how old was your baby the first time you flew?

BLONDIE6FT · July 2009

i am a flight attendant and may be able to take a leave after the baby is born, but i have to fly to training for 3 days to qualify for the leave! i'm stressing about it and the baby isn't even here yet! i have thought about taking her with me and have one of the grandmas go with me to help, but i don't like the idea of taking her on a plane at 8 or 10 weeks of age.

i have seen PLENTY of moms traveling with newborns, but it didn't phase me because it wasn't MY CHILD! now thinking of it makes me shudder.

i hate to think i could mess up breast feeding by leaving her at home...

borah22 · July 2009

my first dd was almost 4 months and second was actually about the same age.

MY mental rule of thumb is after the first round of vaccines so at 8 or 10 weeks you would have had those so I think that is fine.

katattack · July 2009

DD was 10 weeks. Dr said since she'd had her 2 month shots, wasn't an issue. I think others on this board have flown earlier than that, if I recall correctly. I'm sure they'll speak up.

mcurban · July 2009

~ 5 weeks, alone, and it was a piece.of.cake.

Taytee · July 2009

3 months (12 weeks) and it wsa really easy. I just didn't touch ANYTHING I didn't have to and kept her in her carseat as much as possible. I don't believe in letting her ride lap after my brief 4 week stent in training for being a flight attendant. Scary videos. Anyway, nobody got sick and I Purelled the hell out of my hands before I touched her. Keep in mind that breastfeeding makes them immune to a lot of stuff too.

batsteph · July 2009

Seven weeks, and it was easy! We flew from DC to Austin and back again. Daniel slept the whole time in both directions.

lrb · July 2009

4 weeks old with both. ?I have to admit, those early flights are a lot easier than flying when they get older!! ?I threw both kids in slings to get through to our gate. ?And both as babies slept the entire time thanks to that humming sound.

We just flew last Saturday and both boys pooped mid flight... try changing poop diapers in those airplane bathrooms with an 8mth old AND a 2.5 year old. ?It's was entertaining to say the least! ?

Abrooks · July 2009

DD was 4 months old. It was fine. I think 8-10 weeks would be ok - just talk to your pedi. It's actually much easier to keep an infant safe flying (as in not touching and putting everything in their mouth) than it is an older baby or toddler.

Mrs.Froggianna · July 2009

DS was 3 months old and did incredibly well. It looks like lots of folks have flown with children < 8 weeks old, so it's just up to your level of comfort.

naclh2otaffy · July 2009

DS and I flew at 17 days and then back home again at about 22 days. Two 2-3 hour flights each way with longish layovers (like 4 hours on one of them). Easiest flights ever. I wore him in a sling most of the time and many people didn't even realize I had a baby with me. The anticipation and worry are way more difficult than the actual traveling. In his first year he flew something like 27 times and it got increasingly difficult the more mobile he became.

Emer · July 2009

10 weeks and it was super easy. Like Taytee, I was careful what we touched and she had a seat. The seatbelt does come right across the carrier and her hands were all over it, so I wrapped a burp cloth around it. Changing diapers was the hardest part, but I have now learned to do it on my lap- you can sit on the toilet and lay the changing pad on your lap and change them that way.