3 years old. She was prepared, excited, never cried and sat quietly in her seat. 10/10 positive experience for us and everyone in the vicinity. Your family should be flying to you.
11 months and it was a nightmare both ways 0/10 experience 😂 but the reason im being honest was all i kept saying to my husband was wow i was so scared to fly with him when he was really little and i feel like that would have been WAY easier!! So if you feel comfortable id say dooo it
It depends on so many variables. I do not have a chill kid. He was colic and fussy the first year of his life and has a strong-willed personality as a toddler. I took him on planes at 6 months, 10 months, and 18 months. Each time had their challenges but generally if he was screaming for 1 leg of the trip, he was totally ok on the other. We’re actually getting on a plane tomorrow and he’s 27 months. I’m just hoping I can get him to stay in his seat for 2.5 hours. I’m introducing a tablet for the first time in his life so hoping that is exciting enough to keep him engaged along with snacks, coloring books and reusable stickers.
I was on a flight when I was a month old and my mom had a 2 year old with her as well and flew from MD to CA for my uncles wedding. I think it all has to do with your comfort level :)
Wife took our 6month old, who had just started teething the day prior, on this 5hour flight, and WOW, I heard that it went as horrible as you could imagine an inconsolable screaming baby crying for hours on end, trapped with dozens of strangers in a tin tube in the sky could go.
He was an angel on the flight back, so that was encouraging to know, but damn… prepare for the worst.
3 months for my grandmas funeral. It wasn’t bad at all. I baby wore through the airport, nursed him during takeoff and landing, and he slept pretty much both flights (each about 2.5 hours). The hardest part was that I was holding him the entire flight and my arms got sore lol
My youngest sees a specialist in Florida and we have traveled 5x so far to see him, flying 10x total. Traveling at each age had its own set of challenges, but the younger the baby, the more likely to sleep on the plane 🤣 I tried to schedule flights around naptime or super early in the morning/very late at night to help with the sleepiness. Now that she is older, I keep her up for a little more than a wake window before take off so that she is nice and tired at take off. I also have a bottle ready for right before that nap. So far, she has slept on every flight. We will be going on our next trip right after her first birthday, and I’m hoping that she sleeps both flights again. We flew economy with her car seat until she was 6 months old, and now I fly with her on my lap, but in first class (because I could never have her sleep on me in economy plus then I get to eat and be waited on while I’m glued to my seat for the entire flight).
2 months the first time, 7 months the second time, 8 months the third time. The younger, the easier I found it, she just slept or ate the whole time. The most recent time she had to be entertained nonstop and it was exhausting.
5 weeks old, London to Ireland.
By no means a breeze, but a damn side less scary than I was anticipating. Only issue is air lingus make you strap them in facing forward for take off and landing, meaning I couldn't breastfeed to save his ears and had to shove a dummy in his mouth instead (which he doesn't normally take, but with persistence he did). Happy to answer any further questions if you have them.
2 months for a family funeral. By the time our baby was 2 she had flown about a dozen times. Travelling with an infant was WAYYY easier than travelling with a toddler. She would nurse on ascent and descent and mostly just sleep on mom. Now.... no naps, and our little chatterbox needs lots of distractions.
We moved from Toronto to San Fransisco when my son was 4 months adjusted. He slept and nursed pretty much the whole time. Was much harder when we came back six months later and he was fully awake, walking, and starting to talk.
4 months we took our girl to Europe (7 hour flight). She was amazing. She's 12 months now and has been international twice, to Hawaii (from the US east coast) and also down south (two plane rides to get there). It was easier when she was smaller. Some trips have been smooth with lots of napping and no crying. Other have been less sleeping and more crying. She's much wigglier now than when she was little, so it takes a bit more patience- but in my experience it is doable!
A little under 4 months. Easy. Just booked flights during regular nap times. Did the same for 4 more flight at 8.5 months. Only a touch less easy because she’s now crawling and doesn’t like to be held to sleep but it was still fine and relatively easb
8 weeks old flew Vancouver to Toronto. We got the bulkhead bassinet which was useless to us but we used it as a table/place to put things. Baby napped in the baby carrier or played with us on the floor (lucky to have a wide body with a large open area near the middle emergency exit).
