Am I crazy? Traveling with an 8 week old?

KYBABY2011 · March 2011

So my husband asked me last night if I wanted to go to Canada in August for 3-4 days. DH is going for work so I know I will be all alone during the day. I've never been to Canada and would love to go. I asked if LO could go, and he said we would probably have to leave LO with family at home. After researching it this morning, it seems pretty doable to take LO with us. Do you have any experience with this? I plan on exclusively BFing. I'm also a SAHM so I don't have to worry about work. I don't really want to leave LO at home. That seems crazier than taking him.

EDIT: We would be flying.

kattyleigh · March 2011

Are you driving or flying? It is way easier to fly with an 8 week old than a toddler. Way easier. They just sleep and eat. Bring an extra change of clothes and a lot of diapers. Driving would be harder because you would have to pull over to nurse and change diapers every few hours.

amanda1680 · March 2011

I don't have any experience with this, but we are planning on travelling in late August with our LO. She should be about 2 months old. We will be driving back home.... which is 10.5 hours away... yeah it sounds pretty insane when I see it in writing, but that's the plan for now.

ausgal · March 2011

You are not crazy...If my dr clears me I will be flying with a 3 week old (my travel won't be as far as yours probably)... I agree with PP, lots easier to fly than to drive...

kattyleigh · March 2011

If you are exclusively breastfeeding, keep in mind it will take at least 30 minutes per breastfeeding session at that age, plus diaper change, plus burping, etc. This will extend a long drive by a lot of hours, especially if your LO is still nursing every 2-3 hours.

jgsimmons1701 · March 2011

We are flying cross country with our 8 week old TWINS in August...you'll do great!

KYBABY2011 · March 2011

AW! You girls are awesome! Thanks for all the positive feedback! Keep it coming. Maybe I will get more details from DH today. He's been trying to fit me into one of these work trips this past year and it's just never worked out.

I'm glad I'm not the only one planning a big trip for such a little guy!

MammaBear81 · March 2011

We flew to CO when DS2 was 6 weeks old. We had no problems, he slept most of the way, and nursed when he wasn't sleeping. I would go if I had to leave LO at home, but it sounds like a fun family trip! This year we are taking the family to Delaware (driving) LO will be 6-8 weeks old, depending on when he arrives.

11kacey · March 2011

I received a save the date yesterday for a wedding in Colorado (I live in Texas) in August. I almost thought we could do it.. however, my husband doesn't like to fly, so we would have to drive and the altitude is pretty high and umm what would I do with a newborn and all those people? It is just a friend from HS and I know he would understand.. it will be a great party, but I wouldn't be able to drink or anything and never even considered leaving my little one at home..

I'm sad I'll have to decline, but I know it is the sanest thing to do.

HOWEVER.. I think you could totally do Canada with an 8 week old.

cvl105 · March 2011

I would definitely bring him, rather than leave him at home with family! Especially since you're flying. Only thing to be concerned about imo, would be the germs on the plane.

Sa2827 · March 2011

I hope your not crazy, we are going to the marthas vineyard again this year but held of till Aug to go and im nervous but still going to attempt it!

RachaelandCarl · March 2011

We traveled quite a bit through DS's first year and it wasn't a big deal at all. I BF'd and if you are going to use a Boppy bring it on the plane with you. It made it so easy to let him just crash on the boob and then you don't have to hold them the whole time. We also took a road trip at 8wks old that was 10 hours each way. That was SOOO much harder than flying! I couldn't just take him out and feed him or snuggle him since we were driving and it felt like an eternity. Plus, at that age you don't have to worry about toys or snacks etc. to keep them entertained. Go and have fun as a new family!

ccmarinho · March 2011

We will most likely be making a 20 hour drive in mid-September. I'm not sure if I'll be BF'ing or FF'ing. My Mom couldn't produce milk, so I just have to see if I can. FF'ing would definitely be easier when driving though.

I'm sure you'd be fine flying!

ishka338 · March 2011

I'm going against the group and saying it may not be doable. I am almost positive LO will need a passport to go into Canada and it may take longer than 8 weeks to get one. We were planning on going to Mexico in September, which would be about 10-12 weeks after I was due and we decided to push it back for this very reason. We would have had to wait for the soc. sec. card and then file for a passport, so unless you don't need one to Canada, I would say to think twice.

Pretzel80 · March 2011

We're also planning to fly across the country with LO when he is 7-8 weeks old. Some people say we are crazy and others said its completely doable and easier at that age than when they are toddlers. For some reason, I'm not too worried about it.....ignorance is bliss

ccorso · March 2011

I am due June 10th and my high school reunion is July 23rd. I am traveling 7 hours in a car, by myself, with the baby. I am not worried!

kattyleigh · March 2011

ishka338:
I'm going against the group and saying it may not be doable. I am almost positive LO will need a passport to go into Canada and it may take longer than 8 weeks to get one. We were planning on going to Mexico in September, which would be about 10-12 weeks after I was due and we decided to push it back for this very reason. We would have had to wait for the soc. sec. card and then file for a passport, so unless you don't need one to Canada, I would say to think twice.

