Planning a vacation with or w/out little one

VTKatie · June 2014

DH and I are starting to think about vacation next year, most likely to the USVI. We want to go in January or February. We haven't decided whether we want to go alone or with the baby. DH wants us to leave her with my parents so we can enjoy some adult time/relaxation. I am worried about whether I will be able to enjoy myself if I leave my 5/6 month old at home for a week (and I would have to pump the entire time). Is anyone else planning a vacation for early next year? What would you do with the baby, leave or take?

jnnfrrose6 · June 2014

There are a lot of what ifs that go into this, especially since LO isn't here yet and you don't know how things are going to go once they are here.

We left DS around 9 months old for a 4 day trip to Mexico for a wedding. I pumped throughout to maintain my supply. We left him with my parents and had no concerns about that. It was a huge PITA to pump enough to cover the time away, though. We were at least on a schedule so I could calculate how much to pump and have a goal, but it was stressful to get to that point. We probably could have left him at 6 months just as easily, but he also is a super easy kid (we're very well aware how lucky we got with him and expect this one to come out swinging in comparison). I honestly don't think I'd be ready to commit to something yet.

darkangel42 · June 2014

It depends as well how you cope with leaving your baby.

You might be really chill and be fine about relatives babysitting for a week, you might be a neurotic mess who won't let baby out of your sight (this was me last time round) so you're probably going to have to wait and see how you get on before deciding who goes.

Huahine · June 2014

If breastfeeding is going well, I would plan to take the kid with me. A 5/6 month old is very easy to travel with. If they are formula fed, the logistics of going away are a lot easier.

We went on vacation without DS1 for the first time this winter. He was 25 months at the time. We missed him a lot. I would not have been ready to do that at 6 months old, but that was me. YMMV.

brittany&dain · June 2014

DS is a,most 2 and he has only stayed the night away from us one time, but in April DH and I have a wedding to attend in Texas and because of how expensive it would be with 2 kids we will be leaving them with my parents or in laws and we have shortened our trip to only be gone 3 days instead of a week

eortman · June 2014

It will totally depend on how you feel about leaving baby. I wouldn't make any decisions until after your LO has arrived. We have taken some weekend trips without our kids, but I still wouldn't be comfortable leaving them with someone else for a whole week and they are 4 & 2. The first week long trip away that we are planning is when this LO will be 4 and our others will be 6 & 8. That may sound extreme, but we don't have any close relatives near who would take them that long. My in-laws are great, but live hours away and don't spend enough time with them for me to feel comfortable leaving them a whole week. However, we do travel with the kids all the time. Totally depends on how you feel, but I wouldn't assume that you'll know how you'll feel until after your LO gets here.

Allison546 · June 2014

We know we will be attending a destination wedding next April at at adults-only all-inclusive in Jamaica (one of DH's best friends). DS1 will be over 2 and DS2 will be around 9 mos old. I breastfed DS1 for 9 mos, and if all works out, I'd like to BF around the same time for this DS. Call me selfish, but I'm A) thinking this is a perfect way to motivate me to BF until the trip (for the weight loss),

wean DS before we go and make that a good stopping point for BF, and C) look forward to our first kid-free vacation.

We are planning on going for 4 nights... DH wanted to do a week but I think I'd miss my boys too much.

Kohler2009 · June 2014

We have left DS numerous times for trips and he has always done great! The first time was at 5 months for a week. He was on 100% formula at that point so it did make things easier. We did miss him a lot but found that Skype/FaceTime really helped and we knew he was in good hands. As he has gotten older, he really enjoys his vacations at grandma and grandpa's house

. You will know what's right. Just follow your gut. I will tell you, I found the time away to be great and therapeutic!!!

AKB090609 · June 2014

I've yet to leave DD (21 months) over night. It honestly has more to do with the people I have to leave here with than anything else. That being said we have taken her on vacation with us and it was a ton of fun. I have a very social kid who is 1000x easier to deal with (and better behaved) when we are out and about. DH and I had plenty of time to hang out on the beach or at the pool, we planed long drives to be during nap time.

cookieinva · June 2014

We are going to the Bahamas in February and definitely bringing baby. Of course, DS and my stepson as well so maybe that is different since it is clearly a family vacation. We took DS alone on a trip at about the same point in time when he was a baby and it was fine other than having to pack a bunch of baby crap. I was comfortable leaving DS (with my parents) for that length of time more at one year, but that's just me.

seells · June 2014

Our 10 year anniversary is in January so were debating going away for a long weekend at that time. Were going to wait to see how things go with regards to the baby's temperament and stuff before we make definite plans. I'm also not sure if I would be comfortable leaving my 6 month old. We didn't leave DD until she was a year and that was an extreme case that we really had no choice in.

cookieinva · June 2014

Also consider logistics of pumping on an trip to USVI. Will you be able to keep your pumped milk cool enough for the duration of your travels? Especially becomes an issue if you have one or more layovers.

jnnfrrose6 · June 2014

cookieinva said:

Also consider logistics of pumping on an trip to USVI. Will you be able to keep your pumped milk cool enough for the duration of your travels? Especially becomes an issue if you have one or more layovers.

