Safe altitude for a baby?

[LizzieHart]

I would like like to know if anyone has knowledge of the safety of high altitudes on a 4 month old baby (who is in perfect health). I would like to go to Jungfraujoch in Switzerland which is 3,471 m above sea level.

I would n't go beyond 2000m tbh - we took dd up to 1800m around that age (and younger). We've been up Jungfraujoch a couple of times and you do notice the change in air and chill as much of the attraction at the top and the journey is through the rock of the mountain and glacier. As a comparison it isn't recommended to take under 2's up to the Aiguille Midi in Chamonix at 3800m. hth

children are no more at risk of altitude sickness than adults but the issue is that they can't communicate with you if they start getting problems with altitude (can be subtle enough in adults at the beginniing), and because of their fontanelles, signs of illness may be delayed, and children tend to get ill quicker, with less time to respond.

there are also issues of dehydration, sun exposure etc at altitude.

current advise seems to be for less than 2 year olds not to sleep above 2000m, and less than 8 year olds not above 3000m

if it was a gentle trek up, with time for adaptation, could be a bit less cautious, and other option could be just to go on train, not stay over but it wouldn't eliminate the risk...

have a lovely time, whatever you do!

Thing is that particular trip isn't an overnight it is a day trip with a train staright up, which can take over an hour each way through the moutain, and you would normally spend a few hours in the ice palace, tunnels, restaurant on the glacier etc. Not a cheap trip either. There is no easy way out if the baby gets uncomfortable at any point. I'd suggest going up to the base of the tunnel (Kleine Scheidegg or Eigergletscher) and taking in the view from there. We did that when dd was 6 months, no problem.