Oooh good point! Some people won't even have the official birth certificate by then. Totally forgot about that. Don't need it to fly within the US but definitely international.

mommy2b08 · March 2011

I could never have left my 8 week old while BFing. We were still working on establishing supply at that point and she had never had a bottle. Definately I would take LO with me if you decide to go. At that age LO should be fine on a plane, if he/she gets fussy just let him/her nurse through the flight.

kbel424 · March 2011

I'm going to be flying cross country when our LO is about that old, maybe a few weeks older. My best friend had a LO this past June and her daughter has already made 6 cross country flights. She says it was much easier to fly with her when she was younger, then the most recent flight where she was 9 months old.

nowayamyrae · March 2011

We'll be doing some big traveling with our little guy at 8 weeks.

First we're driving 6 hours to my husbands best friends wedding, then the following day, driving 8 hours in the opposite direction to Maine for a week, where we'll stay in a big beach condo with all of his immediate family (and this year my mom and her boyfriend, too!). It's likely to be the first time most of husbands family meets him, but I've heard traveling with an infant is easier than a toddler, so I'm not sweating it too much. Our biggest debate now, is what we'll do about cloth diapering on the trip.

3Girls3xsTheFun · March 2011

I agree with the PP who mentioned the passport.

While there are ways to get a passport fast -- same day service if you want to drive to DC (which is probably the closest agency for you) -- it will cost you $160. If you use a courier service (company that submits your application for you in person) it will be even more money.

For an infant, you can get a 1yr limited passport book using a hospital birth certificate (they usually give it to you when you leave). But, there is a chance you will have a certified birth cert by 4 or 5 weeks. Ours were ready in about a month.

The actual flight I wouldn't worry about. 8 weeks is easier than 2 or 3 years old, IMO. You can nurse on take off and landing to help keep the baby content. I wouldn't leave an 8 week old at home for a few days if I were Bfing. I don't think you'll have enough time to have a real "stash" of pumped milk.

KYBABY2011 · March 2011

ishka338:
I'm going against the group and saying it may not be doable. I am almost positive LO will need a passport to go into Canada and it may take longer than 8 weeks to get one. We were planning on going to Mexico in September, which would be about 10-12 weeks after I was due and we decided to push it back for this very reason. We would have had to wait for the soc. sec. card and then file for a passport, so unless you don't need one to Canada, I would say to think twice.

This is definitely on my mind. He will need a passport. I googled it and found this website https://www.uspassportnow.com/services/ChildPassport . I'll definitely have to think more about it for sure.

Jenn0810 · March 2011

I don't see why you couldn't take your LO with you. Not that I have any experience yet, but I've heard it's not too difficult (other than preparation) taking an infant as compared to a toddler. I'm taking my LO on a week-long vaca to visit my sister and her new LO (that is due in early august) when she is 10 weeks old. We're driving and it is 12 hours but we're stopping halfway, I think, to sleep in a hotel. I'm BF and CD with her but think that I might buy a pack of regular diapers for the trip so the dirty ones aren't in the car with us the whole time.

MammaBear81 · March 2011

ishka338:
I'm going against the group and saying it may not be doable. I am almost positive LO will need a passport to go into Canada and it may take longer than 8 weeks to get one. We were planning on going to Mexico in September, which would be about 10-12 weeks after I was due and we decided to push it back for this very reason. We would have had to wait for the soc. sec. card and then file for a passport, so unless you don't need one to Canada, I would say to think twice.

I think a birth certificate is OK if you are going to Canada, but I'm not 100% sure on that!

3Girls3xsTheFun · March 2011

MammaBear81:

ishka338:
I'm going against the group and saying it may not be doable. I am almost positive LO will need a passport to go into Canada and it may take longer than 8 weeks to get one. We were planning on going to Mexico in September, which would be about 10-12 weeks after I was due and we decided to push it back for this very reason. We would have had to wait for the soc. sec. card and then file for a passport, so unless you don't need one to Canada, I would say to think twice.

I think a birth certificate is OK if you are going to Canada, but I'm not 100% sure on that!

Only if she was driving -- anyone who flies out of the country and territories HAS to have a passport book.

justme04 · March 2011

Its really not a bad age for long trips... They usually sleep through the travel. DH and I did a couple long car trips with our DS when he was little.

Have fun!

cera27 · March 2011

The rule about the passport changed recently, it used to be OK to go to Canada with just a birth certificate, but as of January 2010 you need a passport, and so would the baby. (We live relatively close to the border

)

3Girls3xsTheFun · March 2011

cera27:
The rule about the passport changed recently, it used to be OK to go to Canada with just a birth certificate, but as of January 2010 you need a passport, and so would the baby. (We live relatively close to the border )

Kids under 16 can still travel by land and sea with just a birth certificate. From CBP.gov:

Children: U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 16 arriving by land or sea from a contiguous territory may present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card.

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