young children on flights

[grandad40]

are there any additional risks for children less than 6 months old going on long flights (8 hours or more).

I'm worried about my grandson.

Not if they are otherwise fit and well.

Where are you taking him? No risks AFAIK, mine were both fine

I've never heard anyone warn me of additional risks (assuming no existing issues) - my children flew as babies, between various countries, and none of those countries listed any risks.

my grandson is going on holiday to america. I am not going but was worried if this was a risk worth taking.

What additional risks are you worried about?

I had to fly back and forward to France several times before my daughter was 6 months as my Mum needed bypass surgery and I went for the surgery and then to care for her afterwards, with a break at home in between. My daughter is absolutely fine and loved it. It is far easier to travel with them when they are tiny and just feeding and sleeping and there are no additional risks.

What risks are you thinking of?

Many airlines won't allow babies under 14 days to fly due to their immature lungs (I think) but beyond this I've never heard of any additional risks to young children

maybe i am worrying about nothing.

I think insurance has been taken out. I was worried if the baby was unwell and the NHS was not available.

Well they have really good healthcare in America, it’s just exorbitantly expensive! As long as they have good travel insurance that shouldn’t be a problem.

We flew to the US when DD was 5 months old. She was fine. Just nursed and slept and charmed everyone around her.

Do you not consider the parents of your GS suitable carers, I'm sure most parents would consider the safety of their baby before flying long haul. I wonder if this is their first baby and you are feeling anxious at seeing your own DS/DD becoming a parent?

maybe i am worrying about nothing

Yes.
Many places have health care that is better than the NHS, would you believe. Obviously I’m America you have to pay, but if they have insurance then what’s the issue?

As long as they have travel insurance, (and you'd be absolutely bonkers not to have travel insurance going to the USA), then the USA has some of the most advanced healthcare in the world.

In fact many countries have far better healthcare than the NHS.

We took our DS to America at 5months to visit our family.

My SIL did the same, and my BIL came over from the US to the UK when his DS was tiny for our wedding.

No problem at all, and much easier than taking older children IMO!

The thing is, and saying this as gently as possible. This isn’t really your business. The baby has parents who will have risk assessed this trip and come to the conclusion it’s fine. Unless you have doubts about their wider parenting abilities (like call social services because the child is in danger doubts) then it really doesn’t matter if them taking a trip worries you. The decision isn’t yours and meddling in parental decisions is a swift route to low or no contact.

My parents have given myself and DP such a hard time about taking our DS on planes. In the first year of his life he flew to Spain, Croatia, Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland and each time he was absolutely fine. Fed for take off and landing, slept through the flights.

I think insurance has been taken out. I was worried if the baby was unwell and the NHS was not available

My daughter was very unwell the day my Mum was in surgery. Just a short lived virus in the end but I took her straight to A&E in the town near where Mum lives. I had her EHIC card with her and within 5 minutes of arriving we were in Paedeatrics. The cannulated her, took bloods, gave her fluids, spent 2 hours with her doing different obs and looking after us. The care was second to none, the hospital spotless. When the bloods came back showing nothing sinister she was starting to recover and we were discharged with paracetamol and advice. All in French (my second and slightly rusty language). I had travel insurance, so if I had had to change flights there was no problem. It was a hard day for me, baby sick in one hospital, Mum having open heart surgery in another and me phoning one hospital to check from a bedside in another and none in my native tongue but I coped well. If they have insurance they will have no problem getting treatment and it is no more likely to happen than at home. It is part of being a parent to have to deal with those situations and being used to travelling is a great opportunity for kids.