Age It Is Safe for a Baby to Travel via Airplane

I rarely even left the house before my kids were 6 weeks old. There are just way to many germs and other factors that are hard to avoid in public, let alone and confined airplane. Not to mention how exhausted she will still be in December.
I am sure this is a very difficult decision for your family, however, as your daughter is about to find out, kids will change many social plans over years. I am sure with her waiting for so long for this baby, she will find the reward of motherhood is worth missing the party.

May your family be blessed for your understanding and sacrifice. Congratulations on a new grand baby!!

My daughter was born in France, we flew back when she was approx 2 months old. Her pediatrician used to live on a small island, and she told me that airplane travel with infants was common and should not be a problem.

In your case, I would be concerned about germs, and toward Xmas time/flu season, I would probably choose to be cautious.

A.

I flew with my son at 4 weeks against my pediatrician's advice. I "wore" him in a sling and never let him out. If anyone wanted to take a peek, I kept my distance. I was a little paranoid about germs. I discreetly nursed him during take-off and landing to help w/ pressure in his ears. On my return flight the flight attendant told me to take him out of the sling for landing "airline policy". I totally ignored her and the woman sitting next to me agreed with my actions. I LITERALLY never took him off me the whole time.

Better safe than sorry, J..

Although some may have had no difficulty flying with their infants, perhaps the pediatrician has encountered negative results with others. His practice would expose him to this.

After four years of wanting a child, I should think you and your daughter would want this miracle from heaven to have every possible opportunity for a normal birth. To me that would be the highest priority.

I also took precautions when pregnant. Other opportunities can be "on hold" until later.

God bless you and your expanding family.
M. T

We flew from California to South Carolina when my youngest daughter was 4 weeks old. I did have the permission of my pediatrician and my own doctor as I was still under his care for my c-section. Just have your daughter feed the baby or give the baby a pacifier during take off and landing to help with the pressure.

I flew with both of my kids before they were 6wks old.
This was under the care of midwives and a phone call to the advice nurse at the pediatrician's office to verify.
Happy Flying!
I second the recommendation to nurse on take off and landing to help the little ears adjust. If baby is sleeping, s/he'll be fine.

hth
K., mama to
Catherine, 4.5y
Samuel, 17m

I never asked the ped. I just got on the plane when my son was about 5 weeks old. I made sure to breast feed him during take-off and landing (so his ears wouldn't hurt) and just BFd him during the flight from Texas to CA. Honestly, the hardest part flying with a small baby was changing him. I didn't want to do it in the main cabin but the bathroom was NOT at all accomodating. I have heard that some airplanes now have small changing tables hidden over the toilets, but I never found them.

Just make sure:

Baby is up to date as much as you can on shots.
Keep baby covered at all times (airplanes are cooty farms at 30,000 ft!)
Make sure mom feeds baby at take-off and landing and lots of time inbetween.

Good luck on the trip.

I flew from Chicago to Texas when my son was 6 weeks old. My peditrician was fine with it. I just breastfeed him during takeoff and landing. I aso brought a pacifier to get him to suck if he wasn't interested in feeding. The noise and vibration put him to sleep the whole time. As I was getting off the plane people keep saying "I didn't even know there was a baby in there". He was in one of those slings you wear on your trunk.

Hi!
We traveled with my son to NY when he was 4 months old, from CA to TX when he was 7 months old, and to Hawaii when he was 10 months old- all with the blessing of our pediatrician. I have seen even younger babies on planes, too. The only thing you have to do is feed (nurse or bottle) the baby when ascending and descending to avoid the pressure in their ears.