Ok to fly with a one month old?

[Har]

Hi everyone,

I'm due with my first baby on the 20th of June. One of my best friends is getting married in the UK (I live in Sweden) on the 2nd August. I would love to be there but am worried about flying with so young a baby, if he's late then he could be as young as just one month.

I'm not really worried about it being hard work (I say that now ) as it will be worth it I think, but more about whether it's dangerous to fly with so young a baby, thinking of immune systems, non-fully developed lungs, ears popping etc etc. Have googled but seems a lot of conflicting advice. The journey is about 1hr and 40 btw.

Thanks so much in advance!

I just went to NZ (24 hour flight) with DD when she was 3 months and she was fine I feed her on take off and landing but your LO will be young so not sure.

Thanks Fiona, v impressed you tackled such a long flight and good to know as we were thinking of a flight to the US in the autumn. Whatever I decide to do in August it is a good tip to feed the baby when taking off and landing, thank you!

Its way easier to travel with a young baby than once they start moving. DD just feed and slept and you get a bassinet to put them in and leg room. We flew singapore air and they were great.

I flew to Spain with a 2.5 month old. I found my pouch sling invaluable!

Thanks Soupdragon, will definitely get a sling. Travelling on my own so handsfree is great (have so much hand luggage just me, not sure how I'll cope when I have all the baby things too... my make up can't travel hold!).
Fiona, I can imagine it's much easier when they're smaller that's why I'm quite keen on doing the US trip DH and I have planned for years when the baby is a few months old rather than next spring (as DH wants) when he'll be 10/11 months, DH has a very rosy idea of what that age is like!

I always waited till 3months jabs were had, but that's just me

aeroplanes are simple massive petri dishes of nastiness, you know

DD flew longhaul at 5 months, and was poorly on way out, but already had cold so flight made it worse, but on way back she slept the entire way, BF during take off, stayed asleep on landing.

Came back from USA with her yesterday (20 months now), and spoke to lady who had an 8 week old came over from Orlando, she said her little one slept the entire journey apart from being woken up for one feed, not sure how long the flight was, but at least 8 hours I would think.

We flew from Cyprus to UK with dd2 when she was 2 weeks old, and then back again when she was 6 weeks old. No probs. Five hour flight btw. I got to cuddle and feed her the whole way. It was bliss. DH had the hard time chasing dd1 about . (dd2 was 10 days overdue so we had hoped she would be a little bit older).
She was checked out by a doc the day before we flew and he and my midwife and HV gave me their blessing. Go for it .

and agree - less less work than when they are older, as they mostly sleep at that age.
Flew from San Fransisco to NY two weeks ago and DD screamed the place down for hours as she had to stay on my lap (no bassinet on internal flights and did not want to be there at all (turbulance so she could not just run up and down the aisle).

I think as long as /he/she is healthy and Dr is fine with it.

And agree with sling/front carrier, I had a stroller this time, much harder than a carrier when she was younger! Through security etc pain in the ass.

Most airlines are very accommodating with babies, helpful, you board first, get more leg room (if you book the bassinet, which most but not all flights do). BA have a seat like a car seat for the bulkhead (cross between car seat and bouncychair) with straps for those under two. It was very needed!

I travelled with DS1 when he was 6 weeks, it was an hour long flight and he was fine, in fact he slept through all of it.

Took dd to Australia at 10 weeks with no problems - I was VERY focused on feeding at take off and landing as I was irrationally paranoid (PFB) about exploding eardrums...