Traveling With Baby

[MissMusic]

This is super early and planning ahead, but welcome to my life.

DH's family is planning a big trip to China.  They wanted to go in April, but of course we will be, you know...birthing.  We told them to go without us, but his dad & mom are from there and want to show us around before they are too old (they're in their 80s now).

The new plan is Sept-Oct 2016. 

TLDR: would you take a 5 month old baby on a flight overseas?  Would this be a logistical nightmare?  What about handling a baby and a 4 yr old in China? 

All I have to go in is DD screaming on a 2hr Christmas flight at 5 months old, and me being "that mom" that people blog about because she couldn't get her damn kid under control.

[Deleted]

We moved to the Philippines when DD was 5.5 months old. She was great but we had her in the Ergo or on mine or DH's lap the entire time, she only spent maybe 1.5-2 hours total in the carseat. We were exhausted but she did great. Moving back with her at 2.5 was a lot easier and I imagine your 4 year old will handle it fine.

Haven't been to China but I can't imagine it'll be too much more difficult than vacationing anywhere else. You might get asked for photos, happened a lot in Taiwan.

[Deleted]

I think the jet lag is worse than the flight itself. If you aren't going to be there for an extended amount of time then I'd probably change my answer to "don't go"

The saying is "1 day per hour time change" I'm guessing China is a 12 hour time change so it could take up to 12 days to feel like a normal human. Usually you adjust faster going on vacation and slower coming home because of the excitement factor.

[ladywolff]

Id go. It sounds like its really important to your in-laws, and probably a once in a life time opportunity. I've been on a lot of long haul flights, and the babies never cry the whole way. Plus, if they e flown before, they seem a bit calmer.

[jags8]

I personally would go. Like you said, when are your in-laws going to ever have this opportunity again? My friend traveled back to England from WI with her 3 y.o. and baby and while it was challenging, they made it just fine. I would definitely consider using a an Ergo or whatever baby-wearing product you prefer.

[PiradicalMaid]

Aug 14, 2015 14:02:57 GMT -5 buttercup said:

I would go at an age where I can give them medicine for their ears. I take medicine before I fly to clear my ears because I often have problem when flying. I also was in terrible pain when I flew with my parents as a kid once, so I am okay with giving something on this rare occasion to help prevent excruciating pain. We flew with my daughter at one, who like me had lots of ear infections, and I gave her tylenol in case she had ear pain from the pressure. I also kept her sucking on my paci. She didn't cry at all, so it might have worked.

Definitely get a carrier for the baby.

Sucking definitely helps- so nursing/bottle/paci are great at take off and landing

I think I would do it, because I think it'll be easiest to travel with a little baby vs. a 1-3-year-old. But I can see how your experience would not make you think that!

I've traveled internationally with LO when she was almost-3 and almost-4. Almost-4 was so much easier! So your 4-year-old shouldn't be too rough and you'll have two adults, right? I also think the 5 month old will be young enough you can just throw them in a carrier and nurse as necessary and it should be pretty hassle free, but I know it didn't go that way last time for you. 

Honestly, at any age, there is never a guarantee. If you want to take them to China, I would go at a time that's best for everyone in the family (whether that means waiting a year or whatever or not) and then hope it goes well!

[bluedot]

It's a once in a lifetime trip. Parts may suck, but the reward is greater. Invest in a good baby carrier (ergo, tula, beco, boba), make sure to pick one DH will wear too. Bring your snap and go and a car seat.

When LO is that young you will only need to worry about liquid food, BM or formula whatever you decide. But there will be no wanting to walk around the plane, LO will be pretty content in your arms, pray they like a paci, and go for it.


Ps- you can give infant tylenol for ears, and if it's 5m your pedi may clear you for infant motrin depending on weight.

[Deleted]

Aug 14, 2015 14:02:57 GMT -5 buttercup said:

I would go at an age where I can give them medicine for their ears. I take medicine before I fly to clear my ears because I often have problem when flying. I also was in terrible pain when I flew with my parents as a kid once, so I am okay with giving something on this rare occasion to help prevent excruciating pain. We flew with my daughter at one, who like me had lots of ear infections, and I gave her tylenol in case she had ear pain from the pressure. I also kept her sucking on my paci. She didn't cry at all, so it might have worked.

Definitely get a carrier for the baby.

Paci/nursing during take off/landing will help with ears. DD never had a problem flying, even at 2.5 when we flew home without the paci, I tried to give her a pouch of food to suck on during take off.

[doublehammock]

I would go. I would travel with a 5 month old over a 2/3 year old any day of the week.

[ellewills618]

Dog piling on to say go. It's never easy to travel with a little one but the family experience is priceless. You'll find a way and people who judge can f right off. They've either never been there or they've forgotten what it's like.

[likethewheels]

Go! Some parts will be stressful, but think of all the memories you'll be taking back with you. What's the possibility of taking an overnight flight? That might be an option so at least your big might sleep a good duration of the flight. Also, will you be traveling at the same time as your ILs? You'd have extra hands that way, too.

I also think the people that are blogging about "unruly" kids are an exception. Most people are understanding, and have been there. Yeah, there are the assholes that might give you dirty looks, but you have just as much right as anyone else to take a flight, too.

[Deleted]

When we came back from the Philippines I made DD a shirt that said "Jet lagged" on the front and a list of our stops on the back. People loved it and just kept commenting on how good she was, even when she wasn't being perfect. I'm not sure if you can fly direct to whichever city you're going to but if not that's a good way to get a few sympathy points from people.

[lilmonk]

The flight back home is the main thing that stopped me traveling with DS. He's never been to the USA and I wanted to wait when he was older, because that 1-2 year old age gap on a 14 hr flight scares the hell out of me. In saying that I have a DH that is also like a toddler when he flies and needs constant entertainment.

But i think your LOs will be at good ages to fly. 9 months+ was harder for us to fly domestically. I think especially since you'll have support from your H and inlaws.

[peanutmuse]

I found that flying with my son at 4 months and 7 months was FAR easier than 10 months and 13 months. So I'm another vote for going.

[Deleted]

MissMusic, have you all talked more about going? Any decision on the trip? Where in China are you headed?

[jtizzay]

Lurking from March. The flight will suck. Time change will suck. But you can do it. We've flown 15ish times w our dd (17 months now) and 5 months was "easy"

[MissMusic]

Aug 24, 2015 12:53:44 GMT -5 @aest said:

MissMusic, have you all talked more about going? Any decision on the trip? Where in China are you headed?

YES!  We are looking at end of Sept/early Oct 2016.  My in-laws are checking into some major fall festival...they don't want to go during that festival because it will be too crowded.  I will have both in-laws, 2 SILs, and 2 BIL's that would be willing to help with my 2 kids.  I feel like I'd have a lot of hands, and my SIL is well-versed in traveling with a young child, so I'd be covered!

Edit: I can't remember where we're going, how awful is that?  Let me ask DH again.  Pregnancy brain FTW. The Great Wall is an absolute must.  My ILs are from China so they want to show the family where they grew up, etc before they are gone.  They are in their 80s now.

[sands42]

I would go. And the younger the baby the better in my opinion. They can't do anything but lay there anyways. Once they get older they want to look around and move around which makes it more difficult. I've don't a ton of traveling with my kids.... And 1 years old is hands down the WORST age to travel