Would you take YOUR baby along...?...?

Question

In about a week and a half, my husband, 5 month old baby, and I are picking up some of his family at the airport. Then next day we are beginning a 3-day road trip from Indiana to Arizona.

If you were in my shoes, would you take a 5 month old on the 3-day road trip, OR would you FLY to Arizona (about 5-8 hours) and wait for the others to show up?

Why?
What are the pros and cons?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Answer 1

Either way, traveling with a baby is not easy.
I just came back from Arizona with my 5-month-old. I traveled there to visit his dad, so I went alone.

Here are the hassles:

1. You need to decide whether you're going to have your baby on your lap or on a car seat. If he's gonna be on your lap, and you have to check in the car seat, you need to bring a stroller. If you'll have him on car seat, then you don't need to check them in, but you'll still need a stroller to put the car seat in.

2. Security. You need to fold your stroller and car seat, put everything on the scanner and carry your baby pass the security, unfold the stroller, etc, etc. There will be people to help you - but if you're departing from a busy airport, you might have to do those alone (I did all those when I departed from Phoenix because it was so busy on the checkpoint).

3. Departing and landing - you know the hassle.

4. 5 hour flight. It might not sounds as hard, but once you're in the plane for an hour (unless the kid is sleeping) then you might be tired trying to entertain him. Well, bring new toys and books if possible. And if the baby is going to be an infant lap, ask for an empty seat next to you so once the baby is asleep you can put him down and be free for a while

6. diaper change/going to the restroom during the flight

It'd be ideal if there's one more person to fly with you - so you don't have to stay and struggle on your own.

Should you decide to fly, choose the flight carefully. You know your baby best, so if he's not good with sitting down for 5 straight hours, consider 2 flights with enough layover time in between. Some babies can't stand being in a confined and crowded place like airplanes. Being able to see more stuffs in the airport might clam him down.

I never personally take a big road trip - that is more than a day - with my son. We did take a day trip in which he had to stay in car seat for 10+hours. He slept through the whole road trip, and was only awake when we're stopping (for gas and for attractions). So it was fine.

My advice for road trip - include break times in your trip. Give an extra day (if you haven't) in case you need to stop more than you're planning to.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I'd fly, personally. You'll only be disrupting baby's routine hard-core for one day (the flying day). Otherwise, you should be able to somewhat maintain the routine the other two days, whether you do it at home or in Arizona. (If it were up to me, I'd stay in Indiana the first two days and fly out the third...that's best case scenario, in my mind).

I have a six month old. There's only so much you can do to amuse a baby that young...we made a 6 1/2 hour drive to my parent's for Christmas, and it was hard to do even that...For a three day trip, your baby will either 1)be awake the whole time and fairly hard to amuse in such a confined space, even if one of you rides in the back or 2) sleep in the car, and UP ALL NIGHT. Plus, depending on baby's needs, that 3 day trip may turn significantly longer....you may have to stop more often than you think (baby's hungry, you stop, and then an hour later, baby poops...need to stop again).

I'd definitely go with the flying. Good luck either way.

Answer 3

I'm assuming that the road trip is going to include the family you're picking up at the airport. YIKES! If there are other little kids, it sounds like a nightmare!

I would personally want to take the flight with baby, if I had the money.

Pros for flight/cons for driving:
1. Flying is statistically safer than driving.
2. 3 days of travel vs 5-8 hours of travel
3. Baby has to be buckled in car seat for entire drive (I wonder if your family took into account the time you'll need to change/ feed/ calm baby from screaming -- you will have to stop the car!).
4. Having to listen to family comment on your parenting skills/style in the car where you can't get away from them.
5. Nasty driving conditions-- if the weather is bad at an airport, you can still be safe and warm and buy food-- not so if you get stuck in a blizzard in a car.
6. If you are traveling alone with baby, you can concentrate on your (you and baby's) needs exclusively.

Pros for driving/cons for flying:
1. Money -- it often costs a lot to make last minute flight reservations
2. You'll be the only one to take care of baby for several days-- no help from husband or family members
3. Family members might want the time to be with the baby on the trip, and they could change diapers, walk the floor in the middle of the night, feed bottles
4. Airplanes are well-known for being a place where contagious illnesses pass easily from person to person

I wish you luck!

