Things to do in Las Vegas with a toddler
 

I realize Las Vegas is not the ideal destination for a 16-month-old, but nonetheless, we are planning a trip in early March to attend a family reunion. We will be there from Sunday-Thursday. Any recommendations on where we can take our 16-month-old daughter? Thanks in advance.

The Bellagio fountain, Secret Garden at The Mirage, and Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay are some possibilities.

HTTY

Do you have a rental car? You say "we" just you and the child or you, the child and a significant other?
Three places to consider not too far away- Red Rock Canyon (West on Charleston), Valley of Fire (N on I-15 then east) which can be combined with Hoover Dam. The tour down inside Hoover Dam probably is not for a child that young, but just walk across the dam into Arizona and take some pictures.
Remember to take and use sunscreen. You can get sunburn in March. There are several other LV threads about where to stay-eat-see in town etc.

I would also add Forumn Shops to what the above posts mention. All good ideas for you and your child.

Definitely agree that LV is not for a child that age- but obviously you have no choice.

Not sure that Red Rock and Valley of Fire is really great for a toddler.

You might have a look at the lion habitat at the MGM.

Also I would check the concierge at your hotel to find out where the playgrounds for local kids are.

People with kids live near LV. I would look for a playground/park with swings etc. that the locals take their kids to for a little change from carriage/car seat time. Look for a hotel that has a pool with a very shallow end.

Thank you all for the tips! Tomfuller when I say "we" it's me, my husband, and our daughter. We will be driving to LV, so we will have a car. And yes, nytraveler, LV would not be my choice to take my daughter, however that is where the reunion will take place. Thank you again for the tips and I'm glad that we will have our car to take some day trips.

Actually, I had rather take a 2 year old there, than say an 8 year old. At least the 2 year old won't really know or remember anything going on.

Huh? Planning vacation activities around a 16 month old? And why not Vegas? What would be a better destination, Disney World?

A 16 month old can splash in the pool, play with blocks, enjoy toys, books and playgrounds just about anywhere. There's a zoo in Vegas, a children's museum, lion cub habitat and the waterfalls and wildlife habitat at the Flamingo hotel. The city has many parks and playgrounds. A 16 month old can have a book read to them or receive a new toy in just about any city, why would Vegas be any different?

Over-stimulation at too young an age at places such as Disney World has been found to be a cause of night terrors as the child gets older, just like sitting them in front of a violent or startling tv program. Not to mention that these activities take away from the developmentally important activities that a child should be doing in the first three years. I'm amazed at parents who seek out something to do every weekend with a one year old while at the same time never knowing all the things that children should actually be doing. For instance a child can learn a foreign language in the first 5 years, but if you try to teach them in the following ten years it is much much harder. But parents today are more interested in finding a clown, a reptile wrangler and a cinderella castle for the one-year-old's big birthday bash. Is the bash really for the child, or is it for the parents?

Sorry to rant but you are on your way to a family reunion. Let the child get to know the family, that's all you have to plan!

>Huh? Planning vacation activities around a 16 month old?<

Perhaps clark wouldn't have had a hissy fit if he hadn't created a straw man to slap around.

HTTY

Las Vegas is pretty big and we don't know where you're staying, just pushing a stroller from one hotel to another will be a chore. The forum shoppes in Caesars and the Mirage check-in area both have nice little aquariums to look at. The lion cub habitat at MGM would be a treat and the mini-penguins at the Flamingo habitat are sure to impress. I have heard good things about Lied Discovery CHildren's Museum and the Natural History Museum in Vegas (but the latter would be for older children). I hope you're not staying in one of the hotels that requires a half-hour walk through the casino just to get to the front entrance...even in this day and age most of the casinos are quite smoky.