Advice On Travel Overseas With Infant

[Willow25]

My husband and I's first child will be born the beginning of August in Australia. I am an american and will travel home to see family in early December and wil include a trip to DW. Anyone have advice on how to deal with the time change and jet lag for our baby. They should be over 3.5 months old.

Thanks

 

[Memaw2Wm]

I traveled from DC to Germany when my son was 3 months old back in 1973, but I don't remember him having any particular problem with jet lag. As for the time change I think I mostly allowed him to adjust on his own.

The one thing I do remember though is that the airlines rep told me they would have diapers and milk on board the plane, and having never flown before and being a new mom I CHECKED my diaper bag. Thank goodness there was another mom on board who gave me a couple of diapers and some milk.

So make sure you bring lots of diapers, formula and changes of clothes for your baby on board ... might want to pack a change of clothes for yourself too ... just in case.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

I don't know how you can go about reserving it but DH and I have taken several overseas trips where in the bulkhead row there is a spot just under the movie screen for a bassinet (provided by the airline) that clips or snaps onto the wall. At 3.5 months I don't think they would need their own seat but a bassinet for naps and sleep would be great. I'd call the airline ASAP to see if they have one and if you can get it. If not, I'd still ask for the bulkhead row to help minimize the noise and so that no one will recline into you. Those small seats seem even smaller with a baby!

As far as the time changes, I'm not sure what to tell you when your baby is that young. We flew to South Africa and sat next to a couple with a toddler (under 2) and basically they kept him up as long as possible and then gave him benedryl to get him to sleep. I think they were trying to artifically shift his schedule on the plane but I don't know how well that would work. It make take a couple of days for all of you to adjust to the time change but the best part about babies is that they can be pretty flexible.

Good luck!

 

[rsmithx]

Almost exactly a year ago my wife and I visited Europe (Germany and Italy) for 18 days with our then 3 month old daughter.

Honestly our DD did WAY BETTER than us in terms of jet lag! She napped on the plane ride over multiple times, but never got that good "I am sleeping for the night" type of sleep. Then when we arrived we carried her around in either a Bjorn or a Sling letting her sleep when she needed (the sling was especially good at letting her sleep while we carried her around). We just made an effort to not put her in her crib until about 6 or 7ish the night we arrived, and she was plenty tired from airplane trip that she fell asleep pretty easily. She slept her ~12 hours and woke up the next day pretty much "on" the timezone we were at. It took my wife and I another day or 2 to get fully acclimated, but our daughter had no problem at all.

My "theory" is that with all of the naps, it is actually a LOT easier to travel with a child that is 3-4 months old than if they were older. Just be aware of when your baby needs to take a nap, be prepared to go a bit slower and you should have a wonderful trip.