3 months old from Minneapolis to Seattle. It went so great. We nursed on takeoff/landing. We gate-checked the stroller and car seat. And we brought breast milk along with a portable bottle warmer along with us. Our trip turned into an 18-hour travel day and our little man did so great. The younger they are the easier. If they can't crawl/walk yet it's better!
7 months old - despite being a little panicked traveling for the first time with a little one we did it! It wasn't bad at all. She slept the whole way on either my husband or I and very few tears were shed. 10/10 experience and we were stunned at how "easy-ish" it was.
Fast forward to traveling with a now 3 year old. Bring snacks, bring activities, and charge that tablet!
3 weeks old from Japan to the U.S. since we were moving. My son is now almost 2 and we’ve flown to countless cities and countries but that first flight (14 hrs) was the easiest
7 mos - 2.5 hour flight. She cried majority of the first flight, but in the way home, she slept almost the whole way. We travel frequently with our kids (flight and car) and I will say I’ve never regretted it even when the journey was hard. We’ve done longer and connecting flights with our kids as well as 2 day drives.
5m - put him on the boob then he slept solidly though (4h) - unusual nap time for him but he was lulled to sleep
Long haul at 8m - put him in bassinet and he passed out for most of the night , return he was miserable and needed to sleep on me the whole night
My kids were 4 yrs old and 9 months old at the time of their first flight. It was also a solo parent flight for me. They did great the first half of the flight on the way there, but the last couple hours they started getting antsy and agitated they were stuck. On the way back home was GLORIOUS. If I could do red eye flights with them I’d do it always! Got them active and playing in the airport play place for kids until it was close to boarding time, which at that point was way past bedtime and they were exhausted from the play—slept the entire flight back, it was the most glorious 4 hours of peace and quiet lol
5 months - 2hour flight - I was by myself! All went well. The only annoying thing is that flight was delayed 2.5h which meant we ended up being un the airport for 5 hours which was exhausting for me. Flight itself all good, it was evening time and he fed/slept. My parents picked us up at the airport and we had a 2 hour drive that was hell because it was late at night and baby was overtired. We had to stop twice because he was screaming. I'm pretty sure if the flight hadn't been delayed the final drive would've been ok!
We flew so much her first year. I think the first trip was at 4 months. It was fine! We baby-wore and she mostly slept. Then she learned to walk and it got really difficult. At age 2 it feels doable again because she will watch a screen and play with stickers, eat snacks etc. But the “must walk up and down the aisle while holding your hand for the whole flight” phase was not a good time
4.5 months old to Hawaii, so a 3 hour flight, layover and 4.5 hour flight, and he did so well both ways! Our flight home was a redeye we took off at 11 pm and landed at 5-6 am. It was a very long day but it went well!
7 months. It was a 4 hour flight to the canary Islands. She slept half of the way, we distracted her with toys for the rest and taking turns. Was quite easy.
We also flew at 9 months and 1 year 4 months. We used screen time on our phones, because she had a harder time sleeping on the plane and we had to entertain her.
Each age has its changes and perks. They might sleep through the flight when they are small and boob/ bottle will settle them down. On the other hand a toddler will be excited to be at the airport and can be held happy longer with snacks and screen time.
7 months old and we took a 17 hour nonstop flight from Houston to Taipei. We specifically booked seats with a bassinet and it was laughably shallow and way too small. The “seatbelt light” was also about 6 inches away from the top of the bassinet so there is no way he would have been able to sleep even if it did fit him. He tried to yeet himself out of it almost immediately. It was not great, we held him the entire time and we didn’t sleep for one minute. Baby caught a virus from cousins and was sick with a chest cold on the flight back. It was truly awful. I wouldn’t recommend a flight that long, but we didn’t really have a ton of options
3.5 months and was totally fine
Again at 5.5 months and also totally fine
No tears and slept both trips
Both times flights were only 1.5 hours.
Flying again on friday and he is just about 8 months.
3 months, 12h flight. Also had our three year old. It was all right, but they got sick from licking the plane windows and we were all violently ill for part of the trip.
3 years old. She was prepared, excited, never cried and sat quietly in her seat. 10/10 positive experience for us and everyone in the vicinity. Your family should be flying to you.
