Airplane Travel with 8 Week Old

Updated on April 28, 2012
S.D. asks from Louisville, CO
11 answers

Would it be okay/feasible travel on an airplane with an 8 week old on my own?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

I'm a 1st time mom and excited to visit family, but anxious about traveling and I want to make sure that it's safe. I spoke to our pediatrician and she said it was fine, but suggested that she have her 2 month visit vaccinations before we travel.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Yes!!! Do it now while she is free, portable, breastfeeding/taking a bottle, and not mobile!! You will never have it so easy again!!

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

~.~.

answers from Tulsa on

I've flown with my 5 year old since he was that old and that is the best time to go! I flew to India by myself with him. He slept most of the time and I could wear him in a carrier and have both of my hands free. In hindsight, I would have packed less, but overall it was an easy trip.

1 mom found this helpful

M.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

At 8 weeks they sleep a lot. If you are breastfeeding make sure you are comfortable doing it in public. Otherwise, seems easy peasy to me, but I have 3 kids and am used to it. Now flying with 3 kids or a 2 year old is hell. Is this your first?

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.R.

answers from Chicago on

I'd say 5 weeks to 6 months is the best age for infants for long airplane travel..:) they are mostly content to feed, sleep, and stay in arms or play in the lap.
If you're breastfeeding, then get comfortable with the idea of feeding in the plane. If necessary, get a wrap, and practice with it on your baby a few times beforehand, so that both of you feel comfortable with it.
If you use formula, make sure you carry enough for the travel duration (include waiting times at the airport, transit hours, and until you'd finally reach your destination). If not using ready-to-use formula, make sure you have multiple clean bottles, or some appropriate cleaning equipment to rinse out bottles after each feed in case of a longer journey. Carry enough nappies and wipes, and some more.
If you have/use saline nasal drops (helps huge if baby's nose gets stuffy due to pressure changes), have it in hand. Also have baby tylenol at hand (I'd say use only if necessary).
Try and make your hand luggage as light as possible, and try to make it a backpack. Leaves your arms free to hold/carry the baby in airports. A baby carrier would be useful. If you don't have one, see if you can borrow from a friend for temporary use, if you don't want to buy one just for this.
Cover the baby's ears and hold them close, or give them a bottle to sip just during take-offs and landings to help avoid pressure changes to their ears. It can hurt them very badly.
In your luggage, have your purse and necessary stuff handy and easily accessible.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.N.

answers from Pocatello on

I traveled with my son when he was like 6 weeks old. He had to go meet Grandma! (I also had my 4 year old daughter) It is fine. Just remember take off and landing are tough on their ears so it is best if he is eating or at least sucking a pacifier during those times. Chances are he will just sleep the entire flight. Lots of people will want to touch, or look at him. It is ok to have them keep their distance.
Also, a baby carrier on your chest is nice, then you are hands free to carry the other baggage and people don't get so close since he is attatched to your chest. A stroller works great too, then you just check it at the gate.
Good luck and congrats!!
Oh, and be sure to have a change of outfit, baby messes are so unpredictable!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.L.

answers from Savannah on

You will be fine! The baby will probably sleep a good while. Make sure you give the baby something to suck on (breast, bottle, pacifier) for take off and landing. If you have a sling or moby wrap, that will be helpfull too.

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

I took my youngest to Hawaii when she was 8 weeks old. It was great! She was a good sleeper, and since she was exclusively breastfed, feeding her then was easier than it's ever been since!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Austin on

I flew with a 6 week old... I did have hubby along, though. Things went fine with the flight, but I ended up sick (that's another story... not due to the flight at all.....)

Just remember on take-off and landing, to either nurse the baby or bottle-feed. The swallowing helps keep their Eustachian tubes open, helping prevent screaming because of ear pain.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.G.

answers from Provo on

Honestly, I think it's one of the easiest times to travel with them! I wouldn't get the 2 month vaccinations right before...in case there is a reaction...if your pediatrician ok's it...I would see if she can do them a few days prior to get it all out of her system. Have fun :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

X.M.

answers from St. Louis on

It is the easiest time to travel with them! They don't want to move around! Trust me as your child gets older you will remember how easy it was to travel with them at 8 weeks :)

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

Yes, it will be fine. We moved (flew most of the way) from Alaska to NM when our 2nd child was that old. They are so easy at that age on airplanes. She just slept, snuggled with me, ate, slept some more. I wish they stayed that easy for travel! We travel often and have traveled with our kids at every age - it always works out. I do have some "nightmare" travel stories but it is when the kids were age 1-2. :) Bring a change of clothes in case your baby has a blowout (or 2!), plenty of diapers and wipes, and anything else you think you will need. I also sometimes will bring myself an extra shirt in case I need to change as well (due to spit up or an accident). Bring a blanket or two for wrapping up your baby. Whatever you would normally do sitting at home and holding your little one. At that age I brought a carrier to strap the baby to me while walking in the airports. Or sometimes I brought the infant car seat in a stroller (the kind where they car seat clicks into the stroller base). I could bring the stroller/car seat up to the gate and if there were extra empty seats on the plane I would talk to the attendants about using one. I'd put the car seat in the seat next to me and then baby had her own seat. If the plane was full they just checked my stroller/car seat at the gate right before I got on the plane.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions