Are long haul flights contributory to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?

Question

I seem to recall hearing about how taking very young children on long haul flights can be a contributary factor in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome? Is this true and if it is what age is classed as safe to take them?

Answer 1

found this on the web
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/childrenshealth/202969.html
Question

Is it safe to fly on a long flight with a small baby?

I read somewhere that the air quality wasn't good and babies lungs weren't developed enough to cope with it and it could bring about cot death.

I ask as a grandmother.

Answer

We are always delighted to answer queries from concerned grandparents, and this particular worry is certainly one which has been disseminated in the media in the recent past.

In fact there is no evidence that long-haul flights pose a cot death hazard to small babies, and I personally would have no hesitation in taking a healthy baby of my own on a flight.

The air is recycled in modern jets, but as I say there is no strong evidence that there is any cot death risk.

SIDS, the charity that looks into the study of sudden infant death syndrome, does not consider long-haul flights a risk either. In many ways small babies travel far better than older children as far as parents are concerned.

Answer 2

Not known. We do know some factors that increase/reduce the risk, but scientists still don't know what causes some babies to die in their sleep. (Risk factors include: putting baby to sleep on her belly, being born in winter, exposure to second hand smoke [or maternal smoking during pregancy], being formula fed, sleeping long stretches at night, having a sibling who died of SIDS, overheating, etc. Boys are also slightly more likely to die of SIDS. Ways of reducing the risk include breastfeeding, co-sleeping, frequent night feeding, back-sleeping, and possibly using a pacifier (if baby isn't already nursing often at night) and ceiling fans.) EDIT: If a baby dies after getting tangled in a blanket or being rolled over on, that's NOT SIDS ... but suffocation. SIDS is, by definition, unexplained.

Answer 3

info on SIDS and how to prevent it http://www.thecauseofsids.org/
I have friends who have traveled with a 4 month old on a 11hour flight, the baby slept all the way and felt fine afterwards. When he was 1 they flew again, this time it was harder for the baby to travel.

Answer 4

I have never heard that. It can cause them discomfort because of pressure build-up in their ears. They might be exposed to germs from being in a enclosed area with so many people. Make sure they are up to date on their immunizations before taking any such trip.

Answer 5

Not any more than having pets in the home are, or having the temprature of the home too low or too high or using flannel sheets instead of cotton, or putting a baby on it's tummy to sleep instead of back or bathing a baby right before bedtime or NOT bathing a baby right before bedtime or using disposable diapers as opposed to cloth, etc,etc, etc. There are THOUSANDS of theroies as to what causes sids but no proof of any of them.

Answer 6

No..It is something to do with your insides not your activity!!!