Take Your Newborn on Holiday

Your little one has arrived after what seems like forever, and you are probably thinking a nice holiday is in order. But the question on many peoples mind is when can i fly with my newborn? The best way to find out for sure is to talk to your health care provider, each infant is different and some maybe ready to travel sooner than others.

Thinking realistically however, you probably will want to wait a good two or three months before you consider flying with your newborn. This is simply because that few months will give your newborn's immune system to grow, so it will be able to fight off more of the germs that circulate around aircraft. As an added bonus that few months will give you time to bond with your newborn, and get to grips with feeding whether it is breast feeding or bottle feeding. If however you feel the need to travel sooner than a couple of months your little one should be safe to fly anytime after his two week checkup, providing he is in good health and there was no complications during the pregnancy, labor and delivery. If however your baby was premature, i strongly advise you wait a couple of months, and talk it over with your health care provider.

Remember your little one is a small human being and faces the same problems as adults do on planes, for instance ears popping. This could be highly uncomfortable for your newborn as their ears are much more sensitive than an adults. The changes in air pressure may cause them some discomfort, so during taking off and landing, you may want to consider bottle or breast feeding, or using a pacifier for your little one to suck on. If you find that your newborn is in pain or discomfort with his ears during or after the flight try using some infant pain reliever. Talk to your health care provider for more information about safe pain relievers for infants they will be happy to assist you and prepare you for your journey.

There is NO evidence that flying with a newborn, will increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrom.

When you are planning your trip, make sure you call the airline BEFORE you book your ticket. Some airlines may have regulations on how soon they will let a newborn fly. Also some airlines may want a medical certificate or note from your health care provider, approving that your newborn is healthy enough to fly safely. When booking the flight make sure that it is a non-stop flight, and that you have everything that you and your baby will need. Remember flights can get delayed or even cancelled be prepared for anything. When traveling on an aircraft it would most likely be best if you try and get a seat in the aisle, this will leave you free to walk around especially if your little one begins to get a little agitated. If you are breast feeding you will also want to drinking some extra water during and before flying, to prevent the risk of dehydration.

It is legal to fly carrying your newborn on your lap however you may want to consider using a car seat. However if you do use a car seat remember you will have you by an extra ticket. Also when flying avoid drinking hot drinks as they could spill and burn your newborn.

Flying with a newborn can be a pleasant experience. Although as new parents you are guaranteed to worry, however talk to your health care provider they will be able to put your mind at ease, and answer any questions you have.