Long trip to OZ with 3 kids - one a new baby - help me decide right age to go please!

[IlanaK]

My in-laws live in Oz and I am pregnant with third baby. We are thinking of taking a trip to see them sometime after the baby is born and I can't decide when is the best time to go.

We went when ds1 was 3 and a half and ds2 was 5 months old. The flight was easy with the baby as he just stayed in a sling and breastfed and slept. HOWEVER, he was a nightmare there. He just was not able to make the night/day swap and was up most nights and we were exhausted. Ds1 was fine after a couple of days.

So, we are trying to decide what to do this time. The baby will be born late July. We want to go for about 6 weeks. My inlaws live in Noosa and I think it will be way too hot over our winter. So I thought about our Spring/their autumn. But the baby will be 7/8 months in March. I am wondering if that would be a nightmare on the flight, and of course the baby would be even older on the flight back.

So, is it better to go when baby is really young regardless of weather and the fact that nights might be difficult there? Or better to go when baby is older and weather is better, but flights will b e horrendous?

No-one??

Hi IlanaK
I would suggest that any time you go could be problematic but I would just go when the climate is best for you and the kids. I think spring in Noosa would be lovely.

I live in Australia - ex-pat Brit - and in the past have flown with a 3 month old and a 1 year old. In a month's time I am coming back to the UK with a 2.9 yr old and a 7 month baby for 6 weeks. I would try to book your flights to be during the childrens natural sleep time - easy from UK as flights leave either at 6pm or 10pm, so they will sleep for most of the flight. Then use Medised to gently encourage your baby to adjust to the timezone difference. I have a number of friends who have done it and it is hard to get the babies into the right time zone but it can be done. Talk to your doctor and see if you can use a mild anti-histamine for your baby to help him/her adjust.

Best of luck! Honestly it's so worth it, Noosa is lovely and the older children will have a ball.