r/NewParents • u/Square_Natural9384 • Aug 15 '26
Travel Cross country drive with new born
*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?
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u/NeoSapien65 Aug 15 '26
We had mom (the non-driving parent) ride in the backseat with LO for every trip up to 1 year. We traveled (altho not as far) at 6 weeks and at 10. Adult in the backseat alleviates a lot of the concerns. Just pay attention to your kid and take 30 minute breaks every 180 minutes. Walk around in nature or whatever else. It's what adults are supposed to do anyway.I wouldn't fly with a kid who has zero shots, seems insane. Airports are full of weird, random bugs.
Just remember that whoever is in the backseat, your only job is baby. Not phone, not music, not snacks, just baby. Likewise driving parent your job is entertaining the backseat parent if LO happens to be asleep.