Melissa

I am enjoying hearing about your positive travel experiences SO much! I always remember this one horror story about traveling with a child. My husband and I went to the Grand Canyon (something I thought was truly amazing.) There was a boy who was on the bus, I'd guess he was about 7 or 8, and he refused to get off the bus because he wanted to play with his Game Boy. The parents were pleading with their son to get his butt off the bus to get a look at the Grand Canyon. I said to my husband then, I guess once kids come we'll be Disney-bound until they leave home. It's so great for me to hear that this unfortunate incident was an exception, not the rule, and that so many of you have had such memorable and positive traveling experiences with your children.

Medic

To Micia: You must not have read the parts about the low air quality on planes and how it deprives the infants' organs of oxygen (including the brain). There have been many studies of the air on jets and they ALL have come up with the same result--the air quality on jets is detrimental to the health of infants. Even the simple thumb test for oxygen in the blood comes up low after a short while.

Medic

To Micia: Sorry, forgot to mention that pregnant women would also be well advised to reconsider flying, because they, too, are not receiving enough oxygen and that affects the baby.

ilisa

Well, Medic, my ped and OB/GYN, considered to be among the best in the Washington, DC area, have no problems with infants and pregnant women flying. I suggest you let the women on this board use the judgement of their doctors.

Dawn

I too have to pass my thoughts along.., start as early as you can with traveling and going out with your baby. That is the best way they will be come adjusted to it. <BR> <BR>Melissa, a new pahse of your life is only beginning with your first child, and if you allow it.., it can be the most rewarding experience of your life. <BR> <BR>I have been traveling with my daughter from the time she was 3 months. She is now 2 and already has been to 11 countries..., she is an absolute joy to travel with and it gives my husband and I a new outlook on wherever we are. We do not pack our trips with hundreds of things to do and see. Fortunately, my husband loves to reserach all the places we are going to visit and is able to map out a daily activity for everyday. But we always leave a little bit of down time to just relax and let my daughter play. This past summer, on the playground outdside of Notre Dame, my daughter met the cutest French boy about 3 years old..., they played for an hour.., and probably couple have played for longer, but his mom had to leave. We have a beautiful picture of the two of them on the seesaw, and another of the two of them holding hands with Notra Dame in the background. <BR> <BR>Traveling with your children is one of the best rewards.., seeing their faces when the clock tower bells ring, or watching them interact with other children, when they don't speak a word of the language is beautiful. Makes me wish more people could act this way toward each other. <BR> <BR>Keep your pace slow, and remember that you are on vacation..., and you, your husband and your child will have a great time. <BR> <BR>Congratulations on becoming a parent!

Grnmere

My niece just took her 9-month old to Italy. Her daughter did just fine, but mom and dad were tired most of the time from lack of sleep and schlepping all the equipment everywhere. The best part was a laid-back week at a villa in Tuscany, where they could approximate normal family life and not have to scramble for diapers, laundry, etc. The baby isn't walking yet, which was good and bad: good because she didn't take off by herself at bad moments, bad because she had to be carried or stroller'd everywhere. <BR> <BR>I would have been overwhelmed by taking a kid that young, but my niece's husband is far more helpful than most men of my generation, which I think makes a HUGE difference. <BR> <BR>Otherwise, absolutely DON'T wait 20 years, but you might wait 'til your child is 3 or 4 at the youngest and 10 or 11 optimally. (Teen years get dicey with Attitude, but can be fun, too.) <BR> <BR>Finally, think seriously about taking a mother's helper, esp. if you have more than one child. That way you and your husband get to do "grown up things" in the evening or get away during the day to see a "boring" museum.

kim

As you can see, children can be a joy to <BR>travel with, and we do it often with our <BR>2, ages 6 & 10. But don't forget about <BR>the possibility of travelling without them. Our big trip this year was to Tuscany, just the two of us. We sent the kids to vist Grandparents in another <BR>state for their own vacation. We all had a great time, and appreciated eachother just a little bit more when we were finally back together. We celebrated by taking a "mini-vacation" in our own city the following weekend, staying at a hotel downtown, and seeing the sights. Next year it's Ireland for all of us. Can't wait!

