Advice on Traveling Overseas with a 4 to 5 Month Old Baby in March

Cacao on 09/01/2023 - 01:22
Last edited 09/01/2023 - 11:11 by 1 other user

Hi friends!
Thanks in advance for your input!

We are first time parents of an 11 week old baby girl. Yay!

We would like to go on an overseas holiday once her 4 month vaccination is done. Mind you we haven’t applied for her passport yet so that needs to be done.

Our first thought was let's go to NZ! But it's probably going to be too cold over there by March. NZ just feels easy specially with reciprocal health care. Also we love the sceneries!

I am keen to hear from people who have travelled with babies :) specially what not to do!!

Ideas on location/things to do would be great too. In terms of our preferences, we love to go on hikes, love being in nature, visiting historic sites (would love to go to Europe but too far!!), and we love to eat and explore different cultures!!!

Ty

Poll Options expired

  • 19
    New Zealand
  • 3
    Singapore
  • 1
    Hawaii
  • 8
    Japan
  • 1
    Taiwan
Travel

Comments

  • AustriaBargain on 09/01/2023 - 02:37
    -6

    I would pay extra to travel on a flight that is guaranteed to have zero babies on it. Same with buses. I was on a bus once and this woman had a baby and the baby was wailing extremely loud over and over. I thought my eardrums would burst, like the air pressure in the bus tripled with each wail. There was an old man sitting in front of me and I swear I saw blood trickle out of his left ear.

    • Hansi on 09/01/2023 - 07:04
      +4

      Thank godness you were born as an adult so you never annoyed anyone as a baby! Hate those mini-humans…..

    • onetwothreefour on 09/01/2023 - 07:38
      +3

      Same with buses

      You can, it's called an Uber.

    • Cacao on 09/01/2023 - 09:21
      +2

      Thanks for your reply super helpful!

    • tallkid123 on 09/01/2023 - 09:28
      +3

      I actually like the sound of screaming children. I went to Taronga Zoo last week and it reminded my wife and I why we don't have children :)

    • borgainerz on 10/01/2023 - 13:13

      I was like you….until I got baby myself, and Oh Boy that makes you change and makes you more comprehensible of such situation

      • AustriaBargain on 10/01/2023 - 13:41
        +1

        Perhaps planes and buses should have little soundproof booths so people with babies can lock themselves in there and appreciate the wailing sound all to themselves, which wouldn't bother them as they can better comprehend it after having a baby themselves.

  • leelemon on 09/01/2023 - 03:47

    Congrats on becoming a parent!
    Not a parent yet but I know other parents that go for a quick domestic flight (like Sydney to Gold Coast or Melbourne) just as a 'trial run' to see how their baby responds and/or for 'practice' before going somewhere longer like Singapore or Japan. It's also a good excuse for a weekend away with your family if you have the money + time.

    • Hansi on 09/01/2023 - 07:07

      TBF NZ is not that much farther and shorter than some longer distance inland routes like Melbourne - Cairns or Sydney Perth.

      OP I suggest:
      - Organise most of it beforehand
      - Plan with buffers to allow for accidents / breastfeading
      - Minimise luggage / use a travel stroller
      - Pay for convenience (rental car over public transport for example)

      Don't let this deter you from travelling, but ensure you consider things you might not have thought about when travelling with adults only

    • Cacao on 09/01/2023 - 09:28

      We are doing a road trip at the end of Jan which should help. But you raise a good point about trial run to sew she’d react on a plane.. Not sure if we can afford it though haha but will definitely look into it

  • onetwothreefour on 09/01/2023 - 07:40
    +2

    There's supposed to be long wait times for passports so get that done before booking anything.

    • Cacao on 09/01/2023 - 09:22

      Will look into this soon thank you

  • Caped Baldy on 09/01/2023 - 07:52
    +3

    Would definitely recommend a shorter trip. Don't know how the baby will react to a flight.

  • djones145 on 09/01/2023 - 08:47
    +5
    • feed when landing or take off (helps with babies ears from popping)
    • bring a change of clothes for yourself (will get vomit more likely)
    • u mgiht get lucky and have a baby sleep on the plane ( i was) hawaii was great night flight. or u might get a crying baby for a night flight for 9 hours ( had that before too). hard to tell
    • baby travel strollers are great can bring them in the flight and use it all the way to check in, look for pockit and mountain buggy ( i had both , both are great, heaps of oprions now)
    • travel as much as u can before 2, they sit on your lap and its cheap!
    • Chandler on 09/01/2023 - 13:36
      +1

      baby travel strollers are great can bring them in the flight and use it all the way to check in, look for pockit and mountain buggy ( i had both , both are great, heaps of oprions now)

      A good baby carrier is also useful, and doesn't involve a large stroller to cart around (strollers do have their own advantages against carrying - not saying this to nay-say the stroller, just as an another and/or alternative option!)

      • moar bargains on 09/01/2023 - 17:30

        Baby carriers are the bomb. Making use of one right now.

      • djones145 on 09/01/2023 - 23:05

        yep back then i had both, but the kids get heavy lol

  • sonicentropy on 09/01/2023 - 08:53
    +1

    We took our daughter to japan when she was 6 months jetstar allowed us to take her pram at no extra charge. But we found japan wasnt the best for prams lots and lots of stairs and escalators so we bought a sling. She much preferred this. Be blonde with blue eyes she attracted a lot of attention from locals. We found the local nappies (bamboo based) and baby food far superior to what we could buy back home. She was good on the flight sleeping and playing quietly. We skipped disneyland this trip but the year after she really enjoyed it.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 09/01/2023 - 09:10

    on hikes, l

    Can recommend ergobaby carriers - bit on the expensive side but pretty ergonomic!

