Here’s the two-and-a-half year old, running away from us while we try to do some local sightseeing. At least he makes sure we get our exercise!
I haven’t figured out exactly where we’re going yet, but I’m planning a big family trip this summer. If all goes according to plan, this will be my two-and-half year old son’s third trip to Europe. He went to Spain and Portugal at 11 months and to Sweden and Denmark at 20 months. Both trips went off without a hitch and all three of us had a great time. But can we pull it off again without a hitch — with a two-and-a-half year old who’s cheerfully entrenched in Terrible Twos?
Well, we’re going to find out! The trip probably won’t be easy, but it will be wonderful. In a woe-is-me moment, I asked some of the top family bloggers how they think we’ll fare with a two-and-a-half year old and which age is the toughest, in terms of travel?
You’re Past the Worst of It… Stop Worrying So Much!
“I think after they begin to crawl but before they walk well is the toughest — they want to be mobile, but you are often in places where it isn’t appropriate or safe to crawl around.” — Debbie Dubrow of DeliciousBaby.com
“[The hardest age for travel] is 18 months! They want to walk everywhere, you can’t reason with them, they aren’t as easily entertained as infants…they are just mobile enough to cause a lot of worry! Age 2 is my favorite… for everything, not just travel!” — Colleen Lanin of Travelmamas.com
“I thought it was hard when they took two naps and when they were crawling but 2.5 years of age was actually a pretty fun time to travel with.” — Hillarye Fuller of DottingTheMap.com
You’re Right, This Is Going to Be Tough…
“I’ve got a 2.5 year old who is extremely challenging and has been for the past six months. I’m actually glad we’re in a non-travelling period at the moment because day-to-day life is hard enough as it is. Travelling with him as a baby was simple but things started to go south at about aged 2. I’m praying that age 3 is going to be easier than 2… please somebody tell me that it is!!!” — Bethaney Davies of FlashpackerFamily.com
But Smooth Sailing Is Right Around the Corner
“2.5 is still tough on road trip but once they hit 3-4 – easy peasy.” — Adrienne Veglia Mazeau of AlbanyKid.com
” I found 2.5 very wearing. She hit 3 and things got sooo much easier. I solo-parented in France and Switzerland last year and then again this year in Australia. Our Australia trip was fantastic. Europe was hard work. Still fun though.” — Barbara Adam of TheDropoutDiaries.com
Maybe Not Exactly Around the Corner… When Does He Turn 5?
“For us 10 months to 3 years was the worst. I couldn’t stand all the stuff I had to carry: the bottle/binky for take off, the blankie/stuffed animal that HAD to travel with us, the car seat, the stroller, the diapers, the wipes, the entertainment items, the snacks, etc. Plus we had to contend with naps or eating at just the right time (or all the time) so the kids weren’t cranky. I felt like beach-type vacations were the best and if we could rent a house, that was even better. I would say ages 5-12 were definitely our sweet spot. Everyone pees in a toilet, doesn’t nap, can stay up a bit past “bed time”, doesn’t require a kids menu, and goes and does everything pretty much without protest.” — Dana Howard Freeman of FindandGoSeek.com
“I’ll tell you, I feel like I really hit my travel stride when kids were 5 and 7. No diapers, no naps, they could pull their own rollerboards, no tantrums, they were delightful in restaurants and, most importantly, they could DO stuff. We had youngest on a zipline in Mexico at 5. It only gets better, as they get older (now 11 and 13). Truly truly.”— Kara Skruck Williams of TheVacationGals.com
Just How Many Two-and-half-year-olds Are We Talking About?
“A single 2-year-old was pretty easy. Three kids under five was a whole different story. Really, though between 2-4 was when we started making choices to leave kids at home for certain trips. That really was a big deal for us as a family who touted traveling with children was possible no matter the age. Of course, it is possible, but is it palatable? Sometimes we chose to grin and bear it and sometimes we chose to leave a kid at home.” — Jessica Bowers of SuitcasesandSippyCups.com
It’s Not Him, It’s His Baggage
“My problem with traveling at younger ages wasn’t the kids, it was the stuff we had to bring with us. Flying and handling infant car seats, those huge toddler seats, and strollers when they were tiny was ridiculously difficult. Now that they are both in boosters and can carry them themselves (on their backs like jetpacks!) traveling is so much more fun.” — Amy Moore of Everything-Everywhere.com
Actually the Worst is Yet to Come
“The tween years- Our kids our now 17 and 22- and quite honestly the most challenging years were when they were starting to want to have a say in everything we saw and did! 0-5 was easy!” — Sara Broers of TravelWithSara.com
So the Consensus Is…
That there is no consensus! But we all love travel and will keep doing it until it gets easier and then harder and then easier again.
Which age do you think is the most challenging for travel?
Definitely 12 months til about 20 months!
Andrea, Passports And Pushchairs recently posted..The Toddler Patdown
My youngest is only 18 months, but that was the hardest age for her sister and it’s been super-hard with the youngest. Three and four have been pretty easy.
Deanna recently posted..In Seats
I thought that one and a half (plus or minus a few months) was the absolute worst. By 2 1/2, plenty of kids are potty trained and need less travel gear. And, they will usually have enough of an attention span that electronic devices will help, even if you are facing some defiance from the terrible twos.
Leslie H (tripswithtykes) recently posted..Should You Buy a Seat for Your Child Under Age 2?
I have a two and a half year old right now and it SO much easier. His good behaviour has me checking out all kind of flight specials. Eighteen months old – not so good. Definitely the worst age for travel for both my kids.
I think that first trip, at any age, is always really difficult. So get that out of the way as early as possible so that you aren’t dealing with the learning curve of traveling with a child and a child at a developmentally difficult age.
I, too, though, think that the stage between crawling and walking is horrible.
Ann recently posted..Rotterdam Architecture Inspired Kids Art: Wordless Wednesday
I actually just posted a story about an event that happened when my son was 2.5! I thought it was the worst, until (at 9.75) yesterday he told me that he doesn’t want to travel so much anymore…uh oh.
http://first2board.com/thedealmommy/babies-toddlers-and-flying-the-real-poop/
Yes, I’d have to agree on that one. Mine is older now and I cringe when I look back on those days. It got much easier from 3 onward.
Traveling Dad Tim recently posted..Aegean Peace at 4reasons Hotel in Yalikavak, Turkey
I don’t remember any age as particularly difficult… but my youngest is now 11, so I might have conveniently forgotten any troubles in the past 🙂
I love all of these quotes lol. As you know, my summer travel is already over, so I am super-jealous. Make it happen! It’s funny — with babies, it could go either way. Either they are cake, or they could cry for eight hours. With a two and a half year old, you’re guaranteed a fun time. 😉
Abby recently posted..Mixed feelings on Coco’s growing up
We have just passed the 18 month mark and travel has become a whole new experience. On the plus side, it’s nice that he’s walking and curious. On the negative, he won’t stop falling and running into things!
Cam @ Traveling Canucks recently posted..Photo of the Week: Medieval Prague Castle at Sunset
We have traveled with ours since they were 9 months old – just threw the family in the back of the car and drove, stopping off at campsites or pensions depending on the weather and availability.
The oldest is 6/7 now and we have not yet found a difficult age but I guess it is because they are used to it.
Ersatz Expat recently posted..How to get around Astana