Traveling with toddlers

Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:42 pm Post subject: Traveling with toddlers

We are starting to prepare for our trip in April. I love to have stuff kind of planned out. This is our first big trip with our boys, so I am even more anxious. My husband and I were there in 2002, so we do have a general idea of what we want to do. We are coming with two sets of grandparents, and we will be switching off kid duties so we can all have time away. I am looking for great ideas for our whole group to do as well as things to do when alone with the kids. Our boys will be almost 2 and three and a half when we go. Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.

Native Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 2035 Location: Illinois

Hi Haltom

When our grandkids were 3 and 5 we took them to the Butterfly Farm and the turtle Farm and they enjoyed that. I think they liked the turtle farm more than the butterfly farm--they thought the butterflies were pretty but didn't want to learn all the stuff about them.

They mostly liked playing in the sand, ocean and pool. We brought some shovels, pails, water wings, inner tubes and they had a great time and are looking forward to coming back.

Are you staying at a hotel or condos?

I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Shelly:-)

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:14 am Post subject:

We do plan to spend a lot of time in the pool and on the beach. We are staying at Treasure Island for the first time. I believe they have a shallow pool, which will be good for the kids and our non-swimmer. I'm hoping my three year old will be able to see a little bit of ocean life through a mask!

I think we will try to do some time at Rum Point - I think it will be a good outing for our entire group. Hopefully we can go find the starfish, too.

Native Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 2035 Location: Illinois

Hi

Our guys liked looking through a mask, also goggles with a snorkel worked for them too. Sometimes we took them out on a raft and they stuck their heads in the water over the edge of the raft.

This year we stayed near Rum Point, without kids, but next year when they come we thought that would be a great place for them to play. The water is so shallow for so far out. There's lots of good shade over there too.

We didn't see any starfish, but then again we didn't look that hard--another something to do next year.

Shelly :-)

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:15 am Post subject:

My daughters went for the first time when they were 3 and again when they were 4. Hope to make it this year while they are 5, but we'll see...

Anyways, the beach was a big hit with the girls and they loved swimming. The butterfly farm is an excellent option and there is a playground/playset at the public beach that is great for climbing and swinging. My daughters also liked looking for the painted iguana's...had their photos with a few of them. Rum Point was nice for a change in scenery and had a nice easy walk into the ocean and they could walk for a few yards as it is more shallow there. Snorkel masks are fun and they would get a kick out of that.

Mostly, I would stick to the beach, pool & ocean. It kept my kids entertained the entire time...couldn't wait to go on the beach in the morning!

Enjoy your vacation!

Kim palm

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks you all for your help.

Shelly - I hadn't really thought about goggles. I'll have to put that on the long list of things I want to buy for our trip.

The boys will definitely want to be in the water and on the beach. However, this is their first trip to a sunny destination and I will tire of applying sunscreen at a rapid interval!! We will be looking out for some other things, too. The playground on the beach will be a hit, and they will like looking for the iguanas (so will my Mom Very Happy

). `

Kim - Did you take your girls on a Stingray tour? Just wondering how that went with little ones. We are definitely angling for a small boat with not many folks when we do that.

Native Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 2035 Location: Illinois

It took my daughter quite awhile to get them all sunscreened. We tried to find a hut or umbrella or any shady area to put our stuff under. Then when they weren't out in the water they could play in the sand in the shaded area. I used to have our son wear tshirts when he was in the water to help protect him from the sun.

they're going to have a great time!

Shelly :-)

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:01 am Post subject:

Haltom,

Your family will like Treasure Island. We've been travelling there with both our children since they were infants (they are now 8 and 6). The wading pool is right next to the larger pool and close to all the condos. I started my daughter on snorkeling when she was 4. We snorkeled in the shallows at Rum Point. I bought some 'water wings' at the grocery store and that helped her with her confidence. We just kind of floated around and she would climb on my back if she got spooked. When she got her confidence up we swam under the dock where you can see everything from young stingrays and barracuda to large Groupers. As for the sunscreen, consider getting rash guards for the little ones before you go. Rash guards are snug fitting t-shirts made out of lycra type material. They dry fast and kids don't seem to mind wearing them in or out of the water. Just don't forget the sunscreen on their faces. If they are snorkeling, sunscreen on the backs of their legs and necks is imperative.

gd Diving

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 9:44 am Post subject:

gd,

Thanks for the message. It's great to hear a first hand knowledge from someone who has stayed at Treasure Island with kids. When my husband and I went 5 years ago we stayed somewhere close, so the location was one of the reasons we picked TI.