Mom

IMO waiting until your child is 10 or 11 and then adding that teenagers are difficult to travel with doesn’t leave much in between, just a few good years. Start going places with your child young, particularly local places like the local museums so that when you fly off to wherever it won’t be a completely alien experience. We go to the art museum, the Children’s Theatre, gardens all at home as well as while we are vacationing. We started travelling with her young, and I hope that when our daughter is a teenager going on vacation with Mom and Dad doesn’t sound like the worst thing in the world. We’ll have to wait and see. <BR> <BR>We haven’t had trouble with my daughter’s ears during landing and take-off. Now she is old enough to have a conversation with us and on our last flight she looked up at me during take off and said “like that, Mommy”. She was referring to the sensation of acceleration. Her ears didn’t bother her at all. Some adults have trouble with their ears and some children have trouble, but that does not mean your child will. It also doesn't mean your child won't, though. If that's the case, as the stated before offer your child something to suck on to reduce the pressure as you begin to take off, and if that doesn't work crying will reduce the pressure too. <BR> <BR>I am undecided about the merits of the oxygen levels being safe or not for infants… It my understanding that it really is more of a concern for people with underlying medical conditions and very young babies. In spite of my “don’t worry” attitude, I actually am an extremely cautious parent. At this point, I feel like the minimal risk would be far outweighed by the experience of seeing new places. I am going to bring it up at our next visit to the pediatrician’s office, though. I recommend that you talk to your child’s pediatrician, too. If your family pediatrician is like ours, he/she will be helpful about every aspect of your child's life. <BR> <BR>Good luck with everything. I hope that you enjoy traveling with your child as much as we do. <BR>

Grnmere

"Mom," take it easy: you read my comments way too narrowly. I said MAYBE wait 'til 3 or 4, that 10-11 is optimal, and teenager years are ok too, assuming the Attitude thing doesn't get in the way. That leaves a 15+ year range, the way I figure it. <BR> <BR>I also think, in case it wasn't clear, that traveling with more than one is a vastly different experience than having an only child. Another reason not to wait, if you are planning another one at some point.

Mom

Grnmere, I didn't mean to sound like I was being anything other than amiable and I apologize if it sounded otherwise. Really, what I hope the OP gets out of all of this is that all children are different. I agree, though, that a vacation with a 10 year old must be different than one with a 2 year old. My daughter is not quite 3, so I have awhile (and hopefully many trips) before then.

x

Travelling with children is great, but don't think you'll get to do the same things you would have done alone. For example, most people go to Monte Carlo to see the Casino. We saw the (absolutely wonderful) doll museum. In Puerto Rico, we went to the children's museum in San Juan. You know what, the locals were there with their own children and we got a chance to see a side of their life that tourists don't usually see. It was great.

nancy

Melissa, <BR>As you can see, eveyone has different ages. <BR>We went the first time this summer. <BR>Children 13 and 10. <BR>Trip was great, children had a good time, and it was easy. <BR>It might have worked if they were a year or two younger, but , personally, I would not have done an abroad trip earlier. <BR>But, this would have been more an issue of finances. <BR>You just have to keep in mind your child's age, and tolerance for things, and remember, that with a young child, one always has to adjust one's expectations <BR>(from that pre-children reality , to a child on) <BR>This is not bad, it just is. <BR> <BR>You will soon find out <BR>Good luck, and enjoy!

joan

Mr. Go: <BR> <BR>I'm sure your child is the most behaved child ever to wander through Europe. You said and I quote "Our child had a Grand time but I can't imagine most of her friends lasting past day 2 without big-time whining" - how judgmental of you!! I wouldn't presume my child who is 7 years old too and have been to Europe 10 times (at an average stay of 2 1/2 weeks each time)that any of his friends wouldn't have a great time!!

Matt

I'm an American who has lived in Europe for 3 years now. My family has spent 7 weeks on 6 vacations. We have learned from these experiences how to travel with kids. Number one, get them used to it. Our kids have almost no problems during the entire day because they are used to it. They think it is normal to walk around for 6-9 hours in a strange city/place. We give them lots of goodies, point out things to them, let them chase pidgeons, and almost always find a park to eat lunch so they can run around. They are only 2 and 4. One big tip I have for visiting Europe with kids is this. Either stay in a centrally located rental home outside the city, or find an apartment instead of a hotel within the city. There are tons of vacation rentals homes & apartments in Europe, and they are very affordable and very comfortable. If you want to enjoy Europe with kids, make sure to "culturalize" them right away. Show them paintings, sculptures, buildings with enthusiasm and they will probably catch on also. Our little 4 year old loves churches with angels and Jesus. She'll say "daddy I want to show you something" and then take my hand and lead me to a picture or something. It's amazing.

julie

Matt, You wrote: <BR> <BR>"Our little 4 year old loves churches with angels and Jesus. She'll say "daddy I want to show you something" and then takes my hand and leads me to a picture or something. It's amazing." <BR> <BR>This is such a great thing you are doing with your child. Many parents take their children to the works of art that the parents think they should like. Children see things differently than adults do. I think that it is great that you are allowing your child to find things that interest her and respecting her opinion. Because she is interested in what she is seeing she will be well-behaved in museums and on trips. <BR> <BR>I think that most children give their parents problems at museums and on trips because they are dragged around to things that the parents like instead of being allowed to discover and examine what they are interested in. <BR> <BR>