Travel with an Infant

NarrowHouses · February 2017

Anyone planning to travel with their LO in the first few months?

I want to plan a short (3ish nights) vacation with my family at a lake an hour from our house in August. She would be about 6-10 weeks at the time. I'm just not sure if it would be a good idea or not. I like the idea of doing a trip during maternity leave but wonder if it would really be enjoyable if we're sleep deprived, exhausted, etc. My mom and sisters would be very accommodating and helpful (one of my sisters is actually our nanny). I know it would probably be fun for DD1 who will be 3.5, she's a good traveler who loves the water, sun, and sand.

With DD1 we took a 16 hour road trip to Outer Banks, NC for 10 days when she was 6 months, and it was great. They change so much in those first few months though and each kid can be so different!

jc_twomamas · February 2017

@NarrowHouses I remember a thread similar to this a while back that had some good responses...it may be super burried by now!

We traveled to california for my brothers wedding when DS was 10 weeks old. We flew, but all went smoothly. I just wore him constantly and DH and I swapped sleeping as much as possible. It was tough being so sleep deprived, but other then that, it wasn't an issue.
I also did a few drives to my parents between 8-12 weeks with DS. They're 6 hours away. I just took my time and traveled during the daytime. My parents were big helps, but again, dealing with lack of sleep was really the biggest challenge.

Stankonia2014 · February 2017

In my experience, traveling with infants is much easier than toddlers, I'd go, especially since you'll have help and won't require time off work.

mkrel · February 2017

I am, and it will be when she is about a month old by plane to a very important wedding out of state. My parents are also coming to help. I have talked to my doctor about it and he said it will be no problem at all. My biggest concern is just the schedule like you said. We also plan to buy refundable airfare in case we decide it won't work last minute.
There seem to be a lot of very mixed opinions on the subject. Some people tell me I'm crazy, and others tell me they flew on an 8 hour flight with a 3 week old to Paris and it was no big deal, so who knows how it will go!
I say plan on it if family will be helpful as long as you can back out if need be.

c1tym0m22 · February 2017

I'd vote to do it - we took DD to Europe (to meet her grandparents) at 10 weeks old, and will likely go at roughly the same time with this little one as well. For you, you won't have a time zone issue, and you'll be pretty close to home. I personally found that it was a nice break and we weren't so exhausted at that point anymore.

Side notes: Pedi approved of the trip, she had gotten her first round of shots (and had enough time to generate some immunity, and was a pretty robust baby. It was also May, so far fewer concerns about flu / cold season than if it had been February.

lmudra · February 2017

I traveled on a plane with a one week old haha! Our son was adopted so we had to fly home once we we're cleared legally to bring him across state lines. Everyone was very accommodating and we just steered clear of other travelers as much as possible (it was Feb so we were worried about him catching something). Feed on take off and landing and you should be fine. Also, we took the red eye so the plane was basically empty and it was dark and quiet so he slept the whole flight.
I was a FTM and had no clue what I was doing but everything just clicked and it worked perfectly! Good luck and happy travels!

krex-2 · February 2017

lmudra said:

I traveled on a plane with a one week old haha! Our son was adopted so we had to fly home once we we're cleared legally to bring him across state lines. Everyone was very accommodating and we just steered clear of other travelers as much as possible (it was Feb so we were worried about him catching something). Feed on take off and landing and you should be fine. Also, we took the red eye so the plane was basically empty and it was dark and quiet so he slept the whole flight.
I was a FTM and had no clue what I was doing but everything just clicked and it worked perfectly! Good luck and happy travels!

This is basically us. We're trying to decide if we fly or drive home ICPC clears...it's a 2.5 hour flight, or a 13 hour drive. We have until June to decide, thankfully!

lmudra · February 2017

krex said:

lmudra said:

I traveled on a plane with a one week old haha! Our son was adopted so we had to fly home once we we're cleared legally to bring him across state lines. Everyone was very accommodating and we just steered clear of other travelers as much as possible (it was Feb so we were worried about him catching something). Feed on take off and landing and you should be fine. Also, we took the red eye so the plane was basically empty and it was dark and quiet so he slept the whole flight.
I was a FTM and had no clue what I was doing but everything just clicked and it worked perfectly! Good luck and happy travels!

This is basically us. We're trying to decide if we fly or drive home ICPC clears...it's a 2.5 hour flight, or a 13 hour drive. We have until June to decide, thankfully!

We flew from AZ to MN. We just wanted to get home. M was already born when we were matched so we literally didn't even have one diaper. Once we got to the hospital and signed some papers and met M and his mom we left for a bit to run to babies r us. We got a car seat, diapers, some basic clothes etc... and had lunch (we named him at In and Out burger haha).
He was born in a Thursday, we flew out Friday morning, she signed TPR Saturday afternoon and we were discharge Saturday evening. We were lucky to stay with relatives and even more lucky that our ICPC cleared by Wednesday afternoon so we were home in Thursday morning at like 5am thanks to finding that last minute red eye flight. I would highly recommend flying and bringing next to nothing with you. Honestly it didn't bother us at all not being 'prepared' it actually made it more of an adventure. I know you have more time to plan so you can bring a car seat and some washed clothes with. Washed clothes would've been helpful as we had to leave the hospital in a hospital tshirt and diaper haha. Oh well, at least it was AZ so it was warm! I'm actually really glad we didn't have a ton of baby stuff around the house in case something happened and she didn't sign, another thing for you to consider. This would be a great Q for the FB group we're in. Feel free to ask away!

krex-2 · February 2017

lmudra said:

krex said:

lmudra said:

I traveled on a plane with a one week old haha! Our son was adopted so we had to fly home once we we're cleared legally to bring him across state lines. Everyone was very accommodating and we just steered clear of other travelers as much as possible (it was Feb so we were worried about him catching something). Feed on take off and landing and you should be fine. Also, we took the red eye so the plane was basically empty and it was dark and quiet so he slept the whole flight.
I was a FTM and had no clue what I was doing but everything just clicked and it worked perfectly! Good luck and happy travels!

This is basically us. We're trying to decide if we fly or drive home ICPC clears...it's a 2.5 hour flight, or a 13 hour drive. We have until June to decide, thankfully!

We flew from AZ to MN. We just wanted to get home. M was already born when we were matched so we literally didn't even have one diaper. Once we got to the hospital and signed some papers and met M and his mom we left for a bit to run to babies r us. We got a car seat, diapers, some basic clothes etc... and had lunch (we named him at In and Out burger haha).
He was born in a Thursday, we flew out Friday morning, she signed TPR Saturday afternoon and we were discharge Saturday evening. We were lucky to stay with relatives and even more lucky that our ICPC cleared by Wednesday afternoon so we were home in Thursday morning at like 5am thanks to finding that last minute red eye flight. I would highly recommend flying and bringing next to nothing with you. Honestly it didn't bother us at all not being 'prepared' it actually made it more of an adventure. I know you have more time to plan so you can bring a car seat and some washed clothes with. Washed clothes would've been helpful as we had to leave the hospital in a hospital tshirt and diaper haha. Oh well, at least it was AZ so it was warm! I'm actually really glad we didn't have a ton of baby stuff around the house in case something happened and she didn't sign, another thing for you to consider. This would be a great Q for the FB group we're in. Feel free to ask away!

We definitely haven't bought much, for that exact reason. We have a few outfits (like onesies) and a crib that was given to us by friends last year. And a carseat. Otherwise, that's about it! I figure we'll get most of the stuff after the baby is here, on the fly. That's what Amazon Prime is for, right?

lmudra · February 2017

@krex. Exactly!!! I'm not even buying stuff for this baby and I'm giving birth to her! Maybe it's my AP mama brain thinking anything can happen and I won't be bringing home a baby bu I'll buy one or two outfits to wash and the rest once she's home! I have an amazon registry to put things that I will eventually order. Maybe I'm nuts but I also k is first hand how little you actually need to prepared to make things work!

neludelu · February 2017

lmudra said:

krex said:

lmudra said:

I traveled on a plane with a one week old haha! Our son was adopted so we had to fly home once we we're cleared legally to bring him across state lines. Everyone was very accommodating and we just steered clear of other travelers as much as possible (it was Feb so we were worried about him catching something). Feed on take off and landing and you should be fine. Also, we took the red eye so the plane was basically empty and it was dark and quiet so he slept the whole flight.
I was a FTM and had no clue what I was doing but everything just clicked and it worked perfectly! Good luck and happy travels!

