pepper131

ccalhoon -

Looks like you've found the best place for your needs. And by the looks of it, you've been researching for a long time; it's time for your vacation.

SB_Travlr

I'm thinking this is a mindset problem: once you have a baby/toddler, you just can't expect that your vacations will be the same as they were pre-baby. Been there with my own children, and more recently with my grandchildren.

If you are not prepared to watch your little one constantly, then you have to have someone you trust absolutely who will do that for you. (Helper, nanny, au pair, relative.) Resort child clubs have a minimum age limit for those very reasons... and bad things sometimes happen. Toddlers generally are not so much into playing with other children -- they are much too self absorbed!

One suggestion: maybe a cruise would be a better option? That way, you unpack once and find a different island outside your window each day. No worries about where to eat, or medical care: it's there with you. Some cruise lines make a point of being very family friendly.

doug_stallings

If you are looking for a place with a program dedicated to caring for young kids, you could also look at Almond Resort on Barbados, an upscale AI that has a very good reputation for children's programs (and their sister resort on St. Lucia). I've visited both and saw many younger kids in these programs.

FDR Resort in Jamaica has one of the best offers for families in the Caribbean. You get a dedicated nanny to care for your child during your entire stay. This resort, however, isn't as upscale as Almond.

There are good alternatives in the Caribbean if you remain open-minded. And if your main concern is food- and water-borne illnesses, then you have little to be concerned about in most Caribbean destinations.

In Mexico, Puerto Vallarta has some good options, but I don't like the beaches there as much ... Pacific beaches are just not up to the same standards as the Caribbean and the water is rougher there to boot. But the resorts are nice.

SAnParis

My advice would be to go wherever you would like. Right now it appears that you have a serious case of "paranoid- about-my-first-child-leaving-my-sight disorder" which is very common. After the trip you can come back & laugh off these posts as no tragedies will have happened & you will have had a great time @ the beach w/your little guy. Trust me, been there (w/my wife), done that...Enjoy your trip.

snowrooster

Interesting, I did not get that impression at all given the plans are just to drop the baby off in some sort of program. A one year old really doesn't do a whole lot of playing with other children - it's more side-by-side play at that age. Why not just put up a beach umbrella with a blanket underneath? When our kids were that young they got pretty tired after just a little time at the beach and would just doze off in the shady spot we created.

SAnParis

Again, all kids are different, my kids have always scoured the beach searching for playmates...of course, my 4 year old is quite a Socialite & I am certain that, in her mind, that she is closer to 24. My 17 month old is always right behind her, regardless, & has been since before he could walk.

GoTravel

Do kids programs even take one year olds?

SAnParis

I know of none. At that age I would think you would be looking at individual nannies, or something similar.

diann

I can totally understand your concerns with the children. I would look into perhaps turks and caicos. Beaches has a great kids club. They cater to families and the beach is wonderful. I would also think there would be a qualified Dr. on site at the facility. Also the Gulf side on Florida is not at all like the Atlantic. The 2 times I went there the water was murkey and cloudy. Not my cup of tea. No waves and a total bore. I didn't care for it at all but to each his own.

suze

I understand and honestly would not take a child that young to Mexico myself either. But that doesn't make Mexico (especially Cancun!) a third world country (I mean this kindly, so do give us a break too, it was not a very nice or informed comment you made).

OK then... Why not go to Hawaii and stay in one place? There's nothing that says you need to rent a car, or get dressed up, or eat out every night, or be on the go all the time. You could get a condo somewhere, hit the Safeway, then just relax. And I'm no expert, but don't they have all-inclusives in Hawaii? There you would have no worry about food, or water, or language, or currency.

suze

I also think the U.S. Virgin Islands is a nice suggestion. Maybe St. John?

ccalhoon

Sorry about third world county comment, I used the wrong wording in trying to ask my question. I get it!

