How to travel alone with 2 month old baby

[MrsCrankypants]

Hoping I can get some tips from you all because I can't work this out myself!

I need to travel from Dublin to the UK with a 2 month old baby next month and my options are:

1. Fly to uk and get trains with 1 change for 2 hours
2. Go on the ferry to Holyhead and trains with 2 changes for 4 1/2 hours.

Which will be easier with such a small baby? I assume the flight won't be comfortable for her and the airport process will be a nightmare on my own but is this better than travelling all day on the ferry and trains?

I can't work out what to take as luggage, i will be there for 2 weeks so need plenty of stuff. I would usually check in a big wheely suitcase when travelling alone but I assume I won't manage this with the buggy. I'll be taking my bugaboo which is in 2 pieces so need to push this and manage luggage.

I'd fly. But I'd also ditch the buggy and take a sling instead.

Also, are you staying with relatives? In which case travel light and wash stuff. You can buy anything extra you need when you're here.

I will need the buggy while I'm there so have to take it unfortunately. Good idea with the sling though, I have one already and it might make boarding etc easier.

Yes, I'm staying with my parents so I can wash stuff and they can buy nappies etc before I get there

Fly. No question.

Airports with babies really aren't that bad. Dublin airport staff have always been really helpful when I travelled with babies (flew to/from Dublin when DD2 was 9 weeks, with 4yo DD1 with me too. Was fine).

Check in a bag, then you don't need to stress about trying to fit stuff in a carry on. If you use a sling or a carrier, use that, otherwise they will let you bring pram to the steps of the plane. (Neither of mine particularly liked slings, but I did have one for travel).

Have you a big backpack you could use as your checked in bag, so you have hands free? And use the baby changing bag for your carry on and handbag (especially if it will go over the handles of the pram).

Give yourself loads of time for any changes and getting through the airport and it will be fine.

Is there someone who can meet you at the airport on the other side, so you don't have to do the train journeys alone?

Could your parents borrow a buggy for when you are there? Mine did this - although admittedly when DDs were a little past the 2 month stage. If you were happy enough to use just a carrier for the journey then that could be another option to reduce the amount you have to worry about.

I'd fly. It's actually not that uncomfortable and the airport process is easy once you manage to check in your bags. A buggy plus luggage is more of a problem on the journey to and from the airport, so maybe consider a sling or similar if you can't fit your luggage into a backpack type thing.

Let her feed at take off and landing to avoid poppy ears.

Fly. Check in a big rucksack and take a small changing bag on the plane. Buggy to the gate and a sling for coming off the plane and walking to the luggage carousel although actually you could manage without the sling.

Baby in the buggy and backpack will be fine for getting onto most trains - particularly more accessible commuter ones where you can probably travel in a flip up seat with the baby staying in the pram if it's happy there.

I flew to Turkey with my daughter when she was that age, I took a sling and the buggy.

Can you get someone to take you to the airport and give you a hand with the luggage?

Thank you all for your tips. I think I will fly and see if my mum will meet me for the second train journey then she could meet me off the first train. I think the rucksack idea will work best to keep my hands free

Buggy and sling! It's easy. When baby is in the sling, your bags can be in the buggy. It's really handy and you can bring the buggy right to the door. I suggest a backpack and zippy tote as hand luggage. When you hand over the buggy backpack on your back and straight into the overhead on the plane. Smaller tote has everything you might need on flight like milk, nappies, change if clothes in case of poonnami (happened me once Dublin to uk), book for you etc. Good luck. You'll be amazed how easy it is.