Question about travelling with a baby

[canadienne]

Hi everyone,

If all goes according to plan, my husband and I will have our first baby on May 21st. (knock on wood!) Due to work constraints, we can only travel home to Canada at certain times of year.

Would you suggest travelling with a one-to-two-month old in the summer, or a seven-month-old at Christmas? Any comments or feedback would be super appreciated.

Thanks
CDN

 

[carang]

both are fairly easy to travel with....it's once they become mobile and walking etc that things become a little more difficult.

 

[Shenzhennifer]

It depends on how much you want your baby to interact with your family. If it`s 1-2 months, the flying should be really easy, but your family will pretty much just be able to look at it, hold it, etc. At 7 months, the flying could be fairly challenging, but the potential rewards greater, once you`re there. I went to Canada with mine at 4.5 months - kind of in between.

 

[AutoCAD]

We traveled with our daughter at 3 months - she was a dream, slept almost the entire flight (13 hours), waking to feed and have her diaper changed. I flew back to Canada (15 hours, layover, then 2.5 hours) with her by myself at 5.5 months, returning when she was 6.5 months. On the way over, she slept most of the time, on the way back she was much more alert and a bit more difficult to have sit still for such a long stretch, but still not too bad as she was not yet mobile.

 

[MommyTo3]

The younger the better, until they get mobile at least. My oldest first flight from the US to Europe was at 3 months and again at 7 months. Both smooth. The twins had their first international flight (4 1/2 hours) at age 2 1/2 months and their first intercontinental flight at 5 months. I think it's the best age to travel ...

 

[Sazzy]

Your family will enjoy the baby more at 7 months. But a Canadian winter - it will be cold. Also at 7 months, you would have started giving solids so you may have to stock up on some jar food for the flight. Both times will be ok - different ads and difference disads

 

[Koan]

We've travelled a lot with my son and older is better. At 2 mnths your baby will sleep a lot, may not have much of a routine and won't be as social as at 7 months.

7 months will require a bit more work on your part (providing more entertainment, sticking with baby's routine, and jet lag may be a factor), but I think it will be more enjoyable as baby will be in a routine and will be very interested in playing with other people.

 

[babymommy2]

Your family will enjoy baby no matter what so I wouldn't use that as a consideration. Like others have said there are a few different things to consider at those ages, but over all both ages will be fine, it is toddlers that are the real nightmare! I would consider whether you are up to flying at 1 month. 2 months is better. 1 month postpartum the last thing I want to do was go anywhere, let alone fly. You will be really sleep deprived and still getting used to being a parent. If I could only piuck one of those times of year, I would definatly go with christmas. Time with family, baby's first christmas, you will be much more settled into being parent, the winter, the snow, all makes for a great christmas.

 

[nicolejoy]

I think the younger the better too. MUCH easier. Bub will sleep more, won't care who is holding him/her... I travelled with my bub at 7 weeks and it was ideal. I've also travelled with her when she was 4 months, 7 months and 10 months - each time was progressively harder!! Although it is true that they get more interactive and "fun" as they get older... but also more demanding!!

 

[southside852]

i definitely would travel when younger! the first 6 months are so much easier then 6-12 months when they are just starting to crawl/walk and also being weaned. i traveled by myself from london to NYC, then back without my husband when my son was 3 months and it wasn't bad at all as he slept most of the time. will you be traveling by yourself? both trips will be stressful not because of the baby but most likely b/c it will be your first time traveling with him/her in general. once you do it once, it gets a little easier as you know more or less what to expect, what to bring etc....

 

[Wildcatfin]

Depends on you & your baby, really.

We had to do 14 flights from Uk to NZ, USA, Australia, EU, HK) before mine was 10 months old. All except 1 (constant screaming & throwing up for 12 hours - turned out tummy bug AND teething) he was an angel. Slept more and was less annoyed at not being allowed 'down' to play before he was 8 months tho!

Make sure you book far enough in advance to get a bassinette seat - our nightmare flight was overbooked so we didn't get one; he was on our laps waking whenever someone knocked into us or food was given out.

And re how tired you will be those 1st few months; yes you will be exhausted. So maybe don't go then. On the other hand you are used to being up all hours so jetlags not such a chore!
Catx