Planning a trip and wondering when a newborn can actually travel long distance?
Whether you’re heading abroad or going across the country by car, it’s understandable that you’re unsure of the official when it comes babies and long distance travel.
As with so many things to do with babies, there’s no precise answer here but there is very clear guidance and health advice to follow that can help you make your decision.
Generally speaking I would advise against planning any long trips with a baby less than two months old.
That eight weeks gives you a chance as parents to settle into life as a family and also means your baby gets their first vaccinations – travel does bring with it a risk of catching bugs that babies may be vulnerable to.
Most importantly I think it just gives you a chance to get to grips with caring for a new baby – I certainly didn’t want to rush off anywhere out of the house in the early weeks. There’s a lot to be said for pulling up the drawbridge and relaxing.
But you may want to travel on a long-awaited holiday, or visit relatives that live a long distance away. This article is going to talk you through when you can travel with a new baby.
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Checklist for travel with a baby
Tips for long car journeys with a baby
How soon can a newborn travel long distance by car?
There’s no minimum age your newborn should be before a long distance car journey.
But the NHS and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises giving your baby a break from their car seat every two hours.
This is because it’s important for your baby to take a stretch and there’s some evidence that spending too long in a car seat can increase the risk of breathing difficulties. This is especially the case in premature babies and very young newborns who cannot support their neck just yet.
The safest position for babies is flat on their back in a safe place such as cot or Moses basket with a firm mattress.
To be safe, where possible, have another adult travel in the back with your baby to keep an eye on your baby.
If you will be driving to another country then your baby may need a passport. This can take time to obtain – sometimes weeks – so always plan the practicalities of your trip before setting off.
When is the earliest a newborn can fly?
The absolute earliest you can fly with a newborn tends to be 14 days, based on most airline rules. But you should consider waiting for your first flight until they are two months old.
If your baby was born prematurely or has any health conditions then you should seek the advice of a paediatrician or GP for you plan any trip.
The reason for travel being more favourable for a baby at two months is that at this stage they will have had a first round of infant vaccinations.
A key risk for young babies travelling is exposure to diseases that may be quite harmless to adults, but potentially quite dangerous to a small baby with an immature immune system.
What are airline rules for flying with a newborn?
There’s no specific minimum age limit set by either airlines or healthcare organisations like the NHS or the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for when newborns can fly.
The minimum age limit airlines set for babies varies from there being a limit of 48 hours old – such as British Airways – to 14 days old – such as EasyJet.
American Airlines asks that infants travelling at under seven days of age need a medical form to be completed by a parent/guardian before they can fly.
If you need to fly with your baby earlier than two months then you’ll need to have a passport for them to travel overseas. This can take time to get hold of – as much as 10 weeks depending on how busy the passport office is – so get planning as soon as they are born.
Is it safe for a newborn to sit in a car seat for hours at a time?
Experts advise you avoid travelling in cars with pre-term and very young babies for a long distance.
A study found that being in a car seat – rather than laying flat – for lengthy periods of time increased the risk of breathing difficulties in young babies.
If you do want to take your baby on a long car journey then plan for breaks every two hours and take baby out of their car seat so they can stretch, feed and be changed.
Checklist before embarking on a long journey with a newborn baby
Whether you’re travelling by plane, train or car, these are things to keep in mind, make sure you have or to ensure you get done before setting off on a long trip with your baby.
Get their passport
A passport can take as long as 10 weeks to come through. Also the application itself requires a bit of work, such as getting an acceptable passport photo and ensuring you have someone to confirm your baby’s identity.
If you want to head off abroad with your baby then start thinking about their passport as soon as possible – you may even need it before you can actually book a flight with certain carriers.
Factor in breaks
When planning your journey to your destination it’s wise to consider breaks for your baby so they are not spending hours and hours in an infant car seat.
Even a car seat that is specifically for a newborn shouldn’t be used for longer than a couple of hours at a time for your baby.
You may want to consider stopping somewhere overnight to give your baby a chance to sleep in a safe travel crib for a particularly long journey.
Bring your nursing essentials
If you are breastfeeding then ensure you have everything needed to ensure your comfort.
Don’t forget:
- Muslins – I always took giant muslins as these can also be used as breastfeeding covers if needed.
- Breast pump – if you use it regularly and you’ll be away for a week or more then take an electric breast pump. If you’re only going to be away for a few days then consider a manual breast pump as it’s much more compact.
- Nipple pads
- Nipple cream
- Nursing bra – bring a spare for your journey
- Pack extra feeds
If your baby is bottle-fed then don’t forget to pack extra bottle feeds as you never know when a journey may take an unexpected turn.
It’s much easier to travel with pre-made bottles of formula rather than powder formula.
When travelling by plane you are allowed to take enough food and baby milk to feed your baby for the journey. So usual liquids rules don’t apply for your journey.
Take your essentials in a grab bag
Your diaper, or changing, bag needs to contain all of the immediate essentials you need to care for your baby and should be small enough to have in the main part of the car or as carry-on.
For your journey you should take:
- Spare nappies – at least one for every hour of travel
- Spare outfits – one for every three hours of travel
- Bibs x2
- Spare muslin
- Changing mat
- Wipes
- Hand sanitiser
- Nappy sacks – to dispose of dirty nappies.
- Pacifier – and a spare if they use them
- Ear defenders – for the plane
- Warm jumper/sweater
- Hat
- Spare blankets
Consider an airplane bassinet
An airplane bassinet is a detachable cot that’s available for passengers on some airlines. It makes a comfy place for baby to nap and gives you a chance to take a break from holding your baby.
It’s best to check ahead to see whether the airline you are using has them available, and it’s likely you’ll need to book it in advance.
Check whether your car seat meets plane requirements
If you want to take a car seat on a plane then you’ll need to ensure it meets requirements from the airline for use on their seats.
Those guidelines should be available online or by contacting the airline’s customer services.
Take a travel-friendly stroller
Airlines will allow you to take a stroller onto a plane for free. But it’s much easier for you if you can fold it up in one-piece into a small size, and that goes for travelling by car too.
Some strollers can even fold up small enough to be carried as hand luggage which can be super useful for juggling a baby and other bags.
Final thoughts
I hope you feel confident in your plans for heading off on a long journey with your baby. Planning is absolutely key – especially when it comes to going abroad and ensuring you have a passport for your baby and factoring in breaks.
A baby born at full-term without any health complications can be taken on a long journey by car or plane early on after they’re born. But for practical reasons you may want to wait at least eight weeks before your trip.
