How old would you fly with an infant?

[MaerynPearl]

What is the youngest age you would fly with a newborn/infant/baby?

[KatWozBlue]

I think probably two weeks old, but I would go younger if it was necessary. I am taking my daughter on a flight in a couple of weeks, she'll be 8 weeks old.

[CookAMH]

We flew at 8wks with DS. He was in a sling the whole time. Since I had a c/s, I don't think I was ready to take a trip before then, but DS would have been fine traveling a couple weeks earlier.

[P.J.]

We're flying with our baby for the first time next month, he'll be just over 4 months then. But that doesn't mean he couldn't have done it earlier. He was colicky, though, so I wouldn't have flown with him much earlier than 3 months. For most babies I think it's okay much younger.

[smusiak]

melody was 3 months old
i had no other reseon to fly befor she was 3months
but she did great

[mamazee]

The younger they are, the more they just want to be held and nursed anyway.

[corrieoseal]

I would fly after six weeks. I flew cross-country alone with DD at three months and it was a breeze. (She nursed and slept and snuggled.) But, I wanted to give myself a little time to get nursing established and get my energy back, so probably wouldn't feel comfortable flying before six weeks. In fact, we canceled our attendance at a big family reunion trip this coming spring because if the baby is on time, he/she will only be about three weeks old and I won't feel ready to travel...also having had a c-section, while I'll try for a VBAC, who knows what will happen. And I definitely wouldn't want to fly 3 weeks after a c-section.

It might depend upon the time of year for me, as well. I probably wouldn't fly during peak flu season with a baby under three-four months if I could help it.

[trumpcard]

We flew at 5 weeks and it was a breeze! We are flying again at 5 months and I anticipate things being much more difficult since DD will need to be entertained during the flight this time instead of just nursing/sleeping in my arms.

I would have hated flying much earlier just because it does expose them to so many curious strangers--even in a sling.

[chattyprincess]

We flew at 12 days while baby was simple it was so much work to haul all the crap and to just be tierd and dealing with the whole ordeal of an airport. Thankfully nursing was well established and that wasn't a prob. but flying that early if you are having nursing problems would NOT be fun.

[Noah's mommy]

I'm flying internationally (10 hour flight) with my two month old. I would have gone a few weeks sooner but the passports took a while!

[Baby_Cakes]

The bigger concern for me would be how *I* was feeling, if I felt I could manage the flight. For that reason, I would say 3-4 weeks. But if I were ok 2 weeks out I would fly w/a baby that young. It would be easy - nurse, nurse, nurse. You and I both know it's much harder w/a toddler, lol!

[Drummer's Wife]

I'd probably be okay with flying wrt the baby as soon as the birth certificate came in (since it would likely be needed?). A newborn wouldn't notice any difference - as far as whether you or home or in another state - as long as mama is right there. However, *I* wouldn't have been comfy until 4-6+ weeks post-partum b/c I had c-sections.

[gravida]

DD flew at almost 4 weeks for a short one and 2 months for our first ocean crossing. I'd go after about 2 weeks so I'd be comfy sitting and walking through airports.

[34me]

I drove 15 hours when my ds was 10 days old and I had a 2.5 yo. Flying would have been so much easier (and he was a c-section)

[MaerynPearl]

We have chosen to not even consider it but thank you for all of your opinions!

My little brother, whom I am very very close to, is getting married on 9/26 and I am still pregnant and could possibly still be on his wedding day!

They are getting married back home, 1100 miles away... but at this point I don't think I, myself, would be comfortable flying that soon postpartum... let alone that at less than 3 weeks old, Maes immune system will not have built up enough (even with breastfeeding) to make me comfortable taking her on those flights.

[Lauren31]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

We have chosen to not even consider it but thank you for all of your opinions!

My little brother, whom I am very very close to, is getting married on 9/26 and I am still pregnant and could possibly still be on his wedding day!

They are getting married back home, 1100 miles away... but at this point I don't think I, myself, would be comfortable flying that soon postpartum... let alone that at less than 3 weeks old, Maes immune system will not have built up enough (even with breastfeeding) to make me comfortable taking her on those flights.

yeah, no, I would not do that! I had a friend who moved cross country 2 days post partum. I told her she should move at 7 months pregnant, she thought it would be easier post partum. hahaha needless to say she regretted her decision. For all you know, MP the baby could come closer to 42 weeks and then it would be almost the same time as the wedding! (I have a feeling she is coming soon though!)

[EdnaMarie]

Two weeks, for an emergency, six weeks if I had the choice.

Two month olds are easy-peasy. I flew across three continents with my 2mo and it was no problem.

[belltree]

I would not have been able to fly 2 weeks postpartum. The baby would have been less problematic. I took my 8 week old on an transatlantic flight and it was easy.

I would not dare to plan for such a trip though.

[St. Margaret]

My mom was kind of thinking we might fly up for xmas this year, but DS is likely to be about 4 weeks old, and I suppose COULD be just 2 weeks old, and I just worry that that's too early to be on a plane, immune-system-wise, at the beginning of flu season and all. I just don't feel comfortable (DH's adamant opinion that it's too early for baby to be traveling doesn't help-- I know it's just a worry thing and plenty of people would with a baby, without his support it's hard to convince myself!)

I would feel pretty good at about 3mo or so, depending on if the random unconsolable crying was still going on, or if we were flying early in the day only.

[lizsky]

I flew across the country with DD at 3.5 weeks and again at 11 weeks because of my FIL's failing health. I kept her in a sling snuggled by me as much as possible and tried to nurse often.

The travel itself was ok all things considered, but but the trips really exhausted both of us and messed up DD's nap and sleep schedules quite a bit.