Flying with newborn?

Does anyone happen to know when you can start flying with your newborn? Like is there a time frame of when the baby can or can't fly? I am planning a trip back to NY in March and the baby will only be 3 months old. I don't know if he will be to young yet or if it doesn't really matter.

Also, has anyone traveled by air with a new born? What kind of harness or safety system did you use for the baby being on your lap? I am looking to seeing what I might need to buy. I don't want him at 3 months just to be in my arms. Need your help!

Thanks

Re: Flying with newborn?

As an ex flight attendant - I can tell you that if you hold the baby in your lap - no harness. Buckling them in w/you can serously hurt the baby.If you get your baby a seat - then you buckle in your regular car seat.

Also - No age restriction (that I know of anyway) on a newborn flying. I guess it's just what your comfortable with.

Re: Flying with newborn?

We flew to Florida with Sarah when she was about 5 months old. We got her a seat and put her car seat there. I chose to pay for the seat for a few reasons. 1 - I felt it would be safer for her. 2 - It prevented us having to deal with sitting right next to another passenger who may not be thrilled to sit next to an infant. Turns out this was a good thing, both flights were totally booked and the flight attendants all asked us to see her boarding card - they thought we'd just installed her car seat there without buying a ticket. 3 - It allowed us another option for where to put her if she was sleeping or playing, DH and I didn't have to pass her back and forth.

We gave her a bottle on take off and landing. The way down to Florida she was very upset during the last 45 mintues while we were descending. Most of the passengers were really good. There was one guy who kept turning around and shooting us looks until another lady turned around and said loudly "I always feel so bad for them. Their ears must hurt so bad and they don't understand why or how to relieve the pain." Then he seemed to calm down and be a lot more tolerant of her. But I could understand. It's not like I wanted her crying in my ear for that long either. The flight home was great, she didn't fuss at all. A few other babies did, but the passengers on this flight seemed really tolerant of it.

Oh, and we flew at times where we felt it would not be business people flying to FL for the weekend but more likely families. We flew down late Saturday afternoon and flew home very early in the morning the following Sunday.

Re: Flying with newborn?

I was told by my sons pediatrician they can fly pretty much after they are born. (as long as they have a clear bill of health of course)


We flew to Ireland with Patrick when he was 3 months. they give you an extra seat belt that clicks on to yours. And when we are up in the air they have a make shift crib (a box w/ pillow & blankets) so that they can sleep. This is only for bulk head seats.

When I flew to Oregon when he was 6 months he sat on my lap. They didn't have a extra seatbelt & they didn't have bulk head seating.

Re: Flying with newborn?

I work in a peds office and you are allowed to fly with a newborn. The only thing you want to worry about is the germs but at 3 months he should have his shots already so he will be immunized

Re: Flying with newborn?

My cousin flew with her 3 WEEK old and everything was fine. The Dr wasn't thrilled about it, but it had to be done and everything turned out fine.

Re: Flying with newborn?

I was taking a passport photo at a local photo shop and a woman was taking her 4 WEEK old son to South Africa (where they are from). So I guess its OK- the only issue for her was to get her son to keep his eyes open long enough for them to take the picture. It was so cute actually!