https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:44:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151563 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 14:59:18 +0000 enjollah 2151563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HabesBabe: It started with sleep and crying at daycare. The wake ups lasted for 1-2 months on and off. What helped us was putting a babygate at this room so he couldn't come out. He would wake around 1am and would want to sleep in our bed. We let him in our bed but not until "the sun comes out" and there was definitely no sun at 1am! He would cry after putting up the gate but he soon would realize he couldn't come out and would go back to bed. After he started sleeping through the night again, he started having accidents in his bed. We started a reward system but it wasn't very effective... I think because he didn't understand it very well. We now just remind him every single night where he is suppose to pee and to tell mommy and daddy. He's been really good lately. At school, there are other kids who cry too so it's hard to avoid.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151417 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:32:51 +0000 ChitownRo 2151417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't left DH for an extended period yet, so don't have a parent's perspective. However, as a child, when my parents traveled, we would open one little present for every day they were away. They were always small - crayons/coloring books etc. But that was fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151413 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:32:15 +0000 avivoca 2151413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>H facetimes with Daddy all the time when he's traveling. I think she gets confused about why he's not there with her, but it's okay. I just tell her that he's at work and he's coming home on XX day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151404 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:29:11 +0000 Smurfette 2151404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HabesBabe: We got back and walked in the house and LO ran back to my Mom. She didn't want them to leave!</p> <p>I will add we never facetimed but we do it at least once a week when DH is traveling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151402 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:28:37 +0000 Smurfette 2151402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went away for 5 days when she just turned 2. My parents came to our house. They took her to day care like normal to keep her on the schedule. Just picked her up early. </p> <p>The week before my Mom came over and I went over where food was, reminded her of the bedtime routine, where toys were (she had me hide the Play-doh since my Mom hates it), etc. I wrote down addresses to restaurants, parks, and other activities they might want to do. I left suggestions for all meals and snacks. Left numbers to the pedi, address of the hospital. </p> <p>I also left an insurance card and got a notarized letter saying they could make all medical decisions for her since we were out of the country. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151394 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:26:47 +0000 HabesBabe 2151394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Fingers crossed that they'll be having the time of their lives and not missing us at all! I think we'll attempt Skype a few times and play it by ear-- if Char's ok with it, we'll keep doing it, otherwise we'll stop if she's in tears after each call.</p> <p>@SeptMomma12: Yes! We are doing those forms, plus we just got our wills done. Morbid, but just in case... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151371 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:15:43 +0000 SeptMomma12 2151371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did FaceTime with DS at 2.5 and he had no problem. It definitely made us feel better! Honestly, he was having so much fun with his grandparents he had very little interest in talking to us for more than 30 seconds. </p> <p>Also, if you're going to be that far away, you may want to look into signing a medical release form. My parents insisted on that when we were in Mexico. It gives them permission to make medical decisions in case of emergency. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151365 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:13:21 +0000 HabesBabe 2151365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: Oh, we Skype with relatives/friends now, so she knows how to do it... but then she instantly wishes that person was here to play with her. So I don't know if doing that with me and her dad on the other end (then not seeing her for another 6 days) would be worse than not seeing us at all.</p> <p>@mrbee: That's a good suggestion! We were thinking of setting up some private videos on YouTube and sending both grandparents the link (and having the links favorited/set up on my mom's Chromebook) so they can watch.</p> <p>@enjollah: I'm totally prepared for some regressions, but hoping it won't be that bad! How long did it take your LO to get back on track once you returned? Sounds like we have a very similar trip to the one you had! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151362 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:12:25 +0000 blackbird 2151362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 2 year old doesn't get too confused by Skype--you can try it in another room first and see how they react? E just think it's hilarious to say hi to her daddy and then kind of just forgets she saw him when i hang up the phone. </p> <p>Have a great trip, though! It'll be amazing! Having loads of fun with the grandparents will hopefully help distract them from missing you guys! gosh, my kid doesn't even want to come home after spending time with her mimi :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151345 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:05:07 +0000 enjollah 2151345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO was about 2.5 when we went to oahu this past october. We went for 6 nights, 7 days and LO spent half the time at my moms and half at my MIL's. It seems like you have prepared the same things as I did... And honestly you can only instruct or teach the grandparents so much before your trip. Just to warn you though, before we went on the trip, LO was successfully potty trained (day and night), slept through the night (7:30-7am), and great with saying goodbye at daycare. After we came back, he would have 2-5 accidents at night, wouldn't stay in his bed/woke up 1-3x at night, and has difficulty saying bye at school. I'm not 100% sure it was due to the trip but I think there's a 2.5-3 year regression LOs go through too. We facetimed a few times on the trip but not for very long because MIL would take the phone away and just tell us his updates instead. hubs and I kind of wished we brought LO but it was SO nice to be just us two as well. Good luck with everything and I think everything will be okay. Just be aware there may be some challenges when you come back but it's only temporarily :) have fun in maui! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151338 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:02:21 +0000 mrbee 2151338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe record some videos for each kid, about how you love them and how you promise to come back soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151334 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:00:39 +0000 lamariniere 2151334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've been doing FaceTime/Skype with our families since DS was born since we live so far away. I think you can definitely give it a try! Could you do some practice sessions before you leave? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-for-leaving-your-kids-while-you-go-on-vacation#post-2151326 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 12:55:00 +0000 HabesBabe 2151326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, next week, my husband and I will be going on a trip to Maui (WHOOOOO :happy: ) for a week, but without the kids (half whoo/half BOOOO :sad: ). Char is almost 3 (in July) and Harry is 11 1/2 months. They will be staying at home and our parents will be coming by to watch them while we're gone (my mom, who watches them M-F while I work from home, will be here 4 days, and the in-laws, who Char loves, will be here for 2 days). </p> <p>I think I have the basics down:<br /> --meal ideas (C is a typical picky toddler, how to prep the million pieces in a Dr. Brown's bottle and defrost milk for H)<br /> --nap and bedtime general schedule<br /> --ped's number, nurses line, poison control, dosage for baby Advil<br /> --how to use our DVR to watch favorite recorded shows (haha)</p> <p>I don't want to have a giant notebook of rules or anything, because a) grandparent time is supposed to be fun time, b) they raised us and we're fine; I don't need/want to micromanage, c) the kids will survive-- but I want to make this as easy as possible for everyone involved.</p> <p>I was reading online that Skype is too much for toddlers to handle (they don't understand why we're not coming out of the computer), so I don't know if we'll end up doing that or not. I was also reading that we should do some sort of countdown or tear-away calendar so Char can physically see how many days are left. Our parents aren't too comfortable with driving with the kids, so I don't think they'll be going to the park AND we just started potty training, so it's not like she can be out of the house for that long anyway. I'll ask them to take the kids outside at least once a day, either for a walk around the block or to play in the yard.</p> <p>Anyone been in a similar situation (extended period of time without either parent)? I'm not as worried about Harrison, since he's still so little, but my mom has asked me to leave my sleep shirt so she can have something around that smells like me (?). But Char can be clingy and sometimes says, "I miss Daddy" while he's away at work, so it's definitely going to affect her. Any tips or tricks would be great! </p>