Take Baby with Us on Vacation?

My sister took a similar trip this spring break with her husband, 8-month-old son and 10-year-old daughter. I don't think she regrets it, but it wasn't quite what she wanted. Basically they tag-teamed the whole time, so it was very little "whole family time." The baby had to nap, so one adult would take him back up to the room to sleep, while the other had the big girl down at the pool or the beach. This is not Disney World, where you can throw the baby in a stroller and walk him with you as a group, this is a beachy, water-based place where strollers are not that easy to push in the first place.

You have have amazing friends you trust to watch him where he'll be most comfortable, he'll be well taken care of, and the rest of the family will get a fantastic vacation. Leave him home, he won't feel abandoned.

For me, six months is too young to leave a baby. It WILL be more complicated to take him, but I wouldn't even consider leaving him. We've gone to Disney World and Sea World with a baby and to some special family camps with a baby and it is complicated and not as fun for me, since I tend to be the one taking care of the baby. But, I just wouldn't feel right - for me - to leave the baby. You need to look at how you really feel and decide what is right for YOU. It is definitely more complicated, but then you have the special memories with the baby involved too. My babies fell asleep in my arms. They did cry on the plane...and it was stressful...but I was glad to have them with me! :-) good luck deciding what to do.

Leave him home - he will not remember, he will be in his own environment and you all will have a much better time! I know it is hard, but you can call and check on him every day. And don't worry, he will still know who you are when you get back!! I wouldn't try to take a 6 month old.

Go! Leave the baby! What a special trip for you, your husband and daughter.
I am saying this a mama who exclusively breastfed, and while I don't regret THAT decision, I do regret not getting away more when they were small. You will ALL have a better time, including the baby, and he will not "miss" you in the same sense you will "miss" him.
I was a wreck the first time I left my kids, they were two and four at the time. My four year old was only a little sad, my two old didn't care one way or another (they were at grandmas) and after 24 hours of being gone I was the most happy and relaxed I had been since having become a mom.
Go go go!!!

He will be fine, leave him. You and your husband and daughter could really use the quality time. He wont even remember how long your gone. He will be very happy to see all of you when you get back.

I'm completely stunned by all the responses that say "Go!" A child of six months cannot comprehend that Mommy and Daddy are "on vacation" == they simply experience that the people they love are gone -- with no understanding that they will return. I think it would be absolutely traumatic for your baby, and regardless of how good a babysitter your friend is -- a child of that age cannot understand that you are returning. I actually know someone who is in therapy now -- whose parents left for a month when he was 9 montha old -- and he deals consistently with abandonment issues that the therapists believes stems from that time.

Now maybe you think that's over the top -- but when a child is old enough to understand "Mommy and Daddy will be back in a few days" then I think it's OK to go. But before then -- your baby is totally dependent on your for a sense of trust and consistency in the world. For your whole family to vanish (which is how a baby experiences it) for five days (an eternity to a child who experiences their needs moment to moment) just seems unnecessarily harsh.

Bottom line - I'd -save Atlantis for next year. It's not going to give you alone time with your husband (schedule some date nights for that), go to a water park for your 7 year old (Atlantis is basically a big slide and beaches) and perhaps if you're near beaches, consider renting a beach cottage for a few days with the whole family. One gal's opinion!

When my husband and I went on our honeymoon my son (from a previous relationship) was 3 and he did just fine, I called him and talked to him on the phone and to find out how things were going, we were down in St. Maartin and I bought phone cards to call home.

We always travelled with DD ever since she was six months old. And I'm not talking about little trips around the US either. I'm talking big, international trips to places like Japan, Ecuador, Nicaragua. LOL! She's had a passport since she was 3 months old I think!

For us, we just can't imagine taking a trip without her. I mean, for us, a family vacation means the family goes. But then again, we aren't really ones to want "breaks" from our kiddo either. YMMV of course.

Travelling with babies is great. It's so incredibly easy. I actually wrote a series of blog posts about it that have a lot of tips and tricks on how we manage with a little one, especially in those challenging places like Nicaragua where amenities can sometimes be primitive. Travelling in the 3rd world with a baby. Not for the faint of heart, but not really that big of a deal either. ;)

Here are the posts I wrote. Maybe there's something in there that will help you.

http://knockedupknockedover.wordpress.com/2010/12/31/trav...

http://knockedupknockedover.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/trav...

I would leave him. You'll all have more fun and your daughter would probably relish some time with you two. He'll never remember!

My vote is to go to Atlantis, leave the baby with your trusted friends and ENJOY yourself and DO NOT feel guilty (missing the baby is not the same as feeling guilty) . At 6 month old I really don't think he will feel abandoned; he will have good caregivers who will be providing not just his basic needs, but love and attention too. I think taking him with with would be very difficult and would limit the activities you would be able to do at Atlantis.

If it were us, we'd take him with us. We went on a 3 week camping trip in 4 states with all 5 kids 12 months all the way to age 17. Our youngest doesn't travel well but he adjusted. Try to bring snacks. and bring toys that he's never had before and books for the trip. If you're nursing him, you can nurse each side over and over if you're trying to get him to sleep when he's fussing. If you did decide to leave him, then go for it without guilt. You're only looking out for your family. You're not being selfish.

This is why you keep work at work and home at home. :-) You have to do whatever you're most comfortable with. If you leave him with your friend, you have nothing to be guilty about. He would be in good hands. If you bring him with you, then you roll with the punches. There's no wrong decision here.

Personally, I would be bringing my baby. I just couldn't have left any of my daughters that young for that long, and for us vacation means spending time with the entire family. I wouldn't leave anyone out due to their age... and if age were a factor then I would adjust the trip to accommodate everyone.

But I have some friends who do take vacations and leave their kids with grandparents or an aunt and just take the kids the next time.

Leave him and GO! He can go next year, right?

Hi there! Just my opinion here, but I think I would go without baby. Would a baby even remember if you were gone for 5 days? I don't really believe that, but that's just me. It's rough taking a trip with a little one. It's not really fun when it's so tough. I say go and have a blast with your 7 yr old! This is something that she will remember forever! A special trip with mom and dad. You'll always have plenty of years for vacations as a complete family, I promise it will be great. But at six months, he won't have fun or remember and you guys won't have fun because it's gonna be alot of staying in the room with the baby. Being gone a month is a whole lot different than being gone for 5 days. It doesn't make you bad parents at all. Don't let other peoples judgments bother you. Judgmental people are the worst! They don't live in your shoes so don't take it to heart. My husband and I went on a trip for 3 days when my oldest was 9 months old. She stayed with my MIL. 3 days isn't so different than 5 days. It was totally fine and she has no issues now. She is a completely confident, loving 13 yr old. But it's your choice, you are the parents and you know what works for your family. Don't let others insecurities influence you. Be confident in your parenting, and you'll be just fine. If you decide to go, have fun! I've been wanting to take my girls there for a long time. It looks really great. SO jealous!!!! :)

I assume your are not breastfeeding?
Because if so, would you be pumping on the trip to keep your milk supply up? Or you may get engorged/leak, etc.

My vote isn't for taking the baby, my vote is for not going to Atlantis. i would wait a year.

have you lost your mind? go outside and take a deep breath. you have the opportunity to leave baby with people you competely trust and actually have a holiday? do you have any idea how lucky you are! say yes, thank you to the caretakers and go have a nice time. really

Just leave the baby home. Everyone will have more fun and the baby won't care.

Everyone is different. Personally I've only been on a two night getaway from my toddler once. I was only 2 hours away. Not a big deal as he was with his dad and had a normal routine and the break was great for me, even though I missed him! I now also have a 2 month old. There is no way I'd get on a plane without either or both of them for 5 days. I think if I tried, i'd regret it as soon as I got to the airport. Besides, would there really be a large amount of hanky panky with a 7 year old around? I say take the whole family and plan a close by weekend for you and hubby with NO kids! Good luck!

