Which of these journeys would you prefer to do with a 4wo?

[Cies]

I live in Spain and am planning to head back to UK for xmas with 4wo ds.

We have 2 basic travel options:

flight from home town (1hr) + transfer + flight to uk (2hrs) + drive (2hrs)

OR

drive (2hrs) + flight (1.5 hrs) * drive (5hrs)

Which would you prefer to do with lo in tow for first time ever?

Me personally, I'd go for the first option and keep the driving to the minimum.

babies tend to sleep a lot in the car, I wonder if the second one would be easier. You'd prob jsut need one stop on the second drive.

I found my two slept really well on long car journies so perhaps more driving than flying ( although flying gives you the option of cuddling baby if he is upset or unsettled). Tiny babies are much easier to travel with than older ones (believe it or not) as their needs are very simple. Food, nappy, sleep, cuddles.

I'd do the first option too. Flights are no problem with a small baby, ditto hanging around at airports. But long car journeys are no fun and take forever as you're supposed to stop every 2 hours to take them out of the car seat (and feed, change, etc of course).

x-posts hmm looks like opinion is divided!

TBH, either option would be OK. Small babies are pretty easy to travel with - will be harder when he's a toddler so don't stress!

Hmmm. 4wo I would say 2 flights with minimal stuff, take a carrier instead of a buggy if you can.
Will there be a car seat in the UK when you get here? and buggy you can borrow if you need one?
If not and you have to bring car seat then one flight and 2 drives.

Hmmm. 4wo I would say 2 flights with minimal stuff, take a carrier instead of a buggy if you can.
Will there be a car seat in the UK when you get here? and buggy you can borrow if you need one?
If not and you have to bring car seat then one flight and 2 drives.

baby will be fine. i think you should do option 1 for yourself.

That's funny wouldyou, as I'd rather do option2 myself!
You are right though, a 4 week old will sleep through just about anything, so make the decision based on yourself, not the baby.

Oh a divided opinion! Thanks all. We'll have to see times and prices etc. I've always said I prefer to do only 1 flight as there's less chance of luggage going missing, flight delays etc. But now baby is here and not at all predictable I'm heading more for that option, as you can always cuddle him more on the plane than in the car.

Any other opinions?

less driving

the one with most driving. as you can stop whenever you want/need to feed, rest, eat, change. I hate the faff of customs/security/waiting/possible delays of airports with babies.

but then, i have only ever done long haul journeys with a baby, and still had to do 2 flights and a car journey!

Hi Cies, I missed your birth announcement. Congratulations on the birth of your DS. Hope everything went well.

I would do the second option as you are more in control.

You have to get to the airport in time, then you can relax and see to your baby.

On the flight you are stuck for 1.5 hours, if your DS is restless then you cannot really get up and pace. But it is only one flight.

My DC always slept well in the car. Do a couple of short trips in the coming weeks if you can to get him a wee bit used to the car seat.

Your second option you have double the time in the air. Doing that with a 4wo who sleeps all the time fab. If he is restless and cries a bit then you wil be stressed trying to calm him down and not disturb the whole plane.

Babies hate take off and landing (the ear pressure thing) I would therefore do the one flight option otherwise you will be putting her through this pain four times in one day.

Depends. In general for a hypothetical baby I'd say option 2, only one flight and a bit more driving. My DS was weird and hated the car, though, so for him option 1 would have been better because the car journey would be constant screaming.

first option

flying with a newborn is easy ime (apply to boob till they fall asleep, possibility to walk about, to swap parents, place to change nappy etc) - car is much harder

and I speak as one who has spent some low quality time in stationary traffic hanging over a carseat with her boob out.

I think second less disruptive but a pita on return leg. Will you get a passport in time though ?