High Altitude......

Hi K.,

I wish I could help you with this one. I am wondering the same thing. I am taking my one year old to Denver with me April 18th. Neither one of us has ever been there, or anywhere else with an altitude change. If you have a chance, could you post how it goes and if you found anything that helps? Thanks, and have a great trip!

T.

When taking off and landing you know how your ears pop. And they say to swollow or chew gum. All babies cry at that point. Feed your baby a bottle.

we've taken our kids on airplanes since they were 3 and 6 months old. We usually made sure that they either had their binky or a bottle when going up or down. It's the same with them as it is with us, as long as they swollow to pop their ears and adjust to the pressure changes they'll be fine.
If there should be any other discomfort they usually show it by crying.... a lot of times my kids slept right through take off and landing and didn't have a problem. While you are up in the air the cabins are usually pressurized enough that there should't be a problem... If you are nursing try that during take off and landing times, at least you'll have a happy and fed baby when you get off the plane and you might get lucky and your baby might sleep during the flight - depending on how long your flight is....
A lot of airlines are very helpful with the children so I wouldn't worry too much

I can share with you what I did when my daughter was a baby. I breastfeed for almost 1 year although not exclusively. When we took flight I breastfeed her. The sucking will cut down on the pressure to the baby's ears. A pacifer will acheive the same result. Going up is generally easier than going down. When the pilot tells you they are starting to decend, I would suggest the same thing. I have been on planes many times where parents are not aware of the pressure on the babies ears and do nothing. It is the same as chewing gum for us.
Good luck.

Rachel's mom

hi Krstine,
You have nothing to worry about. I traveled for the first time with my son when he was 4 months old, and again at 6 months, the last time was when he just turned 1yr. He was fine everytime. I suggest to feed him after take off, the sucking helps the ear pressure and the same for landing.
If he uses a pacifier that aslo helps.
I did that all 3 times that I flew and he was fine, a little fussy for the first five minutes and then he went to sleep and woke about 30 minutes prior to landing.
Another thing that I did was I kept him in a baby carrier so he was snug to me, he loved that the first 2 times when he was litte. When we flew when he was a year not so much, he wanted to walk around. but it was fine.
Good luck and a have a nice trip!
N.

Hey K.. I live in Merida, Venezuela altitude 6000 ft. (originally from Monmouth County) and have 3 children, 5, 3, and 4 months. Of course living here throughout the pregnancy might have made the adjustment easier but the altitude doesn't seem to affect newborns. We live in a touristy area and a lot of young babies come from lowlands on vacation with no problem whatsoever. I will tell you in case that altitude sickness is dificult to diaganose because it has a lot of different combinations of symptoms. The most obvious is shallow breathing which I have seen in elderly, and is really taken more as an inconvenience than a sickness. When people go hiking up to the peaks towards 10000 ft on they can have more serious problems like diarhea, vomiting, fever, and so on, which would be the things to look out for but I again I seriously doubt you will have to worry about any of that. Hope it calms you down instead of stressing you out. N.

Hi, I took my son to CO when he was 6 months old and he did great. He did not have any problems with the altitude or the time change (I am in NY). Just be sure that he is well hydrated because that is one thing the altitude can do to a baby. Good luck and enjoy your visit!

Hey K.,

I have 4 kids now ranging in age of 30 through 21. My kids and I have extensively traveled when they were very young. We traveled to Europe every year, when we started the first one was 5 months old and all the others went through it too. The best thing I can tell you is that if he is awake during the take off and especially the landing make sure he has a pacifier or a bottle. The sucking action takes the pressure off the ears. You know how your ears pop when you assend and desend. Other than that, have a wonderful time and enjoy his responses to being in a new place. Enjoy, J.

extra fluids! that's all you can do...

We traveled to Europe when our daughter was 1 1/2 months old so she can meet the family. The only thing the pedi was concerned about was her shots...so we waited to get the necessary ones done before we left. During take off and landing are the most tricky parts of the trip. Baby needs to suck in order for her ears not to pop. So either breastfeed(if you do) give her a bottle or pacifer so she does the sucking motion. This will prevent the pressure buildup in her ears. good luck have a safe trip!!

I took my daughter on a plane to arizonia when she was 6 months. I was told by a friend of the family (who is also a Dr.) to make sure she was sucking on her bottle while we were taking off and decending. I did this and she was fine.

He will start crying (screaming) uncontrolably if he is affected by the altitude.

My husband and I went into the mountains in Northern New York when our little one was 6 weeks old. He was fine the entire time. He was a little cranky with the initial altitude change. Just like our ears pop with the change so do theirs. Just make sure he's getting lots of liquids. If your breastfeeding offer the breast a few extra times or allow him to nurse a little longer. If bottle feeding offer an extra bottle. Sometimes high altitudes can cause dehydration.

Hi K.,
I have traveled on airplanes with my two girls since my youngest was 6 weeks old. They really have been terriffic on the plane (lucky us), but I do have a suggestion. On take off and landing try to give your baby a bottle to drink. It will help to balance the pressure in his/her ears and make the baby comfortable. My girls never used pacifiers, but I bet it would do the same thing if yours does. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!!

Hi K. - I'm in NY now, but I'm originally from Colorado. I've taken my son (18 months old now) home to my parents' three times. I wouldn't be so concerned about the altitude, unless you're going to the mountains. In that case, be sure your baby drinks lots of water or fluids.

More importantly, you'll want to prepare for the dryness. Be sure to have a humidifier wherever you stay (you can get one for $10 at the drugstore) and take some really, really good lotion - like Aveeno Baby Cream or vaseline. We usually dry out the day we get to Colorado and end up with stuffy/bloody noses. Also, pack lots of different types of clothes. The other day it was 75º and 30º the next!

