Flying w. a 3 month old baby

nightflyerDFW · October 22nd, 2006, 20:56

I plan to take a 30 minute flight on Thanksgiving with my wife and 3 month old son. What sort of special precautions need to be taken with my son? I plan to strap him in his carrier in the backseat, rear facing like in the car. My main concern is with noise/hearing protection. Anyone done this before? We'll be in a Skyhawk 172 and I don't plan on going too high (2000ft.).

MQAAord · October 22nd, 2006, 21:07

For a 30 minute flight don't worry about hearing protection. It's too short a flight to have any effect.

If you flew with him a LOT, I might suggest ear plugs cut in half, or possibly trying to get him to wear a smaller size headset, but for a one or two time occasion, don't worry about it.

nightflyerDFW · October 22nd, 2006, 21:16

cool, I appreciate the feedback...

TonyC · October 22nd, 2006, 21:26

I don't know that there is a minimum time of noise exposure that will cause hearing loss, but I've always been told that loss is cumulative. I would think - - underline think, it's just my opinion - - that you can't be too careful, especially with young, developing bodies.

I wouldn't try anything that goes in the ear canal for a 3-mo-old. It might be painful or uncomfortable, and it might wind up in his mouth. But I'd definitely use one of those wool caps with the straps you tie under the chin so the little guy couldn't knock it off. Another possibility would be one of those straps that looks like a sweat band. Anything to cover the ears ought to help.

I'd be MORE concerned about discomfort during the descent. The largest pressure changes occur in the lower altitudes. Don't think that "only" 2000 feet makes it a non-issue. Make sure he has something to suck on during the descent.

.

lostplanetairman · October 22nd, 2006, 22:01

We took our child flying when he was six weeks of age from the east coast to Chicago. It was fine--as was mentioned, just make sure your child is sucking on ascent and descent.

USMCmech · October 22nd, 2006, 22:05

I took my son flying at about 5-6 months, and he went to sleep. Basicly he considered it a very noisy car.

I tried to cut some foam ear plugs in half, but he pulled them out right away.

He has a headset now (20 months) and he just pulls it off and chews on it.

JaceTheAce · October 23rd, 2006, 00:01

My dad would fly all of us around all the time...since my sister was about 5 months old. She did fine!

TonyC · October 23rd, 2006, 12:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

My dad would fly all of us around all the time...

Yea, see what happened to you!

.

farmerbrown · October 23rd, 2006, 13:07

My youngest and he would never keep his ear protection on. We started with basically a knit cap and headband. He graduated to a headset but always took it off. He was usually asleep before we left the runway, so the noise couldn't have bothered him too much. Now he just turned 3 and keeps the headset on just fine.

JaceTheAce · October 23rd, 2006, 14:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyC

Yea, see what happened to you!

.

October 22nd, 2006, 20:56	#1
nightflyerDFW Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 26	Flying w. a 3 month old baby I plan to take a 30 minute flight on Thanksgiving with my wife and 3 month old son. What sort of special precautions need to be taken with my son? I plan to strap him in his carrier in the backseat, rear facing like in the car. My main concern is with noise/hearing protection. Anyone done this before? We'll be in a Skyhawk 172 and I don't plan on going too high (2000ft.).

October 22nd, 2006, 21:07	#2
MQAAord Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Looney Bin Posts: 9,194	Re: Flying w. a 3 month old baby For a 30 minute flight don't worry about hearing protection. It's too short a flight to have any effect. If you flew with him a LOT, I might suggest ear plugs cut in half, or possibly trying to get him to wear a smaller size headset, but for a one or two time occasion, don't worry about it. __________________ PPL SEL 100-ish hours TT Former American Airlines F/A (12 months) Former Simmons/Eagle F/A (6 years) Former Eagle ground school instructor (1 year) Former Eagle IOE instructor (3 years)

October 22nd, 2006, 21:16	#3
nightflyerDFW Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 26	Re: Flying w. a 3 month old baby cool, I appreciate the feedback...

October 22nd, 2006, 21:26	#4
TonyC Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,648	Re: Flying w. a 3 month old baby I don't know that there is a minimum time of noise exposure that will cause hearing loss, but I've always been told that loss is cumulative. I would think - - underline think, it's just my opinion - - that you can't be too careful, especially with young, developing bodies. I wouldn't try anything that goes in the ear canal for a 3-mo-old. It might be painful or uncomfortable, and it might wind up in his mouth. But I'd definitely use one of those wool caps with the straps you tie under the chin so the little guy couldn't knock it off. Another possibility would be one of those straps that looks like a sweat band. Anything to cover the ears ought to help. I'd be MORE concerned about discomfort during the descent. The largest pressure changes occur in the lower altitudes. Don't think that "only" 2000 feet makes it a non-issue. Make sure he has something to suck on during the descent. . __________________ <~ Tony C ~> The truth only hurts if it should.

October 22nd, 2006, 22:01	#5
lostplanetairman Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: A Posts: 141	Re: Flying w. a 3 month old baby We took our child flying when he was six weeks of age from the east coast to Chicago. It was fine--as was mentioned, just make sure your child is sucking on ascent and descent.

October 22nd, 2006, 22:05	#6
USMCmech Old Skool Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,623	Re: Flying w. a 3 month old baby I took my son flying at about 5-6 months, and he went to sleep. Basicly he considered it a very noisy car. I tried to cut some foam ear plugs in half, but he pulled them out right away. He has a headset now (20 months) and he just pulls it off and chews on it. __________________ "You may all go to Hell, I shall go to Texas" David Crockett http://www.myspace.com/usmcmech96

October 23rd, 2006, 00:01	#7
JaceTheAce Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Most of the time in the air Posts: 7,353	Re: Flying w. a 3 month old baby My dad would fly all of us around all the time...since my sister was about 5 months old. She did fine! __________________ "Time spent flying is not deducted from one's lifespan." Free The Grapes!

October 23rd, 2006, 13:07	#9
farmerbrown Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 77	Re: Flying w. a 3 month old baby My youngest and he would never keep his ear protection on. We started with basically a knit cap and headband. He graduated to a headset but always took it off. He was usually asleep before we left the runway, so the noise couldn't have bothered him too much. Now he just turned 3 and keeps the headset on just fine. __________________ Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.

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