Traveling with a 3mo old

[auberge]

Definitely #1

[Deleted]

Either 1 or 3. Flying with a baby is no big deal (most baby gear doesn't count as luggage on most airlines). My baby slept in the car, so it was also no big deal at that point to drive that far.

[Ashley&Scott]

My preference would be 1, 2, then 3 in that order.

Long drives with babies suck in my experience. Some babies sleep the whole time but M is not one of those babies. Being trapped in a car with a screaming baby is torture & very exhausting.

[UnderProtest]

I would probably do number 1, but I understand the worry about dragging stuff through the airport. Would dh's grandparents have any of the baby things already (pack and play, diapers, stroller) to lighten your load?

[greekypie]

#1 for sure

[zacksbride]

no questions asked i would choose #1, but we flew with DS close to a dozen times by the time he was 1.  Honestly, the flights with him around 3-4 months were the easiest by far - i was breastfeeding, but that made it super easy - he literally just nursed the entire flight.  nbd.
 good luck!

[zacksbride]

Apr 30, 2013 14:15:49 GMT -5 swizz said:

Apr 30, 2013 14:11:18 GMT -5 @msstarry said:

It would depend on price for me. 1 would be the best outside of that but I would only spend so much to save a few hours once you factor in security lines, baggage claim, etc

We're only going for a few days, so we typically just take one carry-on for the both of us. I'm thinking that we could probably fit all of baby's stuff (diapers, etc.) in one carry-on, and then our stuff in another, so typically no baggage prices/waiting.

Our flights last year were like $250 each, and they've historically been no more than $300.  Gas would probably be like $200 (to average on the high side).

We also travel on Christmas Day, and driving would get us in quite a bit later (like get up at 7am and get in probably close to 7pm including stops). Whereas, flying we leave around 10am and get in usually like 3pmish.

for me personally, i would only bring a few diapers that would cover the flight and initial car ride.  its not like you are going somewhere where you won't have access to stores to buy things.  i wouldn't worry about packing extra stuff for the entire vacation, and would instead opt to hit up a target once i got there for things like more diapers and wipes...

[hocus2]

Apr 30, 2013 14:34:33 GMT -5 swizz said:

Apr 30, 2013 14:30:26 GMT -5 zacksbride said:

no questions asked i would choose #1, but we flew with DS close to a dozen times by the time he was 1.  Honestly, the flights with him around 3-4 months were the easiest by far - i was breastfeeding (not sure your plans), but that made it super easy - he literally just nursed the entire flight.  nbd.
 good luck!

I think my hesitation is the idea of dragging a bunch of stuff with us. And now knowing how MUCH stuff we'd need to bring.

I guess we can gate check the carseat and stroller, and figure out a baby sleep method (ship a RnP to their house, or see if SIL/BIL/FIL could bring one down when they drive).

   We traveled with a 4 months old. I'd order a cheap PNP and send it there (or PNP but a PNP would be usable next year). I'd also ship diapers and wipes. Travel with maybe 10-12 diapers and a wipes. Yes to gate checking, though I'd bring a snap and go over a true stroller at that age.

[leonard131]

We flew with M when he was 3 months over the holidays to to the ILs.  The flight was about 2 hours and their house is about an hour from the airport. Tons of people traveling with kids so very tolerant and we just packed two carry on suitcases.  We had dipaers,wipes and formula sent to their house via amazon.  They had a pack and play. 

You might want to check to see if there is a rental place you can rent baby stuff from given HH is a resort area.  We did this in Park City and it was great, rented a Pack and Play (brought our own sheet), a bouncy seat and a stroller.  

[zacksbride]

I agree with seeing if there is a place to rent a PNP- we have done that several times from consignment or second hand shops. The carseat and stroller are easy to gate check. Other than that there really isn't too much big stuff you will need to bring. I always brought my pump, but those are relatively compact.

[cjeanette]

I think anyone who chose #3 is an insane person. I picked #2 but in all fairness I have never flown with children. I just figure it has to be better than driving. I hate car rides.

[arch01]

I'd pack 1 carry on with baby stuff, 1 with your/H's stuff, check the car seat and stroller. with some creative packing, it's not really a huge deal. plus you'd have a diaper bag for other stuff.

i'd do #1.

for sleeping-DS slept on the floor on a blanket when we traveled last year. he was 6 months. not ideal, but it worked.

[Deleted]

#1 we're going to Hawaii in July with LO and she'll be just under 3 months.

Obviously, we can't drive, but I think the flight will be ok. Nursing/feeding is a great quieter.

[dcn]

We flew 3.5 hrs when DS was just under 4 months old and then drove about 45 min. It was totally fine. I would much rather do that than attempt a long car drive, having to stop to feed and change the baby, etc. I just nursed DS on the plane and he napped on me. It was really so easy!

We bought diapers when we got there (brought enough for a day in my carry on), and borrowed a pnp. We gate checked his carseat and snap n go, we pushed him in that around the airport. We were gone a week, so we checked a big bag, and carried on basically a diaper bag with his essentials for a day.

[chickens987]

Travel with a 3 month old was way easier than a 7 month old We booked our tickets using a cc that would allow us to cancel in the event that she was super colicky.

One thing we worried about was a place to put her down during the day when we didn't want to hold her (my ILs have dogs so we couldn't just plop her on the floor). I would have ordered a cheap bouncer on amazon.co.uk but my SIL bought us one. Granted we were gone for 2 weeks, but it was a lifesaver.

Also we planned for her to sleep in a PNP but despite being a great sleeper she sleeps really poorly when we are traveling so we ended up co sleeping (in a full sized bed!). We are doing that this trip too. Solves the sleeping issue.