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travel with a baby

101 replies

tweeni · 17/02/2006 19:00

we are going to spain for a wedding when my baby will only be about 3 weeks old. we are staying in an apartment and i was wondering do you think i need to take a baby monitor or not?

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beartime · 19/02/2006 07:17

That's a good idea Suzy. I know if I had to do it agaain I would have waited till 3mths to travel as it was so tiring. And I never could have foreseen what it would be like, so a get out clause is good. If you book your flight with a cheap place then it won't be so bad if you cancel.

Yes the swimmings OK from what the HV told me. Only thing is that some pools don't allow it b4 a certain age, and you might want to be wary of him catching something. A friend who's a swimming instrucor said the bath us a good place to get them used to floating, if you go in with them and make it really full - you have to hold their head, but the rest will float.

What I did is rang the health visitor at the surgery with all my questions, that way you find out what's the latest advice on everything.

Also pack your bags and his bags b4 the birth, you might be too tired, busy and unable to move afterwards!

sunnydelight · 19/02/2006 10:31

I've flown to Ireland with DS1 (6 weeks) and DS2 (4 weeks) and we brought DD to France by car when she was about 8 weeks old. TBH babies are very easily transportable at this age so I really wouldn't worry about it. The only issue as far as I can see is how you will be feeling, and obviously hopefully you won't be overdue! With regard the baby monitor question - I would say it's vital - but it's unlikely that you will want to leave a baby that young out of your sight. Spain is very child-friendly so go and enjoy

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tweeni · 19/02/2006 15:13

spoke to my parents and they say they fully understand if i don't feel up to it what with if i end up having a section or stitches or if either me or the baby is ill then i won't be able to go.phew!just hope i don't have to!
as for swimming what about if its in the sea and not a pool do the same rules apply or do they have to be older?

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tweeni · 19/02/2006 15:43

just researched it and it says they have to have had their immunisations so thats 4 months. i knew it had to be after the immunisations but i thought that was for swimming in the pool but apparently chlorine kills any germs so you can take them whenever.

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LIZS · 19/02/2006 15:45

tbh even in the summer the sea water might be too nippy for a little one. They are used to being encased in fluid at body temperature after all. Try a nice warm pool first.

emkana · 19/02/2006 20:11

I think with small babies they accept passport photos where they have their eyes closed.

tribpot · 19/02/2006 20:14

No, tragically they don't, so you end up with things like this trying to get a reasonable photo!

hovely · 19/02/2006 21:05

ahh tribpot, make sure you keep those for his first girlfriends later!

tribpot · 19/02/2006 21:20

I ran a competition among my friends about which to choose .. do tell which you would go for

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tweeni · 19/02/2006 23:52

the 1st one i think. my lo is gona be called toby if a boy!!

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swedishmum · 20/02/2006 00:18

As an old haggard mum of 4 just wanted to let you know I've always travelled with mine - no worries as long as no health probs. Found myself alone in Disney Paris when no 3 wa 6 weeks - not as child friendly as you'd think and double buggy didn't fit anywhere. That was post caesarian (though I was out of hospital in 2 days and driving in 3). With no. 4 went to New York at 5.5 weeks with the full blessing of midwife and doctor. No problems at all. If you look for them they'll happen. Get the passport sorted as soon as possible - go in person if possible.

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tweeni · 20/02/2006 00:32

hmmm if you were doing that post caeserean theres still hope for me. i hadn't really thought about the pain of milk coming through though if baby ends up only being a week old.

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tweeni · 20/02/2006 00:55

just spoke to mum who rang midwife for me this evening while i was out at work. midwife says the only reason we shouldn't fly is if either of us is ill after the birth which i knew anyway, or if baby is prem cos they won't take us and also that if i don't feel up to it i shouldn't feel pressured into going and doing too much too soon, which is exactly what most people have said on here and what i already knew in my own mind really. she has just sort of summed up what everyone else has been saying.

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tweeni · 20/02/2006 00:58

tbh though i won't be doing anything more on holiday than i would be if i was at home - i don't plan on doing much more than enjoying the weather and relaxing by the pool!!

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alexsmum · 20/02/2006 01:13

if baby is 2 weeks late -you could still be in hospital!

lucy5 · 20/02/2006 08:21

I'm sorry if this sounds horrible but you havent got a clue and what life is like after a baby especially the first is in no way predictable. I'm not saying you shouldn't travel with a small baby but i really don't think you realise (which is understandable) how you are going to feel. Exhausted, sore , sore boobs, over emotional etc My dd didnt sleep for more than 2 hours at a time for the first 6 weeks. I was beside myself and my boobs felt like they had been attacked with razor blades. I wish you all the luck in the world and please don't take offence but you seem to have a very set picture of what this holiday will be like, swimming and relaxing by the pool. You'll will probably still be wearing huge sanitary pads and if you are like me your breast milk will be squirting all over the place. Sorry for being harsh.

lazycow · 20/02/2006 09:38

Dear Tweeni

We flew to Isle of man (only 1 hr flight) when ds was 4 weeks old. Also flew to the USA (9 hr flight) when he was 10 weeks old.

I won't lie and say it was easy. Everyone said flying with young babies was easy as they slept. Well he only slept 2 hrs out of 9 on the long haul flight. However it was manageable

For the shorter flight he was a bit easier - but to be honest it is all the security stuff that is a nightmare not the flight. He always seemed to be settling down and then would need to go through the security gate - (they have to be taken out of any carrier etc.)