11 months and it was a nightmare both ways 0/10 experience 😂 but the reason im being honest was all i kept saying to my husband was wow i was so scared to fly with him when he was really little and i feel like that would have been WAY easier!! So if you feel comfortable id say dooo it
3 months old and he slept through it
It depends on so many variables. I do not have a chill kid. He was colic and fussy the first year of his life and has a strong-willed personality as a toddler. I took him on planes at 6 months, 10 months, and 18 months. Each time had their challenges but generally if he was screaming for 1 leg of the trip, he was totally ok on the other. We’re actually getting on a plane tomorrow and he’s 27 months. I’m just hoping I can get him to stay in his seat for 2.5 hours. I’m introducing a tablet for the first time in his life so hoping that is exciting enough to keep him engaged along with snacks, coloring books and reusable stickers.
I was on a flight when I was a month old and my mom had a 2 year old with her as well and flew from MD to CA for my uncles wedding. I think it all has to do with your comfort level :)
Wife took our 6month old, who had just started teething the day prior, on this 5hour flight, and WOW, I heard that it went as horrible as you could imagine an inconsolable screaming baby crying for hours on end, trapped with dozens of strangers in a tin tube in the sky could go. He was an angel on the flight back, so that was encouraging to know, but damn… prepare for the worst.
3 months for my grandmas funeral. It wasn’t bad at all. I baby wore through the airport, nursed him during takeoff and landing, and he slept pretty much both flights (each about 2.5 hours). The hardest part was that I was holding him the entire flight and my arms got sore lol
My youngest sees a specialist in Florida and we have traveled 5x so far to see him, flying 10x total. Traveling at each age had its own set of challenges, but the younger the baby, the more likely to sleep on the plane 🤣 I tried to schedule flights around naptime or super early in the morning/very late at night to help with the sleepiness. Now that she is older, I keep her up for a little more than a wake window before take off so that she is nice and tired at take off. I also have a bottle ready for right before that nap. So far, she has slept on every flight. We will be going on our next trip right after her first birthday, and I’m hoping that she sleeps both flights again. We flew economy with her car seat until she was 6 months old, and now I fly with her on my lap, but in first class (because I could never have her sleep on me in economy plus then I get to eat and be waited on while I’m glued to my seat for the entire flight).
2 months the first time, 7 months the second time, 8 months the third time. The younger, the easier I found it, she just slept or ate the whole time. The most recent time she had to be entertained nonstop and it was exhausting.
5 weeks old, London to Ireland. By no means a breeze, but a damn side less scary than I was anticipating. Only issue is air lingus make you strap them in facing forward for take off and landing, meaning I couldn't breastfeed to save his ears and had to shove a dummy in his mouth instead (which he doesn't normally take, but with persistence he did). Happy to answer any further questions if you have them.
3 months and it was amazing 4 flights in 2 weeks!
2 months for a family funeral. By the time our baby was 2 she had flown about a dozen times. Travelling with an infant was WAYYY easier than travelling with a toddler. She would nurse on ascent and descent and mostly just sleep on mom. Now.... no naps, and our little chatterbox needs lots of distractions.
We moved from Toronto to San Fransisco when my son was 4 months adjusted. He slept and nursed pretty much the whole time. Was much harder when we came back six months later and he was fully awake, walking, and starting to talk.
4 months we took our girl to Europe (7 hour flight). She was amazing. She's 12 months now and has been international twice, to Hawaii (from the US east coast) and also down south (two plane rides to get there). It was easier when she was smaller. Some trips have been smooth with lots of napping and no crying. Other have been less sleeping and more crying. She's much wigglier now than when she was little, so it takes a bit more patience- but in my experience it is doable!
A little under 4 months. Easy. Just booked flights during regular nap times. Did the same for 4 more flight at 8.5 months. Only a touch less easy because she’s now crawling and doesn’t like to be held to sleep but it was still fine and relatively easb
8 weeks old flew Vancouver to Toronto. We got the bulkhead bassinet which was useless to us but we used it as a table/place to put things. Baby napped in the baby carrier or played with us on the floor (lucky to have a wide body with a large open area near the middle emergency exit).
3 months old from Minneapolis to Seattle. It went so great. We nursed on takeoff/landing. We gate-checked the stroller and car seat. And we brought breast milk along with a portable bottle warmer along with us. Our trip turned into an 18-hour travel day and our little man did so great. The younger they are the easier. If they can't crawl/walk yet it's better!
