How Do You Fly With A Newborn Baby?
Flying with a newborn baby presents its own set of questions regarding safety, airline and airport security rules, and which items you should have on hand for your newborn’s–and your own–comfort. Dr. James Sears, a pediatrician who co-wrote “The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two,” says that while newborns are physiologically fit to fly by the time they’re 1 to 2 weeks old, waiting until the baby is about 6 months old means his immune system will be able to better handle exposure to the germs commonly encountered during air travel. Get your pediatrician’s approval to fly if your newborn is younger than 2 weeks old or was born premature. Premature babies have weaker immune systems. Some airlines require you to provide a doctor’s note of authorization if your baby is less than a week old. Visit the airline’s website or call ahead of time to find out its policy on infant passengers. United Airlines, for example, allows babies 24 months and young