I'd think on a trip this long she'd have to pump and dump. I can't even begin to imagine factoring in trying to keep it and get it home. Ugh!

cookieinva · June 2014

jnnfrrose6 said:

cookieinva said:

Also consider logistics of pumping on an trip to USVI. Will you be able to keep your pumped milk cool enough for the duration of your travels? Especially becomes an issue if you have one or more layovers.

I'd think on a trip this long she'd have to pump and dump. I can't even begin to imagine factoring in trying to keep it and get it home. Ugh!

Yeah wasn't sure if she considered that.

redhotmama7 · June 2014

I'm a FTM and can't imagine leaving my baby anywhere...ever...

(Even knowing how amazing my parents are and my mom being a nurse practitioner and them having had 7 children and will have 13 grandchildren by that time)

We are planning a long weekend in October for our 5yr anniversary to Gatlinburg and baby boy will be along for the ride

Allison546 · June 2014

jnnfrrose6 said:

cookieinva said:

Also consider logistics of pumping on an trip to USVI. Will you be able to keep your pumped milk cool enough for the duration of your travels? Especially becomes an issue if you have one or more layovers.

I'd think on a trip this long she'd have to pump and dump. I can't even begin to imagine factoring in trying to keep it and get it home. Ugh!

I disagree. There are ways to pump while travelling and keeping milk cold/frozen with coolers, ice packs, dry ice, and the like. It's a lot of work but can be done. I'd do some internet research, but there are plenty of working moms who do a lot of travelling and have this down to a science.

BP607 · June 2014

Allison546 said:

jnnfrrose6 said:

cookieinva said:

Also consider logistics of pumping on an trip to USVI. Will you be able to keep your pumped milk cool enough for the duration of your travels? Especially becomes an issue if you have one or more layovers.

I'd think on a trip this long she'd have to pump and dump. I can't even begin to imagine factoring in trying to keep it and get it home. Ugh!

I disagree. There are ways to pump while travelling and keeping milk cold/frozen with coolers, ice packs, dry ice, and the like. It's a lot of work but can be done. I'd do some internet research, but there are plenty of working moms who do a lot of travelling and have this down to a science.

The thought of having to dump a weeks worth of milk makes me want to cry! I hope if you decide to go you can figure out a way to get it home!

drbuch · June 2014

If you are taking a cruise, you need to make sure LO will be old enough to go. I know some cruise lines require that babies be 6 months before going aboard. Hope that helps.

jnnfrrose6 · June 2014

Allison546 said:

jnnfrrose6 said:

cookieinva said:

Also consider logistics of pumping on an trip to USVI. Will you be able to keep your pumped milk cool enough for the duration of your travels? Especially becomes an issue if you have one or more layovers.

I'd think on a trip this long she'd have to pump and dump. I can't even begin to imagine factoring in trying to keep it and get it home. Ugh!

I disagree. There are ways to pump while travelling and keeping milk cold/frozen with coolers, ice packs, dry ice, and the like. It's a lot of work but can be done. I'd do some internet research, but there are plenty of working moms who do a lot of travelling and have this down to a science.

I'm not saying it can't be done, but just the logistics of it, especially with it being an overseas trip, makes it seem like something that needs to be strongly weighed into the decision making. Sure, if you travel for work and make a habit/routine of it, you can make it happen, but for a once off week long vacation I'm not sure it's worth the added stress.

darkangel42 · June 2014

I did take her on vacation with us to Turkey for a week (I think around 8 months old?) and we got on just fine on the plane and whilst there. Had to use a nursing cover as it was a Muslim area and boob is frowned upon but everything else went fine, took a small stack of diapers and a few tubs of food with us then bought a box of diapers and some jar food/dry snacks there which was easy enough as we were passing a supermarket and it's not like they need to be chilled before opening so were fine just shoved in the changing bag with some clean spoons. I'd be perfectly happy to do that again and take the munchkins along.

Someone more organised might be able to work it so they had a good stock of milk to leave in the sitter's freezer then pump all through the trip to ether dump or save but IMPO, that seems like a lot of hassle.

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