How soon would you fly with a newborn?

snickers83 · November 2014

Looking WAY ahead here but I have a work conference that I'd like to attend the first full week of September 2015. Currently my due date is July 14th. My husband would come along but I would insist that the baby come as well (we'd probably keep our 6 and 3 year old with grandparents). How soon would you fly with an infant? Would we be crazy to fly with a 1 1/2 month old? It would be a flight from SD to CA.

catahoulatte · November 2014

Several months. I wouldn't fly with a newborn that hasn't been vaccinated. Too many germy germs and gross stuff on planes.

ETA: I think they get their second round of shots at 4 months? I'd ask the pedi to be sure, but after that is when I would consider it, I guess.

bosco213 · November 2014

I would probably do it at that age. But I don't have any kiddos yet so I might not be the best person to ask!

ChristyM87 · November 2014

I would probably do it assuming the child is healthy otherwise

JerseyML · November 2014

I am due July 17th and we are thinking about taking the LO to Disney first week in October. Of course I would talk to the doc to make sure it's ok. But there is no way I could take it anywhere before getting it christened. I'll have to deal with the wrath of Italian Catholics if I do that.

READY4TWO · November 2014

I would do it if they had been vaccinated already. I think first round comes at 2 months.

Beachy730 · November 2014

I wouldn't let my infant step foot on a plane without their first round of shots at least. Usually it's 2 months, but my ped told me they can bump it to 6 weeks if needed for travel or something. So if you're really set on bringing the baby I would look into early vaccines.

toyteach · November 2014

Airline regulations says no earlier than 3 weeks... But ask your doctor to be sure for your particular situation.

mamabearRDH · November 2014

We have to go to California for a family wedding the first week of August. I'll wear the baby and nurse during take off and landing. The airlines won't let you wear the baby during take off and landing though. I also won't let other people touch the baby obviously. I worry about the vaccinations but chances are if they catch something it would be bacterial not viral. I'm actually more worried about my toddler who will just want to run around.

NYMominCA · November 2014

With both our kids we flew at 12 weeks.

valigrl21 · November 2014

My concern would be the vaccine issue which others have brought up.

My other concern is - how much maternity leave are you taking? Have you thought about that yet? If this is a work conference, are you planning on being back to work less than 6 weeks after having baby? Or would you do the conference but still be on maternity leave?

Also another thing to consider (and I bring this up because I just traveled for work and had to pump while in training but I have a 10 month old so only had to pump one time a day) - are you planning on BFing? If you are, you will need to be pumping every few hours at that point. I am not saying you shouldn't do it for that reason, but just be aware that every 2-3 hours you will be taking at least a 20 minute break to pump. You probably can overlap lunch break and what not, but you will still likely miss part of the conference because by the time you pump, clean up, go potty, have a snack or lunch, your conference will be back on.

snickers83 · November 2014

@valigrl21 - The conference would land during my 8th week of Maternity Leave (if I deliver around my due date). I would probably be 1 or 2 days a week at that point as I know I probably won't be able to take much more than 6-7 full weeks of maternity leave due to my position. I will definitely be BF'ing but all the breaks would be fine in regards to this conference. They take multiple breaks throughout the day anyways for "Vendor time" so I'd just have a good excuse not to small talk with the vendors.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts on the vaccine issue! I honestly hadn't even thought of that and it's definitely something I need to think about!!

Mackalack · November 2014

With DD, she was 4 months when she flew for the first time. She was born in the middle of winter, so I refused putting her on a plane.

With a July due date this time around, I wouldn't be against flying with her/him earlier. Besides, if all goes well with BFing, the baby will probably eat and sleep and be protected by a light blanket.

MisSmartyPants · November 2014

I would be a little apprehensive. Plains are basically big chambers of germs. Besides, little ones have a hard time dealing with the air pressure changes and the whole experience can be quite painful for them due to the build up of pressure in ears.

daniellelea1985 · November 2014

Personally, I'd wait until first shots.

But my SIL flew this past summer with her 6 week old on a very long flight. No problems there or back and he didn't get sick at all.

So I guess it depends on how important the flight is

kimberlygo · November 2014

I flew with my son at 7 weeks. He survived. I wouldn't be too worried. I would just be careful about washing hands, etc. There are a lot of things that children can catch before they receive all of their vaccinations. Whatever works best for you.

sutavim2 · November 2014

We are in the same boat. We want to fly to Europe from CA to baptize the baby with all our family. Still trying to decide if to do it in October or december for Christmas. Tough decisions

winterbaby1210 · November 2014

Up until babies are like 6 months old I feel like they are delightful to travel with. They're not squirming everywhere, the noise of the plane makes them sleepy, they're not licking the tray tables (true story of my 18 month old on an international flight - by the time we made it to the hotel room he was barfing everywhere). Like @mamabearRDH‌ said, wear them, nurse them, don't let anyone touch them!

aakirtz · November 2014

I will most likely be flying a month after baby is born, if cleared by doctor. We do an annual family reunion in Minnesota and would love to bring the baby.

kolabola29 · November 2014

Wash your hands like crazy and bring anti bacterial wipes to wipe down everything around where you sit. You will touch stuff and then touch baby, which poses the biggest concern

MusicTeacher82 · November 2014

How soon would I travel with a newborn... I think around the time they turn five years old.

Duckybears · November 2014

I first flew with my son at 6weeks. (And multiple times since then) I dressed him in a sleeper and gloves to keep pretty much his whole body covered (a barrier from germs).
Wipe down everything as soon as you sit down (especially trays) and try to nurse as you take off and land if you can.
When they are that young they like to be held and sleep so it is not as bad. Also, nursing will help protect against germs.

I actually had a blog entry about this in July: https://barkersmommy.blogspot.com/2014/07/traveling-with-infant.html
Hope this helps!

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