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Attachment Parenting
acia
member
Flying and a beach vacation with an infant?
acia
member
So DH is determined to take a vacation this year... Probably sometime in early January (when DD will be just over 4 months old), and we're thinking somewhere in the Caribbean (like an all-inclusive resort type thing).
I'm really nervous about it - first because of the plane ride (my ears hurt so much on planes when I was a kid, and I'm worried she'll be cursed with the same problem), and second because of the vacation itself (DD does not handle routine changes well). We'll also just be getting back from spending two weeks with my in-laws, and then only have a few days at home to "recover" before going on the vacation.
Anyways, for those who have survived a vacation with a baby, I have a few questions:
1. How did your baby handle the plane ride? Were you able to nurse on take-off/landing? If your baby was sleeping, did you wake them to nurse, or did they sleep right through any potential pain? Did you give them any pain relievers/medication to help?
2. How did you handle the vacation itself? Did you stick to your regular routine? How did that work with naps, etc. (like if you're on the beach, did you go into the room, or just let them nap in their chair on the beach?). I'm worried because right now DD only naps in the Moby, which obviously won't be very practical to wear on the beach!
3. If you've vacationed somewhere warm, how did your baby handle that? When you were on the beach did you just keep them under an umbrella? Or did you stay out of the sun and just venture out in the morning and evenings?
4. Were you able to actually enjoy the vacation? Or did you just end up spending most of your time in the room?
5. Any other tips for flying and vacationing with a baby?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Flying and a beach vacation with an infant?
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I agree - it's not ideal. If it were up to me, I would put off the vacation until DD was a bit older, but DH is really set on it. We go on vacation every year, and he's determined not to "let the baby control our lives." Maybe when he sees how different a vacation is with a baby he'll change his tune a bit....
I flew with my DD to FL when she was 4 weeks old and she sleept through most of it. She was awake for take off but didn't seem bothered by the pressure change.
I've never taken her to the beach or on a vacation that wasn't to visit family so I can't really answer the rest of your questions. Good luck!
Could you get your DH to consider other destinations that aren't out of the country?
We are going to Florida in January like we do every year. The weather is way nicer than it is here in MN but it isn't that hot. We rent a condo on the beach which is nice because we will have all the neccessities we have at home - kitchen, bath, multiple bedrooms for naps, etc. Just an idea!
I flew alone with DD when she was 3 months - we moved cross-country. I was also worried about her ears b/c like you I had major problems with this when I was younger. She was totally fine, and actually seemed to really enjoy the flight (she's always been a people watcher).
I'm going to say that I feel totally comfortable traveling with little ones, and would do a beach vacation. However - I would not go just after being gone for 2 weeks at the in-laws. I truly believe that babies are really resilient at that age and in all honesty it probably wouldn't affect her as much you think it would. Our big move did not affect DD in the least - and things were really hectic for a while. But, each LO is different of course! But - it did affect me! And I think you might just be too exhausted with 2 big things right after another to fully enjoy the vacation. Anyway - does it have to be at the time you're planning? Can you wait a bit? Also - I would be hesitant to fly in flu season as well.
But, the only other reason I would hold off if it were me is that I wasn't bikini-ready at 4 months PP
! I would have enjoyed the trip much more at this point, or even later. But that's me, and if you're considering the trip then you probably are bikini-ready (and kudos to you for that!)
Not to let the baby control your life? This isn't about control. This is about the fact that I can't imagine a vacation to the Caribbean with a 4 month old would be at all enjoyable or remotely comparable to a vacation you've taken in the past.
Last year, we went to a cabin 90 minutes from our house with my parents and the only parts that felt remotely like the kind of vacations that DH & I took before kids were when we left DD with my parents and did things just the two of us. When DD was napping or sleeping, at least one of us had to be at the cabin. Our days were filled with toddler-care (DD was 18 months at the time) and I only got to "relax" when I was away from DD. Don't get me wrong - I love her and I love spending time with her. But vacationing with an infant or toddler is NOT relaxing in the way that pre-baby vacations were.
I would seriously talk with your DH about what he expects that you guys are going to "do" on this vacation. Personally, I would go somewhere closer to home and bring a family member with you (or several) who can give you a break from time to time. The trip can be done, I just don't think it will be relaxing, and IMO that is the point of a vacation...
