Travelling with a 6 week old: rail or air?

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Looking for some advice, please.

We're planning to travel to visit family for Christmas with our (as yet unborn) new baby, who will be approx 6 weeks old. We have the option of taking a 1 hour flight or a 5 hour train journey.

What would you do?

First baby so have no experience, and can see pros and cons of both!

I flew with DS1 and 2 when they were 10 weeks and it was fine but I'm not sure if I would have done it when they were much younger. If you go over your dates will the baby be even younger?

I flew when my DD was 8 weeks, it was fine. I think the shorter time travelling would be better.

When they are that tiny they are so easy to fly with as they sleep and feed. They also don't need anything by way of toys etc. Once they are older and crawling a train has its advantages as you can at least move around and it is easier with bags. But for 1 to 5 hours, plane would win every time for me. Many airports are very helpful, particularly Gatwick.

Will you have time to get passport if it is international?

Thanks, I think the plane wins! Domestic flight so no worries about getting a passport in time :)

Flying with a baby that age is a doddle. Take a sling if you will have one.

really easy to fly with as little ones and you don't have to worry about temperature with doors opening and closing and shuffling about with pushchairs etc to make room for oncoming passengers.

when they're older and more mobile i think trains are easier because of more room to move and less panic about disturbing people going to the loo etc and you can choose to break your journey, it's easier to get to your bags for activities, snacks etc.

flying for an hour would be a doddle and 6weeks with a sling will make the airport dead simple especially if you have a partner to handle luggage etc.

(it's toddlers on long haul flights that are a nightmare - especially when you've been used to flying solo and taking a valium with a couple of glasses of red and zonking for the duration - quite a shock to the system )

If you fly make sure you have a change of clothes for yourself in your hand luggage.

And feed for take off and landing- some babies don't react well to pressure changes.