Las Vegas with a toddler
 

My husband and I have been to Las Vegas several times before our daughter was born. She is now 2 1/2 years old and we would like to take her with us. My husband enjoys the sportsbooks and I enjoy limited slot playing, shops and the pool. Most messages posted are very negative about taking a child to Las Vegas. Is there anyone who can share some fun positive advice?

Sorry, but I can't think of any positives on taking a toddler to LV. I see plenty of young children there being carried or dragged around (or pushed in strollers and running into others), and I always feel so sorry for the children and wonder what kind of parents would drag their little ones to Vegas. I enjoy Vegas a lot and can understand why you want to go, but my advice is wait awhile if you really want her to go with you. I can't foresee the trip being enjoyable for either you or your child. Just my opinion...I know you wanted positive postings, sorry...

I agree. I don't think a toddler belongs in smoke-filled rooms. Las Vegas is fun for adults but NOT wholesome for toddlers. I'd say older children and teens could have a good time there, away from the machines, but why a toddler? Give it some thought....

I agree with the other two! I have seen parents sitting at machines and told to leave because they were holding their kids. Or seen some small child sitting on a stool over by the wall, alone because the children were not allowed near the gambling. Your children are going to remember vacations where they had fun with Mom & Dad, not sitting with a sitter or bored to death watching you gamble. Take time with them, they grow up too fast. Ours did.

Sorry, but I have to agree. As a resident I spend much time in local hotels and casinos, dining, seeing shows, etc. Many residents and tourists that I talk to agree that one of the reasons that they frequent Las Vegas hotels is to get away from children. Recently, Mirage, Treasure Island, and Bellagio have banned the use of strollers, even for hotel guests. Bellagio in fact, will not allow a minor inside the hotel unless they possess a room key. Don't bring your toddler to Las Vegas until he/she is old enough to enjoy some of the non-gaming attractions Las Vegas has to offer.

I agree, this is not a place for toddlers. <BR>

Bring the kid - she'll find plenty to keep herself busy in the casino. Let her put a few quarters in the slot. pull the arm a few times - no reason not to start her now!

Two words: Circus Circus. <BR>I disagree with the others. If you have access to Lexis/Nexis or another search engine look for news stories done in the past couple years about how child-friendly Vegas has become. You can find plenty to do for the entire family that has nothing to do with decadence and smoke-filled rooms. Have fun.

Yes, but Mom enjoys the slots...and Dad likes the sportsbooks....So who's watching the kid???? For some parents, one of the most difficult lessons to learn is that you really DO have to put your wants secondary - at least some of the time....Leave babykins at home if you want to go to Vegas (preferably with a relative or care-giver; or at least leave her some meals and instructions for how to use the micro). Otherwise....make plans for a vacation where you can ENJOY your little one, and she can enjoy your (undivided, more or less) attention.

I took my daughter when she was 7 years old. I did my research before I went and found that MGM was a kid-friendly hotel. My husband and I spent the day with our daughter going on shopping tours, seeing the Liberace museum, also they have a kids museum (hands-on) too. We also went to the MGM amusement park. Your daughter would love it. There are plenty of kiddie rides and shows. There are lots of things to do in Vegas during the day for a child. They also have a Cineplex next to the MGM. I believe it has 15 or so movie theaters. I am sure there is a least one kid movie. <BR> <BR>At night she would go to MGM's "King Luey's" daycare. It is one of the best run daycares I have ever come across. Go by there. They will offer you a supervised tour if you are a guest of the hotel. They have low kid to daycare worker ratio. They themed playrooms ie., movie room, nintendo room, art room, toy room, etc. Great Layout. They also feed your child for a small fee and also provide entertainment. Also the provide supervised field trips to the amusement park and the pool. I believe they have a game area so they can win prizes. If you want to take your toddler there is plenty to do with your child. I will let you make up your mind. My child was a little older but she enjoyed the experience. She wants to go back. No for gambling but we got to do all kinds of fund kid things. <BR> <BR>If you have other questions, you can email me personnally. I go to Vegas at least 2 to 3 times a year. <BR> <BR>P.S. I believe one of the Hilton hotel is considered friendly too. They have just as much activities as MGM. There are only 2 Hiltons there, I forgot which one. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps. Have good time.

Gee, you and your husband enjoy this and that with no mention of enjoying parenting your child. Most folks who are parents of small children "enjoy" being at home and PARENTING their children as opposed to enjoying themselves with "slotplaying" and "shop" and "pool". Such a shame for your child that neither of you count among the things you enjoy parenting and enjoying your child (a little angel, I would suspect). The reason most messages posted are negative regarding taking a child to Las Vegas could not be more obvious. If you want "fun", "positive" advice, why not put your little a angel up for adoption, whereupon she may likely receive the complete and total attention of a reponsible couple dedicated solely to HER needs and pleasures. Do the child a real favor and pass her on (shame on both of YOU) to people who will care about HER. Are you completely NUTS? I am completely serious here (obviously, YOU and your HUSBAND are NOT). If ytu "enjoy" - jeepers - "things" other than your child, please oh please let her go to folks who can't imagine concentrating on anything other that what's best for a very small and young person. SHAME ON YOU!