If you have an easy sleepy baby you may enjoy the wedding - BUT many babies cry a lot especially in the evening so by all means go to the wedding but be aware that you may possibly be dealing with a crying baby a lot of the time.

Also if you are breastfeeding you may find it takes a couple of weeks to establish this and packing/getting ready for a flight will seem very difficult if this is the case.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't plan on going - just that you need to be aware that things may not go to plan - get used it it - this is parenthood !

Do take a monitor and a baby sling - one that the baby can sleep in. At this age that is all you need and you could probably do without a pram/pushchair - though that again will depend on the baby (most like slings but some are not so keen)

One other thing is my ds was 10 days late - so if your baby arrives late and you have a difficult birth you may find it really difficult to go. Try to accept that if it all goes wrong you can give yourself the permission to stay at home. This will make things more relaxed for you.

You will need a passport -but we arranged that very quickly. The hospital photographer took the picture and we got the passprt back within a week. We did have to register the birth first though (see you need to think about loads of things)

Unless uour baby is premature they should be fine on a short flight.

lazycow · 20/02/2006 10:00

Dear Tweeni

Sorry but relaxing by a pool is quite difficult with a new baby. This was our routine in the first few weeks (well not really a routine as newborns rarely have that - but just to give you an idea)

5am-5.10am- baby wakes - change nappy
5.10am-6.am - feed baby
6am-6.15am - wind/change baby
6.15-7am (40 minutes gap - baby may doze/cry whatever)
7am - 8.45am feed baby
8.45am- 9.0am - wind/change baby
9am - if lucky baby sleeps a bit - if not baby needs to be held and comforted
9.30am - 10.15am feed baby
10.15 am -10.35am- wind/change baby
(35 minute gap) - baby may sleep/cry
11am -11.45am feed baby
11.45am - 12.00pm - wind/change baby
If really lucky baby may sleep a while say 12.00-2.00pm - change baby after nap
2.15-2.55pm feed baby
2.55-3.10pm wind/change baby
3.10-4pm - (40 minute gap again baby may sleep/cry/whatever)
4pm-4.10pm probably need to change baby again
4.15 -5pm - feed baby
5.00-5.15pm - wind/change baby
5.15pm - Now the fun starts - lots of babies cluster feed in the early evening so may feed and sleep in 10-15 minute chunks until late evening. Some don't but even if they don't you still heve to feed at least every 3 hrs - possibly more often if breast feeding (note feeding every 3 hours counts from the beginning of a feed so if you start feeding at 5pm, the next feed would be at 8pm even if it takes 40-50 minutes for the baby to eat and then another 10-20 minues to change and wind them. This really gives you very little time to do anything else)

This goes on through the night- If you are really really lucky they will sleep for 4-5 hrs from midnight to 5am - though most babies don't do this. Then it all starts again.

Remember that within all this you have to fit in washing,dressing and feeding yourself and getting some sleep.

Bear in mind this is only an example of a day with a newborn and some babies may sleep 3-4 hrs in a row some days when very little - however some don't and you really can't predict it. Please don't go on this holiday expecting a relaxing time - it is likely you will be severely disappointed.

Bearing in mind that babies can't go out in the sun at all - I'm not sure where you are going to fit in lolling in the sun around that.

blueshoes · 20/02/2006 10:46

lazycow and lucy5 are right . Tweeni, in many respects, labour/birth is nothing compared to the disruption and chaos a new arrival causes, esp since this is your first. Glad you have given yourself a get-out

Angeliz · 20/02/2006 10:51

tweeine, i do hope it all goes well for you but have to admit, i think you are being very optimistic to say the least to think that you can relax by the pool. (Though good on you if you can)
Have to admit, i do think you'll look back on this thread oneday and realise how it's all a bit too 'planned'.

I'm honestly not mocking btw, i hope it all goes well, i just think it's too much in the first 2 or 3 weks and that is if the baby is early!?

lucy5 · 20/02/2006 10:51

Thank you blue shoes I thought I was going to get blasted for being a cow, i'm sorry I just couldn't help myself.

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tweeni · 20/02/2006 21:38

no no i can see what you are all saying-its stuff i've considered myself already.i just wanted to see if there was anything i may have forgotten.the pool has a roof btw so baby not going to be in the sun.i'm not planning on frying the poor thing to death.its not like i can't feed and cuddle a baby while having a nice sit down myself-if i was at home i know i would be constantly on doing housework, which i will not be doing when we are away that's for sure!i'll leave that for the maids!!

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tribpot · 20/02/2006 22:11

Housework. Newborn. No. It really isn't anything like you imagine - but the vital point is: no-one call tell you what it's like in advance. It's impossible. So you'll have to see how it works for you.

Nice to hear your little one will be a Toby if it's a boy We actually went for the middle picture.

alexsmum · 20/02/2006 22:24

but you do realise YOU won't be able to even go in the pool don't you? you will still be bleeding heavily and having to wear gigantic mattress s/t's.
i don't want to rain on your parade but i really think you are being over ambitious.

alexsmum · 20/02/2006 22:25

and actually sitting down,is sometimes not very nice even? not for a while, because you get all bruised underneath?