Dr. Mathews ONLINE

Air travel is safe for newborns and infants .  Do not do  unnecessary air travel during the first two weeks of life . Air travel, as in any crowded place,  exposes your baby  to  people and their germs, because of recycled cabin air. You should not travel if your baby is ill.  When you travel on an aircraft with a newborn, it is recommended that you place the child in a rear-facing child safety seat that is  properly secured in the seat next to yours.  Most child safety seats are certified for air travel.    If you can, choose a bulkhead seat and avoid being seated in emergency exit rows.Other concerns you  may have about flying with a newborn are....  You may be concerned that reduced oxygen levels at high altitudes increases the risk of SIDS in newborns. This is not true.  You may worry that air travel will hurt a newborn''s ears. But the effects of flying on a newborn''s ears are same as that for an adult''s ears. Fluctuations in cabin pressure cause pain.  Sucking helps equalize the pressure in the ears. So feeding your baby during takeoff and landing will help.