Shame, shame, shame, on you. Why you would not want to be comfortably ensconced in your own home with your adorable tiny baby is totally beyond me. You'd want to drag a baby along while you "enjoy" sportsbooks", "slotplaying", "shops"???Onee might wonder whether there is blood runing through your veins or somthing else.. Although, I personally can't imagine what. Can you? Please, oh, please, stand up to y0ur responsonsibilities and obligations. If you don't, you will never, ever, really enjoy yourselves otherwise. Shame on YOU!

THINK of your childhood. Surely you'd find it deficient in many, many ways. Is this what you'd want for your adorable and innocent child??? Please!

I think the previous posters are trying to give some good advice. Vegas is not the place for a family vacation unless you plan on leaving your kid with a sitter at night. <BR> <BR>If your toddler was a bit older--maybe. but 2 1/2? Tward, a child that age is not going to enjoy the Liberace museum, shopping, hands-on exhibits or the amusement park. If you want to go to Vegas with your daughter, fine-but don't expect it to be fun for her.

My husband and I visit Vegas often - we love it there. We now have a 20-month old daughter, and I would never dream of taking her there with us (maybe when she's a teen). We are headed there in July for a wedding, and our precious angel will be happily spending the weekend home with Grandma and Grandpa. Vegas is no place for children if you plan to spend time in the casinos and sportsbooks. Though they have tried hard to turn it into a "family friendly" place, LV always has been and will always be an adult playground. The casinos are too smoky for a toddler and too crowded. <BR> <BR>Take her somewhere fun for her, like Disney! Save Vegas for the two of you, when you have the chance to get away by yourselves. You'll be glad you did.... <BR> <BR> <BR>

I agree 100% with the previous messages that children do NOT belong in Las Vegas. It is an adult play ground. BTW, Hilton has 5 properties in Las Vegas, LV Hilton, Flamingo Hilton, Ballys, Paris, and now Caesar's Palace. None of these are child friendly. <BR> <BR>Either leave the child at home with proper care or sacrifice your own desires by skipping the Las Vegas trip for now.

As if you need one more agreeing opinion. But I'll respond because we did take a 3 1/2 yr. old and 11 mo. old last yr. One of my husb. older cousins was marrying there for the 2nd time, and it turned into a way to gather family from all around the country somewhere fun for the wedding. <BR> <BR>Anyhow, I never wanted to go esp. with the kids. And after taking them I still maintain that I never wanted to take them. We stayed at Excalibur, and though it has a great arcade area, it's not appropr. for 3 1/2 yr. olds let alone 2 1/2 yr. olds, better for older kids. Every casino was smoke filled, and you can't even stop with kids in stroller to watch someone play blackjack or a slot, they tell you to leave, which I agree you should. The pools are cold in winter months, so if you go in summer, that may be ok and enough to keep you occupied. <BR> <BR>But I'll agree with all others, it's not a place for small children. Go to the beach, or somewhere more family oriented, or leave her with family and go alone. We love traveling with our kids, so I know I wouldn't like that option. Sorry I can't offer support for taking her, but I have experience, and find that there are many other interesting/more appropriate vacation options for families.

Hey Lang family, Lighten up! <BR>I am in my thirties, but when I was a kid, my parents took my sister and I to Las Vegas. We had a great time. During the day our parents went with us to the pool, took trips to Hoover dam, and went to see Circus Circus. This was before Las Vegas even became "family friendly". Not much different than if you took your kids to a resort in Palm Springs or Scottsdale. In the evening, my grandmother would watch us in the hotel room, play with us, put us to bed, while our parents would go see a show and do some gambling. Kids had fun, parents had fun, children weren't abandoned. Is the MGM daycare that different than Club Meds kid clubs? Or any other resorts day care center? Probably not.

Gimme a break. <BR>Maureen, Kelly and Ralph are obviously the same person above. <BR>While I couldn't agree more that LV may not be the best place for toddlers, get off your holier than thou pedestal and open your eyes. You're only showing your immaturity with that kind of fanaticism. <BR>Once you've raised a few kids beyond their early teens you'll have a different perspective. Of course it's important to do everything reasonable to make sure your kids are safe, develop a sense of security, good self esteem, etc, etc. You will find two things, though. One, you can't possibly focus every iota of your time and energy on your kids and be an effective parent, and two, you have a lot less impact on how your kids ultimately evolve into adulthood than you probably think when your first is a toddler. You cannot be the best parent you can be without any exposure to the world beyond the space 6 feet around your kids. Parents need adult friends, hobbies, vacations and quiet time alone in the evening just like normal people. Everything must achieve balance in life. You can't drain yourself of your own personhood, and transfuse that into your child. And perfect parenting may, believe it or not, produce a kid that occasionally misbehaves, isn't always responsible, doesn't always get 100's in school. You can't force your kids to turn out to be what you want. And you can't be a good parent living in a vacuum.

I think the reason to keep a child at home is because we are living in a cruel world and most of these replies are a great example of that.