Leaving one kid at home and bringing other on cruise? Would you?

[tch121]

We did this for the same reasons in September 2015 - we left our older 2 with the grandparents and took our baby because she was nursing. It was a get away for the 2 of us and the baby alone was no problem. We talked up our family vacation that was scheduled for a few months later.

 

[Otimon]

Go for it!

 

[Naterfan]

Kick her to the curb, she'll never remember it. We did WDW when our son was four, and all he remembers of the trip is feeding the ducks.

 

[deanimal]

One quick thought: Did you travel with your first at all when she was 7 months or so? If you did and that age was truly easier for travel for you, then you have the information to make an informed choice. However, if the cruise at 1.5 months is your only point of reference for travelling with an infant, then it's possible that taking a 7 month old won't be quite as easy as you expect. We did a cruise with a nine month old many years back and while it was a great trip overall, we found it much less relaxing than we expected. If you truly want a relaxing couple's trip you might want to keep the option of postponing until they're both old enough to stay with the grandparents. And of course, as someone already mentioned, every baby is different and the "easy" stage for one might not be the same for another.

But I just mention this as something to consider. Do whatever is right for your family and don't let anyone try to guilt you about it.

 

[Little Doe]

I had a special needs child that could not handle a change in his schedule. There were times that I needed a break. If he loves being at grandma's house, go and have a good time. He will be loved and will thrive better in a situation that he knows.

 

[jahber]

I was willing to leave my 2.5 yo at home this upcoming cruise and just take the 6mo, 9yo, and 12yo. But my husband nixed that idea--I'm not sure why. We went to NYC without our first when she was 2. But anyway, he is a seriously hands-on dad, so he will be doing whatever it takes to make it a vacation for me as much as for the rest of the family. Namely, entertaining the toddler for a couple of hours a day so I can take a NAP!

As to sailing with a baby, we sailed when #3 was 6 months and it was easy-peasy. That's why I booked another cruise for as soon as baby #4 turns 6 months.

 

[Justacruiser]

We took a cruise recently with a 2.5 y/o little girl. It was the best time seeing her with the characters. Somehow it was probably more fun for the 6 adults that went along with her on her first cruise. I am fine with a parents cruise, but this doesn't sound like a parents only cruise. I say take both kids and if you want to take a cruise or a different type of vacation by yourselves some other time when both kids can stay with grandma and grandpa it will be fine. Enjoy your cruise whatever you decide.

 

[smiths02]

I wouldn't do it. But don't feel guilty. Many parents do this.
We preach family first and I couldn't take one and not the other two or vice versa. That's just me. My kids would totally debunk my family first speeches.
If it was an adults only trip that is a different story.

Enjoy your time with the baby. It will be the only time that he/she will be the 'only child' and that is special.

You shouldn't have shame, whatever you choose. You do what you want.
I wouldn't do it for two reasons.
---We either do a couples trip or family trip. We don't pick and choose which children to take on a trip.
We do have a large age difference in children...a 10 year old and twin 3 year olds. There have been Cub Scout trips for the older son that the little ones just couldn't go on...in that case one parent went with the older son and the other stayed behind with the twins.
---We don't do more than an overnight away from the kids until they are at least 3 year olds. That is just how we choose to do it. My 10 year old just spent a week with his grandparents (cheaper than summer camp), and he missed us so much. We didn't start the week away with grandparents until he was about 5 years old.

There is a chance that your 2.5 year old just loves the special time with grandparents. There is also a chance that the 2.5 year old misses you terribly and holds some resentment of baby for getting to go.

ETA: I didn't want to be dramatic. I didn't mean lifelong resentment, I just meant at the time.
I'm sure over the long haul, the 2.5 year old won't remember at all.

 

[Chandra C]

I'm currently struggling with similar issue. My 2 oldest are 11 and 7, but youngest will be 2 and a half. My husband says that he isn't going if we don't bring the youngest. She doesn't watch much TV and doesn't know who any of the characters are. From what I've read she's too young for oceaneers club. I'm afraid if pool area is crowded that she'll want no part of that. As of now though, she is booked to go with us. I just know that if I get on the ship and see others her age having fun, I will be so upset that I didn't bring her and then it's too late.

 

[tee11]

Oh, absolutely. Definitely not guaranteeing this second babe will be a dream. I'm planning to reassess next spring before the PIF date - can always add my other kid if she becomes a dreamboat traveler, or cancel the trip altogether if baby is really difficult!

Yes, definitely reassess. Don't label your to be 2.5 year old as a difficult traveler yet from the experience at 18 months.... Imagine you took her along, and she would totally surprise you! And yes, there are infants that definitely don't travel well, at all.

 

[tee11]

I'm currently struggling with similar issue. My 2 oldest are 11 and 7, but youngest will be 2 and a half. My husband says that he isn't going if we don't bring the youngest. She doesn't watch much TV and doesn't know who any of the characters are. From what I've read she's too young for oceaneers club. I'm afraid if pool area is crowded that she'll want no part of that. As of now though, she is booked to go with us. I just know that if I get on the ship and see others her age having fun, I will be so upset that I didn't bring her and then it's too late.

That she doesn't know the characters is totally unimportant, neither did mine. Rest assured, by the end of the trip, she will...!
Yes, she won't be in the club, her age group is in the nursery.

FWIW: My 2.5 year old had a blast on her cruise, still talks about it 2 years later!

 

[eangel12]

Personally, I wouldn't travel without my children. My husband and I talked about it before we had children. We traveled before kids and he called that "couple vacation". Now with our boys, we do "family vacation".

I have friends who leave their kid behind and take cruises, short getaways, etc. It really is personal preference!

 

[wombat_5606]

I'm afraid if pool area is crowded that she'll want no part of that.

That age is not allowed in the pool.

 

[RedSox68]

We never went anywhere without our daughter -- but then again, we didn't take our first cruise with her until she was nine! I would leave her and not feel guilty. Since she is so young, she (1) won't remember later that you went somewhere without her and (2) will have fun with whatever plans are made for her at home. They're so easy to please at that age with movies and toys and maybe a visit to a park or zoo. And go on your trip and have a blast and take pictures with your second little one and they can each have a scrapbook of their first cruises dedicated just to them!

 

[Chandra C]

That age is not allowed in the pool.

So, she is too young for Oceaneers club, not allowed in the pool. I know dh really wants to take her but it's sounding like there isn't much to do for her age group.

 

[VillainFavs]

Does she see time with her grandparents as something special? Are they the type that will spoil her, take her places, do things with her, keep her busy? Or are they going to be babysitters who don't remember how much attention a little one that age requires? And how well does she behave for them--especially for that long? I think some of your answer has to depend on that particular situation.

Also, even if you don't mention where you're going, how's she going to feel about the new sibling getting to go away with mommy and daddy and she can't go? It's hard to know now how she's going to be with the new sibling. Will she be jealous? Will this make it worse? Will you just be settling in as a great family unit and then she gets left behind?

But for us, we're in the all kids go or no kids go camp. It's family time or couple's time. And these are some the reasons why!

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

So, she is too young for Oceaneers club, not allowed in the pool. I know dh really wants to take her but it's sounding like there isn't much to do for her age group.

I just wanted to point out that there is no age limit on the pools, the only reason kids/babies are not allowed in the pool is if they are not potty trained or in swimmer diapers. However, for those kids on most of the DCL ships they have a splash pad that my little ones loved. I am not against you leaving her at home (as I stated earlier I have done the same thing) but just wanted to correct some misinformation.

 

[wombat_5606]

I just wanted to point out that there is no age limit on the pools, the only reason kids/babies are not allowed in the pool is if they are not potty trained or in swimmer diapers. However, for those kids on most of the DCL ships they have a splash pad that my little ones loved. I am not against you leaving her at home (as I stated earlier I have done the same thing) but just wanted to correct some misinformation.

There was just a thread that dealt with this. Seems there has been a change but no one has sailed recently and come back to post as to whether this is being enforced.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/ca...old-use-pools-on-board.3525438/#post-56070290

There is a link in that thread to the new language on the DCL website.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

There was just a thread that dealt with this. Seems there has been a change but no one has sailed recently and come back to post as to whether this is being enforced.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/ca...old-use-pools-on-board.3525438/#post-56070290

There is a link in that thread to the new language on the DCL website.

That's interesting, I guess that is new since we sailed in January and never heard that. Regardless there is still an option for younger children, they have nice splash areas that my older kids were begging to play in but couldn't because they were too old.

 

[wombat_5606]

So, she is too young for Oceaneers club, not allowed in the pool. I know dh really wants to take her but it's sounding like there isn't much to do for her age group.

We took our 2 1/2 year granddaughter and I think it wasn't my best decision. Now, don't get me wrong, we were on a Disney cruise and how can that not be fun, but.....

It just depends on the temperament of your child. My granddaughter is a very agreeable child with endless energy.

So as long as she could move around a little while waiting for the characters, she absolutely loved meeting and interacting with them. She had a fantastic time at Castaway Cay until it was apparent she needed a nap she didn't want to take. She couldn't sit still for the entire meal in the MDR, so someone always left early with her and that same scenario played out each time we tried the show. Luckily, Oma has been on several Disney cruises, so I was usually happy to take her out.

The first day using the Nemo Reef, some older child squirted the water feature right in her face, which she didn't like (and I'm sure didn't feel good). So, no more visiting that attraction for the length of the cruise! There is a new(?) rule that this area is only for 3 and younger and if that is enforced, it would be so nice. I fear that when the pools are shut down for cleaning, that the older kids will just head here.

Also, we didn't get to use the nursery. She developed a rash and we opted to not take any chances.

My granddaughter was unusually fussy on this trip and my daughter talked to other parents with young children who said their children were the same. I don't know if she was overtired, overstimulated, or suffered from some effect from the motion of the ocean.

So I'm sure you can have lots of fun as long as you don't go into the trip with just pixie dust in your eyes. Just be realistic. If your child is still taking a long nap and going to bed early, I'm not sure I'd do it, unless I had older children and there was no other way/time to cruise. Just MY opinion.