How bad of an idea is this, because it sounds like a terrible idea. I don’t not personally want to have to watch a baby while I’m suppose to be relaxing and refreshing.
I can understand Florida or the Carolina’s, but Hawaii? We live in the Midwest.
I went with a 1 year old and had a great time. Definitely had to adjust my expectations a bit, though, sounds like you may as well. Relaxing / refreshing won’t happen anywhere with a baby.
Same. Hawaii can have some great chill vacations is you just plan around it. Rent a car and do car naps as you drive between places.
Damn you guys that rich you can just off and leave for a holiday 9 months into being parents? Just bring the nanny as well it'll be easy. /S Nah seriously that's a dumbass plan. You'll be stressing about he baby the entire time. The baby will be stressing because it won't have a stable environment. You'll spend heaps of money and get no enjoyment out of any of it. Save money and wait until the kids at least able to run around, play and enjoy things with you before going on long distance trips. I hold 2.5 as the minimum age for them to actially enjoy things, thats how old my daughter was on our trip around Japan and even that was hard work with a 2 year old. If I have another we are waiting longer lol.
Are you planning on some sort of holiday where you don't have to watch your children? That boat has sailed, mate.
I think they were probably just planning to save the big vacations for when the kid is a little older. Which seems fair to me. I wouldn't want to fly all the way to Hawaii and be stuck on a 9 month old's schedule either.
What can you understand about Florida that is incomprehensible about Hawaii?
Cheaper, closer, easier.
Price and plane ride length are very different.
I took my one year old to Dominican Republic and it was awful. I really can't recommend against doing this more.
We did FL from CA at 6 months. It is doable, I changed diapers on both flights with some mild turbulence. My wife wanted to do the trip to see her close friend, then when we got there she was like “I really wanted to see how we travel with a baby”. I was a little pissed. Hawaii from Midwest seems unnecessary, plus with that age it really limits you for an expensive vacation in Hawaii.
Terrible. Live in Seattle where hawaii is the go to vacation destination. Know of 4 families whose babies ended up in the hospital. It sounds ridiculous but babies pick up bugs easily + travel induces bugs quickly + timezone changes/hotel rooms disrupt sleep and baby behavior + behavior changes mask illness symptoms = baby getting sick then dehydrated then needing a boost of IV fluids. Nothing earth shattering but definately NOT relaxing. And seriously, happened to four families just in my social circle. 0-4 is a great age for a luxe lakeside or poolside resort within a 3 hour drive. Save the flights for age 5.
We started taking overseas vacations starting at 2 months old for both our kids. You'll be fine, it'll be fun. It's actually easier now than later - its not like a 9 month old is going to talk back or complain about what you're doing or where you are, after all.
Yeah, babies are portable.
lol, they won’t talk back but they’ll scream and cry and flail and fuss and won’t sleep and refuse food and cling to one parent if they’re pissed off enough.
I’d say it depends more on finances than anything else. If this is the only trip to Hawaii you’re going to take, it seems like a waste to do it now.
my partner and i went to spain when my kid was 9 months. it was sick...she still slept half the day so it was fairly chill. i don't think it's a stupid idea at all. if your parents or in-laws are cool, convince them to go too lol
Dude my brother went with their one month old. Wild
Went with a 8 month old. It went well. You gotta entertain them on the flight though. Its long and they dont understand why they cant move around. Its definitely a time to consider of you need a screen just to keep them in a chair. Or mine was young enough they napped on our laps or we put a bunch of blue Painter tape on the chair in front of us and they spent a few hours just trying to pick the tape off. I would also recommend putting them in double diapers foe the flight. We did swim diaper over a regular diaper and it was big enough to prevent a full blow out. Ascending and desending might cause some bowel movements. Once you get there, its great. Look up areas for swimming, not surfing. Most islands will list some baby beaches or snorkeling areas have no waves for them to splash around in. Check out any aquariums or we went to an alpaca farm that was fun for them. You are traveling with a baby so be sure to keep what they need in mind and you'll do great
Ala Moana beach park, Waikiki, Kahala or Kuliouou is perfect for this. There’s seawalls or near zero shore break to worry about. Lived here all my life and it’s where we take out kids.
There is no such thing as a relaxing/refreshing vacation anywhere with young kids. Plenty of people go on big trips with young kids if you just accept it will still involve parenting
Went to Hawaii for babies first birthday it was awesome. Baby did regress in her sleeping abilities and night time was horrible for mama. Only wanted mama, wanted to nurse all night like she wasn’t yet 3 months old. Days were great. She loves the water so that helped.
