Air travel is considered safe for most healthy babies and newborns from 7 days after birth by most airlines. However, most pediatricians recommend air travel after the baby is 3 months old, as the immune system is not yet mature, increasing the risk of infections.
Furthermore, it is recommended to wait for the first 3 months of the baby’s life as this is the phase in which the first doses of vaccines are taken, which stimulates the body’s protection against infections. Check your baby’s vaccination schedule.
It is important to consult your pediatrician before traveling by plane to assess the baby’s health, as premature babies or those who have respiratory problems may have contraindications for the trip. Furthermore, the pediatrician can provide guidance on caring for the baby during travel, breastfeeding and changing diapers, for example.
Main precautions for traveling by plane with your baby
To travel by plane with your baby, you need to follow some recommendations. The baby can be held on the father or mother’s lap, as long as their seat belt is attached to the seat belt of one of them. However, smaller babies will be able to travel in an appropriate car seat or basket, which must be given to the parents as soon as they sit in their seats.
However, the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics recommends that the baby has its own seat, in which to place a baby seat, the same one used in cars, to provide greater safety during the journey. In most cases, it is necessary to pay an additional air ticket, which can correspond to between 10 and 15% of the adult’s ticket price, to have a seat for the baby.
When traveling with a baby on a plane, it is important to be especially careful when the plane is ascending and descending, as the pressure on the eardrums can cause severe ear pain and can even be harmful to the baby’s hearing. In this case, the baby must always be sucking something. A good option is to give the baby a bottle or breast during the plane’s takeoff and landing. See what to do to relieve your baby’s ear pain.
Tips for traveling with babies and children
Some useful tips for traveling with babies and children are:
- Bring appropriate fever or pain medication for your child, as this may be necessary;
- Check the safety of the baby or child, and whether the car seat or baby seat is correctly positioned in the plane seat and complies with all safety standards;
- Bring extra clothes, in case you need to change;
- Make sure you take everything the baby or child needs to stay calm, such as a pacifier, diapers or favorite toy;
- Offer the breast or bottle whenever the baby wants to breastfeed;
- Do not offer very heavy or fatty foods to children over 6 months of age who have already introduced solid foods;
- Change the diaper whenever necessary to avoid diaper rash;
- Always have water, cotton wool and wet wipes;
- Bring toys and games to entertain the baby or child during the trip;
- Bring a new toy for the baby or child, as these attract more attention;
- Check whether the child can play electronic games or watch cartoons on a portable DVD.
Another tip is to ask your pediatrician if your baby can drink some tea with a calming effect, such as valerian or chamomile, to keep him calmer and calmer during the trip. The use of antihistamines, which have drowsiness as a side effect, should only be used with the pediatrician’s permission.
