Expert Tips For Flying On An Airplane With An Infant

A woman photographs and plays with her baby in the terminal as she waits for her flight to board at Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images) Flying with an infant or a young child can be challenging for many parents. It may be wise to listen to some expert tips to ensure the safety of your child and make your next airplane journey go smoother.

Pediatricians Clair McCarthy and Jennifer Shu say flying should be avoided until a newborn child is at least seven days old, but, “ideally,” a parent should wait until the infant is two or three months old. Airline travel and congested airports increase the risk of a newborn catching an infectious disease, the pediatricians write at HealthyChildren.org , which provides information from the American Academy of Pediatrics .



The Federal Aviation Administration doesn't require a ticket to be bought for children under 2 years old, but, without a ticket, the child must be on an adult’s lap. That could be a risky scenario, because air turbulence could dislodge a child from an adult’s arms, the pediatricians say. Delta Air Lines says that FAA safety rules stipulate that an adult passenger may only carry one lap-held infant.

If an adult passenger is traveling with two infants, a seat must be purchased for one. The safest way to fly with a baby is to bring along an FAA-approved car seat or an airplane harness device, the pediatricians say. The seat should be approved for a child’s age and size, buckled into the aircraft seat belt and be rear-facing if a child weighs less than 20 pounds.

Booster seats cannot be used. A mother holds her sleeping daughter on a flight from New York to Rome. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) Aisle seats on aircraft can be risky, because flight attendants push heavy beverage carts through the aisle, hot drinks handed to passengers could spill and items could fall from overhead luggage bins, McCarthy and Shu say.

Change a baby’s diaper prior to boarding, but, if you need to change a diaper during the flight, many aircraft have restroom changing tables, according to the pediatricians. If there is no such table, ask a flight attendant where a changing pad can be used. Annalisa Thomas, the founder of Oilo Studio, which specializes in nursery furniture, bedding and baby essentials, says “seats near lavatories can be lifesavers during diaper emergencies.

” Such seats may be prone to more passenger noise and foot traffic, “but the convenience often outweighs these drawbacks.” Bulkhead seats provide more legroom and baby-handling space, Thomas says. Many airlines equip their bulkhead rows with fold-down bassinets for infants under a certain weight.

“These bassinets let your baby sleep comfortably, giving your arms a much-needed break,” Thomas says. “But you need to request these seats when booking your flight.” Thomas recommends carrying white-noise machines to “help soothe babies and block out airplane noise, making it easier for babies to fall asleep in an unfamiliar setting.

” Make sure to pack distractions for young children, including toys, books and a video player, McCarthy and Shu say. A familiar blanket, pacifier or favorite toy can provide reassurance and reduce fussiness, Thomas says. “When babies are surrounded by objects they know, they will be more distracted from the hustle and bustle of travelling.

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