Super long flight and vacation with a 2 1/2 month old?

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Super long flight and vacation with a 2 1/2 month old?

By Astro Bee May 6, 2015

DH came home this afternoon and said that his boss wants him to do a reciprocal visit to Australia and New Zealand in late June. His work had some international visitors earlier this year and it would be good faith to return the visit. It's not mandatory, and he could probably get someone else to do it. Alternately, he might be able to visit just one country now, and have someone else visit the other later.

The thing is, he asked me if LO and I would like to go. LO will be 2 1/2 months old by then. I know babies are supposed to be easier to travel with than older children, but is this too young for an international trip? We'd be traveling from central/eastern Canada, so we'd probably have two connections.

If we did decide to do this, any tips for us?

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21 comments

birdofafeather
pineapple / 12053 posts

May 6, 2015

heck yes, i would go! i think an international trip at that age would be easier because my toddler wouldn't go back to bed if her schedule was off, but i could coerce her as a baby to much easier and get her back on schedule!
ScarletBegonia
persimmon / 1339 posts

May 6, 2015

Totally, totally do it. I've gone twice back to Canada from Sydney with my son, once at 4 months and once at 10 months - at 4 months it was SUCH a piece of cake!! Since he was still taking 3/4 naps a day, even jetlag wasn't a huge issue (though it wasn't fun), cause he was sleeping all the time. On the plane, he would max out at about an hour of awake time (I think probable the white noise/boringness of it) and then sleep on my chest for 2/3 hours at a time. It was actually really relaxing! I was flying by myself and the flight attendants were desperate to take him off my hands. If you breastfeed its even easier cause you don't have to worry about bottles & sterilised water, but if you bottle feed its totally doable.
Anyway - DO IT!
Mrs.Someone
pomelo / 5228 posts

May 6, 2015

We took DS to South America to visit family when he was 4mo. Not bad at all! I'd just check with the doctor before booking.
Astro Bee
pear / 1503 posts

May 6, 2015

@ScarletBegonia: I was hoping you'd chime in, as I know you've been back to Canada with your LO. I'm EBF, so that makes it easier.

@Mrs.Someone: Good point about checking with the doctor. We have his 1 month appt on Friday, so I'll ask then.

@BirdOfAFeather: That matches what I've always sort of heard about babies being easier than toddlers to travel with. DS isn't really on a schedule yet. We let him nap when he's tired, and he usually falls asleep after a long feed.
SleepyMonkey
grapefruit / 4006 posts

May 6, 2015

definitely go! 2.5 months will be an easy time to travel...they sleep so much, they don't get so distracted when they are eating, their schedules are less rigid and they have their 2 month shots already. you can tote them around anywhere!
ScarletBegonia
persimmon / 1339 posts

May 6, 2015

@Astro Bee: Let me know if you have any questions, about the travel or about Australia! I'm guessing you'll be hitting Sydney? Its a very, very baby-friendly city, although the days and esp nights will be chilly in June. What a great travel opportunity!!
yellowbird
honeydew / 7303 posts

May 6, 2015

I would definitely go!
Astro Bee
pear / 1503 posts

May 6, 2015

@ScarletBegonia: I'm not sure where DH would be traveling, I think he mentioned Brisbane and another place, although I'm sure we'd spend time in Sydney. I've been to Melbourne before in late June-early July, so I know it can get chilly at night, although I imagine it wouldn't be as bad further north. I'd still rather deal with Austalian winters over Canadian ones anytime!
youboots
honeydew / 7622 posts

May 6, 2015

I have a 9 week old. I would do it. But she's pretty easy.
lamariniere
pineapple / 12566 posts

May 7, 2015

I would consider it. Talk to your ped and, for me personally, I would be sure to have at least the first round of vaxes before so much air travel. Since it will be winter there, cold and flu season would definitely be a consideration too. Other than that, it would be a pretty easy age logistically speaking!
Banana330
nectarine / 2317 posts