We want to take our child with us on vacation, but because of the heat I didn't think I would want him on the beach all day, or maybe he isn't going to like the sand or water or whatever, he'll be 16 months at the time and who knows what will happen - so I am trying to cover my bases and have childcare available if we need it and I want a childcare facility like setting, not one on one care. So I found a resort in Cancun that has that - a Baby Program for children starting at 18 months. If we decide that our son in comforatble in their facility and we trust the staff, we can have him spend a couple of hours there. I don't care if he plays with the other children - face to face or side by side, I simply want him cared for. They can read to him for two hours. He is very social. If it works out that he wants to play on the beach all day and the sun doesn't bother him, then great.

I am simply trying to prepare and be informed about all of my options. I have left my son at home with my husband for 5 days while I traveled for business. We aren't crazy about leaving at home with relatives or babysitters, we want to take him with us at this point.

I will be talking to Ped about the trip and getting his advise. I haven't been to a hospital or clinic in Mexico or Caribbean, or I don't know what they are like to feel comfortable with them treating my child. That is why I am asking these questions.

joan

But your baby still won't be old enough for that program - you said the minimum is 18 mos, and your child will only be 16 months. Right?

Also, I think if you're willing to consider Cancun, then those all inclusives on Jamaica and T&C would be similarly safe. I hear great things about those island nannies. There is a great poster on the Caribbean board, Tivertonhouse, who has helped many families find just the right fit. Have you corresponded with him yet?

ccrosner

If it's at all helpful, ccalhoon, my in-laws used to spend several months in Mexico every winter. My father-in-law is a physician and was always eager to have his kids and grandkids visit; however, he felt that children under the age of 3 were not the best bets in Mexico given the water situation. Harder to watch that they didn't drink it or somehow get it in their mouths. And he put all of us on antibiotics before and during our stay to avoid the problem. I was the only one who had a minor problem one night (bad cramps). Other grandkids visited when they turned 3.

I have no idea how it will be in Cancun. They stayed in San Miguel de Allende and stopped going last year due to the lack of good health care facilities (and these people were RABID about SMdeA). Even though he could supervise/advise, they had problems with bad lab testing once (misdiagnosed my mother-in-law with having a parasite when it was actually Crohn's disease) and bad suturing once.

We travel to St. Croix each year in part because it is US and we know there is a good hospital. But even there (or here) you can have problems.

Good for you for taking your child on vacation with you. We like having ours around and have found that they learn quickly how to be good travelers and good restaurant eaters. Now at ages 12 and 10 (and for many years before now) they are great to have with us. But we do sneak off without them sometimes too

JimM

Have you given any thought to Bermuda? No, it's not the USA but it's certainly not a 2nd or 3rd world country.

jamie99

Are you thinking of staying in the Cancun hotel zone because the majority of those places have water that is already treated and is OK from the tap. But bottled water is everywhere and very plentiful and inexpensive, I always have a couple of liter bottles with me and in the car and in the fridge (we always rent rooms with fridge in Riviera Maya). I have also read about a product for children you can get at all pharmacias and grocery stores called Pedialyte.

Have a good trip, busy planning my next.

snowrooster

We went to Cancun several years ago (pre-kids) and I was very sick the entire time. I've been all around the Caribbean (St John, Jamaica, Aruba, Grand Cayman) and never been the least bit ill (for what it's worth).

suze

I r-e-a-l-l-y don't think you want to go to Cancun. I don't think from your posting that you would be comfortable traveling in Mexico.

caribtraveler

You're making the assumption that all Caribbean islands are the same. They're not. Options that come to mind Grand Cayman, St. Martin, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, St. John (USVI).
Bermuda is a good suggestion.

GoTravel

May I point out that there are some hospitals in the US that are much worse than hospitals in the Caribbean?

And I know many MDs that practice in the US that went to med school outside the US because the competition was so great here in the US?

ccalhoon, I'd head to Miami. They have outstanding medical facilities and warm clear water.