suzq_trvlr

Our next big trip we're planning on taking will be to Hawaii in either the spring of 2007 or the spring of 2008. In your opinion, would it be better to take this trip with a nine month old or wait until they're a year older? Of course, I want to go as soon as possible, but I don't want to drag my child to Hawaii and make them miserable either. I really don't want to leave them at home. Any experiences or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

jcb

Hi Suzq -
My vote is for taking a 9 month old vs a 21 month old. At 9 months, the baby won't be as mobile and will probably sleep more. The older the baby gets, the more independent he/she will be. FYI, I took my 13 month old to Kauai last year, and we had a great time.

SAnParis

Anytime is fine, I am of the belief that the younger they start, the easier/quicker it is for them to adapt. My daughter first traveled to Europe @ about 9-10 months, also @ 20 months & also to various parts of the US & PR. We're off to Montserrat next month (she is now 3 1/2) w/her younger brother in tow (10 months).

kelliebellie

We take my daughter to Florida for Christmas every year, so we've traveled with her now at 6 months and 18 months.

Pros and Cons of each

9 Months - Pros
Food - formula and baby food are easy to prepare on the road.
Travel - it is easier to keep them on your lap during the plane ride
Time Change - it might be easier with a small baby who naps a lot anyway and is in less of a routine

Cons
Tough if they get sick
The amount of gear you have to travel with (although I just saw a really cool travel crib at www.onestepahead.com. It is called the pea pod or some such thing)

21 month old - Pros
You will have more fun with the kid at this age. They will be into the beach, swimming, and giving you more feedback about the good time they are having. And you have to pack a lot less.

Cons
They are going to complain more when unhappy. And feeding will be harder, especially if you have a picky one. And the plane ride will be hard with a little one that wants to play.

highflyer

Go next spring! My kids love to travel and think nothing of getting on a plane these days. We've taken them on flights since they were 9 months old and the younger you start the better.

Hawaii isn't a third world destination and you can and should pare down the baby stuff to the essentials. Mine slept with me on vacation at that age (no need for crib)...one thing I'd be careful of would be sun exposure (hats/sunscreen/cover up, keep them in the shade, hydration and avoid the beach between 11am and 3pm (good times for lunch, an afternoon nap, etc)

tetrabit

Go now! But then again it depends very much on how easy your baby is. Ours was very easy, hardly cries and loves being outdoors. Our son was 8 months also when we went to Kauai. We brought the pop-up tent with windows(fits 5 people), formula and baby food (cheaper on the mainland)...but you can definitely buy it there also. Make sure the pop-up tent has a built-in UV protection on the material, most don't. We stayed at the beach all day and took turns snorkeling (we love snorkeling)!

We rented a condo and stayed in one place, instead of multiple destinations like before. We also brought his playpen for him to nap, sleep. It was not too much trouble if you plan really well.

We've now considering taking him to Europe, but will see...We'll be going to Hawaii again this July.

Also, we checked in his playpen but brought his infant car seat and snap-n-go stroller on the plane. There was a spare seat (we booked a window and aisle seat). Just before boarding, we left the stroller with the flight attendant. When we landed, we went a got the stroller and plop his car seat on it. It was pretty easy!

Have fun!

MaureenB

From our experience traveling with our kids, I'd say the younger age is better. Once they begin walking, you've got a handful keeping them in their seats on long plane rides. I think 9 month olds might be easier to entertain on the plane and might nap more, too.

suzq_trvlr

Thanks for all the encouraging comments! I thought the younger they started the better, but I'm glad to have some backing when I try to convince my husband of this, lol!

tetrabit - I know! Believe me, I have squeezed in just as many trips as absolutely possible with my DH since we got married six and a half years ago, but now it's time to start traveling with kids. Hawaii just happens to be next of my list!

amwosu

The kids never slowed us down. I actually did a 24 hr driving trip with a 3 month old as a start. At 6 months we were in Florida and so on and so on. I would much prefer to take a nine month old than a 21 month old for my own sake (never mind what the kid thinks!)

missypie

I'd take the 9 month old. Flying with a 21 year old "lap child" is a huge pain. By the time they're 2, you're more than happy to buy them a ticket!

This baby hasn't even been born yet, has he/she?

aileen679

The timing didn't dawn on me....just wait to do your planning and then you won't have a big disappointment if the 9 month old baby isn't the type that travels well. At that age, two of mine would have been walking and refusing to sit in a lap. One of my grandchildren sceamed bloody murder the whole time he was confined to a seat. He never got used to sitting in one. Didn't like riding in a car either.

Go ahead and make plans if you want to, but keep in mind that quite a few babies simply don't travel well. It's not a case of them getting used to it early, it's a case that they are very active and want to go, go, go, all the time. You can't very well allow your baby to crawl on the dirty airplane floor if he/she is not walking. If he is walking, that means you will be up walking with him.

Of course, if you really really want to go, you can have him sedated. Some parents do.

Fodorite018

Regardless of when you take your baby, PLEASE purchase a seat of their own! Turbulance, much less an emergency, is not something you want to encounter with such precious cargo on your lap.

GoTravel

Ditto. Please purchase a seat for your child.

You wouldn't let your child ride in a car unrestrained.

canterbury

I say go as soon as possible. The sooner you start training your kids to your lifestyle, the easier things will be.

And always buy the child a seat. It was a financial struggle for us in the early years but worth the peace of mind.

POlson

We've taken several long trips with our little one and I echo most of the comments here:
the younger you start the better (ours is nearly three and handles airports and planes very well) and the more you travel with kids the better you get at it;
9 months may be slightly easier than 21 months due to mobility issues(but agree that each has cons);
buy a seat (I've found that she is more likely to sleep and stay seated in her own carseat);
our young one seems to prefer staying in one place rather than the multiple stop destinations

girlonthego

I would go with the younger child. We flew to Hawaii with our daughter and she was around 14 mos old. I was five months pregnant at the time with number 2. We are going back this spring with them and they are 13 and almost 12!!
My daughter was a great traveler and still not walking. She rode around in one of those cheesy strollers you can bring that cost 10 bucks and throw them out at the end of the trip. She slept with us. She was still on formula (she had trouble with milk). She ate simple foods. It was great! I remember ordering her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from room service and the chef called to see what kind of jelly the young lady would like. He had every kind, but grape!
I also flew with her on my lap from the east coast and would not recommend it. It was a long flight and there was no available free seat for her either way. 14 hours with a child on the lap is uncomfortable and not exactly safe.
That is up to you though.
Go young and have fun!!

suzq_trvlr

Thanks for all your replies and sharing all your experiences! Nope, I'm due in June, but I'm pretty much a travelaholic and I'm already itching to start planning another trip, lol!

I definitely will buy them a seat. Not only for the obvious safety reasons, but for comfort reasons. I do not want to carry a child in my lap for that long. That just seems utterly miserable to me.

tetrabit

Go now, much easier later...because it will depends on your baby. Also more hectic later...especially since you're only 5+ months pregnant. You can still snorkel but probably not scuba...?

Same here, I'm also addicted to travel, squessed in two Europe trips before getting pregnant. Then went to Alaska at 3 months pregnant and Hawaii at 5 1/2 months...hiking and snorkeling every day.

Then did a road trip to Lake Tahoe and San Francisco when baby was one month. Also numerous other trips like Vegas (althought stayed away from Casino areas, no shows etc...). Kauai at 8 months, did easy 2 hr hikes with baby on my husband's back.

We're thinking of fitting Europe in before we start trying for the next baby...?

Have fun and don't stop traveling! It is a little different but not that much inconvenience.

StephCar

Suzq_trvir, I say do BOTH trips. lol. But seriously, each age is so fun, and each age comes with a different set of challenges as well as joys. Seeing a toddler experience the ocean for the first time is a lot more fun than trying to keep a 9 month old from simply eating sand. But I also agree that 9 mos is much easier to travel and entertain. They don't really have strong opinions that young, or at least I should say mine were very portable at that age.

I have two darling boys that are almost 2 and 4 in May. We are going back to UK this summer, it will be my 3 year olds 3rd trip! He has been flying since he was just a few weeks old, since our families live on opposite coasts. My 2 year old is the same, and they are both so adaptible. I love travelling with them, and as they get older I am sure it will just be more fun too. This summer we are so excited to take our 4 year old to some castles. As they get older it seems you can do more things.

We were travel addicts before we had kids, and I am constantly amazed at how we remain, well....travel addicts! However, we did just take our first trip to Hawaii ALONE a few weeks ago. It was a nice change too.

Congrats on your baby in June. You are about to embark on another wonderful journey!

wliwl

"training your kids to your lifestyle"

Ouch! This is a family not a dog pack.

I suggest that in order to thoroughly enjoy your kids and their childhoods you plan trips when they are young that you will ALL enjoy.

Torturing kids on extremely long flights, just to get to a beach (that's their point of view) is senseless.

Save the money for their college funds and do things that are simple and fun, where they can play, run around, enjoy other kids and family.