Newborn Travel

[SAra Chwatt]

Posted by SAra Chwatt on May 14, 2002 at 11:57:40:

We are expecting a baby in early Dec. and my extended family will be going on a trip to Florida towards the end of the month..Hoe do I find out about safety and other concerns about traveling with a newborn....I would really love to go...

[momofOne]

Posted by momofOne on August 08, 2002 at 20:28:44:

In Reply to: NEWBORN TRAVEL posted by SAra Chwatt on May 14, 2002 at 11:57:40:

SAra Chwatt

Is this your first? You probably aren't going to feel up to going on a trip 3 weeks after you've had a baby.

[May]

Posted by May on November 14, 2002 at 11:41:02:

In Reply to: NEWBORN TRAVEL posted by SAra Chwatt on May 14, 2002 at 11:57:40:

SAra Chwatt

Hi Sara,

I'm a first time mom and I just had my son 5 months ago and I hadn't had any holiday since he was born. It is a bit difficult to travel with baby that small. I suggest that you wait till your baby is 1month old or maybe a little bit older then you will find it easier if you are breastfeeding him.

Hope this help.
May@germany

[domesticgoddess]

I have raised three kids. And by the time all of them were two months old, we were flying everywhere with them. All of my children had passports by the time they were 6 months old.

The thing is, whenever you take off or land, nurse the baby, or feed him/her a bottle. It will help to alleviate the altitude problems and inner ear thing. If he/she is still screaming (usually during take-off) place a plastic cup over each ear, and it will help to equalize the pressure the baby is feeling.

The neatest thing about newborns is: Whereever you place them, they'll still be there when you check on them again! This statement is NOT true by the time they are 6 months old! So appreciate your little one, and TRAVEL, girl.

[magnusiax]

I think travelling with new born baby is not allowed... Dont know in your state.

[lauras]

I traveled with my second child when he was 3 weeks old and it went fine. We flew to visit my in-laws -- just an hour flight. But I think it would have been hard if I had traveled with my first baby that young. Everything is so new and overwhelming with the first one, and you are so sleep deprived that everything seems a bit difficult.

It certainly can be done if your baby is healthy and not colicky, but you won't even know how old your baby will be for the trip -- he/she could be just a week or two old. And that's a bit young. It's best to be near your pediatrician just in case anything goes wrong when they're that young...for your own peace of mind as much as anything else.

I do think mothers-to-be assume that a baby won't "clip their wings," and I'm a firm believer that they shouldn't, but I think until you have the baby, you don't realize the impact they have on your time and your ability to do much except care for them for the first few weeks or months. I'd wait until the baby is at least a month before attempting any major travel...and I would hesitate to plan anything really big til the child is 3 months and is more settled.

[finchnyc]

The best advice is to first check with your doctor to make sure your baby is healthy and not suffering from any unforeseen ear issues. Next, remember your own health as well as your infant's. Your baby will be more relaxed and secure if you are as well. If at all humanly possible, try to schedule the flight during trusted nap times and have a bottle of water on hand for an emergency if you run out of formula. If nothing else, this will alleviate take off and landing ear pains.

You should also check out www.tinytravelers.net for articles on traveling with infants. Here are a few to try:

http://tinytravelers.net/articles/article/11040
http://tinytravelers.net/articles/article/11163

[fellowtraveller]

I'd say check with your doctor first. Wherever you are going - as long as you can get rest and comfortable in a stress-free environment - newborns are way easier to travel with than older kids - that's been my experience anyways.