Bringing a Newborn Baby to 'high altitude'?

Hey Colorado Mountain Dads,

My wife and I are expecting in the next few weeks. Very exciting! We live in Boulder, CO and were planning to take a family trip to Crested Butte the end of October (baby would be ~6 weeks). The altitude in CB is roughly 9,000 feet.

I'd love to hear anyone's experience with bringing babies born in the Front Range to 'high altitude'. Is this a good idea? Bad idea? It depends...?

Thanks for the insight!
-Dan

Does your doctor have laryngitis?  

If your baby's health isn't that important to you, just ask on the Internet. Don't waste your money on a pediatrician. (insert overused smiley face here).

I don't know about bringing one, but my daughter was born at 9,000 feet and she was great. Humans are born every day much higher. Isn't Boulder already near 6,000?

Let me turn the question around: What are you concerned MIGHT happen. 

Some online sources say a baby's lungs are not mature enough until three months - in reference to being able to handle large increases in altitude just like you would.

Whether your plans fit the “large increase” category, I do not know. Ask the baby’s doctor?

How long does fetal hemoglobin perdure after birth? I imagine that helps with altitude...

Here's another way of thinking about it. Would you FLY with your baby? The average cabin pressure in a commercial airliner is usually about the equivalent of 7,000 to 8,000 feet. And, of course, could decompress rapidly at any time.

It's sort of cute the things that new parents worry about.

I had similar questions before driving from NC and camping around Estes Park and the Tetons with our 5 day old this past May. I initially contacted the OB unit in Estes Park, and they directed me to the ParentSmart Healthline at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Pediatric nurses available to answer questions 24/7:

1-720-777-0123

FWIW, at the time, they told me that driving over mountain passes was fine, but to try to stay below 8,000’ elevation for any significant amount of time

The only problem we've ever had with our newish baby (about a year and a month old now) was when we climbed over any mountain passes at altitude...kinda bothers her ears a bit, which we could usually counter with a pacifier up and over each time...other than that it's been a-okay...we live in the Boulder area...

Thanks to those who gave thoughtful answers.

I'm just trying to get a feel for what people have actually experienced.

The standard seems to be to wait until they are 3-months old. However, it was not clear if this was for babies born at sea-level or 'low elevation' that then traveled to altitude.

took our daughter to Breckinridge from boulder when she was three week old ( and she was born a few weeks early). We didn't think about the altitude until we were half way up to the tunnel. In classic first child fashion we took an exit and called the doctor to get an opinion. They said it was not a problem and to just take things slow and pay attention to how the baby is acting.

I personally wouldn't worry with a healthy full-term infant, but ask the dr. to be sure. I was born in Republic of Georgia, people commonly traveled with babies born in the valleys to the mountain villages in summer for a few weeks, "for fresh air" (a shift from about 2500 feet or less, to about 8000 feet) and didn't think much of it.

Dan, congrats on your growing family!  The very exciting part is adapting/continuing your adventurous lifestyle and the anticipation of sharing the adventures with your new little human.  We have a 9-mo girl and recently went through similar thoughts/experiences/challenges on several trips already, big and small.  So, some thoughts and lessons learned, FWIW:

Like with any trip/expedition/etc, there is the leader and party members.  As a parent/leader, you now have a bigger party to consider and meeting the needs/comfort of your WHOLE team leads to the most enjoyed and successful trips.  Trying to force the same things in the same way you would have done BB (before baby) is a recipe for disappointment.  However, that doesn't mean you stay home for the next 5 years either because the judging grandparents or the internet tell you something they perceive is unsafe.  

1st - talk to your ped.  Always, even if it feels like dumb questions (it's smarter than asking the internet).  It's the expert advice you already pay for.  We took our 3-mo daughter to New Zealand on a 4-week road trip, which included 16-hr flights on each end.  We "planned" the trip before she was born.  We were apprehensive because our family was very opposed, but 2 of our peds were TOTALLY fine.  And considering the cabin pressure, that's on par with the altitude you'll be at in CB -- even more so, since we went from sea level and you're starting from 6k' already.

2nd - consider your child's needs before yours.  If your ped deems them not healthy enough to travel esp to higher altitude, or gets sick right before, for your child's sake and yours cancel your plans.  Even though we "planned" and booked our big trip before she was born, we were ready to pull the plug and cancel even up to the very last minute (almost did).  However, unless there's a particular health reason, the docs will not discourage you, but prepare for a slower trip and take it easy.  Know all the potential clinics along the way.  Bring extra food, fuel, and provisions to keep the baby extra warm in case you have issues on the road.  Always have backup and bail-out plans.  There's a middle ground between laissez faire and neurotic -- and that's prepared.  

Despite numerous lessons and challenges, the rewards have been far greater for us to bond as a family.  It so exciting to share your lifestyle with your growing family.  If anyone discourages you from adventuring with your young child because "they won't remember it", refer them to Nate Bargatze's bit on Disney World.  Best of luck with the months to come!  They will be challenging, but be engaged, positive, and most of all adaptable.

Dan Vinson wrote: 
The standard seems to be to wait until they are 3-months old. However, it was not clear if this was for babies born at sea-level or 'low elevation' that then traveled to altitude.