    • Chandler on 09/01/2023 - 13:43

      Kokadi TaiTai's are also a good carrier!

      If you love hikes and nature, seriously consider baby-wearing!

      Whatever you use, make sure you check it T.I.C.K.S. the boxes!

  • apple2016 on 09/01/2023 - 10:04

    I am keen to hear from people who have travelled with babies :) specially what not to do!!

    Usually it would be a good holiday unless the airline decides to play spoilsport and cancels a leg or delays the flight. For adults its fine but for 6 month baby this would be tricky.

  • lgacb08 on 09/01/2023 - 11:07
    +2

    6 months baby is a breeze, wait until they start walking and throwing a tantrum when the plane takes off/descending because of that weird noise in ears. Just plan your trip so they don't fall hungry or need nappy change in the most inconvenience time.

  • jolee3 on 09/01/2023 - 18:06
    +1

    That's a good time to travel, before solids and before they want to crawl everywhere! A travel pram to take on the airline is very useful, as well as a carrier for not pram friendly places.

    We found night flights to be good so you don't have to entertain a restless baby through the day, but only for a long flights and babies that night sleep well. We didn't travel until baby was 10 months though.

    As someone else mentioned, look into passport asap.

  • Mrcamel79 on 09/01/2023 - 23:16
    +1

    Consider Hamilton Island…they promoge themselves as a great "baby's first holifay" destination. Hotel provides cots, strollers, high chairs, rockers. They have a daycare as well as many babysitters who will come to your room while your relaxing in the pool, going to Whitehaven etc

    • Cacao on 10/01/2023 - 00:03

      Didnt know about that. Sounds interesting. Will look into it. Although have to get used to the idea of leaving my daughter with a stranger…….. 😔

  • payless69 on 10/01/2023 - 07:01

    Print a t-shirt: This is our anchor, please be considerate
    Congrats anyway, we took our baby to NZ and it wanted to be wrapped up in every sheep skin!
    Brace for rough customs!

  • shrugies on 10/01/2023 - 07:47
    +1

    Travel stroller isn’t strictly necessary as most (all?) airlines allow check in of baby items e.g. stroller, car seat, portable cot etc

    Also, check with your airline if you can gate check the stroller- means you can use throughout the airport up until you board and they’ll have it out for you when you land

    Definitely get a baby carrier- I recommend the Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh (they might have new models with different names).

    Make sure you get travel insurance, you never know what might happen. Baby may get sick and you might cancel your plans so you can then claim with insurance.

    When hiring a car, an SUV is safer as you’re all higher up (youre higher up than the collision point), can handle pot holes and uneven terrain better. Travel insurance should cover the ridiculous accident excess from the hire car company.

    Pack a first aid kit with you with thermometer, paracetamol and ibuprofen for bubba.

    I’m a fan of TOG rated sleep suits/onesies and the sleeping bag (no need to swaddle or worry about blanket moving over baby)

    Evenly distribute your luggage across your suitcases in case one gets lost (went to Tasmania and Jetstar lost 1 out of our 2 suitcases. The one they lost has ALL of my wife and baby’s things. Luckily they were able to recover it and deliver it to me that same night)

    Travel toys (activity books etc off Amazon)

    Research the locations and how to get there well e.g road conditions. Traveled to a few places with very poor gravel roads that I didn’t expect and it was not a good time. Rain and 4WD has rutted out the terrain.

    That’s all I can thing of atm :) happy travels!

  • borgainerz on 10/01/2023 - 13:15

    What about Fiji / New Caledonia, maybe less stressful than Japan is you don't speak Japanese

  • Cacao on 10/01/2023 - 17:56

    Not sure about Fiji as I haven’t been before and unsure about their healthcare system..
    although sitting by the pool/ocean relaxing getting drinks delivered sounds like a dream after having dealt with a newborn haha

  • Cacao on 10/01/2023 - 18:05

    We have the Joie carrier its the cheaper version of Nuna. Its pretty good actually, has magnetic fasteners that are pretty handy.
    I kinda wish we spent a little bit more and got the Nuna though..

    • em on 16/01/2023 - 17:02

      Neither of those carriers is known for being a good carrier.

  • Will146 on 11/01/2023 - 19:24

    We did Fiji with our 7 month old daughter last July. It was great as a shorter flight plus the resorts are clean & staff friendly. Singapore is also good for young children with lots to do & clean.

  • em on 16/01/2023 - 17:01

    We took our first to Japan when he was 3 months, it was great. Only issue was that he couldn’t get MMR vaccine and it was a bit of a risk as there are often outbreaks over there due to a lower uptake of that vaccine - there was a scandal a few years back.

    Luckily he didn’t get sick. Otherwise, we had a fantastic holiday. We bought Baby jogger city tour 2 pram and a baby carrier and used both. Pram was good to carry bags around either way.

  • basicerno on 19/01/2023 - 15:19
    +1

    Request a bassinet with your flight, this will give you the bulkhead seat (more legroom) and the option of a bassinet to put the baby in if you think they will sleep. Even if they dont it gives you something for them to play in front of you at head height. We did this on our trip to Japan and it was handy. The extra leg room space meant he could also play with the toys on the floor when he was up and active (18months)

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