Travel
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How early would you travel with an infant?

I am due the first week of July but my doctor thinks there is a significant chance I may go early. I've been asked to go on a trip to Sonoma mid-August, flying from DC, and am trying to think if I could swing it with the baby. I was originally thinking that since it's a direct flight and that since pretty much all babies do at that age is eat and sleep it might be feasible but part of me says its too much for a baby that young.  

Any advice would be appreciated -- thanks!  

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Re: How early would you travel with an infant?

  • I would ask your pedi. Some want you to hold off until they've gotten their first round of shots, or until their immune systems are at an "acceptable" level (whatever that is). We did a road trip with DD at 4 months and she was fine. We had no opportunities to fly, though, until she was a toddler.
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    Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
  • My son was born on June 22nd 2010 and I flew with him on July 30th on a 1 hour domestic flight to see my family with no issues.

    he was late (ie- not a premie), no respiratory issues, and 100% healthy and my pedi oked it.

    I think this is going to depend on your child and its medical state. if he or she is 100% healthy and not a premie-- and becuase this is not in cold/flu season, I think it is ok.  If he/she is a premie as you say he or she might be... i think the situation is different as they can be get sick much easier.

    Talk to your pedi!!!  

  • We flew to FL to visit my parents when DS was 8 weeks(he was 3 weeks early), our pedi gave us the a-ok and it was easy as pie.  I was never overly concerned espcially since babies can be more resilient to germs/sickness in their first 3 months due to still having their mothers immunity.

    FWIW - I had a C/S with complications and was more than ready to travel by 8 weeks. 

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  • I flew with DD at around 6 weeks (domestic flight) and DS around 7.5 weeks (international flight).

    Our pedi warned us of the sickness concerns but we decided it was the right choice for our family to go ahead and make the trips.  They did move DS's first round of shots to right before we left that they normally give at 8 weeks. 

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  • We flew with our ds when he was 6 weeks, and then internationally at 10 weeks. We first flew with our dd at 7 weeks, domestically. I wore them both through the airport and on the plane. 
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  • YoU also do not know what your recovery will be, some people hav a c-section and are still uncomfortable, I recovered easily but some don't 
    Jen - Mom to two December 12 babies Nathaniel 12/12/06 and Addison 12/12/08
  • I just posted this question, sorta!

    We will be doing an international trip with the baby when he is 3 months old. Hadn't considered the vax thing though. It will likely be to an "advanced" country  though. 

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  • My pedi says anytime after 4 weeks is ok. We traveled by plane 2000 miles with DS at 8 weeks and had no trouble. We're planning to do the same with this baby. Infants are so much easier to travel with than toddlers.
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  • The girls' first flight was at 10 weeks.  We were exhausted.  Not at all from the trip - just from having two newborns.  Travel was actually really easy.  

     I think it's fine to travel with itty bitties (assuming there's no medical reasons not to), but don't expect it to be a relaxing vacation.  Rather, look at it as a chance to change up the routine a bit.   

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  • we took the bean to Maui with us when she was five weeks old, with the ok from our pedi.  she was a perfect little traveler and slept most of the time.
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  • We took LO on a 5 hour flight at 8 weeks and took him to Hawaii at 16 weeks.  Both trips were great.  The only issue we had was adjusting to the time difference, but it wasn't horrible.
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  • 60 days old would be my limit.  If an infant gets a fever below that they need a lumbar puncture.  Air travel equals high incidence of contracting germs, so unless it was for a funeral or something REALLY important I wouldn't travel earlier than that.

    They are super easy to travel with while still in the bucket.  Two year olds are much more challenging.

    Kristen 

     

  • I chose to take my daughter on a flight when she was a day or two before 3 weeks old.  It was a 2.5 hour flight to visit my family (so its not like I expeced to be out sight seeing with newborn).  It was just her and I that traveled and I had a c-section.  I made my husband drive me to the airport and help me get the luggage, carset into the airport and checked.  My parents met me at the airport to help me get everything off the baggage claim area.

    The Pediatrician said it was fine.

    If I was going to travel somewhere to sight see, I would wait till they were sleeping thru the night or till there were 1.5-2 years old. 

  • Thanks ladies - I really appreciate it!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I would wait until at least 6 weeks. Newborns are still developing their immune systems and I wouldn't want the baby to get sick from germs flying around on the flight. We took DS to Europe when he was 3 months old and he did great.
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  • We are holding off until baby has the first round of shots at 8 weeks.  Right now we are planning nothing until we know what kind of baby we have, but will probably try to do our first family trip before I go back to work at 12 weeks. 
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