https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 06:14:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923569 Wed, 28 Apr 2021 10:31:11 +0000 hellobeeboston 2923569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: oh awesome! dying to go to Turks &amp; Caicos some day!!</p> <p>So, our domestic flights were pretty packed, in fact, our return flight home was over-sold and they were trying to get people to give up their seats. So 100% full. The flight down wasn't as full, but probably about 75-80% full. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923567 Wed, 28 Apr 2021 10:24:10 +0000 Chuckles 2923567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: So jealous! Turks and Caicos is amazing! Especially in a use it or lose it situation, plus the awesome location, it makes perfect sense to go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923565 Tue, 27 Apr 2021 22:28:11 +0000 PinkElephant 2923565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: Turks &amp; Caicos! It was a rebooking from a trip that was cancelled in April 2020 and we were basically getting into a use-it-or-lose-it situation. I’m typically a very risk-averse person, but I also hate wasting, so DH talked me into it, and I’m glad he did. The mental health boost for all of us was worth it.</p> <p>Also - how crowded was your flight? Domestic travel feels like more of a free for all right now - I’m a little worried I can feel fine about it sitting in my living room, but may lose confidence at the airport! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923562 Tue, 27 Apr 2021 10:51:16 +0000 hellobeeboston 2923562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: OOOH, where did you go?! I miss travel. AND - It's not scandalous... like I mentioned, everyone has a different comfort level, and that's OK. No judgment, everyone can make their own decisions. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923561 Tue, 27 Apr 2021 10:49:13 +0000 hellobeeboston 2923561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's a tough decision to make, and everyone has a different comfort level. If you're going to be very stressed about the travel and worried, it's probably not worth it - wait until you can all enjoy it.</p> <p>We flew with our kids last week, only my husband and I are fully vaxxed. My kids are older though and could wear their masks the entire time while they sat still fully entertained by their tablets for the 2 hr plane ride. The airport was the trickiest part because it felt crowded, but we were able to find an out-of-the-way spot to wait. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923559 Mon, 26 Apr 2021 21:51:41 +0000 PinkElephant 2923559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: ugh I cannot let myself think about the fallout of all the "other" germs when the masks come off. It's going to be like the first years of daycare/preschool all over again.</p> <p>@karenbme: I'm going to scandalize myself here by sharing that I took my three (unvaccinated) children on an international trip last month. They are 8, 6, and 4, and very comfortable wearing masks due to school/sports. The older two double masked on the flight. It was about 4 hours long, and due to the regulations of the country we were visiting, everyone on the plane had to prove a negative test within a few days before traveling. I ended up feeling more okay about it than I thought I would (we've been very vigilant about preventing exposure at home). People were really respectful about wearing their masks, the airline was VERY serious about enforcing their policies (requiring people to replace masks between bites/sips if eating or drinking), and the flight wasn't very full.</p> <p>I think I'm likely to take the kids on a short domestic flight to see my parents for the first time in over a year once school is out. I feel like that flight will be a riskier proposition, since there is no testing requirement, and the plane is likely to be more crowded since it's a cheaper, shorter flight. But for me, it's a risk I'm okay with taking. My dad (who is in his 70's, fully vaccinated) said that he may prefer to wear a mask around the kids, but he's okay with us staying at their house after having been on a plane. I'll probably have the kids tested before we travel just to be extra safe.</p> <p>In your shoes, with a kiddo that can't wear a mask, I can completely understand why you're reluctant to make a commitment. At the same time, if you decide you feel okay with it, you should absolutely travel and not feel guilted into staying home. Good luck with your decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923555 Mon, 26 Apr 2021 08:50:06 +0000 periwinklebee 2923555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: Other infections are way down, and from everything I've read, once social distancing is relaxed more, they'll likely come roaring back. I have a feeling next winter will not be fun.... </p> <p>My three year old actually likes wearing masks, I think because he's a little fashionista about it and loves picking out different colorful options every morning. They also seem to help with seasonal allergies. I wouldn't mind if they stuck around, though I know they won't once kids are vaxed. But he will at a minimum be wearing one on a plane and in a doctor's office indefinitely, regardless of what's happening with covid :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923554 Mon, 26 Apr 2021 08:44:51 +0000 periwinklebee 2923554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This seems like a tough call. I personally don't think we'll be flying with our kids until they are vaccinated. But grandparents are young enough that they can travel to see us now that they are fully vaxed, and I find flying with kids living hell regardless of germs (my kids are prone to car sickness/air sickness). </p> <p>One other thing to think about is the risk of an unvaccinated kid seeing 93/95 year olds. I know deaths from breakthrough infections are very rare, but I read that they have all happened in the elderly and we know the efficacy of vaccines declines somewhat with age. Of course, there's a similar risk to that age group with breakthrough infections of the flu, etc. I don't think there is any right answer, and you should just feel confident in whatever you're comfortable with, knowing you are making the best possible decision for your family with the info available. