Have you ever gone on holiday without your child (toddler age)?

[Madissun]

Im supposed to be going to Bali at the end of March for 2 weeks. Toby will be 19 months old by then. But i really dont feel that i can leave him for that long! The closer it gets, the more i feel like i cant do it.

Toby will be staying with my mum (who we live with at the moment anyway and have done since he was born). So he wont have any big changes in that side of things ie., being away from home for 2 weeks. This is also one of the reasons for the timing of the trip as we will be moving out next year.

My biggest fear is that he will think im not coming back! The thought of this breaks my heart.

Is it worth going away for just one week to Bali? I've been there before but it was 12 years ago!

Has anyone else been away from their child when they were that young?

[myson]

I went to qld for 10 days when my girls were 2 and 5. To get them used to the idea we talked about it lots before it happened and stressed the coming back after 10 sleeps. they crossed the days off on the calendar while i was away. and i told them all the time i would bring back LOTS of presents for them! They were ok, and i had a ball. but i did miss them heaps.

[krysalyss]

I was away from DS (at about 18 months) but he was with DH and my parents. It was easier than I thought on my side although I did miss him a lot. I think it was helped by the fact that I didn't really have a choice in us being apart (why may differ for you if you are going on holiday) On his side he seemed fine but was rather clingy for a while afterwards. Being with people he was very close to obviously helped him and I haven't noticed any reduction in how close we are attached to one another (but of course some things may have effects that aren't noticed till later or may not be attributed to the original cause). He was unsettled for about a week afterwards but was also sick with a blocked nose etc so hard to know what it was from. He settled back down quickly once we were home again. Not sure I could do 2 weeks though. HTH

[Madissun]

Toby will be with my parents and i think that will help. But being 19 months old, i wont be able to explain to him when i'll be back.

I dont know what to do!

Maybe i should just go for one week instead.

I miss him when he's in childcare for a day!

[Isadora]

Can you not take Toby along? We are going away next March to Malaysia and we will be taking our 18 month old along. Like you, I think we would be stressing too much about her. Also we took her to Malaysia in Sept this year and she was so good. Would you consider taking Toby?

[Madissun]

Im not sure...He has a funny tummy and is lactose intolerant. Im not sure Bali would be the best place to take him either?

[~*Niadalla*~]

DH and I went on our honeymoon and left DS home with my folks for a week and with DH's for a few days.
DS had the time of his life! He knew we'd been away, but was thrilled to see us. I think it did him good to spend time away from home without mum and dad.
He was 14 months old at the time

[Madissun]

Thanks Niadla! Not many people seem to have done it! It's good to hear from those who have

[Isadora]

Hmm maybe not Bali then if he has a funny tummy, poor thing. Even in Malaysia my DD had a little upset tummy, it wasnt very nice. I guess a week wouldnt do him any harm?

[Madissun]

Thats what im starting to think MadsMum. I might just go for a week!

[squidipa]

have u got webcam? i would keep incontact regular via webcam, if i have to go away and cant take kids w set up webcam dates and it helps !! good luck!!

[lilima]

I reecently left DS (jusst turned 2) for a week as we had a wedding in NZ. DS stayed with my mum and had a ball. Didn't miss us whatsoever. To such a point that mum called me a few days ago and said she is going up to the holiday house for 4 days and could she take DS, so DS is away with his Nanna ATM!!!

[Meluchja]

No no no hun, go for 2, I bet you deserve it. There are a couple of things, I find help. My DH goes away often. ATM he is away for 6 weeks. Here are my tips

Set up a calendar that has a sticker (his favs) on the day you get back, and he can put a sticker on each day that comes and goes and he can see how long it is until you get back. It's not so much the day count down that he will understand but it will be comforting for him to hear your mum talk about you coming home IYKWIM. I got this idea from a very good friend of mine, whos DH is away a lot than mine, and she copes very well with a 4,2,1 yr old, my hero!!!

Another goodie is Skype. If you have a laptop with a cam you can take with you. It's free to set up and is great. My kids can see him whenever we are both at our computers for free, it's great.

But please go enjoy yourself for the 2 weeks, if not for you but for all us else on BB that wishes we could have 2 whole weeks to ourselves

[squidipa]

I reecently left DS (jusst turned 2) for a week as we had a wedding in NZ. DS stayed with my mum and had a ball. Didn't miss us whatsoever. To such a point that mum called me a few days ago and said she is going up to the holiday house for 4 days and could she take DS, so DS is away with his Nanna ATM!!!

yep thats what we did getmarried there too :0 lovely place

[~Amy~]

We just picked our kids up last sunday after they had been away for a week with their nan & pop. Mya-Rose is 3 & Bodhi is 1 1/2. We also left them for a week back in august of this year(with nan & pop). They love it. Have an absolute ball. They get to do heaps of things they dont do with us & all attention is on them the whole week.
We are going on a cruise in feb next year, so they will be going again for either a week or 10 days.
I think it would be harder on u than on him

[Madissun]

Oh ladies... Thank you

I've decided i WILL go. It will be so hard, but im going to use all of your ideas to make it easier.

Its been changed now from March to May, so he'll be that little bit older so maybe i will be able to explain it a little to him.

[Beckibee]

No no no hun, go for 2, I bet you deserve it. There are a couple of things, I find help. My DH goes away often. ATM he is away for 6 weeks. Here are my tips

Set up a calendar that has a sticker (his favs) on the day you get back, and he can put a sticker on each day that comes and goes and he can see how long it is until you get back. It's not so much the day count down that he will understand but it will be comforting for him to hear your mum talk about you coming home IYKWIM. I got this idea from a very good friend of mine, whos DH is away a lot than mine, and she copes very well with a 4,2,1 yr old, my hero!!!

Another goodie is Skype. If you have a laptop with a cam you can take with you. It's free to set up and is great. My kids can see him whenever we are both at our computers for free, it's great.

But please go enjoy yourself for the 2 weeks, if not for you but for all us else on BB that wishes we could have 2 whole weeks to ourselves

I'm with you hon on both the calendar & skpe/internet camera points I recently did my dream trip to the UK & Ireland for 3 weeks this past March/April. At that point Maddy was just over 2. We kept a regular schedule with Daddy working and doing the drop off/pick up at daycare for Maddy (I went overseas with my friend). We had scheduled times that I 'rang' them on Skype and Maddy loved it - in the morning 6am Australian time as they were getting ready for the day, and at night at 6pm their time as they were getting back into the house. She'd have a chat to me over the camera and I sent them regular parcels with pressies etc.

I missed her like crazy, but DH did a fantastic role keeping her entertained and I'm not sure she missed me all that much with being spoilt by her Aunty & her grandparents.