Trip to Italy with a 2 year old

I'm thinking of going to Italy for 10 days in October with my sister and my DS - who will be 2 at that time.

We are going to get my Aunt and fly back with her - hence the short trip.

However, I'm a bit on the fence about going with DS. He is a very active boy - his attention span for something he IS interested in is like 5 minutes.
I can't imagine what would keep him settled and quite for 9 hours.

Plus, I would be on anxiety mode the entire time there for the flight coming home if he was uncontrollable on the flight going.

I also am concerned about any day trips we do take while we are there. We definately want to see a few places and some family while we are there.

DS's nap would interfere with all of them. I don't want to ruin it for my sister and have to plan everything around his naps - which normally take place around 1:30 and can go until 3:30-4

I don't mind NOT napping him 1 or 2 days, but not the entire time.

So would you do it? Would you take the chance and take him? Or would you convince your mom to watch him while you went - which I'm not sure about either (not sure my mom wants to watch him for 10 straight days - DH works all different hours, my mom watches DS while we both work. So it would be easier to leave DS there M-F)

Re: Trip to Italy with a 2 year old

I am not sure this is good advice but I would go with him

I would not leave him for 10 days, I think that would be really hard.

I think that it would work out and if it meant that in order for him to nap you skipped out on some day trips but your sister went with family then so be it. I mean even if you are "stuck home with him napping" yOU ARE IN ITALY, who cares

Re: Trip to Italy with a 2 year old

im with diamond girl!

scarf down a few cannolis while everyone else is at the vatican lol

Trip to Italy with a 2 year old

We went to Europe when DS was 22 months old and he was pretty good during the flight. My whole carry on suitcase was filled with snacks, coloring books and wrapped $1 toys and cars. He played for 1-2 hours, slept for the remaining 8. He run around the airport for 2 hours so he was really tired.
His naps there were all over the place as well. He was sick the whole time and the day before we were flying back he got an ear infection, but I couldn't imagine not bringing him with us. Overall we had great time.