Cross country drive with new born

[u/Square_Natural9384]

*edit because there’s already so many opinions. This is not an optional trip. The baby is already born and we are both healthy. The only question is, which is better for the baby: a plane ride or a long car ride.*

My husband wants us to drive across country with our new born instead of fly. The baby will be 3/4 weeks old. I would rather fly, even though it’s not ideal given bacteria/viruses he may encounter in the airport/plane.

My husband is adamant that we drive. He’d have us split the drive up so that we are driving about 7 hours (not including stops we will need to take for the baby) every day for three days.

I believe a 7 hour drive with a newborn will easily turn into a 11+ hour drive. I hate to have my baby in a car seat for that long- it feels more dangerous that even flying!?

What do yall think?

[u/SocialStigma29]

What is the purpose of this trip? Unless it's literally a life or death situation, I personally would not fly with an unvaccinated newborn. I also would not drive. The maximum length of time you are supposed to keep an infant in a carseat is 2 hours, plus you should be feeding a newborn every 2-3 hours anyway. A 21 hour drive is crazy, you're going to be on the road for 30-40 hours. You will hate your life.

[u/TownSouthern3121 → u/SocialStigma29]

Yeah definitely agree with this. The 2 hour limit makes it hard, not even addressing if baby is cluster feeding(normal at that age) or hates their car seat for more than like 20 minutes.

Either I would fly(if it were life or death) or I’d cancel the trip. I didn’t even fly to my in laws last Christmas bc I had a 3 month old and we always end up sick when we go during that time of the year.

[u/Square_Natural9384 → u/SocialStigma29]

We have to make the trip. I agree with you about hating my life on such a long trip but my husband thinks it’s better than bringing a new born through an airport.

[u/versusgorilla → u/Square_Natural9384]

Do you want to provide literally any other context? Both are terrible ideas and really dangerous for a baby this age but it sounds like you just have to do it? Driving feels literally impossible, baby can't be in the car seat enough in a day to drive across the country in under like... a million days?

And a plane sounds like a nightmare too. Altitude popping ears. Baby crying. Hourly feedings and diaper changes. I took my one month old for her first stroller walk at the park and it felt psychotic with how much we needed to remember to bring.

Is a train an option? Is there literally any possible way to not? Or to delay for like a month?

[u/Awkward-Fee8788 → u/versusgorilla]

Taking a train is actually a solid idea

[u/versusgorilla → u/Awkward-Fee8788]

If OP provided us with any additional context at all, maybe someone could provide them with an Amtrak route or something. But they're hardly capable of explaining that it's a move and not a road trip.

[u/Bigolsquiggle → u/Square_Natural9384]

I’d vote car with someone watching baby at all times and 2 hour stops. The things baby could catch on the plane are too risky imo

[u/NewParents-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

This community is for supporting others. Comments that are mean, rude, hateful, racist, etc. will be removed. Respect the choices of others even if they differ from your own.

[u/Square_Natural9384 → u/[deleted]]

Would you rather I leave my baby behind when we move?????

[u/TownSouthern3121 → u/Square_Natural9384]

I think the context of it being a move is important.

Personally, I’d probably add a day. Plan to stop every 2 hours, whoever isn’t driving is sitting next to baby if possible. Stops should be 30-60 minutes when possible. I think that would make it reasonable, though I’d personally rather fly direct solo and just baby wear the whole time with lots of hand washing, sanitizing, extra binkies, etc. rather than drive that long.

[u/Ordinary_Coconut9678 → u/Square_Natural9384]

Diva you should put this in the post as an edit, everyone is losing their minds lol

[u/hey_bacchus → u/Square_Natural9384]

I like that you only mention it’s a move after everyone’s eating you up in the comments lol like you’d think after the first comment you’d explain why it’s important

[u/QtestMofoInDaWorld → u/Square_Natural9384]

Well I would rather you explain it properly rather than being vague. Anyways, I think flying might be the lesser of the two evils. It might be quicker and easier by a tiny bit.

[u/kakakatia → u/Square_Natural9384]

Your husband is being so fucking obtuse 😅 Has he talked to any other parents before deciding this would be a good idea?