Have fun!
A.

Hi! Just wanted to encourage you about flying with your baby. I flew a LOT with all three of my kids when they were infants. I would suggest trying to schedule their feeding (either by bottle or breast) during the time when the plane is taking off and landing. If your baby takes a pacifier, that type of constant sucking should help as well.

Hi K.,
We lived in CO for 4 years. Prior to moving there, we went to visit with our then 2 month old baby. There were no problems at all. Good hydration is important for everyone (especially babies) when in high altitudes.
Have fun, you will love it!
Donna

Hi,
I took my daugther Sophia to CO when she was five months old. She did not show signs of being affected by altitude. The only mistake we made was driving up a mountain with summer clothes on all of us- it was COLD at the top!!!!! Needless to say, she was a bit cold, but we wrapped her in our sweatshirts to keep her warm. No other problems resulted. Have fun!!!!C.

Hi. My husband and I took our 18 month old and our 4 month old to New Mexico several years ago. Be sure to bring lots of layers of clothes because the weather is so changeable. Also, for them and you, make sure to drink lots of water. I'll never forget my 18 month old waking up in the middle of the night and guzzling three glasses of water the first night we arrived!

Also, don't forget to nurse him on take off and landing.

I was born in colorado and lived there till I was about 4 montsh old, but I know we went back for a few trips, My mom is at work now, but i will ask if she has any suggestions and if she has anything to say i will post again later. Enjoy your trip!

oh yes tie a string around him, he might float away.... come on... the baby will be abit tried the first day until he gets used to the altitude... then he will be fine.
have a great trip.

Hello! I flew to Texas with my daughter when she was just 4 months old as well and it was a success. My only trick was to have a small bottle ready for take off and landing as she did not use a pacifier. Just a bit of formula or juice so they have something to suck on during the pressure change and keep their little ears from plugging up. Just don;t give it too soon so it's not all gone before the pressure adjusts. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Hi K.:

Congrats on the baby! I must tell you being just there over the Christmas season, my husband, two daughters and myself were there and we all had a hard time adjusting, I was winded the entire time I was there....I never actually got adjusted and couldn't wait to go home. We went with another family and they also had some problems. Regarding the baby, since it's only 2 months old, I can't see how it would get winded or tired from moving around. I really how would you be able to know? I would just keep an eye, really that's all you can do. They told us to drink alot of water, that it would help it, I drank gallons of it while I was there.

Have fun!
Aida G.

Hi K.,

We flew cross country, from NC to CA, when my daughter was 4-months old.
She did very well. The roughest time for most babies is take off and landing. After that, it's just like you and I. My pediatrician at that time suggested nursing (bottle feeding if you're not nursing) the baby during take off and landing to keep their ears from hurting.

At this age, they do pretty well.
Good luck and safe travels.

i myself have never taken a baby on a plane, but from personal experience with the pain from the altitude....i would say that when you start to feel it, make sure you give him a bottle. i've always been told to chew, or swallow and it will help with the pain, which it always has for me. i'm sure if it hurts him he'll cry. try the bottle, and it should help. but i would talk to the dr. again, and if he doesn't answer you again...talk to YOUR dr. maybe they can help?

Hi K.,

Your little one will actually adjust much faster to the altitude than you will! I grew up in Colorado and just moved to NJ from Santa Fe, New Mexico, another high altitude area. All I can recommend is to stay hydrated and don't do anything too physical the first day you are there (like climb a 14,000 foot mountain). You should be fine within 24 hours. Signs of altitude sickness include headaches, fatigue, and nausea. Just drink lots of water, nurse your baby as often as s/he wants, and have a great time. I miss Colorado terribly! It's a beautiful place to visit.

Have fun!

Hi K.: I am definitely no doctor so the following advice is from experience ONLY!!! I gave birth to three babies in Breckenridge, Colorado which has an alititude of about 10,000 feet. All of my babies were great at altitude but my brother in law was unable to come visit us because he had High Altitude Pulmonary Edima (HAPE). Just be really careful, drink lots of water(you), nurse/feed the baby often. Stay hydrated! Especially in the winter when it is especially dry. If the baby is excessively tired--call the DR right away. But, if you drive up to altitude from Denver and take your time, it is better than if you fly directly to altitude. The drive allows your body to transition a little bit. But most of all -- have fun. Colorado is so beautiful this time of year...

I took my daughter on a plane when she was about 2 months old- She slept most of the time. The best thing it to make sure you have plenty of bottles (or a blanket so that you can breast feed in your seat). Dress him in layers so if the temperature changes, you have options right there. Also, if he takes a pacifyer, it will help him during takeoff and landing. Hope you will have luck. You can bring the car seat and/or stroller right up to the gate if you want and the flight attendant will put it on the plane right away and it will be waiting for you when you get off in Denver.

G.

Just feed your baby a bottle as the plane is taking off and another as it is landing, this helps.

My friend had an 11-12 mo old and took him in a trip and altitude made him sick so they had quite the scare. From what I remember he started vomiting and she had to take him to the Dr during the trip. Needless to say she didn't like the experience. Not to say this will happen to you as this is probably dependent on ea person and I would expect ea baby to react differently. I am actually going to the Alps in May with my daughter and b/c of my friend am concerned about the altitude as well. I have been meaning to reach out to my friend, who went through this for her perspective/advice. I will pass along any information I receive and I would certeinly appreciate if you could pass along your experience once you return from your trip. Hope all goes well.