Travelling with a newborn

[lovepositivity]

Hi all, I'm pregnant with my first baby. I'm living in England and my family are in Ireland so I'm planning on travelling there frequently during my maternity leave.

We have bought a good silvercross travel system but when I fly with Ryanair, I'm nervous it will be bulky and get destroyed by them throwing it round!

I'm looking for a travel friendly buggy suitable for a newborn, that are easily manageable in an airport- has anybody got any suggestions ? Reasonable price also desirable!

Just buy a cheap second hand one, leave it there and fly with a sling.

My kids are older now but back in the baby days, I had a cheap buggy that I bought off a stall from the local market. It was designed from birth = backrest could be flat with labels still attached & cost me all of £ 30.- !!

Yup, sling all the way. Or get any cheap lay flat stroller. Look for second hand, they go for peanuts. Give them a scrub and they are good to go.

I'd get a sling too for travelling. I got mine from amazon £20 and best thing I ever bought! It's the material ones you tie yourself. I'd get a buggy/pram from one of the buy/sell Facebook groups in Ireland near your family and see if they would pick it up for you.

We have a Doona, It's the best thing we ever bought. It's perfect for travel. www.preciouslittleone.com/doona/&filt=4528-/

The ultimate travel buggy is the baby zen you, but it's expensive.we got one as a present. Its fabulous as you can take it on the plane wcen on budget airlines and it come with a travel bag if not. It means no carrying baby or toddler through to carousel which is great.
I have a silver cross too but due to the fact it comes apart to fold and is heavy it's not suitable for air travel.
If you buy a cheapie, just make sure it lies flat and is suitable from both as some arent.
Enjoy your baby.

Thanks everyone!

Is there any problem with having a baby in a sling for that long- as in waiting time at airport plus travel? I wasn't sure if they should be ideally lying flat and if it would be a problem x

Not travel specifically but my newborn lives in her sling. I have a toddler so I literally only take it off to shower and sleep. Baby comes out for the car and nappy changes.
As long as you're using the sling safely you'll be fine.

Get a proper sling, not a crotch dangler. You want something ergonomic and ideally, for a newborn, a stretchy wrap. Check you sling libraries in your local area? They may have some that you can try or hire

Just made journey the other way, Ireland to UK, with 12 week old. Just used the sling, buggy would have been a real hassle. It worked fine. And I took her out of the sling for short stretches at the airport, and you'll take them out on the plane too to put the belt on them.

Dd1 lived in a sling. A bamboo wrap for his first 4/5 months then a Tula. As long as you're wearing baby correctly, its perfectly safe. The lying flat is because the better known options are carseats and bouncers where the baby is in a curved position and the head can lean causing pressure on the windpipe. The position of baby in a sling is completely different (when worn properly) and wouldn't cause any complications. Plus as others have said you will be getting them out quite frequently for nappy charges, feeding, on the plane, general cuddling of a squeezeable newborn.

Do not get one of those Bjorn thingies. They are horrid.

I'm an expat so constantly back and forth with my DS2 and I personally find it a massive hassle lugging the pram back and forth. Even with a heavy duty cover they just get flung about. The early stages are totally manageable with a sling or carrier (I would personally wait and go to a baby wearing event and see what suits you/your baby). After 6 months it might get a little more tricky until they are walking as they get heavier but still 100x easier without a pram. You get the micralite which is cheaper than the yoyo and folds in hand luggage but never personally tried it. Wouldn't bother with the Quinny one for air travel as it doesnt recline at all.
But as soon as they are walking it's much easier to get all the wiggles out pre flight, you have like 2 hours to get from security to gate so can just take your time and toddle along. Often bigger airports have little trolleys for duty free so if you are really struggling you can shove them in there. Our airport has strollers but not sure if that's just Emirates specific.

I used the sliver cross reflex buggy with my son from 3 months and found it excellent for a newborn. Very comfy with head support and sturdy enough that baby doesn’t get wobbled about. Nevertheless, it’s heavy-ish for a buggy so I don’t think it would be the best for travelling.

A relative used the Joie buggy that was around £50 from birth (it lays flat). That was light and easy to use if you don’t fancy a sling. I find it a bit rickety for a newborn but fine from 3 months- you could use a sling first then use this as baby gets bigger?

The YoYo is great, cant recommend it enough for travel.