pancakes
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,002
Feb 4, 2015 6:49:53 GMT
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Post by pancakes on Dec 30, 2019 2:58:40 GMT
Out of curiosity, at how many months would you PERSONALLY consider taking an infant on its first (domestic) flight?
1 month? 3 months? 6.5 months?
This is stemming from a conversation with my husband, ha.
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Post by MichyM on Dec 30, 2019 3:03:26 GMT
Our son was just shy of 6 months old when we took him on his first flight to visit family for the holidays.
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Post by PNWMom on Dec 30, 2019 3:05:15 GMT
My daughter was just under 5 months old when we flew domestically to see family last Easter.
On a related note.....I just made that same round trip flight over this past week with my now 13 month old and 2.5 old BY MYSELF and I will never ever do that again.
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Post by freecharlie on Dec 30, 2019 3:15:39 GMT
My oldest was about 2.5 years old the first time he flew, but all important family lives close
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Post by peano on Dec 30, 2019 3:18:51 GMT
We took DS on a domestic flight right at about 4 months, to visit family at the holidays. The flight wasn't a problem, but teething was, when we got to our destination.
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caangel
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Posts: 5,675
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by caangel on Dec 30, 2019 3:41:05 GMT
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.
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mimima
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Stay Gold, Ponyboy
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Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
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Post by mimima on Dec 30, 2019 3:42:33 GMT
My oldest was probably 2 when he first flew, but youngest was 3 months
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Post by 950nancy on Dec 30, 2019 3:44:05 GMT
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.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 23:35:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2019 3:47:55 GMT
My youngest was not yet three months old when he first flew. The husband was gone for about 6 weeks on a military assignment. He helped me get to the gate then my parents met me at the other end. I don't recommend flying with a not yet 4 year old, 2 year old and 2 month old. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
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Post by ntsf on Dec 30, 2019 3:47:58 GMT
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.
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Post by CarolinaGirl71 on Dec 30, 2019 3:49:04 GMT
I voted 9+ months, but, unless it was urgent, I'd prefer to wait until after a year old and after the child has had an MMR vaccine. Let's don't get into the vaccine debate here - this is just my personal preference for my family.
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Dec 30, 2019 3:58:00 GMT
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
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Post by belgravia on Dec 30, 2019 4:19:18 GMT
My daughter was about 4 months old for her first domestic flight.
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Post by bc2ca on Dec 30, 2019 5:54:21 GMT
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.
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Post by tenacious on Dec 30, 2019 6:07:48 GMT
I took one son on an overseas flight at 3 months, the other son at 2 months. It was out of necessity, but, other than the nursing issues, it was fine.
Erin
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Post by fiddlesticks on Dec 30, 2019 6:12:08 GMT
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.
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Post by mom on Dec 30, 2019 6:20:51 GMT
For me, the real issue is how long is the flight? Would I take a two month old baby on a two hour flight? Yeah, probably. But would I take a 9 month old across the country with no stops? Not by choice.
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Post by Butterfly Momma on Dec 30, 2019 6:23:38 GMT
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 🙂
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Post by nlwilkins on Dec 30, 2019 6:38:57 GMT
Actually, my girls did not fly until they were 21 (For each I took them to Vegas for their 21st birthday.) I would not voluntarily take an infant on a flight longer than an hour unless to it was an emergency. Flying with babies is such an iffy thing. They could be fine with no problems or could be a holy terror. And each trip would be different so a gamble. But, I come from a different time and culture when it comes to flying. Flying was not something we or my friends did. If we did not have time to drive where we were going, then we did not go. It wasn't until the school started paying for me to go to training that I started flying at all.
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sueg
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Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on Dec 30, 2019 7:37:56 GMT
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.
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Dalai Mama
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Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Dec 30, 2019 7:39:43 GMT
We moved across the country with our first when he was 2 months old. The flight was 5 hours and he was a dream.
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Post by chances on Dec 30, 2019 10:02:14 GMT
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.
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Post by Patter on Dec 30, 2019 10:09:53 GMT
I took one of our triplets to see my grandmother when she was 9 months old. We lived in SC, and grandma was in OH. Was super easy and went well. I personally was 6 weeks old when I first flew but it was my daddy who was the pilot so that's a different story.
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Post by rainangel on Dec 30, 2019 10:20:23 GMT
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.
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Post by Basket1lady on Dec 30, 2019 10:30:07 GMT
With what we now know about disease, vaccinations, and in flight germs, I’d say after baby’s first round of vaccinations, preferably after the second round.
But I flew with DS at 6 months and DD at 2 months. Traveling with an infant is generally fairly easy, as long as you have milk and diapers. They mostly just sleep and eat. I breastfed, so 50% of that was an easy answer. We also traveled by car 1,200 miles with DS at 6 months. It was a lot of stops, but surprisingly easy overall.
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johnnysmom
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Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Dec 30, 2019 14:15:01 GMT
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.
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Post by workingclassdog on Dec 30, 2019 14:26:13 GMT
My now 23 year old took her first flight at six weeks. No problems. To my sister's wedding reception.
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Post by shamrock on Dec 30, 2019 15:37:35 GMT
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.
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Post by tyra on Dec 30, 2019 16:08:26 GMT
We had not had to fly with DS until a few weeks ago, and he was 2.5. He was a NIGHTMARE on the way there. On the way home he was fantastic.
I probably wouldn't have any issue with it after 6 months.
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Post by psoccer on Dec 30, 2019 18:20:28 GMT
I voted 2-3 months because that is how old my daughter was when she first flew. It was easy because I was nursing. We flew to Hawaii, it was about 5 hours. I don't know that I would do it again at such a young age, unless I had to, just because of the vaccines.
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