Poll!! Anniversary vacation and toddler

[DisneyParkLover]

Hello! My husband and I are celebrating our 5th anniversary this fall. Originally we had planned on taking a cruise just the two of us, but we have considered taking a vacation with our son instead (Luke will be about 16 months). So we have looked into cruising with a toddler. Obviously DCL is the most child friendly, but it is over 3 times the total cost of another cruise line and I don't think Luke will get much out of it. So I don't know if it is worth the price difference. We could also take a trip to the parks, which would be more than the other cruise but less than the Disney cruise. So what does everyone think? Please respond to the poll and post below with any comments/suggestions!

 

[MandiC]

I think every couple, especially young parents, need time as a couple sometimes DH and I took our 10 year anniversary trip last year just the two of us and it really reignited us as a couple. So I am going to vote for a trip for just the two of you. Save the extra money you save towards a family vacation at a different time

 

[DSNY4ever]

I definitely agree with the statement above about needing "couple" time to reconnect...but how long of a trip are we talking? Can your son be left for however long you are planing and is there someone he can stay with who you and he are comfortable with for a long period of time? 16 months is still pretty little (I was still breastfeeding at that stage 1-2 times per day) and there is no way he would have gone for being left with someone for a long trip. I vote "WDW with Luke" and a couples trip later when he is older (or a short weekend getaway if you are desperate for alone time).

 

[cruisingtwins]

I would do a cheaper cruise line as long as thye have a great nursery. That way you can get some alone time as well as family time.

 

[DisneyParkLover]

Yes, we have family who are willing to watch him. If we went just the two of us it would just be for a short trip (4 or 5 day cruise). If we took a family trip we would probably stretch it a little longer. My concern with the parks is that it won't be a very relaxing trip. But my concern with a cruise is that there just won't be much for him to do and we will have a hard time keeping him entertained. My concern with a couples only trip is that I don't know how he will be at that age. How tough will it be to us to leave him? How hard will it be for the grandparents to watch him? And I didn't even think about the nursing piece! I plan to start weaning at one year, but I don't know how long that process will take.

 

[North of Mouse]

If you have someone very reliable to keep your toddler (mother, etc.) I would go for a 'daddy and mommy' alone time cruise. It is very important. Family trips can come later. If your child is like mine was, if they were with 'Grammy' they did not miss us at that age.

 

[Disneyaddictz]

Yes, we have family who are willing to watch him. If we went just the two of us it would just be for a short trip (4 or 5 day cruise). If we took a family trip we would probably stretch it a little longer. My concern with the parks is that it won't be a very relaxing trip. But my concern with a cruise is that there just won't be much for him to do and we will have a hard time keeping him entertained. My concern with a couples only trip is that I don't know how he will be at that age. How tough will it be to us to leave him? How hard will it be for the grandparents to watch him? And I didn't even think about the nursing piece! I plan to start weaning at one year, but I don't know how long that process will take.

My husband and I have two girls 4 & 10, we are both active duty and do not live by family. We take several family trips a year and go camping a lot! We started doing mom/dad only trips when our youngest was 10 months, it was extremely difficult to leave but we knew we needed it and deserved it. It's good for us for so many reasons and good bonding time for grandparents. It's not easy to leave but we flew my mother out for the week, knowing they were with grandma was the best part, we knew they were having a good time and we could too. Since them we have done three other mom/dad vacations. Each time we left a wealth of information, phone numbers schedule info, neighbors names numbers, everything! It went so smooth. You can do it! You deserve it, it's rejuvenating, you get to be a full time wife for a few days and not just mom your babies will see its not so bad when mom leaves and you always come home.... With gifts! We also prepared them we'll In advance. Good luck!

 

[Disneyaddictz]

I failed to mentioned we did two cruises with a toddler and swore never again! First cruise she wasn't old enough to go to camp so we tried again at 3 and still more "work" then enjoyable. Unless disney of course, both times we struggled to entertain the little one and couldn't just leave her in kids room for 10 hours a day! Never again, it was such a tease, oh and the pool during the day felt like the equivalent of having a child at a bar.

 

[EnchantedSurprise]

Personally I would have a hard time fully relaxing on a cruise without my little one, I like knowing I could get to them. If I needed some getaway time I would book an overnight (maybe 2) alone somewhere close, but go on a family vaca longer.

 

[MandiC]

We went on our trip when our youngest was 17 months old. Granted he had his older siblings with him (and my mom did mention that he would cuddle with one of his sisters each night before bed) but they do better than you expect. It's like dropping them off with a sitter/church nursery, they might be upset for the first few minutes but then they realize it isn't so bad and start playing. I weaned him at 15 months in prep for the trip (shortest I've nursed is 13 months, longest was 21 months) and it went well but I wanted to leave some time between weaning and our trip just in case. Really he wasn't nursing much at 15 months, when he weaned I didn't even become engorged once (once my kids turned one I do cut back on nursing to only wake-up, nap and bedtime...once they get used to that I only nurse if they 'ask', otherwise if they don't notice we don't nurse). I think it's healthy for them to realize mommy not being around isn't the end of their little worlds and I think it's healthy for moms to get a break knowing their little ones are in good hands