Does it "Make Sense" to Travel with a 4-month Old?

[1stTimeMommyTP]

I know that's a pretty broad question.  I guess what I'm asking is this:  I have the opportunity to travel to London for a long weekend when my daughter will be 4 months old.  It would be just the two of us, and our first trip together.  Does that seem too ambitious, or can it be done?  Have any of you travelled with a LO so young by plane?  Any advice for or against the trip will be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks!

[muose]

 hey i travled with a 2-3year old all the way to mexico by bus it was pretty cool to see the girls watch everything out the window they had a lot of fun    now i travled with my baby by plan last time she was 6mo and all i have to say is make sure to give the baby somthing toschew or suck during take off or the ears drums will pop and the baby will cry 

[Eclipsepearl]

I flew with each of my 4 month olds from Europe to California. They're actually easier at that age than when they're older. Buying a seat for them and flying with a car seat is actually the only way to fly safely with a baby. Babies under 2 are allowed for commercial reasons and because air travel is so safe. Avoid flying a British company because they wont allow car seats for babies under 6 months old and they use those dangerous "belly belts".

We aslo took a 6 week old to Paris and an 8 week old to Switzerland (we live in Europe). A good baby carrier is a must. Please avoid fiddly front packs like the Bjorn. A good carrier should go to age 2-3 and hold the baby in multiple positions, like a sling, pouch or wrap. 

It's actually a myth that babies need to suck on take-off and landing. As a Flight Attendant for 13 years, I rarely saw any babies with ear problems (and the few times I did, they had been/were sick with a head cold). The AAP says to have the baby simply awake, not at landing, which is too late but at the TOP of descent, about an hour to 40 minutes before landing.

I never did anything special with my children on their countless transatlantics for now 10 years, and my kids never had any ear problems. Please don't unnecessarily wake your baby to force them to drink.

Here are my totally non-commercial flying tips. There is a lot of info on the web written by people with no experience working for the airlines so I wrote this to help out other parents (without trying to sell them anything!)

http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com/

[1stTimeMommyTP]

Thanks so much for this great information.  It is a relief to know that I could even travel with a child as young as 6 weeks if I prepare correctly!  I love to travel, and would like to involve my LO in travel early.