Aspen Nannies High Altitude Tips for Infants

Aspen sits close to 8,000 feet, one of the most elevated cities in the United States.. Your baby will have the sam e tolerance for high altitudes as you do, provided that she has no special health concerns and is beyond 3 months of age. (Babies under 3 months do not have mature enough lungs to handle the altitude stress, so wait until the baby has reached that milestone to take your trip.) 

If your baby has any heart or lung conditions, or if she is born prematurely, then you’ll need to reconsider the trip. In that case, consult with child’s physician about her ability to tolerate the altitude.

– Fluid requirements are increased at higher altitudes, so nurse your baby frequently or offer her several additional ounces of formula or water daily while you remain at the higher altitude.

– Temperature maintenance can be a concern for the baby, too, so be sure to bring along plenty of warm layer s to keep your child cozy.

– The sun’s rays are also more intense at higher altitudes, so you’ll need to be particularly careful about slathering on a baby-safe sunscreen and covering her head with a wide-brimmed hat.

About 25 per cent of people get acute altitude sickness no matter what, and that applies to babies, too. Signs of this can be very subtle in an infant, with poor feeding, irritability and vomiting, often mimicking the flu. There are 2 ways to deal with this: Go back to a lower altitude, or, if the trip is short, just get through it, provided that the baby’s color is good and there is no breathing distress.