This is basically us. We're trying to decide if we fly or drive home ICPC clears...it's a 2.5 hour flight, or a 13 hour drive. We have until June to decide, thankfully!

We flew from AZ to MN. We just wanted to get home. M was already born when we were matched so we literally didn't even have one diaper. Once we got to the hospital and signed some papers and met M and his mom we left for a bit to run to babies r us. We got a car seat, diapers, some basic clothes etc... and had lunch (we named him at In and Out burger haha).
He was born in a Thursday, we flew out Friday morning, she signed TPR Saturday afternoon and we were discharge Saturday evening. We were lucky to stay with relatives and even more lucky that our ICPC cleared by Wednesday afternoon so we were home in Thursday morning at like 5am thanks to finding that last minute red eye flight. I would highly recommend flying and bringing next to nothing with you. Honestly it didn't bother us at all not being 'prepared' it actually made it more of an adventure. I know you have more time to plan so you can bring a car seat and some washed clothes with. Washed clothes would've been helpful as we had to leave the hospital in a hospital tshirt and diaper haha. Oh well, at least it was AZ so it was warm! I'm actually really glad we didn't have a ton of baby stuff around the house in case something happened and she didn't sign, another thing for you to consider. This would be a great Q for the FB group we're in. Feel free to ask away!

Omg I am bawling at the thought of this. Silly hormones but I love this story and would love to hear more about it!

lmc929 · February 2017

Flying with an infant is likely the easiest time you'll have flying for the next 3 years

If you are breastfeeding - a nursing cover and a travel pillow. Nurse during take off and landing when their ears pop. Then just a pacifier and an extra outfit or two incase of a blow out. Youll be good to go.

Also, if you can wait until their first round of immunizations - that would be ideal.

silliegirlie143 · February 2017

We took DD on some road trips (4 hr drive each way) when she was 4-12 weeks old. We were house shopping and had the holidays mixed in there. It was very easy to travel with her because she didn't require much: clothes, diapers, baby carrier, blanket, boppy, and boobs.

She slept through most travel and most of the family visits. I wore her just about everywhere.

Ahhhh the good ol' days... Now at 2+ it's MUCH harder to keep her entertained!!

Wino0920 · February 2017

I'm in camp go!! We always travel with our infants and toddlers. They are so used to it now.

and I try never to not do something for fear of what might happen. I'd never leave. Each time is a learning experience.

EmeraldNC · February 2017

I think you should go. We plan to take our little one to the beach (4 hours away) for a week with my family at the beginning of August. We go the same time, and place every year. I'm not missing it!

ashleyl31 · February 2017

We will go to the beach for a week at the end of July or beginning of August, so 6-8 weeks old probably. I'm hoping this little one will just go with the flow. We will be with our in laws, who will help with our 4 year old a lot, so that will be nice. It will be about a 4 hour drive and we took our son when he was about 12 weeks old without any trouble at all, just a lot of stuff!

lmudra · February 2017

Omg I am bawling at the thought of this. Silly hormones but I love this story and would love to hear more about it!

@neludelu Haha, should I start a new thread? I actually wrote it all out for his 1st birthday and it's a pretty great story...

lovesclimbing · February 2017

I say go for it! We're planning to take a 6-hour (one way) road trip when the baby is about two and a half weeks old based on my due date. I'm hoping he's early to give us more time to adjust to having a baby and get rested up, but we're planning to go even if he's a bit late.

ladylolly89 · February 2017

lmudra said:

Omg I am bawling at the thought of this. Silly hormones but I love this story and would love to hear more about it!

