Special thanks for this article go to Sharon, an American expat mother in France and a former flight attendant for two carriers in five countries over thirteen years.


36. Flying With A Newborn

Most airlines stipulate that a child must be at least a week old but different airlines have different policies. Most airlines will waive any restrictions if you have a note from a doctor saying your child is able to fly.

There are no special concerns about newborns. In some ways, they are more protected than older babies since they will not be crawling around touching things or getting hurt. If the child is breastfed, the baby has the mother's immunities.

Newborns are usually good fliers and spent most of the time sleeping. Most babies I saw flying for pleasure were at least eight weeks old. Smaller babies were usually flying for more pressing reasons, for example, after being adopted or moving.

Consider your own needs, even if your baby is in perfect health and the delivery went well. Just putting a trip off by a week or two can make the journey so much easier.

You do want to be careful of the angle of the car seat when installing because newborns have proportionally large heads and if held at the wrong angle, can restrict or even cut off the oxygen supply. Limit transporting the baby in a car seat as much as possible and be sure to have a good baby carrier.

The biggest stumbling block for international travel may be getting the passport on time. Try to get the papers before the birth and make sure to turn them in and/or schedule the interview (depending on the requirements of your country) as soon as you can after the birth. Consider paying extra for expedited delivery.

For future updates to Sharon's information, or to contact Sharon directly, please visit her Blog: http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

Sharon's Disclaimer: This article is not a legal document and cannot be used as proof of any of the laws or rules that I refer to throughout. Check the FAA websites, or other relevant agencies to confirm any statements that are made. I try to provide links where I can. Be aware, also, that airlines often have their own policies which might be stricter than their own government's laws. Most of the employees that you encounter do not have the power to change or make exceptions to any rule. They simply must follow them, even in cases where logic or safety is questionable.