Mum reveals ‘ideal’ age to go away with kids & it’s younger than you think

THE so-called “sweet spot” for taking your kids travelling is a lot younger than you may think, a mum and lifestyle expert says.

Popular belief may be to wait until your children are old enough to either “behave properly” or remember the trip – but this mum has other thoughts.

Zoe Shenton, a site director at Cosmopolitan UK, believes it’s best to bring your kids on board before they’re even a year old.

She told lifestyle site Woman and Home six-month old babies were best to bring on your break.

This is because they aren’t old enough to cause stress by running off, and they could also save you money on flights if they fit in your lap rather than buying an extra seat, the mum points out.

Zoe said: “The sweet spot for travelling with babies is six/seven months.

“They’re big enough to safely sit up in a pram after graduating from the bassinet and can join you at the table in a high chair when dining out, but they aren’t yet walking and ready to run a total toddler riot.

“That means (relatively) stress-free flights in the bulkhead seats, being able to enjoy more than one cursory course, and substantial savings on an extra seat with a child under two who still fits snugly in your lap.”

The question has been posed by parents on the internet before.

On Quora, an opinion from Bart Crunk gained the support of 29 “up-votes” when he argued they need to be old enough to display public etiquette.

Bart said: “When they are old enough to behave properly in public. That means no screaming, no throwing knives (I’ve seen it), no tantrums or meltdowns.

“Don’t let them stand on the table in a restaurant (I’ve seen that too). Tables are for food, not uncontrolled toddlers.

“They need to be old enough to understand that all food isn’t fast food. So they have to be old enough to exercise a little patience.”

Bart also warned against handing your toddler a device to keep them entertained and distracted.

“Giving a child a phone or tablet with the sound all the way up isn’t fair to other diners.

“If the child needs to have a phone or tablet to keep them quiet, either turn the sound down or give them earbuds.”

That view was echoed by Tom Stagliano, who raised the problem of toddlers not remembering the journey.

Tom said: “Most children under the age of 3 (before pre-school age) will NOT remember the vacation, no matter how wonderful nor extensive nor expensive it was.”

The aerospace engineer claims he would never take an infant on a plane trip unless it was for a medical emergency.