did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

so im feeling like an absolutely awful mommy! i havent spent a holiday with my brother in 6 years, since he moved oos. so this year my whole family is heading to NC to spend the holiday with him and his family. im beyond excited! my DH is unable to make the trip due to his job. so i choose to fly with dd (who is 4 months old) instead of taking a 12 hour drive if not longer. So when we went in for dd 4 month apt. i asked the Ped if there was anything i needed to be aware of when flying with an infant.. and she said.. " she shold really have a mask on" and kind of laughed while saying it. but the look on mine and DH's face was green! i wanted to die. the thoughts racing through my mind so i said "serioulsy? should she be wearing a mask?" and she just kind of laughed it off and said well it is flu season and your just breathing in filtered air

so then dh and i go to our doctor with the baby it was in our travels to get our swine flu shots. our doctor is a personal friend. and i brought up the whole situation and he too responded the same way... a look of shock and "she should be wearing a mask, you dont know who has the flu, is getting over the flu or could possibly have swine flu" i couldnt hold back and cried when i got home, my flight is non refundable and now im thinking i made an awful decision and could put abby in harm...

WWYD? do i go on the flight and pray for the best, babies go on planes all the time, or should i not fly and take a MAJOR hit on losses for airfare!

im not a worrier but now im upset that i did the wrong thing by my baby!

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

go on the flight and enjoy yourself. babies fly all the time. my SIL has flown several times already with her 4 month old and i know others that have even done overseas travel with infants. shei'll be fine. perhaps the mask isn't a bad idea, but you may not even be sitting near anyone that's sick.

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

Do the masks really even do anything? If they do, then get her one. Can't undo what's already done - just make the best of your situation

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

While there was no swine flu epidemic, I have flown quite extensively with both my children at all ages, including as young as 3 months. Maybe I am pretty laid back but I think you will be just fine. Just be sure to use precautions, as you normally would anyway. Wash your hands a lot (and use purell or other alcohol based stuff). Enjoy your trip!

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

thanks so much ladies! i really really dont worry about anything but 2 doctors in one day made me worry! im nervous to fly as it is so i guess thsi was just the icing on the cake!

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

We flew last October to Disney with our four month old. I was not worried about it at all...but my little guy did wind up with an ear infection. We flew another two times during his first year and he was fine. However, with the Swine Flu this year I would likely avoid air travel with a newborn. Just my opinion and I will add that I to tend to be a worrier!

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

we flew dross country with a 1 week old. Don't stress over it.

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

We are flying in Dec to NY (from FL) and DD will be 4.5 months. We've driven before but just the thought of the long drive with her made me crazy.

You'll be okay!

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

I think this whole thing is getting SO blown out of proportion. Look, the symptoms of the swine flu are MUCH milder than the seasonal flu - it seems to only be a serious threat against children with underlying conditions like asthma. And we have been living with the flu, without vaccinations, for DECADES and have been flying as young infants during that time.

Before all of this hysteria about the flu, I took Alex on SO many flights as a baby. When she was five months old she took a transatlantic, 12 hour flight, to Israel! We never, NEVER had any issues

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

i flew to Hawaii when DS was about 4 months old maybe a little younger and that is quite a few flights! Where I could I left him in his carseat if there were extra seats avail. on the flight-didn't let him touch anything. I know the air is gross and recycled I always get a runny nose... but we were honestly fine no major issues and it was November which is flu season as well. I think the drive would be way more rough honestly.
have fun!

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

Posted by Bxgell2

I think this whole thing is getting SO blown out of proportion. Look, the symptoms of the swine flu are MUCH milder than the seasonal flu - it seems to only be a serious threat against children with underlying conditions like asthma. And we have been living with the flu, without vaccinations, for DECADES and have been flying as young infants during that time.

Before all of this hysteria about the flu, I took Alex on SO many flights as a baby. When she was five months old she took a transatlantic, 12 hour flight, to Israel! We never, NEVER had any issues

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

I have flown with my DS MANY times and all of them since the swine flu pandemic! My first time flying with him was when he was 3months and it was right after the whole swine flu thing started!

Just take extra precautions! I purchased a "Plane Sheet" to protect us from all the germs on the seat, I brough clorox wipes and wiped everything down including the seatbelts, tray table, arm rests, etc. I also seriously anti-bacterialized my hands a trillion times (literally after I touched anything). If you take the extra precuations you should be fine.

GOOD LUCK and enjoy Thanksgiving with your family!!

ETA- What part of NC?

Message edited 11/6/2009 10:21:35 AM.

Re: did i make a bad decision RE: flying with a 4 month old

OK, I'm the most anal person when it comes to my DD getting sick and we're flying with her at 11.5 months....Am I a bit nervous, without a doubt YES....I talked to my ped about it and he said you cannot stop your life over this, it sucks with the airplane air, but go and enjoy...I did vaccinate DD, so that is definitely good and I know you can't vaccinate them under 6 mos...

But I say go and enjoy, and try not to be so nervous!!!! I honestly think if you thought that way, you wouldn't even go into a store DC bc of the fear of the flu!!!