People on reddit often shit on the idea of travel with babies, which I disagree with. I think it is a function of two factors. First, the temperament of your baby, which you haven't shared. And second, how enthusiastic the parents are about the trip. We were avid travelers prior to having a baby and had a fairly reasonable baby and so we've made dozens of trips to various countries work. In your case though, if both parents aren't enthusiastic, then I think you are setting yourself up for a not great trip.
I agree with this. It’s different but still tons of fun.
People on reddit shit on everything lol
We didn't go abroad until our youngest was just 2. It's parenting abroad. Manage your expectations, that's what holidays are gonna be for the foreseeable future. You find new ways to have fun and relax, just like after having kids.
Mom here. We took a trip to Hawaii with our 9 month old!!! It was soooo fun and relaxing. But we had REALLY low expectations. Rented a house with a pool, so that if we got “stuck” at home because of the baby, it was still enjoyable. Once I accepted sand was gonna be everywhere, we were fine ;) I honestly think that trip chilled me out so much with the new mom anxiety because I saw all these native Hawaiian families just going with the flow, kids in tow and I was like oh. Maybe I don’t need to be so high strung and the kids will be alright???
I personally wouldn’t travel unless I absolutely had to. I’m of the ilk that if I’m going on vacation, I want to be able to enjoy it in a relaxing sense. The food and formula are the biggest issues for me. It’s more possible to do when they are 2 or 3. Sure they’re a toddler but it feels more manageable to me
Italy with a 1 year old. It took me a full 3 days to shift my mindset from “what we need to do” to “what do we want to do” and then the trip was awesome. Chilling in Hawaii would be great, already starting in the right mindset.
If I’m gonna be parenting in another place, you sure as hell bet I’d rather be in Hawaii than Florida lmao
Is it worth 10 extra hours on a plane though?
We did a Portugal trip around 9 months with our kid and have fond memories of it. I also vaguely remember \* staying up all night the first night rocking daughter to keep her from crying so at least one of us (my wife) got sleep and acclimated. \* eating dinners in shifts one person got to eat hot food while another walked around holding the baby. That person then ate cold food (me) \* spending a lot of time in hotels (naps in the afternoon) and being in bed at 6 looking at our phones. What I do remember well \* baby blowing raspberries at museum guards who blew raspberries back. \* how stunning my wife looked walking the streets of Lisbon with my daughter strapped to her. \* drinking wine in the vineyard while the baby slept next to us in the stroller. \* hiking to a castle at the top of a hill through clouds and emerging to a gorgeous view of the valley with my daughter in my back carrier. \* incredible dinners and food even if it was cold. If you guys love travel and are a great travel team then yeah it’s not the best relaxation trip but will stick with you.
I took my daughter to Yosemite when she was about a year old. She enjoyed riding around in our hiking pack and we had a good time. Hawaii is a long plane ride is the only real downside. Once you get there you'll be fine.
Traveling at that age is alright, the hardest part is if she’s still breastfeeding. I went to London with our two year old and it was a breeze. She’s five now and it would probably be a little different/more difficult, but from what I hear traveling when they’re younger is the easiest.
Going with little is great! They sleep half the day. Put them in a stroller and have fun. Much harder with 1.5 years olds - 2.5 year olds. Also: you have kids now…. Your days of relaxing vacations without them are over for \~18 years.
i moved to hawaii when mine was 9mo…waikiki has sheltered beach areas that he loved sitting in, babies go wherever you want, hawaii is very kid friendly. what are you planning to do that a baby can’t?
Our first, my daughter, was a fucking travel warrior. 12 states and at least 10 flights by the time she was 1. Our biggest trip was a trip to Jackson Hole. Long flight. Long car rides from Jackson through the Tetons to Yellowstone but she was a star. Those are car rides in the middle of nowhere with a 9 month old. We brought plenty of supplies and plenty of toys and she was a fucking blast. Was there stuff we could have planned better? Of course. Did she melt down at all? Not really. The day we headed home she got sick and by the time we landed she had a full blown cold/fever thing but that happens too. Make sure you keep the baby’s schedule as much as you can within the plans you make. If you are on the beach, make sure you are equipped for naps and feedings. Set expectations accordingly.
Vacations are largely going to be “parenting somewhere else” for a while. That is ok, but it requires adjusted expectations. If you care about your baby making memories, then yes, save the big trips for when they are older. The baby will eat the same amount of sand on the east coast as they would in Hawaii, but the flight will be less challenging and you’ll spend less money. On the other hand, if you can afford it and you want the memory for your family on an awesome trip at this stage too, the “why not both” argument makes sense. IMO, the question is this: Is Hawaii a once in a lifetime experience for your family, or is it just another vacation? If it’s once in a lifetime, I’d wait til your youngest child is 5+ at least. If it’s just another vacation, don’t go on lower quality trips because parenting will be hard. It’s going to be equally hard regardless of where you go. It will also be a special memory either way.