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923550 Sun, 25 Apr 2021 15:19:10 +0000 bhbee 2923550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KNS: I know the data supports covid being the same for asthma kids as any other kid. In many ways I’m more terrified of other germs after a year without getting sick!! If they drop masks at school in the fall I expect a rough start to the viral season 😬 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923549 Sun, 25 Apr 2021 15:12:41 +0000 KNS 2923549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to add a different view. The evidence about negative impacts on children is that they are very rare and statistically a child is much more at risk from a car accident than covid. </p> <p>You have to do what feels right to you but I would ask - if a vaccine isn't approved for under 10 year olds for 2 years, which is entirely possible, how would you feel about missing that opportunity to see and visit with the great grandparents. I would personally do this but we are probably on a more risk acceptant side of the covid spectrum.</p> <p>@bhbee: My older also has viral triggered asthma and both her ped and pulmonologist have told us they aren't worried about covid at all for her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923546 Sun, 25 Apr 2021 11:09:18 +0000 DesertDreams88 2923546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will be traveling with two unvaxxed kids this summer, but (1) they're great about mask-wearing, (2) all adults we'll be visiting will be vaccinated, and (3) I expect case rates, hospitalizations, and deaths to be decently low this summer, especially in the area we'll be traveling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923545 Sun, 25 Apr 2021 10:33:37 +0000 winter_wonder 2923545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: although not ideal, could any family members who are vaccinated travel to come see you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923531 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 08:51:24 +0000 pinkb 2923531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are driving this summer for our trips that will be socially distanced as well with out door activities. Enclosed spaces, to us, are still too risky. My older 2 are in school wearing masks. We put them back in school in Feb for everyones mental health. To visit my grandmother, since starting school, and she is fully vaxed we still do outside visits, no hugs. We also dont eat in restaurants and will not until the kids can get vaccinated. We live in FL and its still bad and people aren't getting vaccinated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923527 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 07:52:15 +0000 nana87 2923527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm with you about being cautious still about unvaccinated children traveling, especially since it seems like some of the new strains are impacting children more. We thought about traveling this summer but have decided to stay within driving distance to avoid flying with our kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923519 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 21:33:48 +0000 karenbme 2923519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: @bhbee: I totally get that there are different opinions on this, and if we knew about long term risks the way we do with flu I would feel more comfortable. I’d also feel more comfortable if I could keep a mask on her, but she won’t even wear a hat if she can help it. And there’s just so much we don’t know at this point.</p> <p>@BadgerMom: @JJ2626: Stroller with a rain cover is a good idea. And I do have a friend that’s traveled twice with her daughter who’s ~4 months older than my daughter so she might have some ideas.</p> <p>@nwm: I’m with you that it fully depends on what happens with case rates, which is why I don’t want to commit now and then decide to cancel. My grandparents are in a senior community, but I wouldn’t want to encroach on them with all three of us because they’re 93 and 95 so we would probably be on our own for a lot or even hosting them at our hotel or Airbnb.</p> <p>Thanks everybody! My parents, who are fully vaccinated and have been working this whole time, don’t understand at all and think I’m trying to keep my daughter from the family. ☹️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923517 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 20:39:51 +0000 nwm 2923517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i don't have a great answer; i think you are being completely reasonable not to commit, on the other hand i'm feeling optimistic about the summer...but just an additional two cents that the location would give me pause as much if not more than the actual flying part. i have spoken to a lot of people from the northeast, even many who are not as conservative about the virus as my family has been, who visited and are really stunned by how absolutely normal things have stayed in florida. at a minimum, i would take into account local rates where you are going, vaccination rates, and whether your family would be expecting you to fend for yourselves for meals in the hotel/restaurants/whatever. if you were flying to a highly vaccinated retirement community and staying there and cooking meals at home (just for example), the flight plus a few minutes in a rental car shuttle or whatever probably wouldn't trouble me too much, assuming reasonable precautions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923508 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 11:25:08 +0000 JJ2626 2923508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are planning to fly cross country with our 3 year old this