Holiday as a Couple Vs Holiday with a 1 Year Old
The One Little Bear crew have just returned from a week away in Majorca. Before becoming a parent I had often heard people say that once you have kids ‘a holiday is no longer a holiday’. Of course (naively) I thought I'd be different! I have no interest in sunbathing or lazing by the pool. I found the prospect of having someone to play with all holiday really exciting. I was wrong (obviously)…a holiday with a 1 year old is bloody exhausting! Here is an insight into our trip away, highlighting the difference between a holiday as a couple pre-kids and a holiday with a 1-year-old.
Packing
Holiday as a Couple - Start a few days before departure. Spend a leisurely afternoon trying on different outfits and accessories. Pack a selection of new outfits you've bought for the trip (you still have disposable income). Choose a stylish hand-luggage option, fill with beauty essentials, books and magazines. You'll also need an outfit, sunglasses and swimwear so you can be pool ready as soon as you arrive!
Holiday with a 1YO - Starts 2 weeks before. Pack for your 1YO first, select her several day and evening outfits plus extras. Fill your case with nappies, toddler snacks, toys and books. Pack as little as possible for your self. Now halve what you have selected for yourself! Re-pack 8 times as your toddler removes contents as fast as you can fill. Your hand luggage is now a baby change bag. If your phone and purse can fit in your pocket then great, otherwise you have no personal effects until you collect your hold luggage.
The Airport
Holiday as a Couple - Arrive in good time, check in, breeze through security, have a sit down meal with drinks, leisurely stroll around duty frees.
Holiday with a 1YO - Arrive earlier than needed, there is so much more that could go wrong with a 1YO in tow. Toddler has a meltdown in the massive queue for the bag drop. Get called to the front, not because they are being kind, but because everyone else in the queue wants to kill you. Once through security grab more toddler snacks and maybe a sandwich for yourself. Head to airport soft play.
Holiday with a 1YO - Arrive earlier than needed, there is so much more that could go wrong with a 1YO in tow. Toddler has a meltdown in the massive queue for the bag drop. Get called to the front, not because they are being kind, but because everyone else in the queue wants to kill you. Once through security grab more toddler snacks and maybe a sandwich for yourself. Head to airport soft play.
Flight there
Holiday as a Couple - Have an actual conversation with your partner, order drinks, read, listen to music, maybe have a snooze.
Holiday with a 1YO - Any movement is limited by having to strap a toddler to your lap. A Gin and Tonic is likely to be consumed or spilt by your infant and your tray table is now a portable art station. In the event of your child actually falling asleep - do not move for the rest of the entire flight! A full bladder, neck cramp and utter boredom is a much better alternative to a toddler tantrum mid-air!
Holiday with a 1YO - Any movement is limited by having to strap a toddler to your lap. A Gin and Tonic is likely to be consumed or spilt by your infant and your tray table is now a portable art station. In the event of your child actually falling asleep - do not move for the rest of the entire flight! A full bladder, neck cramp and utter boredom is a much better alternative to a toddler tantrum mid-air!
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| Plane nap triumph |
Arriving at the hotel
Holiday as a Couple - Check in, head to the bar or pool, relax and enjoy the start of your holiday.
Holiday with a 1YO - Step off the coach so stressed and fatigued that you absent-mindedly leave something important on board (which we did. And didn't realise till the following day)! Make your way slowly to reception as infant insists on carrying her own bag (pulling along the ground, scuffing it up as she goes). Once checked in and with your room not yet ready, realise you have nothing of use on your person as your hand luggage is full of Pom Bears. Attempt a drink at the bar as your child, who has now been strapped down for approximately 8 hours, runs riot around the hotel and you automatically get labelled as 'That Family' by other guests.
Holiday with a 1YO - Step off the coach so stressed and fatigued that you absent-mindedly leave something important on board (which we did. And didn't realise till the following day)! Make your way slowly to reception as infant insists on carrying her own bag (pulling along the ground, scuffing it up as she goes). Once checked in and with your room not yet ready, realise you have nothing of use on your person as your hand luggage is full of Pom Bears. Attempt a drink at the bar as your child, who has now been strapped down for approximately 8 hours, runs riot around the hotel and you automatically get labelled as 'That Family' by other guests.
