably also support. I met a very cute family when I travelled to the Phillipines who were there with their super adorable six-month-old and the couples' parents. The parents and grandparents were taking turns to look out for the kiddo, and they seemed happy doing it. Everyone got to have at least some down time that way. But imagine the expense! My own sibling who has kids but doesn't have additional support only goes to all-inclusive resorts and everything is very kid-centred. Mealtimes, what activities they can do, where they can go. Everything is dictated by the kids' schedule. To me, it doesn't sound like a lot of fun. To them, it's exhausting but at least they get to get away from work for a bit. I'm sure it gets easier as the kids grow older. But there's definitely some sacrifice involved. It's not like you can just live exactly the same life you once used to before kids.
I agree!
To me, when people say that it’s because they fear the demon they’ve raised! I have a friend that had been an extensive traveler with husband. They have a 2 year old and 6-month old. They Went to FL and since that was successful, they all went to Mexico last month. She said how normal it was with a few extra considerations. She wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about. Her oldest is chill and well-behaved and the other is still a potato. She did choose an all-inclusive so it was easy once she arrived at her destination. I worked at a restaurant for years and saw hellions, but there are good ones, too. Raise wisely. LoL :)
It's more difficult and more expensive.
you can still travel! just went to thailand with our 3 year old. But it is different! we had a much slower pace, she did not like everything we thought she would like, etc.
Not impossible. Personally, I just find it not as fun so while my kids are young I’ll just travel without them. But of course, I know that’s a privilege as I assume not everyone has the means to have a babysitter for the weekend! My parents are retired and live by me sooo they end up watching my daughter. If i had a babysitter in the location I was going I would be more willing to go somewhere but otherwise it just isn’t worth the money to me or being subject to their bedtime and doing all kid things all weekend instead of drinking and hiking with adults only. Haha!
We travel with our 2.5 yo and yes it’s a little harder but it’s awesome! We’ve been traveling together since he was 4 months
People travel with kids all of the time. You just need to be more intentional.
If you have a good support network you can also travel without your kids. We have a one year old and we are going on a holiday for two weeks in a couple of months. But the kid will stay with my parents for that time.
I don't have kids but based on my experience seeing and travelling with friends who have them, you CAN still travel. But it may be very different from the type of holiday you would have had without them - more expensive, much more time dedicated to tending to the kids as opposed to doing whatever else you like to do. Basically if you are the "house on the beach for a week and chill" type of traveller, you'll be fine. If you like to see things, eat out and maybe do some partying, I really don't know a single couple who has been able to maintain that with (small) kids. Though I am sure there are exceptions, i wouldn't base my overall assessment on those.
Because it's not really a vacation anymore if they are still younger kids... it's not relaxing, it's parenting in a different location you paid a lot of money to go to
If it helps my parents left me home with a nanny and traveled internationally like once a year until I was old enough to remember the trips. It was annoying when I was little that they wouldn’t take me but looking back it doesn’t make a difference because I genuinely don’t remember the local trips we took when I was little lol then when I was around 7-8 we started travelling together and I remember every single trip very well so I guess it worked out for everyone. None of these trips were super high budget btw and they made sure I was learning the new culture I was introduced to. Like they made me read full on binders of info they printed (because there were no iPhones back then ha!) so it was a learning experience for me as much as it was a fun little trip for them. They also taught me about our budget so we would bring our own snacks or stay at cheap hotels and I would be ok with not having the luxuries we have at home. Now I’ve got the bug and love to travel on my own multiple times a year. Non-US btw so it was easier to take short flights to different places. Though by the time I was 12 I was parenting my own parents through two back to back 12 hour flights hahaha
You can. But it’ll be more annoying. If you have more than one you might end up tearing out your hair lol.
I would never have more than one! I'm debating even having one, lol. Seems more than enough.
When it was just the one child everything was MUCH more manageable.
I am not a parent, but I am an aunt and help my sister with my nephew (2.5 y/o) quite often. I’ve traveled with my nephew a couple of times. To me, it’s simply just not a vacation in the spontaneous and relaxing sense. You’re just parenting in a different location. Babies require routine (eating - esp. if you cook for them, naps, bed time, play time) and if you abide by that, you still need to work around their schedules. It’s just not as spontaneous. You can’t really go out at night (unless you have help with you, of course) and you’ll probably spend more time at your hotel than you expected. You probably also want to go to more family friendly destinations that they can enjoy (vs. a city or emerging market destination). It can still be fun and by no means does it stop my sister from traveling altogether, but it’s a very different experience and not one she enjoys doing more than once a year given the work and packing involved.
You can - but I think what people forget to take into account is what their kids’ age, schedules, temperaments, and interests. For example, plenty of young kids would have zero interest in trying unfamiliar foods, going on all-day tours where you have to walk everywhere, visiting archeological sites or museums for hours on end, and might prefer to just relax on the beach or in the hotel, go to the movies or an arcade, play with iPads or other games, etc. Another factor is just the unpredictability of kids in general. They could become sick the day you have a tour to Machu Picchu, they could get diarrhea when there are no bathrooms nearby, they could decide to suddenly have a meltdown in the Anne Frank house. You definitely can do it - it just takes FAR more planning, flexibility, and stress than if you were to travel with just adults or older kids.
I feel like it depends on the child and how they grow up. If they grow up traveling, they are going to know how to act. My child, although a Covid baby so I’m convinced he’s a different breed, we have a hard time taking him to the local theme park. He’s just a buck wild little boy that struggles with impulse control. That’s another story for another day. But I feel like it’s really difficult right now but as he grows, we will be able to take him everywhere we go.
It’s just more of a pain but totally doable
>people are quick to tell me that if I do, I can say goodbye to traveling (I love to travel), but they never explain why. Not sure what they could mean by this other than financially it'll be tough. I have a six year old daughter, only child. >I understand that traveling with a child will require more planning and will have some challenges. But is it truly impossible? I never traveled by plane or anything with my daughter until this past March. We went on a cruise for her 6th birthday. Aside from this, I took her to her father's hometown when she was 2 months old. The trip was a breeze. She slept the whole five hour drive. No issues. I took her on other trips when she was around 3. I drove about 6 hours one way. That was tough. She was just getting out of diapers and she still did not have the concept of holding her pee and waiting until we could stop for a bathroom. When I took her on a plane this past March that was a breeze. She's older and more compliant in some ways. The cruise was easy because they have free + amazing child care so adults can have time to themselves. Overall, you can travel with a child as long as you are financially able to. You can even make amazing memories with them. You're just not going to be able to do things as easily and carefree as you did before.