how soon to travel with newborn longhaul

[HellieBellie]

hello - i can't decide when to jump on a plane to visit my mother who is poorly with newborn - i am thinking 4 to 6 six weeks after birth ? the flight is to NZ so no easy journey.

I waited to travel home to India from London until DD had all her first set of jabs. You can never be too careful...

We took our 3 week old dd from Muscat to London without a problem. In fact it was the easist journey we've ever made with her. Put her in the bassinet, let her sleep. Jobs a good un. Mind you, the flying time is only about 10 hours rather than your proposed 10 days.

We travelled with our 3 week old form HK to UK, echo what kreecher said, it was the easiest trip ever, she slept most of the way and was cooed over by the air hostesses for the rest of the time!

Meant to add that my mum was poorly too and have no regrets about taking such a young baby on a plane, DD has no idea and it meant the world to my mum.

I flew from China to UK with 5 wk old. I remember the air hostesses were so nice and kept bringing me extra kitkats and holding the baby when I needed the loo etc. It was fine - much easier than later on with 4yo, 2yo and 1yo when they won't give you the bloody pushchair as you get off the plane and you have to carry 2 tired and miserable toddlers all the way to passport control lol.

I don't remember even thinking about jabs, but agree that would be a good idea as planes are quite unhealthy environments, and airports are a cocktail of international germs.

you just need to make sure you are fully recovered from the birth and baby has been fully checked out.
When they are tiny, it is so much easier to travel with them than when they are whingy toddlers

I'd go. My DS was born in February (we live abroad) and I'd planned on taking him home at Easter to see my mum who had been in and out of hospital. I (stupidly) let my DH convince me to wait until June when I was due home for 12 weeks but sadly mum died 2 weeks before I was due to go. I will never forgive myself for not going when my gut said I should.

Sorry if I sound doom and gloom. Hope all goes well and your mum is ok x

Don't want to scare, but do check with your medical team as I think I can remember reading some scary research years ago stating that there is a link between very young babies flying and SIDS.

never heard that one

I've done 10 days and 1 week with my older two. No probs at all. Though admittedly they were 12 hour flights not 24 hrs.