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Original poster

To take a 10 week old abroad?

32 replies

AprilIce · 03/04/2018 11:45

A very close family member is getting married abroad (Italy) 10 weeks after my baby's due date, if it wasn't for the wedding I wouldn't consider travelling with a baby this young but it'd kill me & family member to not go Sad I'm worried about how the change in temp will affect baby and worried if something happens with his health while over there (will only be there for 5 days and my whole family will be there)

Is it awful to take a baby this young abroad??
Does anyone have any advice??

Flights and accommodation is already booked and has been for a long time!

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 03/04/2018 11:53

Perfectly normal thing to do. They have babies in Italy.

ladysybilcrawley · 03/04/2018 11:54

No issue at all - I spent half my maternity leave with dd in Turkey as dh was working there. Hasn't done dd any harm.

ladysybilcrawley · 03/04/2018 11:55

Plus, might as well make the most of EHIC cards while we still have them.

Justanotherzombie · 03/04/2018 11:55

Absolutely no problem whatsoever. It’s a great time to take a baby abroad. They only get harder from there and if baby is a difficult one, getting away and out if the rut is great. If baby is an easy one, then it’s sinply great to have a nice holiday together.

GhirardelliSquare · 03/04/2018 11:55

Not at all, took first to the states at about that age and he was fine, have booked to do something similar with the second.

To be honest at that age it's a million times easier than an older baby/young toddler. Our long haul holiday with a 14m old was just a two week long trauma!

Allthebestnamesareused · 03/04/2018 11:56

Yes - I promise it will probably actually be the easiest time you travel with your child!

Original poster
AprilIce · 03/04/2018 11:59

Thanks so much to everyone who's reassured me! I think I'm mostly worried about the change in temperature making him poorly?

OP posts:
bellsbuss · 03/04/2018 11:59

I've taken all 4 of mine abroad from about 12 weeks , with the guest I remember thinking what a lovely relaxing holiday. It's the easiest time to take them as they can't move. Go and have a lovely time

BalloonFlowers · 03/04/2018 11:59

So long as you are prompt with registering the birth, and then get the passport paperwork going (think about who can counter sign), no problem at all.
Enjoy your new baby and the wedding.

Unihorn · 03/04/2018 12:01

As long as you're aware it probably won't feel like a holiday to you very much. I took DD to Cyprus at 5 months for a wedding and, as she was bottle fed and a difficult colicky baby, I felt like I may as well have been at home at times. Spent most of my time washing and sterilising bottles, dealing with conjunctivitis, changing nappies etc. We still had a nice time but would've been a lot better with an easy baby.

Also be prepared for being two weeks late and only being 8 weeks post c section of worst comes to worst.

LastAnni · 03/04/2018 12:02

I took my six week old on a 24 hour flight. Easiest time to travel is when they're newborns! And every single country on earth has babies. Go for it.

sirlee66 · 03/04/2018 12:02

Sounds lovely, OP! Just make sure you have adequate insurance and are able to cancel just in case of any complications and you need to stay at/near hospital here in the UK. I'm sure that won't happen but I would for peace of mind then again I am a worrier

Have a lovely time in Italia!!!

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 03/04/2018 12:05

Best time to take them. They become a lot harder to cater for when they are older. Just make sure you pack suitable clothing (light vest). Weather change won’t affect them and will actually need to get used to it. It’s amazing how hot this country gets when you have a baby to worry about

Flippetydip · 03/04/2018 12:05

I took DS to Tanzania aged 11 weeks to live. He thrived - I found it the most stressful thing I've ever done but the problem was all mine and not his. Italy will be a doddle! Enjoy it.

Do make sure you put the baby on your insurance please once s/he's born and as a PP said, apply for and take an EHIC.

user1483387154 · 03/04/2018 12:08

You should be fine. We did it from hot country to england nd temp change didn't affect my son at all

DarkRoomDarren · 03/04/2018 12:14

It’ll be fine, but I would say don’t plan to go if you think it’s going to make you anxious.

We travelled, (just to Ireland), when dc1 was 5 weeks old. It was fine, but I vowed never to do it again. We were mix feeding, so formula top-ups all the time. This made the logistics trickier as I needed somewhere to bf comfortably and also sterilising equipment, formula, bottles etc. It was fine as I was at my dad’s house, but may have struggled a bit more in a hotel.

I also found it quite stressful going through the airport, especially on the return leg when DH had flown home separately for work, so I had to travel on my own with the baby.
I have a 10 wo now. I’m sure I’d be fine to travel with him if I had to, but I’d still rather avoid it personally.

Mumto2two · 03/04/2018 12:46

We took both our children abroad shortly after they were born. Our youngest was 3 weeks old when we holidayed in Spain for a fortnight, and it was very hot. I didn't find the logistics of flying, any more difficult than travelling in the UK. You'll be fine, hope you have a lovely time!

KalaLaka · 03/04/2018 12:48

Just plan for shady places to sit as you won't be able to sit out in the sun. Other than that, you may enjoy it as Italians are really child-friendly!

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 03/04/2018 12:57

It'll be fine OP. Take out travel insurance before you go and calpol just in case and try not to worry.

KalaLaka · 03/04/2018 13:27

Actually take out travel insurance now to cover anything that may happen (or whatever is insured) to cause you to cancel.

Idontdowindows · 03/04/2018 13:35

It'll be fine. Mums in the tropical country where I lived used to fly back to the UK to have their babies (because of passport rules) and then fly out again when the baby was 2 or 3 weeks old. Doesn't bother them too much at that age as long as they have mum to cling to.

GlitteryPoop · 03/04/2018 13:40

We moved abroad when the DTs were 3 weeks old. Don't worry, babies are really portable at that age. Also a hotel is like;y to have air conditioning if i's hot.

ethelfleda · 03/04/2018 14:39

Go for it. We took DS to Ireland when he was 9 weeks. 4 hour car journey and ferry crossing to visit family. Was pretty stress free actually and I actually got to sleep in the car!

PodgeBod · 03/04/2018 15:09

It's a bit of a gamble to buy flights and such. You might have a c section and still be recovering. Personally with my first she had a condition that was suspected at birth, confirmed within a couple of weeks and was being treated by 10 weeks so I would have had to cancel. In my opinion there's too many unknowns with a small baby and it would stress me out to have to lug all of their stuff on a plane so I would skip it. But we all have a different tolerance to stress so perhaps you wouldn't struggle in that way.

sarcasmisnotthelowestformofwit · 03/04/2018 15:12

we took DD to Middle East when she was just 8 weeks. Perfectly fine. Slept all the way there and back on the plane, heat not an issue.

It's actually much easier at that age than when they are toddlers! Go for it (make sure you have good travel insurance though)

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