Answer 4

Honestly, a 3 day road trip with a 5 month old seems like a nightmare. The lack of stimulation would probably be a major factor. I would definitely fly and get it over with. I took my daughter on a plane Boston to San Diego when she was 5 months and it wasnt bad at all. You know your child, and if you think the baby can handle the long ride, then go for it. Just give ear plugs out to everyone else in the car. ; ) Good Luck!

Answer 5

With a 5-month old your 3 day trip is going to turn into a 4 day trip. Remember you are still feeding every few hours and wil have to stop to change diapers and burp. If it were me I'd fly if you can aford to do so. That is an awful long time for a baby to be in a car.
We took my son from Ohio to Detroit at that age. A 4 hour trip turned into a 6 hour trip. He didn't like being in the car that long and he was hungery and wet and we had to keep stopping.

Answer 6

I'd fly.

Flying Pros - less travel time = less time for crying & crankiness. She'll probably nap for atleast an hour or two during that time. She's small enough to sit in your lap which means she can fly for free. She's also small enough to be entertained by small toys & books which are easy for you to carry on.
Con - Kind of hard to change a poopy diaper in the plane restroom but it can be done. Another possible con is if you're breastfeeding, don't fly Delta. They recently kicked off a woman for nursing. So you'd want to call ahead to the airline & find out how much formula you are allowed to carry on or ask about their nursing rules (just fyi - it is illegal for an airline to deny you your RIGHT to breastfeed. but if you do plan on nursing, you might ask for a seat in the back if that would make you more comfortable).

Car pros & cons -
Honestly, my babies HATED long car rides and still do as older children. The PRO of a car trip would be that you'll have family there to assist you if you or the baby gets ill, needs a break, etc. The only other pro I can think of is you won't need to purchase an airline ticket.
CON- Unless your baby sleeps 10 hours a day, she'll be bored out of her mind stuck in a car seat all day for three days. And it's till hard to change a baby's diaper on the road. If you are breastfeeding, you'd still have to pull over & stop driving to nurse because you can't take her out of her carseat to nurse, etc.

I've always opted to fly with my kids over driving if it ever involved more than a 4 - 5 hour drive. It's just so much easier.
Good luck on your tip!

Answer 7

I would FLY without a doubt. It may be a 3 day trip normally by car, but it will be twice as long, if not more, with a baby when you have to stop to feed and change that baby along the way. And no, you can't do it in the car because the child must be in a car seat while travelling by car. So you've got to find a rest stop, get out and do it every time. Fly there and take a couple of days downtime with your baby. It will be far less stressful for ALL of you!!!

Answer 8

If you have the money I would fly. It will be much easier on you and the baby. Road trips are great with kids if you can keep them simple. If you are planning to drive mostly at night and your baby is great in her car seat and can sleep well when her schedule is messed with go for it. If you have the type of baby that doesn't handle schedule changes well, and doesn't like being in the car for hours on end....your just asking for a cranky baby. You really should look at that as well. As far as safety goes you run no greater risk flying vs riding...although with all the security stuff you'd really have to consider what is easier that way too. Good luck.

Answer 9

WELL, thats gonna suck. How are you gonna keep a 5 month old in a car seat all day for 3 days without driving yourself and the others crazy...I think 5 mo. is a little to young because what are you all going to do when the baby gets cranky and is crying and you have to pull over to comfort...not only wll it change your schedule but will probably cause others (and yourself) to be irritable and irritated. I suggest going on the plane and waiting if your husband is cool with that.

Answer 10

well, I would decided based on my child. is my child a good traveler? am I breastfeeding? Will we need to stop 12 times a day to feed her? Woould I be putting out our family by adding stops? Are we making many stops along the way to sightsee? Would there be many photo ops that I could show her in later years that yes she has been there? How does my family members feel about traveling with my child? Would this give them precious time to spend with my child? do I realy want to make this 3 day trip when I could do it in 8 hours? Do I really want to be in a car that long? Is there omething more fun for me and my child to do in Az or indiana that I can do to kill some time? Can we afford to make 2 seperate trips?

I think if you answer those questions and more, then you'll feel more confident in decision making.