DH and I are going to visit a friend. Usually we fly (1 hour drive to airport, 2 hour flight) but we are wondering whether it would be easier to drive (10 hours) with our five-month-old? Which would you do? I would rather fly but whatever is easiest with a baby!
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That distance, I'd fly. 10 hours, adding a baby, quickly becomes 15.
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I would 1000% fly. At that age your LO will probably sleep the whole flight.
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Hands down flight. If it were 10 hour flight or 2 hour drive, I'd say drive. Of course that doesn't make sense but point is whatever is faster.
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Fly for sure.
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We took E on a trip when he was 6 months old. 3 different 9-hr legs (over several days). He slept most of each leg (4-5 hours at a time). We didn't stop any more often than we would have otherwise, it just took us longer than normal because we were driving through a snowstorm so we were going slow.
We also generally prefer to drive, though. I don't have to worry about pissing off a plane full of people if he melts-down, and we could also easily pack all of the gear we needed for him in the car (PnP, high chair, all of his cloth diapers, all of the other bulky stuff that may or may not cost you more to fly with, etc.)
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we did a 20 hour drive (over two days) when baby was about 9 months old and it went surprisingly well. We left super early in the morning, keeping baby in pajamas. timed stops to be around her wake up time and eating time. When there was a nice rest area with picnic area we stopped there for a little walk about.
In case it is a big financial difference for you to drive over fly, I just wanted to chime in that it is possible to have a smooth commute. I would prefer to fly for two hours but it can be done! Plan to take longer (just in case).
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If you want to fly, I say do that! Both have positives and negatives, but getting to your destination faster sounds easiest to me. Even if you have a cranky baby while traveling, getting it over with in 2 hours sounds like the best option! I know plenty of people who have flown with babies--they make it work!
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FLY!!
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Fly!!
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Fly!!!! We drove 2 hours with our 3.5 month old and it was a disaster. No way would I drive for 10 hours!!!
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Fly! I'm also too chicken to try a long car trip, so I'm a bit biased. I'd imagine a 10 hr drive will be more like 13-15? with stops. The downside is that you can't take as much and use the car as a giant suitcase.
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I chose drive, which I am actually doing tonight. Flying with all of his stuff, a car seat and a baby who loves to move sounds terrifying to me.
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I think I'd fly.... As long as it's not cold and flu season.
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Fly! No way would I drive that long with a kid in the car. A 10hr adult drive would probably turn into a 15hr+ drive with baby with having to stop to feed/change/entertain/get some air, etc.
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Fly for sure!
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Sounds like the consensus is fly, but some of the things the "drive" crowd mentioned are worrying me. How did you fly with the car seat? Did it get damaged in baggage?
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@bpaig: FLY! The 10 hour car ride will be 2 hrs, stop 45 minutes, 1.5 hours, stop 45 minutes.... it will be well over 13 hours.
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@bpaig: Personally, I'd drive. I'm not one to want to fly with all the gear & I like being in control on when we stop, go, etc. And I like road trips (taken a good handful with babies ranging from a few months to a few years).
If flying I would use your car seat on the flight. Generally checking your seat is not recommended b/c the history become unknown, luggage is not always properly cared for, & not being secured in the seat on the plane can be dangerous.
http://www.thecarseatlady.com/airplanes/airplanes.htmlAnd use something like this for easy transport through the airport can make travel smoother (I've also heard using a similar luggage type cart/roller works too):
http://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Roll-Car-Seat-Transporter/dp/B0074JKQ0Y -
Fly!!
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Fly
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At that age, I'd go for flying! Flying got to be a challenge when the little monster learned to walk- live it up while you can! I'd just avoid United, they are horrible when it comes to flying with kids. 20+ hours in the car isn't easy, I'd rather just get the trip over with.
I got a car seat bag and gate checked it with no problems numerous times.
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Fly.
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I vote fly! Unless your baby loves the car seat. If we had just DS I'd do the drive. When DD was an infant I definitely would not have.
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Fly for sure!!
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Omg I would definitely fly! But my lo hated the car seat, and even at 9 months she only tolerates it for 45 minutes max. We flew at 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 8 months and it went so well each time- she slept the whole flight. We checked her stroller at the gate. We didn't bring her carseat though, my mom put one in her car for when she picked us up at the airport
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Definitely fly at that age. 10 hours + driving each way is a lot.
Take advantage of baby flying for free in your lap. We just check the carseat. And babies can bring as much liquid as they want on the flights.
Plus a shirt flight means more time at your destination.
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FLY!
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I just finished a 10 hour drive with my 4.5 month old and it was great. I had no other adult with me so I was nervous but it worked out really well. My best advice is to leave at bedtime. My kid normally wakes up every two hours when he's sleeping at home (ugh, I know) but in the car only fussed twice. Which means we only stopped twice
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Fly.
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FLY!
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fly for sure. just did a 6 hour trip with my 7 month old and it was rough even with 3 of us adults in the car. she was bored and cranky!
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It totally depends on the kid, but I would fly. My LO hates the car seat, and we would definitely need to make lots of stops. If yours is good in the car, it might not be so bad.
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10 hours is a LONG time to entertain a baby.
We checked in our car seat and it was fine. If you're worried, you can gate check it (no charge), meaning you can bring it to the plane but they'll throw it in with the luggage. Just make sure you have a cover over it to protect it from dirt/rain/etc. I have flown 10 times with LO, and haven't had any issues.
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I agree a million times over with the votes for flying!
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oh, totally fly!!!
it's great to have all the luggage checked or gate checked, and be able to feed, sit, and stand (and change diapers!) at will on the plane! and 2 hours is super short for a plane ride -- your baby will do GREAT -
Oh for sure fly!!! Our 5month old was a champ her entire flight. We checked our carseat with our luggage and it was fine. We have a Britax seat, so we bought the Britax travel bag which also serves as a 'warranty' or 'insurance policy' if it's damaged in transit while in their bag, they will replace it. The best thing is the bag had weels and back pack straps, made it super easy to get around.
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fly our dd hates the car
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FLY!
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FLY! K does not like being trapped in the car seat and I can walk her around on a plane.
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41 comments