Swine Flu: Travel with My 11 Month Old?

I wouldn't cancel my trip, but I would get my 11 month old his own seat. This way he is strapped in and won't be touching as much. Just pack hand wipes and santizer to help keep the germs at bay.

call your son's doctor and get their advice.

personally, i wouldn't worry. the deaths in mexico have less to do with the flu and more to do with a lack of clean water, poor government response (they kept this under wraps for several days leading up to obama's visit. just think of how this could have been prevented in the first place if mexican officials had just been forthcoming), and lack of access to health care, or access to bad health care (see laura u's response here http://www.mamasource.com/request/recent/97132/1241194496/4). here in the states we have clean water, which is needed to help flush a virus out of a person's system as well as wash their hands to prevent them from falling to another illness while their immune system is down. we also have easy access to health care, where you can go to the hospital and be seen regardless of your ability to pay. many mexicans do not have that. also, our government is educating its people, and the only place we're being told not to fly unless necessary is mexico.
many of the people who have caught swine flu are recovering on their own without hospitalization. it's really not as bad as they're making it out to be. the only reason it's causing any panic is because it's a mutated virus that we have no immunities to. in all honestly, there have only been 8 worldwide deaths confirmed, and only 236 cases confirmed worldwide. that's nothing.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SwineFlu/Story?id=7471341&am... is a good article to read if you're worried.

I just traveled from S. America, through DFW with a 1 year old and a 4 year old. No problems at all! Yeah, just wash your hands, etc. as usual with any colds, bugs, etc. Go on the trip!

i have done my own research vs. listening to just the media and here are just a few interesting facts...1. the swine flu is just another strand of the flu 2. more people die from the "common" flu 3. airlines are cleaning their planes extremely well now 4. healthy people are at very little rick from having major issues with the swine flu-no more than any other flu. you need to what you feel is best and what you feel comfortable with.

S.,

I would go on your trip. I am a flight attendant and I can tell you with certainty that airlines are taking extra precautions to eliminate germs that might be in the plane. Also yes the air is recyled, but it goes thru a filter and 99.8% of all germs are removed. This flu is just that a flu. A bug you can get from a grocery cart. And is getting a lot of hype, but it is a flu. Personally with all the precautions in place I think flying would be one of the safest places to be. Just take sanatizer and extra preacautions and you will be just fine.

I am not freaking about the whole swine flu thing....but would I travel right now, probably not.

I'm actually taking an international flight tomorrow with my twin infants and I was initally concerned as well. As a precaution against any kind of germs, not just this flu, I bought some Wet Wipes and I'm going to bring a small thing of Purell on the plane. I figure that's the best I can do to keep them protected and just keep my fingers crossed that we're not sitting next to anyone with a cold.

I wouldn't worry too much. Like the previous poster said there are a lot of reasons, not just the potentcy of this flu (or lack there of) that caused those deaths in Mexico.

I spoke with my Mom about this very thing yesterday. She is a microbiologist with specialized experience with infectious disease and I trust her opinion. She said the doesn't believe this is a major flu (very low death rate, not much worse than a regular bad winter flu) and she would not hesitate to travel with my daughter. The most important thing you can do is wash your hands and use hand sanitizer. I use the hand sanitizer on my daughter too, either that or get some on-the-go wipes from Huggies and use those on his hands.

That said, it is completely up to you and how you feel about the situation. I'm not a nervous parent and don't really worry about my daughter getting sick since in the long run there are a whole lot of other things she could pick up besides swine flu. I'm more worried about her getting a stomach flu or norovirus which are always around.

If you can change it, why risk it? Think of how guilty you would feel if something bad happened to your baby that you knew about and could have prevented.

Cabin crews are taking extra precautions to disinfect all surfaces in the planes. They have gone so far as to remove blankets and pillows... so be sure to take your own. You can always pack a few clorox cleaning wipes in a sandwich bag and wipe down the arms, the window surfaces, etc. around your seat if you are concerned. This flu is no different than the flu du jour that we get every year with the exception of we don't have a 'flu shot' for it. But did you get a flu shot this year, did your son? Probably not.. so you are no more at risk than you would be normally. With that said. Make sure that you take a pacifier or an empty bottle that can be filled with bottled water or juice or formula on the plane to keep his ears cleared of pressure related pain. A book or two for him to read, a toy to play with. It's about a 3 hour flight, so depending on the time of day you're flying, it's a long time for an 11 mo. to stay still. I hope you got bulkhead seating to give you some floor space to use during the flight, if not, call the airline and see if it's possible.
Have a great trip!!!

look my Dad always said if you can stop something from happening then do it.
If you do not need to go right now, then don't.
Why put you and your son in harm's way.
You never know who might be on a seat next to you and they are not going to tell you, hey I got the flu.
be safe for your son.
If ther is doght in your mind, that's God letting you know
stop and think what's the best thing to do.
God Bless.

If you go, remember that everybody likes to touch babies. Don't let them. It is likely that he will sleep most of the way.

I don't know if postponing the trip is good or not. The flu might get worse or it might get better. It is easier to keep a 7 month old away from things than a toddler. Keep him in a snuggy or tummy pack during the trip and maintain your precautions. You will probably be fine. Wash the snuggy or tummy pack and the clothes you were wearing if possible, when you get to Texas.

If you go, have a good trip.

If I were you wanting to fly to Texas,, and the swine flu was active still in the USA,I would NOT go,, stay home with your child and go when it is over with,, don't you think? it is your baby,, stay home,, and keep your baby safe,, you go,, leave baby home with grandparents,,or friend,, if you have to go,, please be safe,, D.

I have family that lives just outside of Dallas. From what she told me the other day, the 2 deaths have been there have been an infant and 23mo old. I strongly suggest holding off on traveling to Texas. It is very difficult to pick up some of the signs in the little ones, and the little ones and eldersly are the highest risk.

If the trip can be easily postponed then I would just post-pone it. I know that may sound overprotective but I think it is better to be safe than sorry. Also the airplane air is all recycled so you would be breathing other peoples air and with the flu you don't want to do that. Also they have more swine flu down there than they do here so I wouldn't risk it.