Traveling -- 3 weeks in Mexico with 8 mo

[october]

I know there have been a lot of traveling threads lately, but I have a few questions I really need help with.

My husband, 8 mo DD and I will be flying to Puerto Vallarta for 3 weeks starting December 1st. We will be staying in very nice resorts. Our resorts are 15 minutes from the airport.

DH doesn't want to bring the carseat because barely any taxis even have seatbelts. We would literally be holding onto our daughter, like the rest of the folks down there do, while we are in the car. Yes, this scares me.

Anyone have any suggestions?!

Also, I am really nervous about the 3 flights down and the 3 flights back. Has anyone ever given baby benadryl to open up the ears and to help relax baby? My mom suggested it. I have never heard anything like that mentioned here so I am curious. I would absolutely talk to our doctor first, I'm just curious if anyone's had any experience with it.

Thank you mamas!!

ETA: I typed 7 mo instead of 8 mo (She WILL be 8 months)

[la mamita]

if you are staying at ritzy places, i think you can easily bring the carseat and make sure the hotels book taxis for you and request one with a seatbelt. that said, i live in peru and we don't use carseats, because none of the motorcycle taxis (mototaxis, similar to a tuk tuk) have seatbelts. actual taxis like with a car are rare here.

dunno about baby benadryl but i've flown a lot, long-distance, alone with my son as a baby and i just nursed a lot...you just get through it

[snoopy5386]

If your carseat is a bucket seat, I would bring it. Even in a taxi with no seatbelts, in an accident your baby would be more protected in a non-strapped in seat vs no seat at all.

[prone_to_wander]

I would strongly suggest you NOT give your baby benadryl, especially as she is under one year old. It may make her sleepy, but lots of mom's have talked about it has actually done the opposite of make sleepy and they had a hyper and irritated baby all flight.

You can help them pop their ears by having them suck on something at take off and landing. benadryl certainly wouldn't help this.

I live abroad and I don't have a car seat. I have to hold onto my DS in the taxi. But I usually put him in a sling or carrier and put the seat belt inbetween the two of us. Makes me feel as safe as I can possibly be.

I just think you should relax. Babies can feel your emotion. If you're stressing about being on a flight, then she will too. Babies cry but remember that babies are people too and are allowed to have their own crabby moments. She'll be fine. You'll also be fine.

[JudiAU]

Your post gave me shivers.

Personally, I wouldn't take a trip where I couldn't secure my child safely. My best friend is Mexican-American and she lost three cousins and an Aunt in Mexico. They were all on vacation, left their carseats in home because they didn't want to be laughed at by their relatives. The father and the older son wore their seatbelts and survived.

The risks don't go down because you travel. Car travel is the least safe thing you do with a baby. Take your carseats, and keep rejecting taxis until you get one with carseats. Your hotel can probably arrange it.

I just my babies a lot on flights. It helps a lot with the ears. Benadryl can go terribly wrong, there is no safe dosaging information for infants, and it often has the opposite effect. Plus, I don't believe in drugging an infant for the parent's convenience.

[october]

oOHH I did not mean to give anyone the shivers! "Drugging an infant for the parents' convenience" is a pretty harsh way to put it JudiAU. Obviously it benefits a baby to be relaxed and not crying as well as the parents. Have we not all discussed the affects of crying on a baby with a body rush of cortisol to weaken their wee immune systems?

Still, thank you for your response. I'm sending this thread to my husband so he can review it and see what he thinks, and I think it is absolutely worth reconsidering the bucket seat. An anecdote like that gives ME the shivers.