How old for a long haul flight?

[MrsC]

I would like to visit my family in Ireland next summer or fall when DS is 10 to 12 months old. It's a 5 hour flight from our nearest airport. I know it won't be easy with the flight and time difference but my parents (we did fly my Mom out here for a week, she just left) sister and brother cannot afford to fly out here to see him.
DH is reluctant to fly with him until he's 2 or 3 years old because of the risk of ear pain/ear infection.
I'm curious as to whether anyone has flown this far with a child this age, whether cross country or international? How did it go?

[MrsK]

I have some close friends whose children are about the same ages as my children. They have always been big travelers and they traveled overseas every chance they got before their kids were born. As in, "It's a 4-day weekend. Let's go to Moscow." Since it has always been a priority for them, they began traveling overseas with their eldest before she was a year old. She's 4 now and she's a champion traveler. They did the same with their son. They told me that at 4yo, travel is very easy with their daughter. Their son is about 2yo and they are finding he needs more entertainment/activity on the plane than their daughter needs.

I'd say, it's easier to travel with infants than with toddlers. Probably, the 2-3yo range is the hardest time to travel with a child. Prior to that, they don't need to be entertained and diapers can be changed anywhere. After that, they can entertain themselves and they are out of diapers.

[scrub-jay]

My dd had no issues with ear pain at <1 year because I nursed her to ease ear discomfort (especially while they pressurized the cabin) and she did fine.

[spotty_dog]

I took my baby by myself to Alaska, also about a 5 hour flight plus a layover plus a ~1 hour flight, when he was around 6 months old. It was by far the easiest age to travel with. Because he was young enough to be a lap baby he could nurse during the whole ascent and descent, fell straight to sleep and never complained about his ears. We flew again when he was 12 months, my dad flew with me one way and I went solo the other way, and that went fine too although I made the mistake of taking a redeye -- I thought he'd sleep but he was so far off schedule that he was just cranky. Plus once he did fall asleep he was heavy! I didn't sleep at all and was miserable between the jet lag and sleep deprivation...

[SuzySunshine]

We have flown with kids since they were 3 months old, like others said as long as they are sucking on something they'll be fine. Have fun!

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I have flown over 30 times with DD - she'll be 22 months on 11/22. Most flights were by myself. It was SO easy when she was a baby, especially a nursling (under 12 months for me). At 20 months (her most recent flight), it was WAY harder. I know why 2 year olds get their own seats - it's simply too hard to contain them on your lap.

[SoonerTexan]

My dd had no issues with ear pain at <1 year because I nursed her to ease ear discomfort (especially while they pressurized the cabin) and she did fine.

Yes, or a pacifier.

She does do MUCH better when she has her own seat, though. We've never paid for one--I just always check with the gate agent to see if there are extras. Sometimes we get lucky.

[Pollyanna]

That's a great age for a flight! Buy her her own seat and bring her car seat on board. Everyone will be comfortable and your ds will be safely buckled up. we've traveled with a little one as young as six weeks and have never had any issues.

[civilspouse]

We started flying with DS when he was 8 weeks. The last trip we took with him was right before he turned 2. Like everyone else has said it was easier in the baby stage, but he's always done great.

[MrsC]

Thanks! I thought it would be easier at that age. We would definitely get an extra seat and put him in his carseat. I think what really put DH off was the one year old we sat near on a flight to Australia. Poor little guy was inconsolable for most of it but that flight was 14 hours long...

[GreyhoundsRUs]

We have friends who took their 18 month old to Taiwan this summer. She did remarkably well. DD has done fine both times she's flown (6mo/15mo). I think it also depends on the kid!


Wife of a PGY-4 Orthopod

[alison]

Definitely, the earlier the better!
We flew with dd at 2.5 yo to Germany (11-hour flight and 9-hour time difference). It took her about 4 days to get used to the time change and we were zombies during that time. .

[JC76]

We flew from Philly to Germany with our oldest when she was a year old, and it was fine. Try to get the bulkhead seat if you can, it's just more comfortable for everyone. We strapped her into the carseat and she slept a fair amount of the time. We're planning to fly from Philly to Puerto Rico with TWO kids in January. The oldest won't be an issue since she's now 4, but my youngest is an insane, high energy, prone to temper tantrums year and half old now... so god help us. Good luck!!! I really wouldn't hesitate to do it. I think with these sorts of things if you build them up and put off taking your kids on trips, it begins to feel impossible. You guys can handle it.

[Thirteen]

IMO, it was easier to fly with DS when he was a burrito baby and exclusively nursed. Very portable! Less stuff.

Fast forward to now: we have more stuff, but we've flown a lot with him and he is a well-traveled child. Very relaxed on planes. *knock on wood*


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[MrsC]

Thanks. I am impressed with the amount of travel you have all done with little ones. I like the idea of getting him used to traveling early on too. We love to travel and one set of grandparents lives overseas so there are plenty of flights ahead of us.