How old should infant be before flying

Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. Age Lap vs. If possible, wait until your baby is 3 months old. Fly with a lap baby to avoid paying an infant fare. Do a quick diaper change prior to boarding the plane.

Check with pediatrician about traveling with a sick baby. Bring noise-canceling headphones. If possible, time feedings for takeoff and landing. Bring proof of age. Travel with another adult if you have more than one baby. Pick an aisle seat. Rent baby equipment at your destination. Arrive at the gate early. Bring more baby supplies then you need. Dress your baby in layers. Book a nonstop flight. Or, choose a flight with a longer layover.

The takeaway. Parenthood Baby. How to Overcome Your Travel Anxiety. How to Use Melatonin for Jet Lag. What Is Peaceful Parenting? Read this next. Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm. Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. Sleep Disorders in Children. What to do at this stage if you do have to fly?

Walk the aisles with your toddler, hang out near the galley when you can, and bring a variety of snacks, books, and toys to deal with a short attention span check out my list of 50 kid-friendly airplane snacks for ideas. Things continue to be a bit of a challenge in the older toddler age range.

At this stage at least, most parents are starting some basic discipline with their children, so you may be able to register some successes. An iPad starts to work as a distraction, in short intervals. And of course, children are able to start coloring or doing some other non-electronic activities to pass the time. This stage is when many parents begin to see a true light at the end of the tunnel much of the time.

At around 2 years old, both of our kids finally started developing more sustained attention spans. We found we could could begin to rely on electronic assistance like an iPad to give us a bit of a break on long flights.

Hopefully, your methods of discipline will also begin to be more effective at this age, so your toddler will begin following instructions like staying seated on command usually. Two words of warning about this stage. Toddlers who are just learning can rarely wait as long as a taxi and takeoff when they have to go. I recommend avoiding starting training if you are going on a flight soon afterwards.

We waited until our children were fully trained on land for about 4 weeks before braving a trip in the air. And we traveled with a spare Pull-Up in our carry on bags for over a year after each child was potty trained for emergencies. The other warning about this stage is when your child is very tired.

A three year old throwing a tantrum can certainly be harder to control than an 18 month old. In fact, my friend The Deal Mommy contends that three is the worst age to fly because the meltdowns can be that much more epic and the child is much bigger. And while I agree to a point, I find that having more infrequent meltdowns made this age much easier for me.

As always, your miles may vary. In comparison to the three years before, flying starts to get a lot easier at this stage. As preschoolers, my kids would sit still and watch a whole movie, gab with the flight attendants, and show concern for and often entertain younger children in the cabin when they were fussy and tired.

Meltdowns on long trips with a lot of time zone changes can still happen, but thankfully they occur much less often. I highly recommend still being prepared with all sorts of distractions like snacks, games, and a few downloaded movies and shows.

The structure of a year or two in more formal schooling usually helps many kids understand the importance of listening to grown ups and following rules. Watch for this and encourage your child to sit cross-legged if this is an issue. Home free! Once kids are in elementary school, the vast majority of them will be excellent flyers, especially if you travel regularly like my family has. And being able to read and entertain themselves the old-fashioned way is great too.

But this only refers to healthy babies who get the go-ahead from the doctor. Premature infants, as well as those with respiratory or other health issues, may fare better on the ground.

They might have a minimum age requirement, ranging from 2 days old to 2 weeks old. If you're feeling queasy about the idea of spending a whole lot of money on an airline ticket for a baby, ask your airline for a discounted fare. Many airlines offer discounts of up to 50 percent for children under age 2. Although air travel is generally safe for newborns, Dr. Berger says parents should consider the following factors. Germs and illness.

Many planes use recirculated air, which means that if one person has a cold, his germs are broadcast throughout the plane by the ventilation system. That's no problem for adults, whose mature immune systems can fight off germs.

But an infant's immune system is no match for some of the viruses and bacteria that float around on airplanes and in airports. Make sure to wash your hands regularly, and avoiding sitting near sick passengers. Air pressure and ears. Ordinary cabin pressurization can cause intense pain to infants' ears.

This can be helped, somewhat, by having the baby suck or drink during ascent and descent, says Dr. Breathing problems.