I am also so excited to hear that your daughter started snorkeling at 4! Hopefully my son can get the hang of it. Snorkeling is my favorite vacation activity, and I want him to be able to experience it, too. We started buying water wings, snorkels, and various other water paraphenalia at the end of the summer.

Being prone to melanoma Sad

and loving snorkeling, I am familiar with the rash guards, and the boys will have them on full time. I shopped around for them online, and then found that Target is now carrying them for little guys and girls. They are VERY affordable ($8) compared to other places. If anyone is looking for them, they are in the stores now.

To all - thank you all for the time you take to respond to messages. I lurked here for a long time before posting, and there is a wealth of knowledge here. Thanks!

Allison

Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 7

Hey Allison,

I've been surfing most of tonight reading up in the General section. You are right, there is so much information here. I feel better informed now. Your kids will be great. As I said on my other page, we went to Aruba 2 years ago (my daughter was 2 1/2, son 1); St. Martin last year (daughter was 3 1/2, son 2) and this year Cayman. Kids are easily entertained by anything. They love the beach and that made them very tired. They napped and slept great all vacation! Your kids will love it. We also love travelling with them. It makes the vacation more fun to show them stuff and experience it all with them.

Too bad we aren't in Cayman at the same time. Our kids would have fun ;-)

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:38 pm Post subject:

sunnadda,

It would be great to have playmates, sorry we'll miss each other! We will have grandparents for playmates, and that works out well. Glad to hear you have been doing this for some time. I will probably pack about 5 times more kid stuff than I need to bring.

That brings up a good question for you, and maybe Kim, or anyone else that wants to chime in. What kind of stuff will I be tempted to pack for the kids that I will really not need? Are there things that you packed on your fist trip that you would leave behind now?

Also, what about swim diapers? I'm planning on bringing lots for the little one , but wondered if they will be available on the island if we run out.

Thanks again,

Allison

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 3:02 pm Post subject:

We were able to get all of the same types of baby/infant items at the grocery stores in Cayman that we bought at home (diapers, swim diapers, baby food, formula, pacifiers when we lost ours, etc.). Through the years we've really stopped packing as much because we found that we could get just about everything we need on the island. We usually by kids beach toys at the grocery store rather than lug them with us (i.e. buckets, shovels, water wings, floating mattress for pool, etc.). By the end of the trip the kids have made friends and we usually just leave all the beach toys with them to pass along to other families.

gd Diving

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:11 pm Post subject:

Thanks again, Grateful Diver. Wink

Diapers eat up space. I may take less than I had planned. We'll see what happens when I start packing. You never know, we may be using your recycled toys by the time we get to TI!

Allison

Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 7

Last year I found a reusable swim diaper at Target for my son. It was perfect. After every swim, I washed it out at our villa with Woolite. That way I didn't have to buy swim diapers, bring them or add to pollution. Check to see if they still carry them.

As far as packing too much stuff. I brought too much for my daughter. Too many "cute" dresses. I think I had one for each night. At the end, she would have been fine with 2 outfits rotating them around.

Tips for the flight - I go to the Dollar store and buy a bunch of little things. Then I wrap some of them, put some in bags, etc. Once we are airborne, I surprise them every so often with something new. A small coloring book. A small puzzle in a box. Bubbles (for the airport). A new snack. Whatever to keep them entertained.

Have fun packing!

We're heading back this year with THREE boys. Very Happy

They will be 5.5 y.o, 4 y.o. and 10 months old. I have two gear type questions.

What have you done for car seats? I can buy backless booster seats here for $15 each. It seems silly to pay $8 a day for two rentals from Andy's. Has anyone packed these before? The boys have other seats for my car here, but they are both well over the suggested weight for this type of booster seat.

For our infant, we do not have a plane seat. I'm considering bringing it and gate checking it if the flights are full. Any suggestions?

And the last one. Has anyone used a water sling or pouch? I have a sling from Peanut Shell that I use for our youngest. I didn't know if it would be worth it to try one that we could use in the water. Just wondering if anyone had any experience with them.

Thanks!

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