Is it safe to take an infant at 9,000 to 12,000 foot elevations?

Hi! We've done quite a lot of backcountry trips with our almost 4 year old and are starting with our 10 month old. What we've found is that our girls don't sleep as well camping as they do at home, but neither do we! When our oldest was 11 months, we did a couple of High Sierra backpacks (12,000+ feet). The altitude never seemed to bother her, but we did find the elements to be hard above treeline as we were never able to escape the sun or wind. Though we love camping that high, we decided basecamps at treeline work best with dayhikes higher. Kudos to you for taking your little one outdoors-it's a wonderful gift to her (and you!) Feel free to email me with more questions.

Backcountry mama ____@____.com

H.,

This past January we took our 5-month old daughter to Summit County, Colorado. We stayed at 9100 ft, and went up probably only another 1000 feet at most. Baby was fine. I have a vague recollection of a conversation with our Pediatrician, and she said, go for it. Just make sure to hydrate a lot, just like us big ones.

Hi H., If your baby isn't used to high altitudes, I would leave her out of your plans. When I wasa child of 4 on a road trip my father wanted to have lunch in a restaurant on top of Pike's Peak. Not much longer after we were seated at a booth, my big brother asked my parents why I was turning blue? Needless to say that ended lunch plans and we headed down to the lower altitude and my normal coloring came back. So that means not enough oxygen for little ones unacustomed for high altitudes. Sincerely, CJ

Until about the age of 10, my son always got flu-like symptoms every time we went skiing at Tahoe (low grade fever with a nasty headache and overall fatigue.) We finally realized it was the altitude because he was always OK at lake level but as soon as we went to the higher resort level he would start to get sick (and quickly!)
Now he's 15 and it's less severe, he just tires more easily and will sometimes get a headache. Staying hydrated helps.
Is there any way you could take your baby for a "test run" to see how she handles it before you plan a big trip?
Good luck!!!

When my son was 2 1/2 we went camping in the sierras and the poor baby was sick the whole time. He was throwing up and just cranky. Once we left he was fine so I had to assume it was altitude sickness. At the same time, my 6 month old that was with us was fine so I'm sure it doesn't affect all kids just as it doesn't affect all adults. Just keep an eye out. There's only one way to find out if your daughter is susceptible to altitude sickness. Hope she's ok with it. I grew up camping a lot and have always enjoyed taking my children on wilderness trips. BTW, my son who got sick has grown out of it. So even if she does get ill from the altitude, it may only be temporary.

I used to work at a ski resort in there daycare. And I experienced families comeing up from southern california. The parents did tend to get effected more then their children. However the children were still effected. The main thing to do Is start going up in altitude slowly. We told them to stop in the town (right before the ski resort) that was at 4200 ft. And just hang out there for an hour or so. And then start making there way up the hill. This way they have a chance to get use to it slowly. Hope this helps. Just remember for you guys also to drink lots of water.

Not sure if this will help but we went to Tahoe when our daughter was 8 months old and was told to give her pedilyte to drink to help her with the elevation changes.

Hi H.,
We live in the high sierras and I believe it would be fine to take your baby in the backcountry. If there are symptoms of high altitude sickness, just come out. One great thing that works for altitude sickness is ginger- you could have some tea on hand or some ginger chews from Trader Joe's. The sugar also helps so would benefit in this situation. There is also a lack of iron with altitude sickness, so you could boost the baby before you go.

Hi H., Even though my children are all grown now, check these links out - it appears to be helpful.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/childrenshealth/203002.html

http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/408/14303.html

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/message.jspa?messag...

Maybe call the pediatrician to confirm their thought as well.
Hope this assists.

I'm pretty sure babies actually get sicker. I would as your pedi!

That altitude sickness can be very debilitating and even life threatening to some. I would think that like anything else, your little one would be more vulnerable to the effects. I would definitely check with your pediatrician or do some research online.

Perhaps you could do a "base camp" of sorts just below 9,000 feet and take short day juants higher up... We used this approach on a backpacking trip when I was 5 1/2 months PG with my first to control the edema, since I was already starting to swell before heading up the mountain.

Good luck and have fun whatever you do!

--C.

Hi H.,

Firstly we need to hang out. I love to hear about people doing the same stuff as us. So I am not crazy for taking my little skiing and hiking at such a young age. Our first trip skiing our baby who was about 8 months old was really cranky over night we are not sure why but we thought that it must have been the altitude. She was also constipated so now we always take the prune juice for her and she seems to be fine with that. Keep your baby well hydrated and she should be fine.

Good Luck and enjoy your trip.

P.