Scared.... very scared.

[deanimal]

I understand being nervous, but you honestly couldn't have picked a better trip for a first time with a toddler! We did a (non-Disney) cruise when our oldest was nine months old and then our first "real" family vacation on DCL when our kids were three years and 20 months old. Is it WAY more work and stress than travelling as a couple? Of course! But then again, just getting out of the house is harder once you have kids so I'm sure you already know what to expect.

The flight will be long and stressful, no doubt about it, but once you're unpacked and settled into your cabin you've got it made! Don't try to plan too much and be prepared to go with the flow. Make sure you check out the water play area; that was one of our favourite things to do with little ones. Bring lots of favourite snacks since I found it hard to find familiar things like fish crackers and cheerios on the ship. If it gets too hot outside the cabin and lounges are always the perfect temperature so you don't have to worry about the heat. My 20 month old probably spent several hours over the course of the cruise just wandering around inside and going up and down the halls. You see so many new details when you go at toddler pace!

We started travelling when our kids were very young and some people thought we were crazy since it was so much work and they wouldn't remember it all anyway. But now we've got a six and a seven year old who've been on five cruises as well as three different continents and 15 different countries. They are totally comfortable on planes, cars and trains and going through security is a breeze; we don't even tell them what to do anymore. I guess what I'm trying to say is the stress and hassle of travelling with toddlers totally pays off, it sets you up for a lifetime of great memories. It only gets easier if you get in the game. If you keep waiting for travel with kids to get easy without actually doing it you may end up with teenagers who've never gone anywhere or done anything their whole lives!

 

[FigmentSpark]

The hardest part will be the flight. If you've bought a seat for your little one and are planning on bringing a car seat (make sure it's airline approved, so you can use it), then you'll have a much easier time with the flight. How do you entertain your child at home? Make sure you can keep as much of that routine on the plane as possible. There will be naps in that time. Settle you child down and let the nap happen. Bring books or toys or treats or all these things. Make sure to have a bottle or at least a soother sucking during take off and landing. It will help with the ears.

If you haven't bought an extra seat, it will be a little harder for you, but at least there's the two of you so you can take turns holding your little one. All the best. It'll be fine.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't think it's any different than any other 18 month old

Agreed. Everyone seems to think they have the WORST baby or toddler the world has ever known, LOL.

and honestly I've never seen anyone post here that their very young child had seasickness.

Same here.

They are a handful at that age and having an 18 mo can be like flying with a raccoon in your lap.

OH I do hope they bought the baby a seat and will be using a carseat!

We had one set of flights when DS was 17 months and it was awful. Just awful. First flight we realized how stupid we were for taking pre-boarding. On the flight home we were one of the last onboard just to reduce the time he had to get bored and I had to exhaust my arms. And it was only a 4 hour flight... We were glad that he had aged out of lap-baby-hood before our next flight, and were glad to have to pay!

I'm not even sure toddlers can get seasick? I'd assume their world is already full of a LOT more motion than an adults, all that being picked up, carried, swung around, pushed around, etc, etc.

Often thought the same thing. Plus, how would you KNOW?

Hopefully she'll decide to sleep for most of it.

Well, the issues with that are....

If you don't have her separate seat, someone has to hold her. Which means, unless the holder and baby are the most perfect fit ever and you can recline the seat, the holder can't sleep. If you do have a separate seat and she does sleep, then I hope it's a night time flight and both adults can sleep at the same time. Because otherwise you've got sleepy parents and a kid raring to go. And if it's a daytime flight and she sleeps through the whole thing...oh boy.

I wouldn't worry even one bit about the cruise, but be prepared for an active, no-sleep flight.

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

I've been on one couples DCL cruise with my spouse before, never with a child.

This September, I will be onboard with my 14-month old who has yet to travel. Am I nervous? Yes. I think it comes with the territory of the unknown. I don't know what traveling with a 14-month old will be like. Like your child, right now mine is all over the place - crawling, cruising, curious, going, going, going. But you know what? At the end of each day she will be exhausted and happy. Don't overbook and let vacation happen.

I think it will be 100% fine if you let it be fine.

That being said, what cruise will you be on? Maybe we can help the nursery fear by having our kids meet up there. I plan to utilize the nursery a handful of times.

 

[BigredNole]

The only things to worry about are those things you can control. No reason to worry about those that you cannot control. It is a waste of time.

 

[st0nehedge]

This will be my sixth cruise, fourth on DCL. All our previous cruises have been just as a couple. This time however, I’ll have my 18-month baby with us.

As September approaches, I’m getting more and more scared. I wouldn’t say she’s a hard baby, but my goodness, she never stops, apart from to sleep, which we’re lucky is 12-13 hours per night.

I’m scared of the 9 hour flight to get to Florida, I’m scared of her getting sick before hand, I’m scared she’ll be terribly sea sick, I’m scared she won’t settle in nursery, I’m scared she won’t be able to stick the heat of the Caribbean.

So many possible things to go wrong. Help me, I’m starting to go crazy (and I’m trying to hide it from my wife, as I keep assuring her that everything will be ok).

Arghhh

For the long flight, I highly suggest having babe get their own seat (not lap seat...) and bring their car seat. It'll save you sanity in many ways. We recently traveled with our <2 y/o but got her own seat and used the car seat. She was used to it from the car and it was perfect for when she zonked out on the plane.

 

[hamm1207]

We're right there with you! We're cruising with our little one in November and she turns 1 on the cruise. I can't speak for the cruise, but to just suggest going with the flow and being flexible; however, try to stick to your child's normal schedule as much as you can.

Flying--that one I can speak about. We flew from Alaska to Pennsylvania when my daughter was 3 months old. Since then (she's just now 6 months old), we've flown to California & Arizona. We've also been in the car for hours on end (driving to DisneyWorld, Virginia, and other areas in Florida). I highly suggest your child's on seat on the airplane for a few reasons: 1) Safety-it's safer for your child to be in their car seat than in your lap. 2) space-it's nice for them to have their own space on the flight, plus it's easier for them to sleep (if they're used to it) in their car seat and it gives you a break from having to hold them. 3) comfort--yes it's a pain to lug the car seat through the airport (i've done it a few times by myself), but it's comfy for them and it gives them a security blanket if they've never flown before. Many pilot friends (my husband works in the industry) suggested to me that I give my daughter something to suck on during take off and descent (as this helps keep her ears clear), and I've always had something ready but I've never needed it (she's usually asleep). Have plenty of stuff that you know the baby enjoys, and/or a few special new toys that are just for the airplane. Lots of snacks and maybe a water bottle to keep the baby hydrated!

The biggest thing that I've found with putting my baby in new situations is that she takes her cues from us. If we're nervous and acting nervous, she picks up on it and gets fussy. If we're easy going and having fun, she's calmer and happier.

Most important.....have fun! Let us know how it goes.

 

[2-pointdoe]

On top of everyone's great advice, a couple of tips for flying that I learned over the years:

as others mentioned their own seat with car seat but have one adult get on at early boarding with the seat, stay in the boarding area with child until the last possible time to run around instead of sitting the extra 30 plus minutes on the plan.

we had our layovers and plane changes be longer than normal to run around, eat, and play etc (some airports have great play areas)

bring an empty sippy cup for on the plane

if you child watches movies at home, bring a DVD player or other electronic they can watch

try and fly the red eyes so it is normal bed time

Above all else, remain calm as they will take their que from you and be prepared with a variety of stuff for distractions and don't forget to get up and walk the aisles frequently.

 

[ebradley23]

The first rule of traveling with a child is to breathe and relax. I know, easier said than done. Flight: Know your child will probably at some point get cranky and/or antsy. This is the reason you have a bag of tricks. Your bag of tricks contains new toys that you pull out one at a time. Don't give the whole bag of tricks to your child at once. Stickers are wonderful. Let your kid sticker up the entire area you are sitting if that keeps her happy. Just remove the stickers before you get off the plane. Playdoh also kept my son happy, and it's a quiet toy - win! Around 18 months -2 years, I started carrying our old iPad with kid headphones for my son. It was my last resort item though. It worked when he had been pushed to his travel time limits. Your bag of tricks should also contain treats. I can't remember the age I started giving my son gummy fruit chews for takeoff and landing to help with air pressure. It always set the trip off to a good start, though, when he got the treats early on. Not saying to sugar you child up, but even fruit made my son happy. Again, pull them out slowly over the length of the trip - about every hour. It's also okay to get up and walk the aisles occasionally.

As for the cruise, it's unlikely your child will get motion sickness if they don't steady get sick in the car. Imagine riding backwards in a car (I assume your daughter is still rear facing). If that doesn't make them sick, the the ship likely won't either. Now, if your child is prone to motion sickness that's a different story.

As for getting sick, stressing. About it now isn't going to keep it from happening.

 

[Sleepyluke]

IS the flight 9 hours non stop, or that the total in air and airport time? If combined, run around the airport and keep baby awake there and they will nap some on the plane making for a better ride for both. We have a 2 1/2 year old that has been on DCL twice. Is it different than our cruises before, yes, but it is a whole new experience. Go with the flow and if you need to take a nap in the shade while watching Finding Nemo on the funnelvision, then by all means do it! We did not do naps in the room, she would be worn our enough if we wrapped her in a towel she would curl up and lay with us. Crew is great and make it the easiest kid vacation ever!

 

[schmass]

It will definitely be different than the cruises you went on in the past, but I bet you'll have a great time! We took our DS on a cruise when he was 16 months and kept saying how a cruise is a perfect vacation with a toddler. It is just such an easy vacation, and DS was so happy the entire time we were on the ship. We just got off the Fantasy, this time with DS who turned 3 onboard, plus our 9 month old DD. We had a great time again! Tomorrow we'll be booking again, and our kids will be 4 and 2 for that cruise, and we can't wait!

 

[mom4fun]

If there is any possible way I would leave baby at home? That plane ride would do me in.