Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I’ll still be able to go on holiday?

26 replies

Lolarola · 17/07/2018 12:30

Recently got married and have just found out we’re expecting a baby.... conceived on our honeymoon as a result of being sick for a couple of days whilst we were away (I was on the pill). Bit of a surprise as we were hoping to have a year to ourselves before TTC, but we are happy anyway!

Unfortunately a couple of weeks ago, we’d booked flights for two long ish haul holidays next year to Singapore to stay with family and then Florida the following month to stay with other family members. It works out that the baby would be around 3 and then 4 months when we are due to travel.

Am I crazy to think that (providing there are no complications) I should be able to take baby with me on these holidays and that it’ll be absolutely fine? DH thinks I'm being unrealistic and will have to cancel, but I’ll be on maternity leave and really don’t see why we shouldn’t be able to go.

Advice needed as I’m new to all this and not sure what to expect!

OP posts:
Jammydodger81 · 17/07/2018 12:31

I took ‘surprise’ DD to Florida at 3 months as it was all booked and paid for, was fine.

LBOCS2 · 17/07/2018 12:34

Yeah, definitely. Babies that small are really portable and for you it'll be same shit different location - except hopefully you'll get a bit more help if you're staying with family! You can add the baby to the booking now if you want (they'll get you to update the name when it's born) - just make sure you get on to your passport application ASAP when you've had them.

TheHulksPurplePanties · 17/07/2018 12:39

You'll be fine. It's easier to travel with them at that age as they generally sleep the whole way.

Confusedbeetle · 17/07/2018 12:41

I think you should think carefully. yes, small babies are very portable but I believe there are issues around air quality, oxygen levels and infection which clearly are more of an issue on a long flight. Under 3 month I would definitely not do it so you are on the borderline. How important is it that you go just then

kaytee87 · 17/07/2018 12:42

Probably the best age to go especially if breastfeeding.

negomi90 · 17/07/2018 12:46

Good age, try to make sure the baby's had their first two lots of immunisations before you go.
Its a good age, portable, a bit less fragile than a new born but not old enough to be desperate to crawl around the plane.
Before the baby is born, know what you need for a passport and get then register the baby and get the passport as soon as possible.
Have a wonderful time!

Original poster
Lolarola · 17/07/2018 12:56

This is encouraging, thank you!

OP posts:
Ataliecalm · 17/07/2018 21:52

At that age all three of mine would have been ok with that. Over the really new born phase and before they start to get mobile. I would do it, but be prepared that not everything will go to plan!

brizzledrizzle · 17/07/2018 22:22

Go for it, it'll be fine and much easier than when they are a toddler. Congratulations :-)

ReadingRiot · 17/07/2018 22:24

Yes, but much easier to go then than a year later

Troels · 17/07/2018 22:31

I did a long haul flight with my Ds at 3 months, no problem. He nursed and slept the whole 12 hours, the cabin crew were very impressed at how quiet he was.

Camelsinthegobi · 17/07/2018 22:34

It’s doable, I would say. The chances are you’ll be well over any birth complications and the tiny newborn stage without having to wrangle a toddler. Baby will probably cry at some point on the journey but babies cry at home too, doesn’t stop you being there! My only concern would be managing to sort bottles, etc, though there obviymust be a way. If you can manage to bf then this is ever so much easier and a good comfort to a baby on take off, etc.

kilburnfrenchie · 17/07/2018 22:36

Assuming all goes well with delivery / healthy baby then you should be fine. As above, sort passport asap after birth. And be prepared to be flexible with plans once you are there and possibly do more chill time than full on tourism. I took a 20 month and a 4 month old to cambodia- No issues. Having kids doesn’t mean staying home forever....

TroubledLichen · 17/07/2018 22:42

Yes definitely do it! That’s such a good age to travel compared to when they get mobile. Logistically make sure your accommodation has space for a travel cot, then apply for her passport as soon as you have the birth certificate (then her ESTA), add her as a lap infant and book the bassinet on the plane. If you’re breastfeeding it will be very easy but even bottles will be fine, just requires a bit more organisation. And downgrade your expectations a little as to how much you’ll do it in a day.

cariadlet · 17/07/2018 22:45

Babies are really easy to travel with - especially if you breastfeed. Just make sure you book a skycot - baby sleeps on the plane and you get extra legroom.

We flew to Cuba when dd was 3 months and it was fine.

LuvMyBubbles · 17/07/2018 22:46

Do it
Life continues with a baby 👶🏼

RailReplacementBusService · 17/07/2018 22:48

Yes it is doable. But some significant time zone swings though there and the baby may or may not adjust that easily.

Purpleartichoke · 17/07/2018 22:51

Depends on the baby. Mine screamed bloody murder every second she was in the car seat. I barely left the house until she was a year old because we lived somewhere without access to any other transportation and it wasn’t worth the screaming for anything other than an absolute necessity. Traveling overseas with the screaming baby would not have worked.

chipsandgin · 17/07/2018 22:52

Totally doable, especially if bf (which also helps on takeoff & landing so they don’t get painful ears!), plus they get transferred immunity if you are bf & exposed to illness. Echo what pp’s said, that it would be far easier with a 3 or 4 month old than a year later!

Morewashingtodo · 17/07/2018 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SusanWalker · 17/07/2018 22:54

I went to South Africa for a month with my eldest when he was 4 months. It was great. See if you can get the seat on the plane with the clip on crib. We flew overnight and DS slept nearly the whole way in the crib.

afrikat · 17/07/2018 22:55

Yep, barring any specific health issues you should be grand. We did Florida with a 10 week old and it was fab!

Mummyschnauzer · 17/07/2018 23:14

Should be fine. Just remember the baby might be 2weeks late, if you end up with c section might still be sore. Make sure you have adequate travel insurance that would cover any cancellations. Both myself and baby were very poorly after a trouble free pregnancy so we wouldn’t have been able to fly at that age.

MilkyMum23 · 17/07/2018 23:17

Absolutely do-able - we went away when our baby was 4 months old and on the plane he slept the whole way there and was awake but super calm on the way back.
We rented a pram on the other side which was crucial - he slept in the pram every evening when we went for dinner and it was a dream.
An excellent time to travel!

Also - congratulations Smile

Goostacean · 17/07/2018 23:17

I moved to Argentina from the UK when DS was 8 weeks old. Piece of cake- am much more concerned about the return journey on Thursday now that he’s a vocal, active 6 month old!