When is it safe for baby to fly?

[Ange1979]

Hi Everybody!

My fiance is stuck in the UK with delays relating to his divorce, so chances are, he may miss the birth of our little girl who is due on 7th February.

If he is stuck in the UK beyond say three weeks after baby's birth, I want to get on a plane to London with my little girl.

But when is it safe for a baby to fly? I have no idea and would love to know if anybody here has any clue about this sort of thing.

Thanks!

[nelly]

I flew domestic with DS when he was about 3months old - not sure about ages though or long haul flights either. Maybe check the airline websites?

[LimeSlice]

there is no reason that bubba cant fly at that age. But can you handle bubba on your lap for 24 hours?
It is actually easier at that age rather than when they are Charlottes age - so hard to fly with her now as all she wants to do is run around! lol
Just make sure she has something to suck on for take off and landing so her ears dont hurt and she'll be fine

I hope though you dont have to and DF makes it back in time to see your little girl come into the world - good luck!

[melbel]

I think but don't quote me on this for an international flight itis either 14 or 21 days......it also can vary between airlines with their rulings on stuff like that.

I'm with LS hoping and praying for you that DH can make it back in time and se his beautiful child born!

ETA: Just found this on the Qantas site:
"If an infant is less than 7 days old or not in good health, then medical clearance is required for travel."
So the minimum would seem to be 7 days...don't forget you will need time to arrange the birth certificate to be processed amd stamped before you can apply for the passort and then you have to wait for that and apply for a visa for Britain as well so keep all that in mind when planning as it could take more time than you think.

[Nai]

You will need a passport for the baby so you will need to register the birth and then register for a passport once you get your certificate. This can take quite a few weeks for them to process.

[Ange1979]

I think but don't quote me on this for an international flight itis either 14 or 21 days......it also can vary between airlines with their rulings on stuff like that.

I'm with LS hoping and praying for you that DH can make it back in time and se his beautiful child born!

ETA: Just found this on the Qantas site:
"If an infant is less than 7 days old or not in good health, then medical clearance is required for travel."
So the minimum would seem to be 7 days...don't forget you will need time to arrange the birth certificate to be processed amd stamped before you can apply for the passort and then you have to wait for that and apply for a visa for Britain as well so keep all that in mind when planning as it could take more time than you think.

Cheers!

Because I'm an Australian national and baby's dad is a British national, she will have dual citizenship. I don't know what's the deal with passports...if she'd have a British or Aussie one or both.

I would have to get everything expedited. Obviously, fiance and I don't want to be apart for any longer than we absolutely have to - especially not with our baby!

[melbel]

Because she is born in aus, she will have an aussie one, she will not automatically have dual citizenship just because dad is british. What she will have is the right to become a permanent resident of Britain and work there as an adult (as opposed to other people who can only stay a max of two years on a working visa)...she will need to have her passport stamped with a permanent resident visa if she decides to do this...she does not automatically become a british citizen....she will have to live in britain to apply for that.

[Antheia]

She would be able to get a British passport. I know that much because my Dad's parents were Irish and he can get a UK passport and so can i.

[melbel]

I would double check that antheia...was your dad born in britain. The laws recently changed making it that it had to be a parent born there to get one...it used to be grandparent but was changed recently in britain.....I know this because I used to be eligible but no longer am.

I have dual citizenship because I was born overseas to Austalian parents but I know that it was not an automatic thing.....my parents had to register with the australian consulate overseas in order for me to obtain an Australian passport. I also know that my niece was born in the US to australian parents and she still must travel on an American passport to enter america....bascially you need to have a passport from your country of birth to enter your country of birth otherwise it is considered fraudulent.

Okay just spoke to my SIL who is in exactly the same situation she is british and my brother is australian. Citizenship is not automatic.... it has be applied for by the parent who is born in Britain, so your hubby would have to do the application. It would be what I have which is called citizenship by descent. Without citizenship your child can carry a british passport but again your husband would need to be involved in the application..... and she would still need to carry an australian passport.......she would need her australian passort to reenter her country of birth. My SIL's advice is if you are going to be travelling back and forth to england you should probably get both but Daddy will have to apply for the british one.
She strongly advised getting some legal advice so you can jump on things as soon as bubba arrives. hope that helps........

[melbel]

just to clarify antheia...you are eligible to work in the UK under what is called an ancestry visa which means any one from a commonwealth country who has a grandparent born in the UK can apply for a working visa for five years provided they can prove they intend to work and will be fully self supporting. you would unable to claim any government financial assistance like a citizen can and cannot carry a british passport.

you father however could apply for permanent residency and a passport.

[Bub2Be]

Any news yet when bubs daddy may get back here, do you think he will be back in time for the birth

[Tegam]

My poor beautiful little man flew 8 times in his first 8 weeks (thats how i remember as i was so bloody tired LOL)..they were domestic flights

I think the first flight was maybe 3 weeks old......if that

I am with the other girls....the biggest problem will be a passport...I didnt even need a birthcert!

Also check out the nationality stuff as its changed, my mother is english and i cant even get a UK passport...just a cert of patrialoty (Sp?)


good luck my DH missed the birth of our second and we still are sad about it!