Air travel with infant: Is it safe? - Mayo Clinic

COVID-19 Advice updates and vaccine options

Find out about COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines, and Mayo Clinic patient and visitor updates. Skip to site navigation Skip to Content This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.

Appointments at Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations. Request Appointment Healthy Lifestyle

Infant and toddler health

Products and services

Is air travel safe for an infant

Answer From Jay L. Hoecker, M.D. Typically, air travel is appropriate for most healthy, full-term infants. However, before you fly with your baby, consider: Your baby's age and health. Your baby's health care provider likely will discourage unnecessary air travel shortly after birth. Newborns have developing immune systems and air travel increases their risk of catching an infectious disease, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). When compared with older children, babies under age 1 might be at increased risk of severe illness with COVID-19. If you travel with an infant, take steps to keep yourself and your baby safe. Get all eligible family members, including children, vaccinated to reduce the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19. Also, wear a well-fitted, high-filtration face mask - such as N95 - in the airport and on the airplane, frequently wash your hands or use hand sanitizer, and avoid contact with obviously ill travelers. If your newborn is sick, don't fly unless your child's health care provider says it's OK. Your baby's ears. Changing cabin pressure during a flight causes temporary changes in middle ear pressure. This can trigger ear pain. To help relieve the discomfort in your baby's ears, offer your baby a breast, bottle or pacifier to suck on during takeoff and the initial descent. It might help to try to time feedings so that your baby is hungry during these times. If your baby has had ear surgery or an ear infection two weeks before your flight date, ask a health care provider if it's safe to fly. Also, airplane cabin noise levels are loud, especially during takeoff. Consider using cotton balls, noise-canceling headphones or small earplugs to limit your baby's exposure to this noise. This may help make it easier for your baby to sleep. Your baby's breathing. During flight, air pressure in an aircraft cabin is lower than air pressure on land. This temporary change in oxygen level doesn't seem to pose problems for otherwise healthy babies. However, if your baby was born prematurely, has chronic heart or lung problems, or has upper or lower respiratory symptoms, talk to your baby's health care provider before flying. Your baby's safety seat. Most infant car seats are certified for air travel. Although airlines typically allow infants to ride on a caregiver's lap during flight, the Federal Aviation Administration recommends that infants ride in properly secured safety seats. If you choose not to purchase a ticket for your infant, ask about open seats when you board the plane, in case one can be assigned to your infant. Don't be tempted to give your baby an over-the-counter medication, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, others), to encourage sleep during the flight. The practice isn't recommended, and sometimes the medication can have the opposite effect. With Jay L. Hoecker, M.D. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form.

Children s health information and parenting tips to your inbox

Sign-up to get Mayo Clinic’s trusted health content sent to your email. Receive a bonus guide on ways to manage your child’s health just for subscribing. ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Thank you for subscribing

Our e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information.

Something went wrong with your subscription

Please try again in a couple of minutes Retry

Baby fat ShareTweet Feb. 25, 2022 Show references Jana LA, et al. Flying the family-friendly skies. In: Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. 4th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2020. https://shop.aap.org. Accessed Feb. 1, 2022. Newborn-flying and mountain travel. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://publications.aap.org/patiented/article/doi/10.1542/ppe_schmitt_173/82244/Newborn-Flying-and-Mountain-Travel. Accessed. Feb. 1, 2022. Families and COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/groups/families-covid-19.html. Accessed Feb. 1, 2022. AskMayoExpert. Health considerations for air travelers. Mayo Clinic; 2021. Information for pediatric healthcare providers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/pediatric-hcp.html. Accessed Feb. 1, 2022. Child safety on airplanes. Federal Aviation Administration. https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children/. Accessed Feb. 2, 2022. See more Expert Answers

Products and Services

Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby's First Years

See also

Baby fatBaby napsBaby poop: What's normal?Baby slingBreast-feeding supportBreastfeeding and alcoholBreastfeeding and medicationsBreastfeeding nutrition: Tips for momsBreastfeeding strikeCrying baby? How to keep your coolBaby sleepHyperlactationInfant constipationInfant development: Milestones from 10 to 12 monthsInfant development: Ages 4 to 6 monthsInfant development: Ages 7 to 9 monthsInfant formula preparationInfant formula: Is tap or bottled water better?Infant formula basicsInfant growth ratesOrganic baby foodSick baby?How to swaddle a babyBabies and solid foodsSpitting up in babiesTeething: Tips for soothing sore gumsVitamin D for babiesWeaning tipsShow more related content

Advertisement

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices

Mayo Clinic Press

Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic on IncontinenceNEW – The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic PressNEW – The Essential Diabetes BookNEW – Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic PressNEW – Mayo Clinic on Hearing and BalanceFREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic PressFREE Mayo Clinic Diet AssessmentMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book

Other Topics in Patient Care & Health Info

Diseases & Conditions A-Z Symptoms A-Z Tests & Procedures A-Z Drugs & Supplements A-Z Health Books Healthy Living Program Mayo Clinic Health Letter Mayo Clinic Voice Apps . FAQ-20058539 Healthy Lifestyle Infant and toddler health Expert Answers Air travel with infant Is it safe

Mayo Clinic Footer

Request AppointmentSymptom CheckerGive NowContact UsAbout Mayo ClinicEmployeesSite MapAbout This Site

Legal Conditions and Terms

Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Notice of Privacy Practices Notice of Nondiscrimination Manage Cookies

Reprint Permissions

A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

HON

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here. 1998-2022 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved.