Can I take my 4 week old son on vacation?

Question

My family has planned a vacation to the smokies (4 hours from us) and they want my family to come. My son will be 4 weeks old at the time of the trip. Will he be okay to go at this age? We will have our own room, and plenty of our own space. We also know we will of course have to take breaks while driving. My question is - if we do go, can we sight see with him attached to me in a carrier, or should we just stay in the cabin? Should we even go at all?

Answer

Is this your first child? When will you be going? Will it be peak tourist season? Flu season? Of course you CAN go, and of course, you CAN carry him in a carrier, but... if you haven’t had a baby yet, you really don’t know what YOU are going to feel like at 4 weeks. 4 weeks was when I just finally felt like I could safely leave the house with my LO, much less take a vacation. My body was still not healed all the way, despite a perfectly normal delivery. Being on my feet for a couple hours and I started bleeding again. My sleep deprivation was INTENSE. My baby blues went to post partum anxiety. I’m not saying this to scare you. I just want you to know it’s hard to commit to something so soon after your baby is born unless you’re in it. You can say you can go, but please take care of yourself and be okay with saying no when 4 weeks comes around and you’re like, no way. And if 4 weeks comes around and you are in a great spot, enjoy your trip! Every person’s recovery is different. And it really is recovery. And adjustment.

Answer

Hey, we are pretty much neighbors! I live 10 min from cades cove :)

Answer

My only concern would be mosquitoes and other bugs. Otherwise, it's great simulation for baby! Just remember to take breaks here and there.

Answer

Outdoors is good for a baby. Fresh air. Just don’t let them overheat or get cold.

Answer

We drove 4 hours across state lines to my nephews 6th birthday when my son was 2 week old. There was easily 30+ people there, with 15-16 being 6 year olds... my son is perfectly fine. All he did was sleep in the packnplay all day

Answer

Enjoy it!

Answer

It depends on the baby.  
I will probably get flack for this, but I took my baby to a wedding (2hour drive away) at 1 week old and we went camping when she was 4, 5 and 6 weeks old (2-3 hour drives away)
The camping trips were tough.  It was hot and we were in the midst of gas and reflux troubles....but she is baby #4...so going and doing things is really important for the older kids.
Now with my first, I would not have liked that 4 hour at ride at all.  My oldest screamed in his car seat.  I only left the house if I absolutely had to.

Answer

I couldn’t imagine being able to relax trying to travel that far with a newborn. Between baby diapers, feedings, maybe being uncomfortable in the car seat and all the mom things like PP bleeding and overall healing, I would have been miserable anywhere besides the comfort of my own home. 
Also, Baby probably won’t have received any vaccinations by that point. Most pediatricians recommend avoiding crowds and public places before 2 months and shots.

Can I take my 4 week old son on vacation?

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