Advice on Train/Plane Travel with 4wk old Needed

[LCnewmum]

Am trying to visit family in next few weeks in Liverpool and am deciding whether to use train or plane. Does anyone know if you get a seat on the train for your baby (Virgin trains say under 5s travel free)? If you fly, do you keep the baby on your lap the whole flight? Any other tips appreciated. Thanks.

if you fly baby stays on your lap and will probably sleep ..

feed on take-off and landing to protect their ears

of course flying you have the check-in palaver so it really doesn't take less time

of course depends how close to stations you are

HTH

would always opt for train, but baby only 4 weeks so wont be that difficult either way. When they are older train is better in my experience

You may be able to reserve a seat even though the baby is technically free. If the train isn't busy anyway you could use an adjacent seat(although you'd still have to hold him/her or have a car seat) or just leave him/her in pushchair.

On a plane you'd have to hold the baby unless you pay a child's fare and have a suitable car seat which they agree to take on board. Even so you have to hold for take off and landing with an infant belt. For an internal flight it probably wouldn't be worth the hassle and expense for the short time you could use it.

By train or plane, it will be an easy ride with a 4 weeks olds, they usually fall asleep because of the noise/movement. It is much better at that age to keep the baby in your arms as he will feel secure... this is a new journey for your baby!!! i travelled by plane when DD was 3 weeks old then 5 weeks old, then older, it is more stressful for us than them... Have a good trip

Stressful thinking about co-ordinating pram etc and hoping he doesn't have a meltdown! Really want to get him used to travelling though - thank you for all the help.

with a baby this young, invest in a pouch sling. it will make travelling with him/her so much easier than a ruddy pushchair. Trust me. I've done it both ways.

go to www.sleepytoes.co.uk to look at custom made ones. the website also has wearing instructions.

there are lots of other sites that sell pouch slings so google 'pouch sling' and you'll have so much choice. careful, the choice may become baffling. kinda like the first time I went to look at pushchairs and then went back home with my head in a tizz.

Have just bought a hug-a-bub sling and he was out like a light in 5 minutes so am definitely taking this with me!

then i wouldn't even take a pushchair and possibly just line up to borrow one when you are visiting.

i'm probably too late to tell you this, but get a family railcard if you're going by train - you have to buy a ticket for the child, even if they're under 5, but then you have a booked seat for them, and it generally works out cheaper. also, we have found you can travel at peak time (ie before 9.30) on an ordinary saver return ticket, which would not be valid if just adults were travelling at that time.