torn about vacation

beenbizzy

DH and I have airline tickets to use by mid-January.  We booked them a year ago when DS was only a month old.  We had an emergency come up and weren't able to use them.  The plan then was to take DS because he was only a month old and would have been very easy to travel with.  Well, now DS will be a year old in a few weeks and we are torn with what to do... do we take him with and juggle all of the pieces we need - extra airline ticket (we think it would be best for him to be belted so he can't feel like he can get down), getting through an airport with the stroller, carseat, him and and our carry-ons, have a layover (we have a small airport).  Or do we leave him at home with grandma & grandpa and miss him the entire time?  We are so torn. 

WWYD?  Any thoughts are welcome.

flyer23

Take him. Traveling with babies is not that bad! Much better than missing babies, that's for sure.

BJKL

take him!  we took our 13 month old to Mexico last spring and it was amazing.  My DH and I will have incredible memories of it forever.

madhatter2003

take him. We took our DD to England when she was 1 year and she did great.  We did buy her a seat for that long trip, but every other time I've flown (about 10 times in total now) I never bother but usually can score a free (ie empty) seat to put her in.

molldoll71

Take him - it's not difficult traveling and I wouldn't buy him a seat - hold him for take off and then let him stand at your feet the rest of the flight.  Personally with working fulltime - I have no interest in going away without Billy but then again I have seperation anxiety worse than he does - LOL 

JLSBWG

I would definately take him.  Yes, it will be a hassle with all of he stuff, but I would rather vacation with DS than without him, particularly at this age.

mrsnewlywed2005

traveling w/ an infant/toddler isn't as bad as i imagined.  tips: let him bottle-feed upon take-off/landing.  this will help reduce the pressure in his ears. if a lapchild, make sure you check him in at the counter before going thru security.  i've been stopped before w/o the nec'y papers and had to stand in the freaking security line twice.  check in the carseat/stroller at the gate.  they'll be waiting for u when u de-plane (instead of having to find them at baggage claim)

costfords

Take him.  Traveling with an infant/toddler is much worse in your head than IRL.

 Enjoy!