I've gone over this in my head a few times, but I'd like to hear some of your expert opinions. If you had the choice between getting the long haul flight out of the way or breaking it up with a layover (and possibly an overnight stay in a hotel) which would you choose and why?

Here is my backstory, if it matters any- I have an almost 2 year old. We need to fly DXB-JFK. On the way out, he is a lap infant, on the way back he is a child. Here are my options:

1. DXB-JFK, lap child in J on Emirates (where I am Gold). JFK-DXB, 2 seats in Y. I've flown with him in J many times as a lap child, and survived, but the cost for the two of us to fly back in J is crazy.

2. DXB-LHR-JFK in Premium Economy on Virgin (where I am Silver). Each way, we would have 2 seats. For a fraction of the cost of EK; Upper class is even cheaper than EK, but I've been in those seats before and I don't think it would work for my son and I just yet. I could also plan a stop over and stay a night in a hotel room.

Thoughts?