Flying Babies. What age ..?

[Tigger1]

Daughter is expecting soon. We are taking a last minute trip. New baby will be about 8 weeks. Should we fly baby and parents or 20 hour drive (2 or 3 days).

 

[macraven]

Fly

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Fly. For a shorter trip, under 10 hours, I might say drive because planes can be germy places and I don't know that I'd want to expose an 8 week old to all that. But 20 hours is a lot of hours. If your daughter is planning on nursing, that's frequent feedings and she wouldn't be able to take the baby out of the car seat to nurse while the car is moving so it would necessitate a stop to feed, and then change the resulting diaper.

If you do choose flying, I would recommend purchasing a seat for the infant and bringing along the car seat to use on the airplane. Make sure the car seat has a sticker stating it can be used for air travel. It's safer to have the baby buckled into a seat.

 

[Polydweller]

If you fly, plan for helping the baby with ear popping. That's the pressure change as the plane descends and can cause ear pain. Something that encourages the baby to swallow will help that.

 

[Lothlórien]

For the age, I think driving because babies do not have much of an immune system. Also less pain on the ears.

 

[maxiesmom]

Fly. My sister did with a little one that age, and we lucky enough to be bumped to First Class.

 

[Lvsdisney]

My sister flew with my nephew at 3 weeks. I've seen other infants onboard planes as well. I would plan on feeding your DD during takeoff and landing. If you plan to nurse, than you won't need anything. If you'll be formula feeding, I'd buy those prepared 4 oz bottles. They'll be allowed through TSA check, just let the agents know.