@neludelu Haha, should I start a new thread? I actually wrote it all out for his 1st birthday and it's a pretty great story...

Yes! I loooove adoption stories (two of my sibs were adopted). Giving you permission to be an AW!

zseirecarg · February 2017

I say go for it too! I am in my best friends wedding at the end of September (the baby will be around 3mo) and the wedding is a 5ish hour drive away. We already made hotel reservations and booked a room for my parents right next door. We plan on just figuring it all out as we go as my in-laws are 4 hours away, so this little one will need to get used to it!

alm52386 · February 2017

We have a cabin that is 3.5 or so hours away. I want to go as soon as we all feel good enough! I'm hoping 4th of July but that might be too soon!

delujm0 · February 2017

We're flying to FL to go to disney in September while I'm still on leave. An exclusively breastfeeding (hopefully), light enough to wear all day, non-mobile baby is the easiest kind to travel with!

I bring my boppy pillow on the plane for nursing/napping. Nursing covers annoy me and I just whip out a boob haha. I sit in the window with DH next to me (and now DD too) so no one really sees what I'm doing, and honestly I don't care if they do. Changing a diaper in an airplane bathroom is a special experience...i suggest doing an overnight diaper for the flight so you only have to change it if it's poop. And bring extra clothes on board...DD had an epic double poop blowout experience on the plane once and wound up destroying 2 of her own outfits as well as my jacket and the boppy pillow cover. Be prepared.

JessyKV · February 2017

Sounds like it's close and you'll have family to help so I would definitely go!

My Dad has a lake condo a little over an hour away and we plan on spending a lot of the summer there!

NarrowHouses · February 2017

Sorry to post and ghost, it was a loooong day.

Thanks for all your responses, it nudges me toward going. Also, exciting to hear all your travel plans.

Once that tax return arrives some of it is going towards this trip!

mrt · February 2017

We went on a long weekend trip to VT (2.5 hr drive) with family when my oldest was 3 weeks old. It was actually amazing because my family was so helpful. I would wake up with him in the morning, feed him, and then give him to my mom and sisters, and they would take care of him while I went back to sleep. We did a family beach vacation when my second was 2 months old, and will be doing that again this time.

I think it's a great idea, unless you think your family will add to your stress instead of helping. (I just reread your post and it looks like your family will be great).

DewyK · February 2017

@Stankonia2014 - Couldn't agree more that traveling with infants is so much easier than traveling with toddlers. We went to CA when our youngest was 12w old. We checked a Rock 'n Play & car seat upon check-in, then gate checked a stroller. I wore her through the airport, nursed during take off and landing, and she slept pretty much the entire flight. I wore her a lot during the vacation and she slept a lot as well. I was also happy to have the RNP since it's light and portable. We were able to take it with us to a lot of places.

We'll be traveling this summer again when the baby is 6ish weeks old.

Moneypenny424 · February 2017

Absolutely do it. We flew with DD for the first time at 6 weeks and it was fine. I flew with her a lot and she did very well. I STILL fly with her a lot!

alm52386 · February 2017

I'm glad all of you are talking about flying with an infant! We might fly from WI to VA sometime in august or September! We didn't know if it would be better to fly or drive. I'd rather drive because I can bring more crap! Plus I was worried about germs on airplanes. And I have a pretty severe phobia of flying so it's already stressful!!

Ahutch428 · February 2017

We are going to Ohio for a week in August for SILs wedding in August. I'm much more worried about traveling with DD who will be 3. My parents are coming with us to help out (mom is flying with me, dad is driving with DH).

That being said, I would go!

DewyK · February 2017

@Ahutch428 - Where in OH?

tmrussell · February 2017

@Ahutch428 I am in Ohio

I have been thinking a lot about this. Not necessarily traveling but camping and other outdoor activities. With DS I literally did not leave the house for weeks... Guess whast I ended depressed. I was so happy to go back to work. Now this summer we will have a 5 year old in Tee Ball and wanting to be active. We were thinking about camping later in the summer. Just have to see how we feel.

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