1. DD loves nursing more than anything on earth (even now!), so we have never had any problems with her nursing on planes. Every time we've flown, she nursed on take-off, even repeatedly on flights when we would start down the runway and then be suddenly told we were "#3 for takeoff" and slowed down again, and has nursed again upon landing. She has never cried, complained of ear pain, etc. on a flight. When she was younger, the white noise of the plane would put her to sleep during the flight.
2. We didn't travel with DD on vacation when she was as young as your child, so it's hard to say what your LO will do. DD stuck to her nap routine on vacation. She was so tired out between the beach, pool and sun that she took all of her naps and it was heavenly. I would spend her morning nap with her in the hotel room while DH went out to the hotel gym and in the afternoon, he would stay with her in the room while I sunned myself by the pool or laid on the beach. It was truly amazing.
3. DD is fine with warm weather. She was born in May and I wore her everywhere all summer, no matter how hot it was out. For our beach vacation, I made sure she had a lot of sunblock. Again, she was older then, so she was very active and I couldn't keep her under a tent or umbrella.
4. Yes! See #2.
5. Babies are so much more adaptable than you give them credit for. DD can be a real PITA whenever anything in her routine changes at home, but anytime we've gone on vacation, she has just rolled with the punches (for the most part).
"When it comes to sleeping, whatever your baby does is normal. If one thing has damaged parents enjoyment of their babies, it's rigid expectations about how and when the baby should sleep." ~ James McKenna, Ph.D., Mother Baby Behavioral Sleep Center, University of Notre Dame
1. How did your baby handle the plane ride? Were you able to nurse on take-off/landing? If your baby was sleeping, did you wake them to nurse, or did they sleep right through any potential pain? Did you give them any pain relievers/medication to help?
He did great on the plane ride. We had to switch planes going both ways and he was fine. He ate during take off and landing and if he wouldn't eat, a pacifier helped (he normally hates these). If he was asleep, we just let him stay asleep. Didn't seem in any pain at all.
2. How did you handle the vacation itself? Did you stick to your regular routine? How did that work with naps, etc. (like if you're on the beach, did you go into the room, or just let them nap in their chair on the beach?). I'm worried because right now DD only naps in the Moby, which obviously won't be very practical to wear on the beach!
I hate to tell you but ds was a sttn kind of kid at 12ish weeks. We went on vacation at 6 months and he hardly slept the whole time we were gone. Even tried putting him in bed with us and it was a no go. He also, ever since has woken up at least twice every single night with the exception of maybe 5 nights in the three months since.
3. If you've vacationed somewhere warm, how did your baby handle that? When you were on the beach did you just keep them under an umbrella? Or did you stay out of the sun and just venture out in the morning and evenings?
We went to the beach and didn't last long. Ds got super cranky and hot. Plus, first thing he did was eat a big handful of sand.
4. Were you able to actually enjoy the vacation? Or did you just end up spending most of your time in the room?
We did enjoy it, but it was also alot of work. It wasn't the same as vacation used to be.
5. Any other tips for flying and vacationing with a baby?
I would say wait a bit. I still blame our vacation for messing up ds and his sleep schedule. Don't go expecting this picture perfect vacation. Sorry, this all sounded terrible but that was our experience.
1. How did your baby handle the plane ride? Were you able to nurse on take-off/landing? If your baby was sleeping, did you wake them to nurse, or did they sleep right through any potential pain? Did you give them any pain relievers/medication to help?
DD has been on quite a few flights. I've almost always nursed on takeoff and landing except a couple of times when she was sleeping. The first flight we ever took was an overnight flight. She was awake for most of it. But we had a really good sleep once we got to our destination.
2. How did you handle the vacation itself? Did you stick to your regular routine? How did that work with naps, etc. (like if you're on the beach, did you go into the room, or just let them nap in their chair on the beach?). I'm worried because right now DD only naps in the Moby, which obviously won't be very practical to wear on the beach!
