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Need opinions on travel w/newborn
B's friend (one of his groomsmen) is getting married about 6 weeks after my due date, in Hawaii. (He's not in the wedding.) I assumed we would go, never really thought much of it. But now he's saying he's not sure we should travel with the baby being so young. I'm not sure if he's just concerned about having to bring a whole bunch of crap, because I know he doesn't want to do that. He also mentioned not being able to hang out with friends or do stuff because of the baby but I just figure I'll bring her with me wherever I go and I really want my friends and family to be able to see her. It's not like we go out and party. Usually just out to lunch/dinner or over to friends' houses to hang out. I figure it'll be easier to travel with her at that age than later since she'll likely sleep most of the time. Yeah, it'll be a pain in the butt to have to bring the PnP and what not but I think it's worth it. And it will have been 9 months since we've been back home by then and I'm already itching to go back now!
What do you think? Should we go or skip the wedding and go when baby's a little older?
Re: Need opinions on travel w/newborn
I think part of it depends on how long you would stay to make it "worth it"
having no experience w/this myself, I am sure it is do-able but a large part will depend on the baby's temperament. some babies are fussy all the time and others only get up for feedings/diaper changes and then sleep the rest of the time.
we are likely going to be traveling when the baby is about 4-5 weeks old and I am personally not looking fwd to it unless our baby turns out to be super easy...it will be a 2 hr flight followed by a 2 hr car ride but Brent really wants his grandma to be able to see the baby and she is no longer able to travel and we are not sure if she will still be around the next time he has time off.
as far as lugging stuff around, I wouldn't bring the PnP - i would get a cheap one there off of craigslist that you can resell before you leave or just donate to goodwill....it's a lot easier than traveling with one. and if you plan to wear the baby, that saves you from having to travel w/a stroller..the only thing you would need is your car seat.
i am sure that some of the other mamas out there will be able to chime in and give you better advice but just thought i'd throw some ideas out there about traveling w/baby gear at least
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Apparently I had my first flight when I was a few months old... so it's totally doable. I think it's a great reason to go see friends and family too.
Of course, I was on a Hercules military plane, so no one could hear me howl... To be honest, I think all the flights my parents took me on when I was young really conditioned me to be a great traveller now. I don't know if that first one counts, but I'd like to think it did!
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Kai went to Washington/Canada at 7 months, Oahu/Kauai at 8 months and planning Maui at 23 months (may times to Lake Tahoe by car so far). I am of the rule of "have baby will travel." lol HOWEVER, at that age I wouldn't go. Sorry. Too young with all those people around. I am even tempted to cancel our Maui trip next month because it is flu/h1n1 season.
Should you decide to go, at that age your baby should do fine (sleep mostly), except you and DH on the other hand will likely not. The lack of sleep is CRAZY and the lack of routine, etc takes some getting used too. We went to Lake Tahoe (2 hours by car) when Kai was 2, 3, 4 months old and WOW. 2 hours was enough for him in the car, but it was not relaxing because we were still getting used to him/us/schedule (or lack of).
However if you decide to go, you can take your stoller AND carseat to the gate. If there is an empty seat they generally give it to you for free. They gate check the stroller and it makes life SO much easier. Its waiting for you when you get off. I took a Moby Wrap with Kai on the plane. That way I had my hands free. Take (honestly) a TON of diapers. Kai went through 6 in 1 hour and I only brought 12 for a 5 hours flight. At 10 months, I thought that was enough. WRONG. You can take your breastmilk or formula on with you. They will just make you take a sip to make sure it is okay. Bring bottles water if you do formula. Get a bottle cooler bag with an ice pack. I wouldnt take a PnP. Either buy a cheap one at a store or at a used kids store. I think your DC will be in your wrap more than anything not the PnP. Try not to expose DC to lots of people. Germs and with their little immune system, not good.
BTW- Dont forget that the plane ride can hurt their little ears. Take a pacifier (or use a bottle) during take off and landing.
My suggestion is that you talk to your pedi about this trip for the health factor, it's really the most important consideration. The other stuff is more just inconvenience for you and DH in terms of the bringing all the baby stuff.
My personal feeling is that I wouldn't take a baby around that many people (not just at the airport/airplane but also all sorts of new relatives/friends in Hawaii) without their first round of immunizations. We didn't go to Thanksgiving last year when DS was 6 weeks old because he didn't get his first round of shots until 8 weeks. Our pedi also recommended waiting until he got his first round of shots.
As far as ease of travel with a newborn, I think traveling with DS for the first time (to Hawaii for the holidays last year, he was 2.5 months old) was the hardest trip we've ever been on. There is definitely a lot more stuff that you have to pack (and we even borrowed stuff from family like a bouncy chair, baby bathtub and a play mat)...plus there's just a lot of moving things around when you go place to place. I would definitely bring your own pack n' play or buy one there, I would not buy a used one because I feel things like that are full of germs plus the humidity in Hawaii just breeds more germs. You'll be breast feeding so that's another consideration...I know that my milk production dropped because of our trip because it was difficult to find time to pump - although DS ate regularly, it was a hassle to try to find a place to do it if we were out and definitely wish I had a manual pump with me so I could pump discreetly at a relative's house when I was engorged (yeah, the trying to juggle breast feeding was the most challenging because your boobs kind of have a mind of their own at that point).
Finally, I just think back to six weeks after I delivered, DH & I were still trying to figure things out and I was exhausted from lack of sleep...I was up every 4 hours for feedings and/or pumping. I def could not have done a trip to Hawaii and dealt with all the relative/family visits.
Good luck, it seems like a really hard decision. I hope your pedi can give you an answer to at least clear the baby to fly.
Yeah, I think I'll ask our neonatologists what they think. It will still be RSV season but I'm not really concerned about that, assuming she'll be term. (Term babies can't even get Synagis because RSV usually just presents as a common cold in most babies/kids/adults.) I totally understand why you would be more conservative having a preemie.
I didn't really consider the whole immunization thing. I guess I just figure that if we lived in Hawaii we'd have tons of people coming to see the baby anyways and as long as they aren't sick and they wash their hands/sanitize, it shouldn't be an issue. Plus, I'll be breastfeeding so she'll have passive immunity from that. And I did get both flu shots so she also has some protection there.
Thanks for all your input, ladies. I'm still undecided as to what to do. I really wish my BFFs and family could come to us instead. It's just really hard to be so far away from them and not be able to experience my first baby with all the people I care about.
Besides the health thing and based on my experience with Ashton these past few months, I can say there is no way I would even want to travel with her, especially if you are going to breastfeed. I hate to be "Debbie downer", but I found it much easier to be at home with him and didn't want to go anywhere since my boob was out 24/7 and I felt so much more comfortable at home. Just my 2 cents. I guess it will really depend on your baby, etc. I'm sure you know this, but just because you're breast feeding doesn't mean that baby can't get sick...Ashton is just getting over a serious cold and he's only been given my breast milk.
Good luck!
I think that some airlines restrict travel to infants over 8 weeks, so you'll want to check airline policies first, before making your decision.
Personally, I don't think I'd want to fly with a 6 week old (assuming she arrives "on time"...she could be up to 2 weeks "late" which would give you a 4 week old). Especially exposing her to all of the germs in-flight, etc. Not too mention how exhausted both you and your DH will probably be at that point.
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I have no advice or anything. . . but I have to agree with Renee. I couldn't imagine travelling with a 6 week old baby. We started taking Brooke when she was a month old to places like Ala Moana and staying out for "longer" periods of time, but a plane ride and everything seems really stressful to me.
If you manage to do it, we'd love to see the LO
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