Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

So my grandma died and the funeral is out of state next week. It is a 15 hour drive or a 3ish hour plane ride. DH and I are trying to decide what is better. The cost is roughly the same.

The biggest con to a plane ride is that DS hasn't had any shots yet, and in the airport and esp. on the plane, he'll be exposed to a lot of germs. Even just cold germs.

And I'm not sure about handling all our stuff and the baby. We wouldn't be able to bring our pack n play (waiting to hear if the hotel has one) or rock n play, etc, something he would need when we get there.

The pro of course is that it is quicker! It would also be easy to feed and change DS.

The car cons is not being sure how often we'd need to stop - how long the stops would take and how much time that would add to the trip. I also don't like that DS will be in one seat for so long. I think he'll do all right in it, but I am not sure.

But it would be so much less exposure to germs. And we can bring all of our gear and even formula and diapers and not have to worry about buying that stuff.

Not taking DS isn't an option - I breastfeed (supplement with formula) and don't pump enough to leave some behind. Plus I'd be a nervous wreck on top of my emotions already, wondering how he was doing.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions?

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

I would not take a 6 week old on a plane. Definitely drive if you have to take him.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

Sorry to hear about your grandma. I would definitely fly....so much easier! I flew with my DS when he was 7 weeks old and before he got his shots...no problems. Just keep the baby away from everyone else. Keep a blanket over them as much as possible.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

I would fly.. baby will sleep most of the time anyway

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

I would prob fly too with that long of a trip and wear him as much as possible!

Sorry for your loss...Good luck!

Dont worry about traveling with BM/Formula...I've done it a number of times and never had any problems!

Message edited 5/18/2011 11:56:22 AM.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

I would fly and sling the baby so he is not exposed to tons of germs, or alternatively, get a seat and bring your infant carrier with a blanket over it.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

I would fly- both my children flew at that age and it was fine. Just keep him on your boob the entire time and the germ exposure will be minimal.
Sorry about the loss of your grandma

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

So sorry for your loss

I'd be too nervous about germs taking a 6 week old in plane... at that age DS would pass out in a car instantly and sleep forever.

If we did this, I would just stop every 3 hours during day to change and feed and put him back in the car. I think a couple of days of being strapped to safe car seat isn't going to harm him.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

Fly my dr said it didn't matter hey had shots or not. I think he shots take a while to "kick in". We flew whne she was about 7-8 weeks no problems. Just keep the baby covered.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

I would fly. I don't think it would matter much to the baby. I personally would not want to sit in a car for 15 hours.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

I would fly.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

Sorry about your grandma!!

Did you talk to your Ped about bringing him on a plane?

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

I am sorry about your loss.


When DD was 6 weeks old we flew to Orlando. We had a big family trip planned before she was even conceived. I spoke to her ped and the doctor wasn't worried about not having shots yet. And she said that since it wasn't flu season (we went in September), we shouldn't have to worry about that either.

DD was perfect. We fed her during takeoff, both ways. We also fed her during landing on the way down, but she didn't wake up on the way back. She slept the whole flight, both ways. And we even got a comment that people in front of us didn't know there was such a little baby on the flight.

It was probably the easiest flight we will ever take with her!


And I have yet to be at a hotel that doesn't offer some type of bed for a baby. I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Message edited 5/18/2011 1:53:13 PM.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

I am so sorry for your loss.

I would drive. Stop every 3 hours to feed/change - figure 45 minutes - an hour each stop.

As far as pack n play, etc... you can buy one from a local walmart or target and then return it if the hotel doesn't have one.

My DD always loved being in her car seat and slept in the car.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

100% fly. A 15 hour drive can easily turn into an 18 hour drive with stops to feed, burp (DD took a while to burp), change, gas, etc. Possibly more with traffic, who knows. I'd think , IMO, it would turn into a nightmare. I'd start to get concerned with myself (or DH) driving and getting tired if it was that long and the last thing i'd want to do is have to stop on the road and sty overnight is a crap motel! Probably won't need to happen, but i always think worst case scenario! DD has reflux so i had to hold her for a while after each feed- good thing is that the car ride would probably make him sleepy that and he;s only 6 weeks so he'd probably sleep a lot

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

I would talk to your Ped and do what you are comforatble with.

My ped told me i could not go out with DD in any public places till she had her shots and that wasnt till 3 months I chose to listen to him cause i really didnt want DD to catch anyting also she as born in Jan. which of course is flu and cold season.

Personally i would drive, one cuase of germs plus all the stuff i had to bring for her i can imagine having to check in etc. and last I am just to nervous about flying and i dont think i can handle it with DD also on a plane.

I will be at the end of the month driving to FL with DD. I may regret it though we shall see

Sorry for your loss

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

I talked to the ped about flying (that was before we thought to drive) and he said he doesn't recommend it before 2 months but of we have to then we have to. He suggested sitting in the front of the plane and keeping ds covered to keep him as far away from germs as possible.

We won't be getting a seat for him, but we can still take the car seat/stroller and gate check them, right? I can't wear him - he isn't 8 pounds which is the limit for those I have tried a couple and he was swallowed up in them and just screamed. So we'd just keep him in his car seat in the airport and hold him on the plane.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

We flew Jet Blue. They have the option for what they call a "lap infant" when booking your flight.

We were allowed to gate check the stroller and the infant seat. We were allowed a diaper bag for the baby, in addition to our personal carry on bags.

I am not sure what the rules are on every airline, but on most you can board early to get yourself settled in before everyone gets on the plane.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

Posted by LINewbie

I talked to the ped about flying (that was before we thought to drive) and he said he doesn't recommend it before 2 months but of we have to then we have to. He suggested sitting in the front of the plane and keeping ds covered to keep him as far away from germs as possible.

We won't be getting a seat for him, but we can still take the car seat/stroller and gate check them, right? I can't wear him - he isn't 8 pounds which is the limit for those I have tried a couple and he was swallowed up in them and just screamed. So we'd just keep him in his car seat in the airport and hold him on the plane.

Message edited 5/18/2011 2:52:36 PM.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

Posted by LINewbie

I talked to the ped about flying (that was before we thought to drive) and he said he doesn't recommend it before 2 months but of we have to then we have to. He suggested sitting in the front of the plane and keeping ds covered to keep him as far away from germs as possible.

We won't be getting a seat for him, but we can still take the car seat/stroller and gate check them, right? I can't wear him - he isn't 8 pounds which is the limit for those I have tried a couple and he was swallowed up in them and just screamed. So we'd just keep him in his car seat in the airport and hold him on the plane.

Message edited 5/18/2011 2:55:09 PM.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?

Thank you all for your help! We decided to drive.

Re: Flying or Driving with a 6 week old - Which is the Better Option?