I'm curious where this standard came from. 

Spaggett, Gotcha! wrote: Dan, congrats on your growing family!  The very exciting part is adapting/continuing your adventurous lifestyle and the anticipation of sharing the adventures with your new little human.  We have a 9-mo girl and recently went through similar thoughts/experiences/challenges on several trips already, big and small.  So, some thoughts and lessons learned, FWIW:

Like with any trip/expedition/etc, there is the leader and party members.  As a parent/leader, you now have a bigger party to consider and meeting the needs/comfort of your WHOLE team leads to the most enjoyed and successful trips.  Trying to force the same things in the same way you would have done BB (before baby) is a recipe for disappointment.  However, that doesn't mean you stay home for the next 5 years either because the judging grandparents or the internet tell you something they perceive is unsafe.  

1st - talk to your ped.  Always, even if it feels like dumb questions (it's smarter than asking the internet).  It's the expert advice you already pay for.  We took our 3-mo daughter to New Zealand on a 4-week road trip, which included 16-hr flights on each end.  We "planned" the trip before she was born.  We were apprehensive because our family was very opposed, but 2 of our peds were TOTALLY fine.  And considering the cabin pressure, that's on par with the altitude you'll be at in CB -- even more so, since we went from sea level and you're starting from 6k' already.

2nd - consider your child's needs before yours.  If your ped deems them not healthy enough to travel esp to higher altitude, or gets sick right before, for your child's sake and yours cancel your plans.  Even though we "planned" and booked our big trip before she was born, we were ready to pull the plug and cancel even up to the very last minute (almost did).  However, unless there's a particular health reason, the docs will not discourage you, but prepare for a slower trip and take it easy.  Know all the potential clinics along the way.  Bring extra food, fuel, and provisions to keep the baby extra warm in case you have issues on the road.  Always have backup and bail-out plans.  There's a middle ground between laissez faire and neurotic -- and that's prepared.  

Despite numerous lessons and challenges, the rewards have been far greater for us to bond as a family.  It so exciting to share your lifestyle with your growing family.  If anyone discourages you from adventuring with your young child because "they won't remember it", refer them to Nate Bargatze's bit on Disney World.  Best of luck with the months to come!  They will be challenging, but be engaged, positive, and most of all adaptable.

I spooked you, incidentally.

Being born at high altitude and living at high altitude are entirely different than travel.  The body adapts from pregnancy through old age.

As for three months....the internet cites the issue of babies' lungs being not-yet-ready for the stress of high altitude.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is also associated with high altitude.

Thirdly, I would consider that a baby's head is relatively fragile.  Early damage to an infant can cause effects that manifest themselves throughout the child's whole life.

Yes, I'm conservative, as I have worked with multiply-handicapped infants and preschoolers.  And I've observed their lives through longer periods.

Ocalslay Onlyyay wrote:

I spooked you, incidentally.

XD  should've seen your face.

It's relative.  Taking your baby from Boulder to Crested Butte would be about the same as someone on the coast here in NC taking their baby to Boone (3300') for the weekend.  They wouldn't think twice about it, yet the change in effective oxygen levels is roughly the same as in your situation.  Worst-case scenario, your baby super-compensates and has a mutant-like VO-max for life-  you'd be stupid -not- to do it!

A word from the UIAA

https://www.theuiaa.org/uiaa/children-at-altitude-essential-advice/

Mark Paulson wrote: It's relative.  Taking your baby from Boulder to Crested Butte would be about the same as someone on the coast here in NC taking their baby to Boone (3300') for the weekend.  They wouldn't think twice about it, yet the change in effective oxygen levels is roughly the same as in your situation.  Worst-case scenario, your baby super-compensates and has a mutant-like VO-max for life-  you'd be stupid -not- to do it!

Not sure if you were being sarcastic or not, but NO! its not "relative".  Especially for an infant whose lungs aren't even fully developed yet.  Almost no healthy individual will experience altitude sickness from 0 to 7000ft of altitude (just tiredness), but once you go higher than about 8000ft, anyone could get sick.  Yes someone coming from sea level is at a higher risk, but even someone from CO Springs could experience sickness as far as I know.  Furthermore, you could be just fine at 9000ft, but then get horribly sick at 10000ft.

When I moved from southern NM (@ ~4000ft) to Woodland Park CO (@ ~8500ft), one of my kids was having some problems with the altitude which ended up being caused by acid reflux (strange I know).  Talking to other parents around here, I have found that it is not uncommon for infants living in Woodland Park to be put on supplemental O2 from birth up to 2yrs.  

Dan,
  Personally, knowing what I know now, I wouldn't risk taking a 3mo old to 9000ft.  If you do decide to risk it, then spend about $15-30 on a pediatric 02 sensor, and check your baby's 02 while you are at altitude (especially while he/she sleeps).  You will probably have to use it on his/her big toe.  I'm not really sure what the safe 02 range for an infant is, but for my son, we start to get worried if his 02 drops below about 92% on average.

I wonder how infants born in areas that are higher that the "safe" zone you're all describing, ever make it?