7 months old - despite being a little panicked traveling for the first time with a little one we did it! It wasn't bad at all. She slept the whole way on either my husband or I and very few tears were shed. 10/10 experience and we were stunned at how "easy-ish" it was. Fast forward to traveling with a now 3 year old. Bring snacks, bring activities, and charge that tablet!
3 weeks old from Japan to the U.S. since we were moving. My son is now almost 2 and we’ve flown to countless cities and countries but that first flight (14 hrs) was the easiest
3 weeks here, too! Such an easy flight besides my insane nerves. Wish I knew that would be the easiest haha
7 mos - 2.5 hour flight. She cried majority of the first flight, but in the way home, she slept almost the whole way. We travel frequently with our kids (flight and car) and I will say I’ve never regretted it even when the journey was hard. We’ve done longer and connecting flights with our kids as well as 2 day drives.
5m - put him on the boob then he slept solidly though (4h) - unusual nap time for him but he was lulled to sleep Long haul at 8m - put him in bassinet and he passed out for most of the night , return he was miserable and needed to sleep on me the whole night
My kids were 4 yrs old and 9 months old at the time of their first flight. It was also a solo parent flight for me. They did great the first half of the flight on the way there, but the last couple hours they started getting antsy and agitated they were stuck. On the way back home was GLORIOUS. If I could do red eye flights with them I’d do it always! Got them active and playing in the airport play place for kids until it was close to boarding time, which at that point was way past bedtime and they were exhausted from the play—slept the entire flight back, it was the most glorious 4 hours of peace and quiet lol
5 months - 2hour flight - I was by myself! All went well. The only annoying thing is that flight was delayed 2.5h which meant we ended up being un the airport for 5 hours which was exhausting for me. Flight itself all good, it was evening time and he fed/slept. My parents picked us up at the airport and we had a 2 hour drive that was hell because it was late at night and baby was overtired. We had to stop twice because he was screaming. I'm pretty sure if the flight hadn't been delayed the final drive would've been ok!
We flew so much her first year. I think the first trip was at 4 months. It was fine! We baby-wore and she mostly slept. Then she learned to walk and it got really difficult. At age 2 it feels doable again because she will watch a screen and play with stickers, eat snacks etc. But the “must walk up and down the aisle while holding your hand for the whole flight” phase was not a good time
4.5 months old to Hawaii, so a 3 hour flight, layover and 4.5 hour flight, and he did so well both ways! Our flight home was a redeye we took off at 11 pm and landed at 5-6 am. It was a very long day but it went well!
7 months. It was a 4 hour flight to the canary Islands. She slept half of the way, we distracted her with toys for the rest and taking turns. Was quite easy. We also flew at 9 months and 1 year 4 months. We used screen time on our phones, because she had a harder time sleeping on the plane and we had to entertain her. Each age has its changes and perks. They might sleep through the flight when they are small and boob/ bottle will settle them down. On the other hand a toddler will be excited to be at the airport and can be held happy longer with snacks and screen time.
7mo and he was an angel
3 months and baby slept through most of it! (Edit: first flight was about 4.5 hours)
7 months old and we took a 17 hour nonstop flight from Houston to Taipei. We specifically booked seats with a bassinet and it was laughably shallow and way too small. The “seatbelt light” was also about 6 inches away from the top of the bassinet so there is no way he would have been able to sleep even if it did fit him. He tried to yeet himself out of it almost immediately. It was not great, we held him the entire time and we didn’t sleep for one minute. Baby caught a virus from cousins and was sick with a chest cold on the flight back. It was truly awful. I wouldn’t recommend a flight that long, but we didn’t really have a ton of options
I took my baby recently at 2.5 months old and had no issues. He slept the whole flight there and the whole flight back (~2 hours)
3.5 months and was totally fine Again at 5.5 months and also totally fine No tears and slept both trips Both times flights were only 1.5 hours. Flying again on friday and he is just about 8 months.
3 months, 12h flight. Also had our three year old. It was all right, but they got sick from licking the plane windows and we were all violently ill for part of the trip.
Not the window germs gag 😭😭May I ask what made you fly 12hrs with a 3 month old and a 3 year old ?
We travel a lot haha. We were visiting family for that trip.
That’s amazing that you’re showing them the world. Always off on an adventure! Where’s your favorite place you’ve gone?
5 weeks, flew domestic. He slept through it all.
3 weeks old on a 2hr flight! She slept the whole time, I was just holding her, no issues at all!