My partner and I are looking into planning a 6 month trip
around the world - South America, Australia, Asia,
Africa... but are also looking into having a baby.... We
would like to hear from other people who have travelled
with a baby as young as 4 months - can it be done safely?
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Four months is a perfect age to see the world! Hopefully
you'd be breastfeeding, so you'd have food handy at any
time, and you haven't started walking yet, so you can't run
away from your parents!
Stay clear of areas with high risk for malaria though, you
don't want to touch those nasty pills just yet...
Our youngest daughter was only 7 weeks when we took off the
first time. Good luck!
Asa
Kids hate being mucked about. Ours always got ill when we
went on holiday until they were about 5! I've seen doctors
and hospitals all around the globe - the problem was
diagnosed as "not at home".
Good luck
I disagree with you Pete! (above) It is when kids get about
5 years old they start to lead a life of thier own! Before
that, it is you - as parents - who are their world. This
makes it perfect to travel with young kids-they feel "at
home" anywhere, as long as you're with them!
When they are older they start missing friends, special toys
and all those western "must haves" they have learnt to
depend on! Go for it Susan! Have a good trip!
Asa
my wif heard that there is research that air travel in
babies under 6 months will increase the likelihood of SIDS,
as yet i have been unable to find out for certain but the
choice is yours, good luck anyway
I have also heard about the risk of SIDS related to long
haul flights for babies under six months. It is to do with
the oxygen supply in the aircraft. Whilst this has not been
proven, I would not take my own baby on a long haul flight
at this age.
Does anyone know if there's any danger of pregnancy problems related to long haul filights, particularly increased risk of miscarriage. I plan to fly to London (and back) mid year, which is a 22 hour flight, but if all goes to plan I may be in the early stages of a pregnancy (first trimester). Any info or advice?
We have travelled quite a bit with small babies and found it
to be quite easy when they are still breastfeeding, but more
difficult as they get older. Toddlers run around and touch
everything, then put their hands in their mouth - a bit
risky in some countries. That is a minor issue. The real
issue is healthcare. As long as your child is healthy - you
will feel fine about travelling but should he/she become ill
then you may not have access to good (or any) medical
facilities. Young children can become severely ill in a
very short amount of time and things which can leave us just
sick can kill them - dysentery,etc. In many places you will
not have access to the type of help you take for granted at
home. Our son developed croup in Sri Lanka and we had
nowhere to take hime (8 hours from a very basic hospital).
He was okay in the end, but I did a bit of soulsearching at
the time and decided that I would think very carefully
before travelling to third world countries with babies.
My first flight with Owen was at 7 weeks and although I was
very nervous, he did beautifully and has traveled well ever
since. I've found he has no troubles at all -- he after all
is being catered to and oodled by fellow passengers. For
the parents, however, it's not so easy. It sounds like
you'll be a new mom and unless you've had lots of experience
taking care of an infant, you'll probably not know what hit
you. They change so much that by the time you figure one
stage out, they've outgrown it. The first year is
incredibly exhausting! I would suggest either getting your
travels completed before the bundle of joy arrives or
waiting until that first year is over. I would have had a
much less stressful life if I had only concentrated on
learning how to be a mom that first year.
ZZZZ hit the nail on the head. Unless you have LOTS of
experience with infants, your stress level will be high.
And that's if you have a "good" baby. Until the baby is
born, you have no idea what its personality will be like.
The baby's personality will determine if you are able to
travel. Fortunately, I have a laid back easy going 13
month old, who can still be a bundle on a four hour
flight. Recommendation? Don't make any travel plans until
AFTER the baby is born. Then probably the only place you'll
want to travel to is Slumberland.
We started traveling by bike when our first daughter was 4
month. She did well sitting/laying in her baby-chair. When
she was tired, she slept on the bike. We could make
distances of 80 km a day and we camped in a small tent.
Even with rain and cold it was not a problem for the baby.
When she was 10 month we made a not organized tour through
Turkey by bike: every day we stayed in other places. A few
times in family-houses when there were no hotels.