My lovely DD has always been a terrible sleeper. When I told my friend I was taking my then six month old DD to Disney she said "oh, your daughter must be a really good sleeper." I just about fell down laughing. "No," I responded, "she's a terrible sleeper but if we're going to be not sleeping at home we might as well be not sleeping at Disney." We stuck to our regular routine as much as we could but we rolled with the punches.
3. If you've vacationed somewhere warm, how did your baby handle that? When you were on the beach did you just keep them under an umbrella? Or did you stay out of the sun and just venture out in the morning and evenings?
When DD was nine months old we took her to the Dominican Republic. We went out pretty much whenever we wanted. I tend not to stay in the sun too long because I burn much faster than DD would. We walked around a lot and did a lot of sightseeing. We also swam in the pool and the ocean. DD loved both.
I will say that after this holiday, DD's naps started getting a lot longer. I credit the heat. She slept very well there. So did I.
4. Were you able to actually enjoy the vacation? Or did you just end up spending most of your time in the room?
I enjoyed both vacations (Disney and the DR). I'm the type of person who wants to get DD out to see the world ASAP. Traveling is very important to me so it's no surprise that I've started DD early.
5. Any other tips for flying and vacationing with a baby?
Even if you don't have a super fantastic time, you'll still be in the Caribbean! A crappy day there is probably still better than a great day in Southern Ontario (no offense, I'm from SO also
)
Four months is a great age to travel. They can be held to sleep (maybe consider getting a different kind of wrap - something cooler than the Moby), they're not running around yet, they aren't eating solids yet. They're very portable.
I don't know if you BF but when I spoke to my doctor about taking DD on some trips she had no reservations about it. She just said that I should keep BF in order to pass on my immunities to DD.
The last thing is when you take a baby on holiday, holy cow do you ever get a lot of positive attention. From the airport to the hotel to random people on the street, they all smile and tell you what a beautiful baby you have.
We just got back from a trip to Long Beach, California with our 7 month old.
1. How did your baby handle the plane ride? Were you able to nurse on take-off/landing? If your baby was sleeping, did you wake them to nurse, or did they sleep right through any potential pain? Did you give them any pain relievers/medication to help?
We had to take two flights each way, plus a long car ride to the airport. I did nurse him on take offs. He wasn't too comfortable though since he's so long and we were squashed next to the window. He slept okay on the plane during one of the landings. Never seemed to be in any pain. Whenever he'd start to fuss, we gave him Sweet Potato Puffs to chew on. He loved it! We did not give any pain meds. The worst part was the car rides. He screamed the whole way. And having to install the carseat in a rental car was awful!
2. How did you handle the vacation itself? Did you stick to your regular routine? How did that work with naps, etc. (like if you're on the beach, did you go into the room, or just let them nap in their chair on the beach?). I'm worried because right now DD only naps in the Moby, which obviously won't be very practical to wear on the beach!
We definitley worked around LO's schedule. I tried to be back at the hotel for the morning nap and he usually napped in the Ergo in the afternoon while I just walked around the beach (he only napped for 30 minutes at a time).
3. If you've vacationed somewhere warm, how did your baby handle that? When you were on the beach did you just keep them under an umbrella? Or did you stay out of the sun and just venture out in the morning and evenings?
We tried to stay in the shade with him when possible. It wasn't super warm there though like it would be in the Carribean. I kept a sun hat and sunglasses on him and kept the sunscreen on.
4. Were you able to actually enjoy the vacation? Or did you just end up spending most of your time in the room?
It was a good vacation, just different. More work, less relaxation! LO goes to bed at 7 at night. And in California, that was 6 for us! So, we didn't see ANY nightlife. We were back at the room with take out for dinner each night at 5 just to keep the bedtime routine in check. Luckily, the tv being on didn't bug him so we were able to hang out and watch tv instead of going to bed at such an early time! I think the hardest part was the nighttime feedings. I was so paranoid of his crying bugging the other guests so I fed him so much at night just to keep him quiet.
5. Any other tips for flying and vacationing with a baby?
Just be super organized and bring lots! We didn't bring the stroller, just the Ergo. It left us hands free at the layovers in the airport which was nice. Be flexible too. It's not going to be the vacation you're used to. But it's still fun and nice to be alone, just the three of you outside of home!