The Maldives works well for families, but resort-to-resort variation is bigger here than in most destinations — some islands are built explicitly around adults-only quiet, others run full kids' clubs and family pools, and picking the wrong one is a bigger mismatch than at a typical family hotel.
Check the resort's actual stance before booking
Some resorts are explicitly adults-only; others welcome families but with a limited kids' club age range, or none at all. This is worth confirming directly rather than assuming — it varies far more between individual resorts here than the marketing photos suggest.
Transfers with young children
Seaplane transfers usually carry specific rules around infants and lap children, and the flight itself — small aircraft, no aisle to move around in — is a different experience with a toddler than a speedboat transfer. Ask your resort specifically what the transfer involves before booking if you have very young children.
Reef and water safety
House reef drop-offs can be close to shore on some islands and further out on others; if snorkelling with children is a priority, ask specifically how far the reef edge is from the beach and whether lifejackets/flotation are provided, rather than assuming every "house reef" is equally shallow and close.
Green tax for children
Children under two are exempt from the per-night green tax — see our green tax explainer — worth factoring into a family budget, though it makes a relatively small dent given how the rest of the bill scales with room rate.