How early should infants fly?

amandada

purplepatch wrote: »

We're flying to south of France next month with our 6 month old and she can be a right moaner, so looking forward to it immensely - especially the having her strapped to our laps thing - definitely delegating that task to DH :rotfl:

I'd far rather take a 6 month old than the just turned 5 year old I'm taking to Portugal in July!

MJMum

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purplepatch

amandada wrote: »

I'd far rather take a 6 month old than the just turned 5 year old I'm taking to Portugal in July!

I see your point, but unfortunately I have a just turned 4 year old as well :rotfl: At least she has her own seat I suppose!

bylromarha

From a medical perspective, I think the answer changes depending on who you speak to as to how old baby should be before they fly.:rolleyes: I remember reading varying advice when pregnant ranging no probs with baby flying from 24 hours old to 2 weeks.

I would go with the midwives answer personally as to baby's health, but again agree with the wait and see advice on mum's health and state of mind.

All the best with the impending birth...it's the most amazing ride of your life!

izoomzoom

We flew when my son was a month old, to Aussie.

I would be very cautious about booking flights etc, as:

We lived in Zim, and our month was taken up by:

Born on Tuesday.
Wednesday morning, hubby applied, and got birth certificate.
Wednesday afternoon, I discharged from hospital and we had passport photo's done (he was all of 36 hours old)
Thursday morning I picked up photo and was at passport office applying for passport.
Following Monday, passport received (it was actually dated for the Friday). **
Two weeks later Aussie visa's issued
One week later South African visa's issued.
We left the following day.

It took us four weeks, of major stressing and pushing authorities. The airline were great in that they allowed me to book for Baby xxx, and I only had to give them the sex when DS2 was born. However, the most fantastic was my OB who agreed induce me a week before term.

** I am sure that my son holds the record for the quickest ever Zim passport ever issued. At times Zim passports have taken a year to be issued.

Sorry, I love telling this story (and this is the short version)

dollop

i think by the time the babies passport ect comes through it will be a month or two old anyway by which time i presume it should be ok.

MFewings

We have taken our grandson who is 3 on two return flights a year. The first one was when he was 5months old.

He gets on the plane, and always manages to fall asleep before we are fully in the air. Initially as a very young baby he was asleep before we even moved and on recent trips its been the taxi ing to the runway that has made him fall asleep,

Pleasant journeys for both us and his parents. On the next trip he will be nearly 4 and probably stay awake and he is quite an active child so could be a problem. But hopefully his new sister who is due in 2 months will take over the sleeping from him so only one child to concentrate on.

cazziebo

And as for Al Mac's point, I can't recall ever being bothered by a young baby on a flight (and I fly a lot) but yes to drunk young men, and stroppy older kids![/QUOTE]

yep - I'd agree with that! i'd also add on well meaning oldies who would come up while my two were sleeping and prod them to tell them how well behaved they were! and yes - the 8 year olds kicking the seat behind you and playing with the tables.

**Patty**

My youngest was 19 days old when he first flew...:o

Admittedly, he should have been nearly 4 weeks but he was too cosy in Mum's tum!:rotfl:

NO airline will take a child under 14 days....it's to do with insurance...the husband of my midwife was an insurance broker LOL........

Lillibet_2

Minimum every commercial airline will accept an infant is 2 weeks old. My HV told me that all the fuss about waiting for jabs prior to swimming/flying etc is total nonsense (another HV or GP will tell you the opposite) BUT aircraft use recycled air & there are an awful lot of bugs spread that way so be prepared for babe to go down with their 1st cold/tummy upset etc soon after.
Personally no way would I havve been in a fit state to trave when Spud was 2 weeks old, I'd suggest waiting until at least 4-6 weeks myself.

Good luck whatever you decide;)