Bringing a toddler to the UK for holiday

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OlympicMummy

Registered User
Hi all, my husband and I are planning a 16-day trip to the UK and very much undecided whether to bring our 18-month old daughter. We are not from the UK and have no friends or relatives there. We plan to drive around as much as we can and so a little apprehensive to bring the little one. Any insights? Suggestions, tips? I know it's really our choice but I would just want to know how you lovely ladies think... I've only been to London once when I was single while my husband studied and lived in the UK for 7 years so this will be our first time together and looking to explore more.
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Leave toddler at home:
1) She wont appreciate nor remember it
2) Toddlers hate long plane and car journeys
3) You and hubby wont have any peace during trip
 
To me, the more important issue is who will be looking after your toddler if she stays back in HK. If you are confident that she will be in good hands, then i agree her staying is probably the better option. Jet lag is horrible, you will have some time to yourselves and probably enjoy your holiday more. Personally I find it hard to leave my little ones for more than 2 days though, just miss them too much haha!
 
no way would i leave my 18 month old at home. HC is right, she'll never remember it, but YOU will.

we took our two kids 18m & 3.5 at the time to australia for a month-long RV trip. it was great! yes, we had our moments, but we had a fantastic family vacation. she won't remember it, but we will. we will remember her chasing the ducks, falling asleep in the carseat, playing at the beach, feeding the kangaroos..... they are our memories and we cherish them.
 
We also have great memories of traveling to different places with our little one. At every stage, the challenges are different - and yes, holidays are a very different experience from when we used to travel child-free. For us, when our son was 18 mths we went to Hokkaido in the summer time and rented a car to drive around. It was actually one of the "easier" vacations as once he is strapped into the car seat, it's quite nice driving around the countryside. (Our big challenge that time was finding appropriate food for him.)

Anyway, if you do decide to bring your lil one, I don't think you'll regret it!
 
I guess it comes down to this: a family vacation or a romantic getaway?

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Take a night flight, and the journey shouldn't be too bad if you can get your toddler asleep. They generally leave late night HK time (circa 11pm) and arrive early morning UK time (circa 6am). On the way back, you can depart at around 10pm UK time so have a night flight again. The flight is around 11 hours so there is a good chance your toddler could sleep for most of it.

We've done both Australia and England with our toddler and had a great time - yes you'll have to plan around their schedule somewhat but that it part of parcel of being a family. We've got memories, photos and videos that will last our lifetime too. Personally I don't like leaving my little one for two days, let alone two weeks!
 
Just reading your replies made me cry! I want to bring the little one with us and it was hubby who brought up the idea of leaving her. I'll show him this thread and see whether he'll have a change of heart. Thanks!
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Thank you, Howard. My husband has good reason to ask that we leave our daughter, with my mom and brother (they're flying in) plus helper to look after her while we're away. We've always brought her along (to the US, Thailand, Macau and Philippines) and he has seen how tired she gets and how tired we are throughout the trip. But then, a big part of me feels guilty knowing that we can bring her but for convenience, we did not :-(

My husband has now given me the ultimate choice whether to bring the little one. He says whatever makes me happy.
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You need to do what feels right for you, for both of you.
In our case, when our kids were toddlers, we had kid vacations (beach, water, animals) where we took the kids and we also had adult vacations for just the 2 of us. Ofcourse we missed the kids but it was also important for the parents to spend alone and adult time together.

There is no right or wrong here - just what feels appropriate for the 2 of you; I dont say 3 because the toddler will not know, will not care nor remember.

Good luck with your decision.
 
We parents generally underestimate our kids at how well they can cope in different situations. We went to Australia last month with our 4 year old, and our flight got cancelled at the last minute because of the super typhoon, and we ended up being at the airport for two nights. I was very scared at first athow she will react if she has to stay overnight at the airport, (didn't know that time that we will be at the airport for so long, expected to be there overnight) but she was so happy there. She enjoyed being at the airport more than the aus holiday. And she keeps on asking me now ,that we are back, when can we go to sleep at the airport again. And though we were not having the best of luxurieS at the airport, it is still very memorable, the holiday as well as the airport stay.
Agree with the above posters that take her along, you will always cherish those moments. If you leave her back, you will leave half heartedly and keep thinking about her all the time. You will definitely have a great family time together.
 
I can see both sides, but what I would do is this: if it were just a short trip with hubby, I would have no problem leaving a little one at home (that said, I have a 4 and 2 year old and we've only been away from them for one night - not counting the time I was in hospital giving birth to the 2nd one). It it were a week or more, I personally would want it to be a family vacation with the little ones as well. Ultimately it's up to you guys and what works for your family though.
 
Yes I can see both sides too but I could never leave my children behind. I think even when they are young they get something from being around mum and dad, and develop that sense of security (so I'd like to think anyway). My husband is always keen for an adults only weekend away but I've never been able to bring myself to go......I'd be miserable......
 
mummymoo, go for a night away then! just one night in a hotel, nice dinner and then home the next morning. that's about all i can handle myself.
 
Carang I do leave the children when I have to go away for work (not very frequently thank goodness) BUT I don't feel like I can 'voluntarily' leave them behind and they do seem to get something out of our travels.
Definitely do go out on date nights with the hubs, but never stayed overnight.....perhaps I'm just a homebody......
 
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