We got a lot of comments prior to leaving for our 2 month Central American adventure with our 18 month old in tow. Some close friends said "Dont take him to Central America", some said "Your Crazy!", some said "Are you nervous?" and some said "Thats awesome!" Here is what I think after 2 months of traveling in Central America with an 18-20 month old.
Traveling with a toddler is only as hard as it is to parent a toddler. There are great days and there are really difficult days. Parenting, as any parent will tell you, isn't easy. Toddlers challenge you, say "NO" back at you, look at you and do exactly what you just told them not to do, they climb like real monkeys (on everything), if your toddler is boy they dig in the dirt and wack things. Toddlers run away from you, refuse to hold your hand when they need to, spit out the food they don't like, scream when they don't get their way and hurt themselves frequently. Toddlers do this regardless of what country you live in or where you are from.
And, clearly, there are those who would argue that all of this is easier to deal with in a familiar environment, with a regular schedule and all the normal amenities and luxuries of normal, everyday life. This is all true, to a certain extent. We have made certain concessions while traveling with Henry that we wouldn't make if we were at home. For example, here, when Henry wakes up in the middle of the night Daniel gets up out of bed and rubs his back and soothes him back to sleep. At home, we wouldn't necessarily go to him in the middle of the night and soothe him back to sleep. I am a believer in the "they need to learn how to soothe themselves back to sleep" theory or method or whatever it is. And, we are still giving Henry a bottle before bed. This is certainly something I would have cut out by now if we were at home. However, in Hotels, I can't handle the anxiety that would accompany letting him "cry it out" in the middle of the night knowing our neighbors would likely hear. And, the bottle, like it or not, soothes him and allows me the assurance that he is hydrated and getting the vitamins and electrolytes that I know he needs (we give him formula, not milk because of lack of access to a refrigerator). These are "deviations" from our normal parenting plan that we discussed and agreed to prior to leaving. And, they have worked and allowed us a better trip. They are also things, that when we get home, are going to change. He will have to "cry it out" and he wont get a bottle anymore. And, yes, the transition might not be fun for a few days. But I just remind myself that it takes 3-5 days to break a bad habit. Some advice I picked up in all my reading during his infancy. Its awesome advice to keep in mind and helps reduce anxiety about post-trip transitions. All this to say, decide what your going to concede ahead of time, make peace with it, and know that when you get home you can work it out.
Traveling with kids is challenging no matter where you are going. You have to plan ahead. Do you have enough diapers? Enough wipes? Toys or entertainment? Whether its a flight from ATL to NYC or a flight from ATL to Nicaragua these things need to be considered. And, frankly, you have to be organized. Its not fun to be rummaging the bags for a quickly needed wipe and not being able to find it regardless of what country you're in.
There have been days on the road that I have needed a Nanny 911 emergency hotline.. but isn't that how it goes at home too?!
And, how much more awesome is spotting monkeys in the jungle, watching the sunset over the El Salvadorian coast or touring an amazing Central American colonial town with your little, amazing kid who now says "Hola" and "Gracias" and hopefully has learned to adjust and accomodate and appreciate all that he has to return home to... I say go for it..... travel with your toddler.
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| Travel with your Toddler, says Henry! |