You have an infant. It'll be a several years until you're able to "relax and refresh".
I only travel when I have to see family. Otherwise, I’d rather wait until my son is five years old so it’s easier and he will appreciate the things more.
People hate on traveling with kids all of the time. It depends on what kind of parent you are. My daughter (NE USA) took her first swim in Bermuda at 8 months old. I am very in favor of traveling with kids. I think it does a lot of good for them to see other cultures, places, etc. They may not "remember" it but you can't argue that it has some impact on their development. If nothing else, my kids are always the most well behaved on airplanes 😅
Travelled to the Caribbean just after mine turned 1. Had an amazing time. It’s all about mindset. For me vacationing went from fully R/R to “Memory Maker” + modified R/R (you have a family now, you have to accept personal relaxation takes a backseat for the foreseeable, in all circumstances). And let me tell you this, Memory Maker is an awesome gig that is rewarding and fulfilling unto itself. Whole new Dad level unlocked :)
This really isn't the place to find an echo chamber to disagree with your wife. Talk to her about your concerns. Not reddit.
Nothing about OP's post suggested that he's looking for an echo chamber, nor have the comments been an echo chamber.
9mo is a good time. I think it’s harder once they’re walking but not yet fully “reasonable.” We avoided travel from like 16mo to 3.5yrs old
It may depend on your baby. My wife and I went to Cancun with my 14 month old, high energy, often fussy son, and it was straight up not fun. If your baby is chill might be okay, but I’d have reservations about a plane flight that long.
We travelled to hot places when our girl was 9 months and again when she was 18 months. Was no problem whatsoever
It’s so much easier to travel now vs when they’re 1 or 2. Do it or you’ll need to wait a decade
I have travelled with both my children at all ages, from when they were babies up to this past winter with a 4 and 7 year old. Enjoyed every trip. When they're tiny you just cart them around and live your life. When they get bigger you go on adventures and show them the world. If you are adaptable and can roll with it you can have a wonderful time during a very special era of your child's life and your wife's early motherhood. If you are an uptight dick that can't handle a baby crying or a sleep cycle getting interrupted then stay home. Same goes for your wife. If y'all have no chill then it'll be tough.
Better now than when they are older and more mobile and aware.
It depends a lot on the kid. I have friends who took their one year old to Japan (from Canada). That’s a bit crazy to me though they had fun. Hawaii will be fine. Get a condo/airbnb with two bedrooms. Bring books. Play in the sand. Sometimes traveling with kids will be type 2 fun if you understand the distinction. But it’s definitely worthwhile. I’m taking a 9 month old and 3.5 year old to Portugal. And the baby is not the one I’m worried about lol.
Happy wife, happy life friend.
My kiddo had bad reflux as a baby and I remember many early car trips was mostly her scream crying the whole way. So with that we avoided any big trips for quite a while. I think we finally drove to South Carolina when she was like 6 or so? We did smaller things around our state until then. Like someone else said - if your child is fairly chill and you understand you can’t be going all the time it could be fine. We had a Seattle trip that we found out we had too much going on and our kid needed to just relax. Big meltdown before a dinner we were supposed to meet some family at so we ended up staying at hotel and letting her just play in the bath and early bed. And she was like 3 at that time.
If you are good for a vacation where you do very little, relax and enjoy pool / natural surroundings it might be excellent. Depends on your preferences and a little on your baby. As others have said, we also did some extended international trips and value them very very much. Better do it <1 year, I find 12-18 months is a little more difficult.
That’s what vacations look like for the rest of your life bud. Unless you go solo, with just your wife, or a boys trip. Vacationing with kids is nothing but parenting from a different location without the comforts of your own home. Can it still be fun? Of course. Will it be relaxing? Sure, during nap time and bed time. Are you taking this trip to try and relax, or to make memories and start getting him used to traveling? Is your baby overall fussy? Does he nap regularly and sleep through the night? Does he do ok sleeping outside of his crib? Is he mobile yet? Can he sit on your lap or his car seat for the entirety of travel time? Do either of you baby wear? Can he sleep thought bright lights and noise? Does he overstimulate easily? Is he inconsolable when his routine is thrown off? Are you going to stick to your time zone or adjust for local time? Are you packing his food or can he eat local cuisine (provided he’s started solids)? All things to consider when traveling with an infant. And none of them are deal breakers, but definitely something to think about.