would you take a 7 and a half mo. baby to europe?

[Anonymous]

would only be for a week, would be on my own while my husband has work.
your thoughts? pros and cons?

[Anonymous]

I would. If the option is be home with 7 mo while other parent works, or be in Europe while other parent works, I'd go to Europe.

[Anonymous]

7 m.o. is still pretty portable.

[Anonymous]

I totally would. The trip there is during bedtime and the trip back has elements of naptime to it. You go girl...

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. Took a 16 month old. Not the same, but I think 7 months old would be even easier.

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

What's the reason for the trip? Are you visiting friends or family, or just going as a tourist?
I wouldn't do it just as a tourist trip--it just wouldn't be worth the expense since you'd have to have so much downtime due to naps and bedtimes, etc. But if you're going to see people who want to meet your baby and spend time with you I would do it.

[Anonymous]

Sure - great age to travel: cute and engaging so lots of people will help you and talk with you, but not yet mobile, so still relatively portable and easy to care for. Perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the reason for the trip? Are you visiting friends or family, or just going as a tourist?
I wouldn't do it just as a tourist trip--it just wouldn't be worth the expense since you'd have to have so much downtime due to naps and bedtimes, etc. But if you're going to see people who want to meet your baby and spend time with you I would do it.

I kinda agree with this - I didn't like travelling with a baby because I found it so limiting re the baby's schedule. So it matters in part what kind of baby you have and what kind of travel you enjoy. I don't like being around my baby when she hasn't had her naps, and by 7 mos, she wasn't napping so well on the go anymore. So I had to work around her morning and afternoon nap. That was a pain. But when I went somewhere I had already been and wasn't upset about things I didn't get to "see", I didn't mind having the baby in tow.

[Anonymous]

Yep - that's an easy age to travel with! As long as your baby is a good sleeper (can sleep in strollers while you sightsee), it's not a big deal.

Where are you going? The only con I can think of is that some of their subway systems may not have elevators and lugging a stroller up and down stairs can be a pain. (I'm thinking of my experience in Paris...)

[Anonymous]

Go and have fun! I took DS to Europe for a wedding this summer when he was 3 months without DH. We both had a great time. I am actually considering another trans-Atlantic trip in the spring to visit some friends and DH probably won't be able to make that either.

[Anonymous]

I've taken my DS to Europe a few times, the first of which was for a wedding when he was 8 mo. We had a blast! I would definitely do it.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. So much easier than an older baby. The baby may not even be into solids yet Still very portable and may make you enjoy your time instead of rushing around. In general, Europeans are much more baby friendly, too. Have fun.

[Anonymous]

Did it with both kids, would absolutely do it again. The overnight flight is easy (don't forget to request a bassinet), and the kids go to sleep really easily the first night or two.

Coming home is a little harder - it's a long flight, and our kids always take a good 5 days to adjust back to US time (are awake at 4 and 5 am for a few days).

FYI fly a European airline. They are MUCH more helpful when it comes to families with small kids.

[Anonymous]

Definitely! at 7months they are still very willing to be strolled around. We took our daughter around northern Europe very easily when she was a baby and really did not have difficulties at all. Great book: "Travel with Your Baby" (don't recall author, but it's a Fodors book).