[susanandgrace]

I posted this question (or a similar one) on the Russia board, but I thought it would have been better to ask over here.

Anyway, can I have your thoughts on traveling to Russia with a young child (would be 4 1/2 or so at the time).

We would not leave our child at home, so traveling with our child is the only options. We would maybe leave our daughter with my parents for trip #1, but we wouldn't leave her for the extended period of time for trip #2.

Recommended or no?

Also, we will talk with our agency about this as well.

[AtlMommy]

I know our agency allows travel of other people besides the parents, but there are additional fees to pay for the other people traveling (besides the extra airfare). I think the fees might be for extra hotel lodging and trans. fee. since it might require more space then the driver who will pick you up has. We have not traveled with children for an adoption....we are waiting for our first trip right now, but we are not taking our 2 kids with us when we go simply because they will most likely be in school over our 2 trips. Their grandma is going to come stay with them here at our house.

[kretzklan]

We took our son with us on both trips in 2005 and I have to tell you that taking a 4.5 year old will be VERY tough. DS was 9 on our trips and even then it was really hard on him.There is tons of waiting - I mean tons. Your ride is supposed to come at 1 and might not get there until 2...yet you can't go anywhere. The judge allowed DS in the courtroom but said he was not to move or talk or wiggle - wow...we were proud of him, but we know he couldn't have done it any younger. Embassey appointments are long and hot and crowded! I know it's hard to imagine leaving your child behind - but having him there was also a barrier to first moments of bonding with our new children. He was uncertain and we weren't in our 'home' so, he was worse off.
If you deleted this from the Russia board, I would re-post. Others have traveled with kids on there and would have information as well.

[AtlMommy]

Ok, we have made our first trip over and I will tell you, our children (especially our son) could not have done what we did. Our daughter is 9 and she might have been ok, but I think it was better she stayed home. Our son is 6 and he could not have endured what we did on that trip. The plane ride alone would have been tough. It was hard leaving them behind, but they were in good hands with my mom and definitely had a lot more fun than riding on a plane for 16.5 hrs each way.