Day by the pool
Holiday as a Couple - Wake up at your leisure, pack a small bag and head down for breakfast. Grab a couple of sun loungers, bask in the suns hot rays as you settle for a well-earned nap. Have a quick dip in the pool to cool off. Head to the bar for cocktails and repeat...
Holiday with a 1YO - You have been trapped in your room for 3 hours with an over excited toddler (they were up early obviously), trying your best to stop her breaking anything as the now dismantled hotel telephone is being swung about the room. You arrive early for breakfast as everyone else is still asleep. You return to your room as what was once a small bag is now a giant bag, bucket and spade, and inflatable boat. Grab a single sun lounger, it’s naïve to think there will ever be a point in the day you'll both be sat down. Spend 15 minutes reapplying suncream, changing in to swim nappy and all in one UV suit for your child to run to the pool, dip in their toes and realise it is far too cold and there is no way they are going in. Spend 20 minutes trying to entertain them pool side before deciding to move on, pool day over at approximately 10.40 am.
Holiday with a 1YO - You have been trapped in your room for 3 hours with an over excited toddler (they were up early obviously), trying your best to stop her breaking anything as the now dismantled hotel telephone is being swung about the room. You arrive early for breakfast as everyone else is still asleep. You return to your room as what was once a small bag is now a giant bag, bucket and spade, and inflatable boat. Grab a single sun lounger, it’s naïve to think there will ever be a point in the day you'll both be sat down. Spend 15 minutes reapplying suncream, changing in to swim nappy and all in one UV suit for your child to run to the pool, dip in their toes and realise it is far too cold and there is no way they are going in. Spend 20 minutes trying to entertain them pool side before deciding to move on, pool day over at approximately 10.40 am.
Day at the beach
Holiday as a Couple - Laze in the sun, read, listen to music, go for a swim, then back to relax.
Holiday with a 1YO - The amount of stuff to carry has doubled since your attempt at a day by the pool, you now have more toys and a sun shade. Struggle across the sand with pushchair and your hoard of stuff. Set up the sunshade, lay out toys, smoother child in sun cream. Entire process can take up to 1 hour, in which time you have completely forgotten to apply any sun cream to your self. Otherwise, you have attempted to apply in a mad rush and have missed large spots. Now dig...and don't stop digging until the end of the day! Leave exhausted and burnt (and with the massive hole you’ve dug totally unappreciated!)
Holiday with a 1YO - The amount of stuff to carry has doubled since your attempt at a day by the pool, you now have more toys and a sun shade. Struggle across the sand with pushchair and your hoard of stuff. Set up the sunshade, lay out toys, smoother child in sun cream. Entire process can take up to 1 hour, in which time you have completely forgotten to apply any sun cream to your self. Otherwise, you have attempted to apply in a mad rush and have missed large spots. Now dig...and don't stop digging until the end of the day! Leave exhausted and burnt (and with the massive hole you’ve dug totally unappreciated!)
Evenings
Holiday as a Couple - Relaxing meals out, drinks, conversation, more drinks, head to a club for dancing until the early hours.
Holiday with a 1YO - Sit awkwardly as you are 'That Family' with the screaming child that just does not want to be sat in a high chair. Try to ignore the fact that all surrounding tables are staring. Demand your child eats at least some bread as they push everything else to the side. Evening entertainment is now a mini-disco, with the same 5 songs each night that you will be forced to go up on stage and dance/sing-along to. These songs will now remain ingrained in your brain for weeks after you return. Remove your over-tired child from the stage as she screams for more, leave the bar looking like you have abducted said child as she wails flailing in your arms. Once back to your room, child (who was basically falling asleep on the stage) is now wide awake. Spend the next 5 hours trying to get child to sleep as the young adults you once were return to their rooms and you are walking the grounds of the hotel praying the infant will give in to sleep soon.
