Travelling to the UK with a 3-month old baby | ExpatWoman.com
 

Travelling to the UK with a 3-month old baby

101
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 00:09

Hello Ladies,

We’ll be flying to the UK soon and it will take at least one and a half hours drive from the airport to my parents-in-law’s house. My 3 months old baby does not enjoy being in a car seat (unlike her first four weeks, she fell asleep easily in her car seat). Can you give me some tips please? I am scared to just let her cry and/or scream during the journey because I have read before about a baby that had a choked episode; the parents just let the baby cried and screamed because they thought their baby would be tired and fell asleep.

One more thing please... We’ll be in the UK for 2 weeks only. UAE is 3 hours ahead of UK. Shall I still follow UAE time in putting my baby to sleep during the night? I start putting her to sleep at 7pm and it takes me 1 to 2.5 hrs before I can lay her to bed sleeping.

1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 02:33
Thank you so much HAK and kiwispiers. Will fly tomorrow. safe flight! Oh, and enjoy it - it's one of the easiest flights you'll ever do with children!
101
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 22:42
Thank you so much HAK and kiwispiers. Will fly tomorrow.
1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 10:21
(If you love her, do not take her out of her seat and feed her in a moving car) Not just that, but the UK takes car seat use very seriously. Not using one, regardless of excuse will see you land a £500 (3000aed) fine if your case goes to court. (just putting that in in case protecting the life of your child isn't enough of a compelling argument)
2782
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 09:49
Not much to add as HAK said it all, if you value her life, no choice on the carseat (and it is law there anyway). Perhaps be prepared to stop along the way if she really doesn't settle. Long road trips are sometimes easier without all the stopping, starting and roundabouts. Sit in the back with her if you can, so yo can keep an eye on her and stop for feeds if she isn't asleep. (If you love her, do not take her out of her seat and feed her in a moving car) Since she s going to bed quite late (9pm by the time she sleeps) I personally would take the opportunity tho shift it earlier, so start settling by 7pm UK time, and then, when you get back, try and keep to the UK time bedtime, with the hope of her being asleep by 7/8pm UAE time, if you see what I mean.
1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 00:57
Ok, firstly, don't worry. It'll be fine. Secondly, regardless of car journey time, when the car is moving, your baby has to be in a car seat. There is absolutely no option to sit in the back and have her on your lap, so if she's upset, you either keep driving (better that she cries than risks never crying again) or you just stop en route for a break all round. My parents-in-law are 2h30 drive away and I've done the trip with DD screaming most of the way before. Now I just lob snacks at them, but at 3 months, she's a bit young for that! Maybe try sitting in the back seat next to her car-seat and distract her with reading, toys... but the motion of the car will set her off to sleep more often than not. Thirdly, everybody does it differently, but I tend to go by the clock, not my body-clock when we've changed time-zones. The difference between the UK and UAE is handy in that it kind of skips from one meal-time to the next, so when your body is telling you it's normally time for lunch, it's the right time(-ish) to have breakfast. You may have to put up with her waking up for the day earlier, but on the plus side, she'll probably be ready for bed at a reasonable time in the evening! Again, you're probably feeding your 3 month-old every 3-4 hours round the clock, so she should adapt really well. Enjoy your trip! Oh, and pack a spare suitcase and sweep up all the summer clothes on sale!
 
 

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