May 7, 2015

Our friends just did that flight with their 10week old. We will be doing it at 10 months to visit family. It's worth it as long as you will be out there for at least 2 weeks if it's shorter than that I might think twice, otherwise it's a great opportunity!
SugarplumsMom
bananas / 9227 posts

May 7, 2015

My only concern with be vacations. Otherwise, I'd do it.
Ree723
grapefruit / 4819 posts

May 7, 2015

Absolutely do it! We did the Australia- US (Midwest, so an additional change of planes) when DD1 was 6 months and then again when DD2 was 3 months old. Easy peasy, especially if you're BF'ing!
Astro Bee
pear / 1503 posts

Jun 4, 2015

Okay, so it's a go. DH had another work commitment during the week he would have been visiting Australia, so we will only be going to New Zealand. DH will fly out on his own and I will meet him towards the end of the week. We'll have a total of 8 days there together with LO.

I'm flying to Sydney on points (it was only $800 in taxes and fees for me and $50 for LO as a lap infant), and purchased tickets for us both to Auckland. It's less than ideal, as we will have to leave security to check in and have to deal with a transit visa, but the airline I have my travel rewards with doesn't have direct flights to NZ. The unfortunate thing is that we were only able to secure a bassinet for the return flight across the Pacific. The bassinet capable seats are premium and were all taken. I will throw myself on the mercy of my fellow passengers and see if someone will switch with us, but if that doesn't work, I'm wondering how sucky it would be to baby wear that long?

@ScarletBegonia: @Ree723: Did you have a bassinet, paid infant seat, or baby wear?
Astro Bee
pear / 1503 posts

Jun 4, 2015

@Lamarinere: @SugarplumsMom: LO will have his first round of vaccinations by then. His ped wasn't concerned with him traveling so young. He's not mobile so won't be putting stuff in his mouth or touching contaminated surfaces. Still, we'll be vigilant.
plantains
grapefruit / 4671 posts

Jun 4, 2015

@Astro Bee: I flew with DD from NYC to Taipei at that age, easiest flight ever. She wasn't interested in the bassinet so I mostly wore and carried her, but from time to time Ii could put her down for a kip. The flight attendants were so helpful and they held her a bunch so I could get some relief. If only it was still that easy!
Astro Bee
pear / 1503 posts

Jun 4, 2015

@Plantains: Thanks for your insight. I'm feeling a little less nervous about flying on my own for that distance. DH will be with us for the return flight. LO still does a lot if sleeping still, and is a pretty easy baby overall. Although he loves being held by his mama, so maybe we won't miss the bassinet too much if we can't get one.
plantains
grapefruit / 4671 posts

Jun 4, 2015

@Astro Bee: Good luck, have a great time!
Astro Bee
pear / 1503 posts

Jun 5, 2015

@Plantains: Thanks! We have a 5 hour (plus a 1 hr stopover) flight with DH the week before to practice. So I'll either be reassured by that, or freaked out of my mind by doing it solo for 28+ hours, including the two stopovers.
ksnow
apricot / 371 posts

Jun 5, 2015

I went from US to Asia with my LO when she was 3 months. I would do it! I went alone, and it was not a bad trip at all. My tip would be to upgrade to business just for extra space to lay things out...It wasn't actually bad at all. You're used to waking up all the time. The baby just wants to sleep on you so they love it. Just breastfeed on any take offs/landing to avoid ear issues.
Astro Bee
pear / 1503 posts

Jun 5, 2015

@Ksnow: It was my plan to fly business, but there wasn't any availability across the Pacific. I used reward miles, and had more than enough, too! Thanks for the tip on breastfeeding. I've heard that before, so I'm glad it worked for you, and that you didn't have any problem solo. I'm feeling more confident after hearing everyone's positive experiences.

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Super long flight and vacation with a 2 1/2 month old?

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