[daves_girl]

Hubby and I are trying to decide if we should fly home with our baby or drive home. The drive will be over 20 hours and would prob take 2 1/2 days. I don't think it would be any quicker with a 6-7 day old baby on board. A flight would be sooo much quicker, but what about the risks? Chance of baby getting sick having problems with their ears during take-off and landings, ect. If you flew back home with a newborn how old where they and did you have any problems? Also, what airline did you use? Did they require the baby to be a certain age or have proof of health from a doctor? Thanks for your help!

[whh]

Daves girl,
I flew home with our little one at 11 days old and she had no problem with flight at all - slept the whole way except brief time up for bottle (be sure to bring own liquid formula or bottled water to mix). I talked to multiple airlines and found restrictions ranged from absolutely can not take newborn less that 10 days old and need birth certificate to document age [air tran] to no restrictions at all [usair, which is what we flew on as was easiest, almost cheapest, and also had direct flight!]. Though I have heard others say that various policies were not enforced by airlines when they got to airport, suggest calling airlines to see what their policies are and plan accordingly for your own peace of mind.
Jean

[MMC66]

We flew home with Addy when she was exactly a week old and she did fine. The airline required a note from the pediatrician saying it was OK for her to fly and he said to keep her super close to me at all times - facing me to keep her contact with all the outside germs etc at a minimum. We flew with my DH and my DD so I sad between them with her.

We got lots of dirty looks for traveling with such a tiny baby so I guess be prepared for that.

I would think flying would be less stressful than a drive that takes days. Addy wasn't even the healthiest of newborns and she did just fine.

Good Luck!!

Martha

[maxkinzie]

We drove home (18+ hrs) with our newborn. We didn't hurry, enjoyed it, and since DD slept most of the time it was probably the easiest trip with her yet :-) Also we were able to stop and let some far away relatives meet her on the way. For me anyway it was a continuation of the priceless bonding experience we got from being "stuck" in the hotel waiting for ICPC- while I dreaded it beforehand, looking back I wouldn't change a thing!!! (Oh yeah, last min plane tix one way for one of us ran about $685 EA!!! That helped us decide to drive)

[tobeafamily]

We flew home with Ryan @ 17 days old. The FAA requires that if the infant is less than 14 days old, a note from a doctor is needed before they can fly.

What we ran into was an unknown airline policy requiring a note for any child under 6 weeks - even though we called the airline in advance and were allowed to board our first flight with no issues. So check with your intended airlines and get the note just in case.

As for the flights themselves, we had no problems. Ryan slept through most of it, we fed him or gave him his pacifier on the ascent and descent to help with ears. They didn't bother him at all. He got lots of oohs and ahhs from the crew and passengers too.

HTH

Regina

[daves_girl]

Thanks all! The airline we were looking at is Air Tran..which says 2weeks to under 2 years can sit in an adult lap. I wrote a e-mail to them asking how their check-in is with an infant. I have heard the same thing on another website about asking for proof. Most didn't care or just wanted to see the adoption decree. We would be using business class as it is cheaper than renting a car one-way and flying one-way and may end up being cheaper than renting a car plus the hotels going down and back. Then we can sit in the front of the plane and be comfortable in the seats.

[BrandyHagz]

I remember someone on the forum posting that they had had issues with Air Tran at their Atlanta connection (as all flights with Air Tran stop in Atlanta).

They had boarded an Air Tran flight in their departure city - arrived at Atlanta and were given fits about flying Air Tran from there to their arrival city. I think, in the end, they were allowed to go on, with the argument that they had been allowed to fly the first leg of their trip with no problem...but I don't recall for sure.

Maybe they will post and give a more in-depth account of their experience flying with Air Tran.

[tobeafamily]

We flew AirTran BTW. So be sure they're REALLY clear on when the baby can fly without a doctor's cert.

Regina

[Casey677]

We have flown roundtrip with our dd 4 times by the time she was 3 months. I recommend taking a direct flight and flying at off times. She has been great on all the flights. I try to feed her during take off and landing, but there have been times where she was sleeping and I couldn't wake her to eat and she still did just fine with her ears. Just be sure to get a dr.'s note if your airline requires one!!!

Casey

[daves_girl]

Just got an e-mail back from Air Tran...they said they don't check birth certificates unless they believe the child might be over 2 in order to ride in the lap of an adult. But if we do decide to travel with them I will be sure and get a doctor's note saying it was ok to travel just in case we need it! Thanks for you input. I would love to hear more about Air Tran travelers if your out there!

[LisaCA]

we flew with dd at 8 days old. on day seven we had a doctor check her out and okay her for travel, then wrote a letter which we carried with us. it's not required by all airlines, but we were glad to have it. the doc visit also made us feel better about cramming her on a cootie-filled plane .

fyi: the only thing that people want to see more are kittens and we were sitting in a row with a woman with kittens . the entire plane wanted to be with us, so we moved away from the kittens. we had dd in a sling (the infantino denim one) so she was kept away from the nosy folks for most of the fight. no one gave us dirty looks, but we might not have noticed . and dd was fine.

btw, most of the airlines can't refrigerate formula, and the water on board the planes is the grossest water ever, filled with bacteria. bring bottled water or use bottled water, or bring ready to feed bottles with you on board (babies r us has them I think, but not nutramigen, if that's what the baby is on. Nutramigen has to be ordered from the company in most cases).

good luck!

Lisa

[Darci]

We flew home (Alaska Airlines) with our daughter when she was 4 days old. They have no minimum age limit and do not require a doctors note. She did great on the flight...I fed her on take off and landing and she slept the whole way home.

However...we are now faced with the probability that our baby is deaf (will know for sure in 2 weeks) and I will always wonder if that flight could have caused it.

[daves_girl]

Darci I will add your little one to my prayers! So sorry you are going through this. I hope you get good news!! Hugz!

[traceyk]

We flew from TX to CT with a preemie and no one asksed anything. We flew US Airways, but we did have a drs note handy as well as a contact number at the hospital and agency in case there were any objections. Our baby just nursed most of the ride home.

[traceyk]

Walmart has ready to feed Nutramigen.