Holiday with a 1YO - Sit awkwardly as you are 'That Family' with the screaming child that just does not want to be sat in a high chair. Try to ignore the fact that all surrounding tables are staring. Demand your child eats at least some bread as they push everything else to the side. Evening entertainment is now a mini-disco, with the same 5 songs each night that you will be forced to go up on stage and dance/sing-along to. These songs will now remain ingrained in your brain for weeks after you return. Remove your over-tired child from the stage as she screams for more, leave the bar looking like you have abducted said child as she wails flailing in your arms. Once back to your room, child (who was basically falling asleep on the stage) is now wide awake. Spend the next 5 hours trying to get child to sleep as the young adults you once were return to their rooms and you are walking the grounds of the hotel praying the infant will give in to sleep soon.
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| Chu Chu Waa |
Day trips
Holiday as a Couple - I always make a point of escaping the main resort area whilst on holiday and exploring the country, the culture, traditions, foods and points of interest. I have been to some amazing places and seen incredible things. It's always my favourite part of my holiday. Just like LB, I don't actually like sitting down for long.
Holiday with a 1YO - My child is pretty open-minded when it comes to exploring and adventure. This was actually one of the easiest parts of the holiday. We took a trip to Porto Cristo to visit the Caves of Drach. Yes, she did have a meltdown in the caves, it was pretty intense and scary (dark, crowded and very steep drops). The reason for the strop was because I insisted she went in the carrier, as I said it was dark and very crowded. Once I braved setting her free she chilled out and managed to climb the 320 steps in the caves no problem. Well... she didn't have any problems, the people behind her that were not up for walking at a toddler pace did have a bit of a problem and we once again got labelled as - 'That family'.
Holiday with a 1YO - My child is pretty open-minded when it comes to exploring and adventure. This was actually one of the easiest parts of the holiday. We took a trip to Porto Cristo to visit the Caves of Drach. Yes, she did have a meltdown in the caves, it was pretty intense and scary (dark, crowded and very steep drops). The reason for the strop was because I insisted she went in the carrier, as I said it was dark and very crowded. Once I braved setting her free she chilled out and managed to climb the 320 steps in the caves no problem. Well... she didn't have any problems, the people behind her that were not up for walking at a toddler pace did have a bit of a problem and we once again got labelled as - 'That family'.
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| The many many steps LB climbed |
Return journey
Holiday as a Couple - Exhausted from a week of mostly lying down you have a snooze on the plane and get home completely refreshed from your week off.
Holiday with a 1YO - Your 1YO decided to go to sleep at 4am…and you need to leave for the airport at 7am. On arrival at the airport your extremely over-tired child is not up for waiting in lines and throws 2 tantrums before boarding the plane, then a 3rd, as you step on to the plane; the mother of all tantrums as everyone turns to look praying to God that 'That family' is not sitting near them! Eventually, exhausted from screaming, child falls asleep and you are again back to siting uncomfortably whilst breaking your neck for a wee but the prospect of another meltdown is far too big a threat. Once you arrive home, 'actually exhausted' by your travels, you have a stack of washing the height of Ben Nevis that simply can not wait till tomorrow as your 1YO has worn every item of clothes they have ever owned!
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Holiday with a 1YO - Your 1YO decided to go to sleep at 4am…and you need to leave for the airport at 7am. On arrival at the airport your extremely over-tired child is not up for waiting in lines and throws 2 tantrums before boarding the plane, then a 3rd, as you step on to the plane; the mother of all tantrums as everyone turns to look praying to God that 'That family' is not sitting near them! Eventually, exhausted from screaming, child falls asleep and you are again back to siting uncomfortably whilst breaking your neck for a wee but the prospect of another meltdown is far too big a threat. Once you arrive home, 'actually exhausted' by your travels, you have a stack of washing the height of Ben Nevis that simply can not wait till tomorrow as your 1YO has worn every item of clothes they have ever owned!
Please check out my Etsy Store - www.etsy.com/uk/shop/OneLittleBearLTD
Follow me on Instagram - www.instagram.com/onelittlebearltd
Follow me on Facebook - www.facebook.com/OneLittleBear/
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