Clearance for a Newborn to Fly?

[sadie]

Hello experienced moms!
At how many weeks of age was your newborn allowed to take a long distance flight? (more than 5 hours)
tia!

 

[mama_t]

we flew Germany to California (18 hrs total) when LO was 6 weeks old!

 

[ay2808]

I'm not sure if there are any rules but it might be worth calling the airline to check.

 

[sadie]

Thanks.
It has to do more with when the doctor says baby 'should' fly. Lots of talk about immunizations and how it is dangerous for a baby to get sick before he/she reaches a certain age...

 

[goddess25]

I would think about 6-8 weeks. Most babies are discharged from medical/midwifery care around 6 weeks.

 

[Cee108]

I have a friend who had kids in the UK, then she flew with her LO and her older son (who was 2 at the time) to the USA ... but her husband had to join her as the airlines wouldn't let her fly alone with two-under-two : that's a rule of some sort.

Also, last time I was on a long-haul flight and a couple sitting together were holding their 2 LO's in their laps. The flight attendants separated them (first one told them the rule, then the head attendant was doing a final round of the plane and he told them the same thing too) that you can't have two kids with no seats in the same row. So apparently you have to sit in separate rows if both of you are carrying kids so small they didn't need their own seat.
Just letting you know in case you have +1 kids

 

[sadie]

I am going to bump this again. Perhaps there are newer mom that recently needed an answer to this question! Thanks!

 

[Macmad]

Here in Saudi they let them fly after 7 days from birth. I don't see a problem with it, they'd probably sleep for most of it. I would imagine its the mother that might not be up for the flight!

 

[sadie]

Thanks for responding. Baby needs immunization shots.... And I am talking about a 9 hour flight.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

If you are planning on breastfeeding, your baby should be fine because it will have your antibodies and immunity

 

[mama_t]

when we flew with our son (at 6 weeks old) he had not completed all of his immunizations.

 

[suzib76]

i get the impression from your wording that this is someone else with a newborn and you dont agree with them flying?

 

[Menelly]

I have a friend who had kids in the UK, then she flew with her LO and her older son (who was 2 at the time) to the USA ... but her husband had to join her as the airlines wouldn't let her fly alone with two-under-two : that's a rule of some sort.

Also, last time I was on a long-haul flight and a couple sitting together were holding their 2 LO's in their laps. The flight attendants separated them (first one told them the rule, then the head attendant was doing a final round of the plane and he told them the same thing too) that you can't have two kids with no seats in the same row. So apparently you have to sit in separate rows if both of you are carrying kids so small they didn't need their own seat.
Just letting you know in case you have +1 kids

The reason for this is there's not enough oxygen masks. There is only one extra mask for a baby per row, so they can't have two lap children in the same row.

You can do aisle seats across from eachother and be OK though. But that's why they have the rule, it's not capricious, I promise!

(I used to work for a major US airline, and had to explain that to people several times. )

 

[rockstar]

Think it's 2 weeks for most airlines

 

[Ozzieshunni]

My friend flew with her days old baby. I think you need to call the airline.

 

[sadie]

Thanks girls. I am not interested in what the airlines have to say, it is what the doctors think is safe for baby. It is dangerous for a newborn to get sick, so i am trying to learn from what others have been told. I dont have a ped yet for my baby to be, and i need to book my flight for the summer. Just dont know which date would be best so i am looking for medical advice that some have already been told.
Thanks again!

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I think the doctors will say it's fine. I was there when my friend asked her doctor and he said it was fine for her to fly with her little girl who was days old.

 

[sadie]

Wow. That seems really strange for a 9 hour flight.... Dunno.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Well, like I said before, if you're breastfeeding, the baby will have the antibodies needed. I personally wouldn't worry about it. The likelihood of a baby getting ill from flying is really slim.

 

[xxClaire_24xx]

some babies are born abroad and need to come home x