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Franklyn D Resort (FDR), Jamaica won a Top 10 Getaways award in 1998 for its support of parents with infants and toddlers.

You've recently become parents and you're exhausted...You've just had a second, or third, baby and you're overwhelmed. You need a vacation badly, but what do you do with the baby??? You could leave her with grandma, but you'd miss her too much, or you could bring a sitter along, if one were available. As most resort and hotel programs only accept children 5 years plus, in 1998 FTF Staff surveyed getaways which cater to infants and toddlers under 3 years of age. Here's a look at one of our choices, the FDR Resort today.

Franklyn D. Resort
Runaway Bay, Jamaica, W.I.
888/FDR-KIDS, 800/654-1FDR

The "claims to fame" at this upscale, all-inclusive family resort are the personal nannies assigned to each family to cook, clean, entertain and watch the kids from 9am-4:40pm daily so mom and dad can enjoy their vacation too. All nannies are recommended by the Jamaica Tourist Board, and then trained in the hotel's Vacation Nanny Training Program which includes CPR and First Aid.

FDR's Yellow Bird Kids' Club is well-run by a university-trained teacher and accommodates kids 2 to 11-years-old from 7am-10pm. (Children <2 can also play there if they are accompanied by their nanny.) Various activities include arts and crafts, nature walks, snorkeling, donkey rides, beach picnics, pre-teen parties and dinners sans parents. After hours, nannies are available for $4/HR to babysit with the <2s, or other children who will not spend their evening in the Yellow Bird Kids' Club.

The Pre-Teen and Teen Program offers video games (X-Box and Game Cube), aerobics, bike tours, beach trips to Ochos Rios, hikes, Reggae dance classes and lots of parties. A treat for all -- the enclosed property also allows older kids some welcome freedom to roam.