Would you travel 10 hrs with an infant?

[Anonymous]

DH's sister recently had a baby, and has invited us out for a visit, we both have time off coming up. All adults are vaccinated against COVID. We're welcome to stay at her house, but would like to get an Airbnb


Both DH and I are in our 30s and healthy, we'd take turns driving out, figure that's safer than flying. We'd mask and sanitize during stops, and one of us would stay in the car with the baby during stops to avoid bringing him inside and reduce possible exposure.

SIL is DH's only living family and they basically haven't seen each other in 2 years since our wedding ( just before COVID hit), really would like to make this happen if possible. Just trying to do it safely as possible.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would do this. Frankly, I'd probably fly in your situation.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t take a 10 hour trip with a baby pre covid, lol. That sounds miserable, and not because of the virus.

[Anonymous]

I would go and would fly. You can wear your baby through the airport and for most parts of the flight (takeoff and landing need to be in infant seatbelt threaded through yours or in car seat in their own seat). That will minimize how close others get to them, what they can touch, etc.

[Anonymous]

No, because your baby will be stuck in that car seat in that one position for too long. It's so much more restrictive than being an adult in a regular seat. That's 20 hours, OP, not counting stopping for gas etc!

[Anonymous]

Drive, yes if you stay with them and everyone is careful and tests. Fly no.

[Anonymous]

What is the age of your baby?

[Anonymous]

Plan on going at night so that you can do as much of the driving when the baby is asleep as possible.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't, because my infants did not travel well by car. At this point, I'd rather fly - we traveled to Asia (13 hr flights) when both my children were very young. Covid during the flight is a risk, I know. But you do what you feel is best for your family, OP.

[Anonymous]

Depends on you baby’s age. We took a 10 hour trip at 2.5 months and it was hell. Never again. That said, we are in DC and rarely drive so DD wasn’t used to the car. If your a suburbanite who drives all the time anyway, maybe your kid is anesthetized to it.

[Anonymous]

OP here, baby is 7 months old.

[Anonymous]

Probably not. I haven’t done that drive with my kids in a few years, but the 8.5 hour drive to visit family always takes 11 hours, s d each time I saw I’ll never do it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, baby is 7 months old.

I don’t think you can keep a baby that age in the car seat that long. You would at least need to park near a grassy area and put them on a blanket for a little bit for breaks. Driving at night or starting earlier could help.

[Anonymous]

I would do this trip but fly. The risk is minimal with the way air is filtered on planes and with all adults and kids over 2 being masked on planes. My super cautious relatives are comfortable with flying. (They say it's what you do in the airport that matters -- don't spend a long time eating around other unmasked people etc.)

[Anonymous]

I did and I would.
Traveled to Africa with kids that age, and with one kid that age and one 3 years old.
But, at that age of DD I would not do a road trip. She had insane GERD and any car ride was a screaming painful hell for her, and of course it was not great for us either.