Danica Marshall enjoyed her first vacation without kids so much that she can’t wait to go on another one. Duncan was 18 months old when Marshall and her husband, Scott, booked a Caribbean cruise, asked relatives to look after their son and plotted all the arrangements in careful detail. “I think it’s healthy to have breaks from your children every now and then,” says the Calgary mom.

Whether it’s an overnight stay in the big city or a two-week dream trip to Europe, your first adults-only getaway can be nerve-racking for both you and your kids. But with the right planning and a positive attitude, you can ensure the trip is a fabulous adventure on both sides.

Get ready...

Your great escape begins with big-picture planning. Start by considering the timing of your getaway. If your child is at an excessively clingy stage, or she’s distraught when you’re away for even a few hours, you may want to put things on hold for a while. Likewise if your child is already going through a stressful situation, such as switching to a new school or daycare.

The next pressing question: Who should care for the kids while you’re gone? Many parents automatically turn to extended family, while others ask friends or even hire help, such as their child’s nanny or daycare worker. When my husband and I grabbed our first getaway, our daughter (two at the time) spent part of the week with close friends. The kids went to daycare together, and our daughter had already enjoyed single-night sleepovers at their house.

Keeping your child at home in a familiar setting will make it easier to follow routines. “There’s less to adjust to,” notes Montreal family therapist Vikki Stark. “When they get into bed at night, it’s not a strange bed.” That’s especially helpful for kids under two who are most dependent on you for comfort.

If your child will be staying at a grandparent’s or caregiver’s house, make sure the place is childproofed. If your child isn’t already familiar with the home, visit ahead of time so he can see where he will sleep. You can even do a dry run while you’re still in town.

How long should you stay away? Smartphones and Skype mean you can always keep in contact, but it may be best to make the first getaway short. One night apart may be more than enough for an infant, or a weekend for a preschooler. You can build up to a week or longer from there. “It gets them used to the idea,” says Stark. “Children understand that Mommy goes away, and then Mommy comes back.” But individual kids will cope differently. Marshall says her easygoing son barely broke his stride while she and her husband were away for 10 days.