At what age can my baby travel? And should we fly or drive?
I want to visit my relatives and especially my brother and grandma in Mexico. We're in California (northern) and they live in Sonora, accross the Arizona border. Travel Options: It is a 20 hour drive non-stop and about 23 making stops. We can also fly to Tucson (2 hour flight) and my relatives would pick-us up there and drive us to our destination (4 hour drive). The other option is to fly all the way there but it is around $800 per person and that's a big difference. Also very important, my baby is born in March and I would like to go before I start work again (around July-August). What would be a good time for us to go? is June too early? I was thinking June or July. The other problem is that I wanted to avoid the Summer there because it gets up to 125 and I'm not sure the baby could take it (but many babies are born there and do fine just like in Arizona). Most of my relatives are coming to see the baby once she's born but my grandma's in bed and my brother's passport expired. What should I do? When and how should I travel with the baby? Thanks a lot
Newborn & Baby - 5 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I would never drive that far w/an infant! you'll be stopping a LOT more than you think, to feed, change, and comfort baby. that's a long drive for baby to sit in one position in a carseat. I flew w/my middle son when he was 3 months old. he did great, not a peep. it was much faster, and easier i think.
2 :
with a baby of that age she'll sleep... a lot. I'd fly to Tuscon and drive the rest of the way to Mexico... it would be more tolerable for all I think. We are taking a 16 hour drive to Myrtle Beach from Mass in June 3 weeks after Jacob turns one. I don't know how we'll do it..but we will somehow!
3 :
Just keep in mind... if you fly you *should* purchase a seat for the baby as well and put them in a carseat. While most airlines still allow 'lap babies'... it isn't much safer than 'lap babies' in cars and we would never do that today! I'd read this before flying with an infant: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/airplanetravel.aspx One potential plus (besides cost) to driving would be that she would be in and out of the car along the way 'adjusting' to the heat... but really... I think that wouldn't off set the *loooong* drive on you both. I personally *love* to drive with babies... but 23+ hours (and it will be longer and more stops with an infant) would be quite a challenge without any overnight stops. I think I would go the middle ground... Fly to Tucson (with baby in a carseat, please!) and then drive the four hours. Four hours isn't bad at all with a little one. I have done 6 hour (more like 8 with little ones) trips all the time with babes of all ages... not bad at all. Good luck!
4 :
You should fly. You can travel with a baby on an airplane once they're at least 2 weeks old. Driving that far would be difficult and probably take a lot longer than the normal 20-23 hours. Plus since your baby is under 2 years old, he or she can be held in your lap and you won't have to pay for a ticket.
5 :
I took my daughter on an airplane the first time when she was 2.5 months old it was a 7 hour flight on the first plane and a half hour on the second plane, didn't bother her much. I on the other hand was living somewhere where they didn't birth babies so my mom had to fly to the next town to have me which was I think a 3 hour plane ride so my first airplane ride was when I was 2 weeks old In the car your baby will probably sleep and will probably be cheaper, but hopefully you plan on going with someone just in case the baby gets fussy so that someone can be in the back seat to entertain for a little bit!
Title : At what age can my baby travel? And should we fly or drive
Description : At what age can my baby travel? And should we fly or drive? I want to visit my relatives and especially my brother and grandma in Mexico....