Any ideas on traveling with a 5 month old?

Question

My husband is traveling on business to Delaware and I have the option to go along. We have a 5 month old so it could be tough. We will have a direct flight and a rental car when we get there. I would like to catch some sights but also maintain on some kind of order/schedule with him. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

I flew from CA to Paris (with short layover in NY) with my wife and 5 month old. Now is definitely the time to travel. Your baby does not crawl or grab things yet and is still small enough to be somewhat comfortable sharing the seat on the flight.

I highly recommend carrying your baby rather than use a stroller. It's much easier to get around using some type of carrier and it's a fantastic way for you and your husband to bond with baby. Strollers are so clumsy to travel with- give body wrap carriers a try. Make sure your husband does a lot of the carrying.

Call ahead to the rental car company to make sure they have car seats available. Bring some kind of sun visor because the rental probably won't have it.

If you are breast feeding then even better- you don't have to bring formula or worry about preparing it. If you can time your breast feeding for the flight take-off and landing you can probably avoid ear popping problems with your baby.

Finally, don't try to do too much. Prioritize the sights you want to see, but keep your schedule very loose. Don't worry if you don't see everything. Just enjoy the great experience of spending this time with your baby. Have fun!

Answer 2

Make sure he is sucking on a bottle or binky when you take-off and land (ear popping thing). If you can get an extra seat so that you can have him in the car seat during the flight/take-off/landing it would be safer...as well as having the car seat for the rental.

Keeping a schedule is great, but it's vacation and kids can sleep anywhere so don't be afraid to go out there and have a bit of fun...just keep things simple and roll with the punches and don't over schedule yourself and you can have a good time.

Answer 3

It will never be easier to travel with your child than it is now. Seriously.

I have two kids, two years apart. And I travel TONS with them, ever since they were about two weeks old. If you're nursing, it's SUPER easy. You don't have to carry much, and you've got a meal whenever he gets fussy.

People will tell you to bring everything but the kitchen sink. But I'M going to tell you to bring as little as possible. It's hard, hard, hard to change a baby on an airplane, especially now when the flights are so full and there's so little customer service. So you're only going to do that in a dire emergency. Just bring a few diapers and a change of clothes; you can make a pit stop in the airport.

Also, don't bring the car seat on the plane. It makes it hard to comfort and access your baby. And they can fly for free on your lap. Just check the car seat through. You don't want to be carrying it through the airport and down the narrow airplane aisle.

A cheapie umbrella stroller, if yours has a little bit of recline, is great, though. You just check it at the jetway. And a good baby carrier, like an Ergo or something similar, is AWESOME.

Just feed him and let him sleep according to his regular schedule. He'll adjust just fine.

Answer 4

Speaking from experience, it can be tough at times but really depends on the baby. My first was great on trips. My mother lives in Florida, so we travel often. Even with connecting flights, she did well. As long as she was fed and changed, she was content to sleep or sit on my lap and play during the long flights. I made sure I started to feed her or gave her the pacifier at take-off and landing, which helped with the pressure in her ears. Keep in mind- while it can be done, it is often tricky to change the baby while in flight. I also brought the front-pack carrier and stroller to help before/after the flights- she was small but got heavy quick! As far as a schedule, I would try to make sure she was close to her normal schedule when possible, but she adapted fairly easily. We went to Disney, the beach, etc. If she was tired, she would fall asleep in the stroller. My second baby has not been as easy. She hates being confined in any way for more than 20-30 minutes. She is 16 months now and it is still difficult to travel with her, if not worse. Even in the car with a movie playing, she wants out within a half hour. Hopefully, at 5 months old, your baby still naps a lot. This will help. Be sure to bring favorite items (books, toys, blanket, etc.). Check out the times available to see the sights you are interested in ahead of time, and plan your schedule from there. Keep in mind travel time, waiting time in lines, etc. Try to work in the sights at times your baby will be the most content- either alert and happy to ride in the stroller or when most likely to fall asleep in stroller. Have fun!

Answer 5

I would go. I traveled with my daughter when she was about 4 months old. The flight attendants will warm your bottles for the baby, and the hotel should have a crib available for you. Also, be sure to ask the car rental company for a car seat. Otherwise, you should be fine. Be sure to bring a snugli so you can walk around without a stroller.

Answer 6

My little guy was 5 months when we went to Ocean City, MD.

I pretty much kept the same schedule with him. It wasn't a problem. Even if you're traveling--feed him at the same times. Even if it's in the vehicle. Take familiar toys. Let him nap when he needs. Don't be out running around at his nap times. Try to get all the sight seeing in while it's his free time. Have fun.

Answer 7

You should have no problems - just take a stroller so baby can nap when he /she needs to
make sure you take a car seat as rental do not provide them- take a few extra bottles with formula (NO WATER) in them for the air plane trip - that way all you have to do is add water and not mess with the measuring and mixing

Answer 8

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Answer 9

yea put yur child in a baby seat