Travel with a newborn????????

At Christmas time our daughter will be around 7 weeks old. We live in Colorado and would love to go to California to visit all our family. Also to introudce our new addition to the family to them. This is my first baby and I'm not sure if traveling will be good for a NB. The drive will be 15 hours.Being stuck in a car with a NB for that long does worry me to much. I just care about her health and if it will be ok to take the trip.Anyone out there whos has travel with a NB please I'll take any advice and info. Thanks.

Message edited 8/16/2007 7:07:05 PM.

Re: Travel with a newborn????????

WE traveled for the 1st time when my daughter was 8 weeks. It really was not bad at all. She slept a majority of the time. If you really want to spend the holidays with your family I say go for it. I am sure your family will give you a little break and you will have lots of help once you get there. I really enjoyed myself and was so glad I chose to travel.( I too was a little reluctant at first)

Re: Travel with a newborn????????

DD took her first road trip at 3 weeks. It was a 5 hour drive to Long Isalnd from Maryland. At 6 weeks we drove to Ohio- 7.5 hours.

For the Ohio trip, we left after her 4am feeding. I pumped in the car when I was feeling *full* and used a bottle warmer when DD started showing signs that she was waking up. She slept the entire ride- both ways, only waking long enough to take a bottle and burp. We only had to stop 2x on the way there, and once on the way home.

Traveling with a newborn is surprisingly easy. I recommend getting a bottle warmer with a car charger. If you are BFing, get the car charger attachment for the pump.

Most importantly, realize it WILL likely take you longer to get there, because you're going to need to stop a few times, but it is doable....

Re: Travel with a newborn????????

We traveled about 6 hours when my son was 2 1/2 weeks old, and then went to RI when he was 11 weeks old. He was very good on both trips. If you are formula feeding, I would suggest getting the 3 or 6 oz bottles and then pouring them into the regular bottles. This way, the formula is not cold, so you dont have to heat it up. We did end up wasting some formula this way, but it was soooo much easier!

Re: Travel with a newborn????????

A trip that long with a NB will be far more pleasant than with an older baby..just plan accordingly and everything will be fine.

Re: Travel with a newborn????????

15 hours is a long drive! Can you fly? I think traveling with a NB will be fine. We are thinking of going to AZ when the baby is about 8 wks, but we will fly.

Re: Travel with a newborn????????

Thanks for the advoce its made me feel much better about planing a trip.

Re: Travel with a newborn????????

Thank you for all your advice. I feel much better about planning this trip.

Re: Travel with a newborn????????

Just stopping by to thank you for the adivce,it helped a lot.