Hellobee Boards

I flew between Maryland and Oregon with my first when she was 8w and 11w. That was in February/March. With my second, we flew between MD and OR at 6w and 8w in July.
My first baby had her vaccines before we went, but it was too soon for the second baby to get them. The ped said she could move them up to 6w, but not a day earlier. We happened to be flying at 6w on the nose and I didn't want to get the shots the same day we were flying, so she didn't get them until after the trip. The ped did not think it was a big deal.* I kept her in the Ergo most of the time with an A&A blanket over top to keep germs away. I also used Purell cloths on the airplane surfaces as soon as we sat down.

Both times, I found it super easy to fly with a baby that age. Especially if you are nursing. There's a lot of white noise on a plane, and if you time it to feed them when you get on, they should pass out. I made sure to nurse or give a bottle during take off and landing to help with her ears.

If you can, try to book an aisle and a window seat. You might end up an empty middle seat, and if not, someone will be happy to switch with one of you to get out of the middle. Or if you have the $, buy a seat and bring on baby's carrier. Oh, actually, you can bring the carseat carrier to the gate and if there's a spot, they'll let you take it on, even if you didn't buy a seat. If not, you can check it at the gate.

My advice would be to buy a refundable ticket (Southwest will give you the full value as a credit if you cancel) or wait to buy tickets and then see what your baby is like when he/she gets here. If baby is super colicky or high needs, I might be inclined to stay home. Otherwise, I'd go for it. I'd also talk to the ped about doing shots a little early.

*Apparently, if an infant gets a fever before 6w, they have to do a spinal tap to determine the cause. So it's def something to avoid. However, her ped said that if she got sick after our flight @ 6w, they wouldn't have to do one.

ETA: I actually flew across country by myself with my 2 year old and 6w old... so if I can do that, you should be golden

My son was just under 5 months old when I flew with him for the first time. He was born in November and I wanted to wait until his vaccines at 2 months (per my pediatrician's recommendation), and also for cold and flu season to be over. Honestly it was way easier when he was little-we have a flight coming up next weekend and he's almost 11 months old and mobile which will be interesting. So much harder now!

We are pretty much your mirror! Living in Connecticut with family in Texas. We first flew at about 3 months. Honestly, it can be stressful because it is new, but flying with a tiny baby is SO easy compared to when they get older. I wore my baby in a sling and she slept and nurses and slept... I'd totally do it.

We flew DC to Texas at 8 weeks. No problem, but didn't have the baby that slept on the plane. At that time, he was already used to his crib in a dark room.

5.5 months. I would be leary of flying at 6-8 weeks. My son got a fever at 6 weeks (not from flying) and landed a 4 day hospital visit complete with spinal tap to rule out menengitis. I would do everything in my power to prevent something like that from happening again. It ended up just being a virus, but it was so scary. I don't want to come off as an alarmist because I'm usually not, this was just really scary!

Flew four hour international flight at 6.5m & was slightly envious of the sleeping newborns/infants I saw on the plane!!