summer. She’s good about wearing a mask but obviously can’t keep one on for 7 hours and she will want to snack constantly. I’m honestly very nervous about it, but we miss our family so much that the cost/benefit seems worth it. I wouldn’t fly just for a vacation but we plan to spend a month with family. This does depend on rates continuing to go down. We plan to go in July when I think things will be better than now. It’s a tough call and like all of this, really depends on your personal risk/benefit analysis. Don’t go because you feel guilty, go if you want to! I can say, I have several doctor friends who have flown or are planning to fly with kids this summer. They feel it’s worth it as the risks to healthy kids is just not that high and we are all starting to suffer emotionally from isolation. </p> <p>Edited to add: I’d put a 17 month old in a stroller with a rain cover in the airport and then I’d probably buy her a seat and put her in her car seat on the plane, so she can’t squirm as much.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923505 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 09:39:22 +0000 MamaCate 2923505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are flying twice with unvaccinated kids this summer. I am not thrilled but after a lot of processing we decided the risk is tolerable. I see the biggest risk as the airflow in the plane (and possibly the airports although distancing is hopefully more possible.)</p> <p>For context, my kids are older (5 and 9) have been in full time in person school for six months so they are well acclimated to mask wearing and they know we take infection precaution seriously. The first flight is to see vaccinated grandparents, 2 hours plus layover plus 2 hours, the plan is to keep them masked and in front of screens, eat a snack without masks between flights and mask up again for the second flight. Second flight is longer but to go to a beach location and we booked end of July in the hopes that the vaccination rates will be better by then. DH and I are both vaccinated and have been for a few months but we still follow mitigation steps. </p> <p>So the flight is a risk but once we arrive we will continue doing limited to no indoor activities, practicing precautions etc. </p> <p>I am not sure what I would do with a 17 month old, particularly as it may take a long time for a vaccine to be approved for her age. I would consider flying and wearing the baby as much as possible when not on the plane if she would go for that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923500 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 07:38:53 +0000 BadgerMom 2923500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So we are flying to Florida in June but I am nervous about it. My 2 year old can and will wear a mask obviously but she gets antsy with it after about a half hour. </p> <p>I do think that with some creative thinking you probably could keep your LO pretty covered through the airport. By that age I think they’d be able to wear a mask at least for short stints and then I’ve thought about using the stroller with the rain cover acting like a shield. Because there are differing expert opinions in this, I’d see if you could come up with some creative ideas that would make you more comfy. But if not, then not going is a perfectly fine answer too :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923499 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 07:35:33 +0000 bhbee 2923499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: there is a big NYT article about kids and covid today and I feel like that’s their takeaway ... reasonable people can differ, data shows risks to kids are low but there are unknowns, and there are still a lot of unvaccinated adults out there kids can spread covid to even if they don’t get severely ill themselves. </p> <p>We aren’t flying this summer but expect we will for the holidays (a much germier time overall!). My son has viral-triggered asthma that has landed him in the hospital before (not covid related) so it’s really hard to let go of yet another risk out there. I also spend too much time worrying about school in the fall when I expect they will drop masks here. So I feel for you and send hugs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923498 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 06:48:56 +0000 ChitownRo 2923498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We aren’t flying until there’s basically herd immunity or the kids can be vaccinated. Though the experts on the “In the Bubble” podcast this week had differing opinions. One wouldn’t fly w kids now. The other said if you would fly with kids during a normal flu season, then you could fly now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923497 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 05:12:24 +0000 greencraftycello 2923497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, not crazy! I would feel really uncomfortable taking my children (especially my one year old who can’t wear a mask) on a plane/airport/etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-kids-this-summer#post-2923495 Wed, 21 Apr 2021 22:23:25 +0000 karenbme 2923495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my 17 month old has not met her great grandparents yet. They live in FL and we’re in the northeast. I’m getting a lot of pressure from family to commit to a visit this summer because they’re in their 90s (though everyone is as healthy as 90-somethings can be). But I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring my daughter to an airport/on a plane/to hotels until she’s vaccinated. We can get direct flights, but with all the air filtration, the plane itself seems much lower risk than the airport, hotel or rental car shuttle. Maybe if cases drop dramatically this summer, but i don’t think committing to something now is smart because as bad as it is now, it will be harder if we have to cancel. Am I crazy? Should I just give in? My nana is DYING to meet the baby. Are other people planning to fly with unvaccinated kids? </p>