Long-Haul Travel Advice with an Infant

[mmttdd0925]

Hi all,

planning to do a 3-week holiday with DS who will be 7 months at the time. Plan is to start in the US, then travel to Mexico for a 2 week all inclusive holiday and then back to the US for a weekend. This is my first child so looking forward to recommendations and advice for the flights and whilst away.
Main reason is that I will be going to conference in the US for 3 days and DH and I thought we can combine the trip with a holiday.

I have ordered a portable cooker from Amazon so we can prepare food for him with fresh ingredients and an inflatable swim ring.

Has anyone done any larger travel with an infant? Any advice and learnings would be appreciated!

Always have twice the number of nappies on the plane than you think you'll need.

Consider a carrier rather than a buggy if he's still small enough for you to carry like that - I found that buggies were only useful when they were toddlers, so too heavy to carry when they wanted a nap.

When the flight attendants ask if you need a hand, say 'yes' and hand them the baby.

Fly business if you can. No queuing, more room for babe in arms, less waiting for luggage/toilets etc.

I personally wouldn't bother with the portable cooker, sounds like endless hassle and faff. At that age they can just eat bits of whatever food you order, fruit, etc.

Flight - we tended to opt for night time flights in the hope that most of it would be spent sleeping. Pack more nappies/ changes of clothes & wetwipes in your hand luggage than you think you'll need (the cabin pressure can sometimes do explosive things to their tummies). Feed milk on takeoff and landing (helps with ear pressure)

Health wise. Have travel insurance. Pack an in the ear thermometer and some calpol just in case. Some rehydration sachets too (although we've never needed them). Be vaccinated against measles (currently there's an outbreak in parts of the us, so i wouldn't take an unvaccinated baby there)

Pack swim nappies, sun cream, etc. Book somewhere with aircon and a pool. Enjoy.

I agree with pp about the portable cooker. At 7 months your baby will probably be eating very little solid food and a Mexican AI buffet will have plenty of rice, avocado, fruit, beans that will make wonderful baby food.

Try to book a seat on the plane where you can put a baby cot in front of you so he doesn’t have to be on your lap the whole time.

For the US hotel if you are able to choose it yourself, try to get a suite. The baby’s sleep will probably be disrupted for the first few days and that way one of you can settle him/get up early with him in the other room so that the other isn’t disturbed. Embassy Suites is an example of a US-wide chain that has suite rooms.

Whilst I agree that your baby should have all his vaccinations, the measles outbreak is in north-west Texas, quite unlikely your conference is there.

A portable cooker?! No, you don’t need that bless you 🤣. Sun hats, electric fan, swim seat thingy yes. Portable cooker, no

Thank you all this is very helpful!
Will speak to the GP regarding vaccines to make sure he has everything he needs.

I haven’t looked into weaning yet. He’s currently ebf. Planning to speak to someone about weaning in the coming weeks as I don’t have a clue with him being my first child. But this is very helpful.

in the US we will be staying in Madison, Wisconsin and Chicago. One of the hotel options for the conference is actually Embassy Suites so will make sure to pick that one! also considering a little stop in Scottsdale, AZ as I have family there. Will look into areas affected by measles.

Travel insurance is already set up. We will be taking him to Germany as well in June to visit family so it will be our first experience but the flight is only an hour so not worried about that too much. I love to travel and hoping to start him early and get him used to it.