When you’d take an infant on a flight

Our son was just shy of 6 months old when we took him on his first flight to visit family for the holidays.

My oldest was about 2.5 years old the first time he flew, but all important family lives close

I think DS was about 3-4 months. My brother was 2 months when we moved to Germany. No need for DD to travel by plane until she was much older.

I would go if an infant was 9 months or older. So many sick people on planes it is crazy.

That being said, I avoided taking my kids on any flight until they could get through security and pull their luggage on their own (youngest was five). We drove some long days for trips. If it was an emergency, that would be a different thing.

I flew from Hong Kong to San Francisco, when my kid was 4 months old. a week or two later we flew to new york. so a 14 hour flight and then a 6 hour flight. we moved from Hong Kong to New York, with a short break at home in SF.  . I flew all over with that kid.. flew to kansas city at 9 months for a wedding. flew with twins who were 15 months old by myself--had my 3.5 yr with me too!!! that was a fun flight.. the twins cried for an hour before we got on a delayed flight. when oldest kid was 15 months old, we flew 20 hours from SF to Sydney.. (stopped at hawaii and aukland).. then flew to Hong Kong, then flew to bangkok, chiang Mai, Singapore, bali and back to Hong Kong.  we flew back from Hong Kong to SF and my kid had the stomach flu. we had a layover in tokyo and he threw up all over himself and the stroller.  I came well prepared.. and then we went to the doctor the minute we got through customs at SF.  the other passengers in first class were not happy with us. (he didn't throw up on the 15 hour flight).     that kid's passport was filled up.

so infants on planes don't bother me at all.. and even dh says they don't bother him cause it is not his kid.

From a comfort of the baby/ease of the parents point of view: 3-4 months.
From a germ viewpoint: 6-9 months at least

DD was 3.5 months old when she went on her first flight. She did great and was sort of kidnapped by the flight attendants. 

Our daughter was 4 months when we flew from Portland to Boston. My FIL was sick with cancer and we went out for Thanksgiving. Wasn’t ideal, but it was his last so I’m glad we didn’t let her bring so young stop us.

I took my second son on his first flight when he was 1 month old to see my family that lives on one side of the country from my husband and I, then again when he was 3 months old to see my husband's family that lives on the other side of the country. My eldest flew for the first time when he was a year (we lived near one set of family at that time and the other set came to us). My youngest son was 6 months old the first time I flew with him. I regularly flew with my 2 eldest, alone, so I was very comfortable flying with them. Also, my husband is a pilot by profession, so flying is pretty natural to us 🙂

Our first flight with my oldest son was at 12 months for vacation, two 1 hour flights - one from our regional airport to Sydney, then Sydney to Brisbane. With our younger son, we flew with 2 kids - 9 months and 2.5 years - to Japan. DH was with me on the trip there, but I flew back with both kids alone as he had to stay for work. Both were overnight flights, and they mostly slept during them.

Earlier this year, my DS and DDiL came to visit us in Germany from Australia with a 5.5month old (6.5 months when they flew home). It was a 2 stopover flight each way, and they said she did well on the first flight each time - leaving late evening of departure city - but unsettled on the middle flight both ways. I think after that experience, I am going to be flying back to see them more than they will come here to see me.

My thought is whenever the parents need to fly with the baby, no matter how old.
I dont have kids though, so maybe im missing something.

I took my 3-month old on a 4 hour domestic flight. Had to switch flights, so was on two flights during those 4 hours.
Can't say I really considered sick people, maybe I was naive. I was more concerned about baby's comfort and made sure I breastfedd during take-off and landing to prevent ear aches.

Also took her on a 52 hour long-haul when she was 8 months old. It wasn't supposed to be 52 hours, but one of our 4 flights got delayed 8 hours or so.
Baby was fine, and luckily was always a good sleeper.

I didn’t answer the poll bc I don’t think there is a perfect age. I took my kids everywhere when they were babies.... not adult only places but if no one would bat an eye at a 2 year old we took the baby. Yes it made changing a diaper tricky and it meant sometimes one of us would have to take the baby outside if he got fussy or whatever. We just packed a bag and went so from that perspective I’d take a newborn on a flight.

My concern would be germs and vaccinations with so many anti-vaxxers I’d be hesitant to go on a plane before baby is fully vaccinated but I’d consult their pediatrician about that. I’d also be less likely to take a baby in the winter during cold/flu season newborns and especially preemies are at risk for RSV so something to keep in mind.

Lots of variables factor in to that for me. Time of year can make a difference in my decision. Younger child (with fewer vaccines) and flu/cold season? Not going to fly. Is it a flight for fun getaway or something more important? If we’d lived a flight away from my grandma, my boys would have flown earlier to make sure she got to meet them. 

My oldest was born in May, a few weeks early but no NICU stay. we flew at Thanksgiving to grandparents.
My youngest was born in June, 2 week NICU stay with premature lungs. We put off flying for a year. We were advised by doctors to avoid crowds that first winter due to his lung issue at birth.