Air travel with an infant typically is safe. However, there are medical and safety issues to consider. A doctor may advise against unnecessary air travel during the first two weeks of life, when a newborn's body is still adjusting to life outside the uterus — and is especially vulnerable to the germs that circulate in the aircraft's recycled air.
Parents may worry that air travel will hurt their child's ears. But the effects of flying on an infant's ears are the same as for an adult's ears. Changing cabin pressure causes temporary changes in middle ear pressure, which can result in pain. Sucking helps equalize the pressure in the ears. For this reason, feeding the infant during takeoff and landing may help. If your baby isn't hungry, try offering a pacifier.
An infant with a recent ear infection may be very uncomfortable when flying. Check with your child's doctor before leaving if you have concerns. Your doctor may provide you with pain-relieving eardrops, in case your baby experiences ear pain.
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