Going on vacation with baby

I keep reading all the vacation posts and it makes me want to book a vacation so bad. The only thing that I am worried about is when my dd is sleeping.

If we go on a cruise or to a resort every time she takes a nap (she naps for 3 hrs) or goes down for the night (which is at 8:30pm) we would be in the room with her. My husband thinks it is a waste to spend all that money to have to sit in our room so much. Just wondering what you guys do when you take your children on vacation with you?

Re: Going on vacation with baby

i plan on bringing the pack and play everywhere and having him sleep/nap in that.

He won't be my last baby, and I can't see putting off vacations for years till we are done making babies.

Re: Going on vacation with baby

That's EXACTLY why we go to Club Med now. Many of them have child care/day care centers on the premises, and for an extra charge, the day care teachers will watch your baby at night.

We were a little nervous at first, but it worked out great last time. The daycare is in the center of the resort so we kept popping our heads in to check on Alex in between activities. And because it's a family resort, they had a TON of activities for the kiddies, and lots and lots of GO's (they're like counselors) who just walk around all day and entertain the kids. If we took her to dinner and she started to have a meltdown, one of the GO's would come by and entertain her for us, while we could relax and eat.

And, you don't have to lug all your baby stuff with you because they have everything, including baby food. It gave us the much needed time to relax. I'm looking forward to it again

Re: Going on vacation with baby

I haven't done it yet, but a friend of mine did and she didn't want to adjust DD's schedule so they went to St. Thomas and stayed in a room with a really nice balcony so when DD napped she could relax on the balcony & read her book.

Re: Going on vacation with baby

My daughter is not one to go with strangers at all. Even if we are at a friends house and I run to my car for a second she has a meltdown so I do not think the daycare would work for us. That is a nice option though if you and your child are comfortable with that.

I know that these places have all this stuff and I would not need to bring anything I am just concerned about not fully enjoying the vacation because we are in our room a good portion of the day.

My dd is about 2 inches away from not fitting in a pack and play anymore so the pack and play would not work for us.

Re: Going on vacation with baby

Charlie is very easy and will nap anywhere. On vacation he napped very nicely under the beach unbrella (just like Momma)or in his stroller. I don't know if we would have had that luck had we been on a cruise though.

Re: Going on vacation with baby

I like Beth's idea....use someplace that has daycare....

OR stay somewhere close to home so it'es more inexpensive...maybe start her on a sitter/mother's helper and bring them along for the trip.

Or...keep making friends here in GA and everyone goes on vacation together and we all take turns doing the nap/bedtime thing

Re: Going on vacation with baby

We napped with her or watched TV at night. It wasn't ideal but it was still nice to go away. We also weren't super rigid about her schedule while we were away. We did go with family that did give us a break a few nights.
How old will she be? Maybe try just a long weekend away first and see how it goes.

Re: Going on vacation with baby

When we went away, they napped in carriages or blankets. It sounds absurd to go back to the room for 2-3 hours everyday. What do you do when you have other children and have things to do. You stop what your doing and go home?

Re: Going on vacation with baby

Right now I am some what flexible with her schedule but she needs her nap so whether it is at 1pm or 3pm she will sleep for 2-3 hours in the midde of the day and can not make it past 9pm in the evening. So even if I am flexible she will be sleeping at some point. She is almost 2 now so I can not imagine her sleeping on the lounge chair at the beach. She falls asleep in the car and stuff at home but I can't imagine her stopping playing and just drifting off on a lounge chair. (I wish)

I guess we will just have to decide if the vacation is worth it to us.

Thanks for the info.