Am I mad to consider this with a newborn?

[Planningatrip]

We’re wondering if it’s going to be feasible to go up to Scotland to see family this Christmas, and make a little weekend out of it perhaps and potter round the Christmas markets. If we did this we would be staying in a hotel/AirBnb for 2 or 3 nights and so would need to drive up in order to fit our pram and travel cot in. It’s a 3 hour drive, so we’d obviously have to stop several times.

Our baby could be anywhere between 5 and 8 weeks old, depending on when she’s born.

Naively I’m thinking this could actually be the easiest age. Yes we’ll be tired, but we’ll be tired wherever we are. Planning on breastfeeding so hopefully shouldn’t have to worry about bottles and the likes.

AIBU to think about it? Do I need a reality check?

I doubt how much enjoyment you would get from it. My first baby: I had to feed him every couple of hours and was still strugling to get the baby to latch properly. For a month I was in a haze of no sleep, sore nipples and nappy changes. I spent my days in a night dress if not in knickers and breastfeeding bra. Massive swollen heavy breasts that I hated as had tiny a/b cup before.
The second baby I had a c-section and could hardly walk. Thankfully knew how to breastfeed by then and he was a good sleeper.
You maybe lucky with your birth and if your baby is a good sleeper but it can be hard.
Also I didn't feel like paying attention to nothing else but my lovely baby😊

Sorry miss read your post..Thought you said 2/3 weeks old. The second month is much easier.
Doable

Yes at five weeks......why not? All a newborn needs is Mummy and her breasts .....keep cuddling, keep feeding and have plenty of nappies etc. on hand .....it'll be fine!!!

We went to London for 2 nights with our second baby when she was 3 weeks old as we had to look at rental houses.
i had already moved house 5 days after giving birth then moved again when she was 7 weeks old down to London.
Plus we also had a two year old!
It is manageable!

I lived in a complete fog of exhaustion, night feeds, crying baby, me crying, rinse and repeat, for about six months. No way could I have gone anywhere during that time.

Similar in that I took a 2mo baby and 4yo to Australia solo. You can do this but yes prudent to book somewhere that can be canceled at 11th hour. All the best with the birth!!

Look up car safety advice for newborns but if you’re adamant on going I would suggest maybe taking a train with pram/sling. You can always rent a car the other end if you need one to get around. Travel cot may be available in the air bnb but if not just look on Facebook market place in the general area and try and sort one that end.
Theres a recommended maximum daily time limit for a newborn to be in a car seat and you may struggle to do the journey within one day.
I certainly couldn’t have done this with my younger two but easily with my first, all babies are different so if you’re going to book it I would book with free cancellation. Also, I would ensure you have a full kitchen wherever you end up staying as although BF is your preferred it may not go to plan and you may need sterilisation facilities, fridge for expressed milk etc. I think the hardest thing at that age too is how many things you need.
Best of luck!

We made what should have been a 3 hour journey when my twins were 6 weeks old - it was many, many hours more as we broke down on the motorway so that was fun! I was also breastfeeding and I did not enjoy trying to feed two of them in public.

I think it's worth it. Assuming you feel ok - you might still be sore or exhausted - just make sure you book refundable lodgings.

We drove to Scotland from the south east when my son was 4 weeks old, took us 10 hours with the stops we had to make every 1.5hrs or so to feed him but he slept most of the way. It's not madness at all, 3hrs isn't much but you might want to consider your car seat and whether you can get one that lies flat - babies are only meant to be in car seats for short periods because the position can reduce oxygen intake, lots of car seats now like cyber can lay flat so much safer.

You'll be fine! I went to Spain with my baby at that age...

It’s easy ! Go for it! Developing countries carry water on their backs for 10 miles!
😊

I went to a family wedding 2 hours away when my daughter was 5 weeks old. It was all fine! If you are staying near family then use it as an opportunity for some time to sleep. Feed baby, leave them with family for a couple of hours and go and sleep! lol!

My little one was 9wks old when I travelled by boat with teenager then a 8hr drive which turned into over 10hrs drive with stops. Returned home 4 days later by repeat the journey. It was a forceps delivery and honestly my hardest to get over 2 sections one emergency and one planned. Though the trip was important to our family at that time so was worth it. Was exhausting but doable.

I made a 3 hour journey when my 1st was 6 weeks old 41 years ago!!!! Was sore when we got there because I'd had a lot of stitches and I mean - A LOT. He was such a good baby and breastfeeding was brilliant. No probs. HOWEVER my 2nd was a nightmare, very cranky, fussy baby. Took ages to feed. Breastfeeding was a niightmare also bottle feeding. There is no way I was fit to go outside the door nevermind a long journey. I was completely exhausted and sleep deprived. So I guess what I'm saying is - It depends on the labour and birth you have - what baby is like, quiet and happy or a constant crier and difficult to handle. Some babies just settle easily and some don't. So long story short I guess your better to wait until baby is born to see how things settle and how you yourself are. Don't put unnessecary pressure on yourself.

we travelled to Spain when DD was 7 weeks old for a week, admittedly she is our second child but I would say it’s entirely doable as long as you have low expectations and make a packing list a few weeks before so you don’t forget anything and in our case we did have my parents to help which definitely made it easier! Travelling with children isnt really a holiday but more parenting in a different location but that doesn’t mean it can’t be exciting. Have fun with your trip if you do go 😊

I glew to Indonesia with a baby and a toddler any thing is possible if you plan

You won't know how you feel about it until baby is here. Hopefully you have a straight forward birth & feel great after 8 weeks. It's definitely doable if you feel up to it but I'd book accommodation that can be cancelled last minute just in case.

A little tip if you do go & go to busy Christmas markets. Get a fly net for your pram. There wont be any flys at that time of year but people smoke & the ash can blow into your baby's face or worse still someone could throw a cigarette butt & it goes in the pram.

My baby is 6 months old. My second so apparently I should “know better” (I forgot a lot!) but I have realised that the first 6 months (minus the recovery period at the beginning which is usually up to 6 weeks) are actually so much easier (in terms of taking baby around with you) than when they start babbling, pulling things, eating solids etc.

a few of my friends traveled with their newborns and had a great time as they just breast fed and carried them in carriers when going on hikes etc.

Of course, you can never plan how you will fell - so put it in your calendar as a place holder and once baby is here take it day by day - and see how you feel.