I would leave him and have a BLAST with your 7 year old! Reuniting with the baby after the trip will be very sweet as well :)

Don't let colleagues make you feel guilty - they're just jealous you're getting a baby free vacation. : )

Sounds like you already have your answer. If you're lucky enough to have friends who you can trust with your baby, go on vacation and relax and let your 7 year old enjoy some "mom and dad without little brother" time. He'll never forget that you did that for him. Also, as long as you have phones you will always know what's going on at home, and your little one won't remember that he didn't have mommy around for a couple of days when he was a baby. Have a good time and remember that parents do this all the time.

I honestly feel that it would be best for all of you to leave the baby at home. Should you decide to take him with, here are a couple of tips that might help. Make sure he has something to suck on during plane takeoff and landing. Your 7 yr old should be given a lollipop or sweetie to suck on too (that's because of the change in air pressure - their ears might feel sore or blocked if they don't have something to suck or chew on). Ask your pediatrician for "travel sickness" medication for your kids. Even if they don't normally suffer from travel sickness, better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it! Most of the medicines for travel sickness actually make the kids a bit sleepy and that might help with the crib problem. When you book your seats ask for a cradle for your baby. Most airplanes have at least one row of seats close to an area where they can attach a special cradle, Find out about it in plenty of time. Also, if you have enough time, try and get baby used to a foldable "travel cot" at home. It would probably be easier to settle him in the hotel if he has a familiar cot and "blankies" or special toys etc. Have a fabulous holiday no matter what you decide! :)

There's nothing wrong with giving yourself and your hubby a break from baby, depending on how long the separation is. He's young enough that he's not likely to have much in the way of separation anxiety or acclimation to care-giver (and back) issues.

If you think you'll feel too guilty to enjoy the trip without him, however, how about considering an alternative vacation spot? Consider going to a ClubMed. They have terrific kid clubs and baby clubs. You can spend as much time as you want together doing family things, but can also enjoy some time without kids doing what you want to do, while knowing that your baby is well cared for, and your 7-year old is enjoying tennis, archery, snorkeling,treasure hunts, crafts, tubing, kayaking and flying trapeze with kids her age and wonderful counselors. Sorry, no water slides, but when we were there a year ago (alone -- kids are now 18 and 21), it looked like they have installed an awesome play structure.

Our personal favorite ClubMed is Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. They have the widest range of activities and serve a very international crowd (lots of French, Dutch, and Germans), so it doesn't tend to have the loud drunken party atmosphere that most of the clubs in the American zone have (like Cancun and Ixtapa). We first started going when our son was 2, and took both kids when he was almost 6 and our daughter had just turned two. Both kids had a blast. After the first day, we hardly saw our son (he preferred to hang out at the mini club and turned into quite the little circus and trapeze artist). After the second day, our daughter would cry until we dropped her off at the petit club, and then didn't want to leave. It is pricey, but they frequently run specials and you can get good prices if you work with midweek arrival and departure.

As far as getting baby to sleep on the plane, I know it sounds wicked, but you can give him a little baby antihistamine, which will make him sleepy.

Leave the baby, it will be fine. You need the break. It will be good for your 7 y.o. to have some undivided attention. And think of all things you will be able to do that you wouldn't if you took the baby. We took a 4 day cruise with the older ones and left the baby behind and all was totally fine. Good luck.

I personally would not have been able to leave my baby at 6 mo. old for a vacation. In fact, she's nearing 3 and hasn't been away overnight without one of us. Part of that is just where our family lives and part of that is that we choose take her along. We took her to Bermuda on a cruise when she was 10 mo. old and she went camping earlier that summer.

If you are on the fence, would you feel better taking him and YOU being the one to deal with his upsetness or would you be OK with someone else doing it? For me, a week if I've never left my kid would be too long, but you know if that's too long for you.

The other thing is to help your son sleep in different places before you go and reserve the right to make a decision later.

You should go on the trip without the baby. It sounds like the trip could be stressful for the baby and for you, which would make it extra stressful for everyone. The fact that you have such wonderful people to take care of the baby means this is meant to be. If you were to leave the baby with people of whom you were concerned, then my answer would probably be different. Leaving the baby home will be better for the baby and for everyone. You will miss the baby for sure, but you can still enjoy your trip.

Don't feel guilty go have fun with your husband, your realtionship with your husband is important to whole family, happy marriage means happly kids too

I would leave a detailed routine list and go!