More on kids on flights

[codash1099]

Mayday! Mayday! Toddlers at 30,000 feet | The New Daily

I can't say I've ever been badly affected and the most we did with my kids (probably in a Wright biplane) was cross country, but I've been lucky.

 

[JohnK]

I have been affected once or twice but you forget about it.

Babies don't usually bother me. It's not their fault. But as kids get older and their tantrums get worse and their parents cannot control those tantrums and plan trips with those kids then it can get difficult.

You can excuse a child for having ear pain. How do you excuse a child for refusing to put on a seatbelt and carrying on with a tantrum? Parents cannot control the child or have no interest in controlling the child.

Headphones can help? Not much else you can do in this situation.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Separate sections for kids is a great idea.

 

[Moindardt]

Rarely is it bad kids, more bad parents. Not once have the kids in J or F been bad. Wish I could say the same about the adults. In Y, for every bad kid there is at least 10 adults. Just had 2 14hr flights and both times numerous FAs commented on how they wish the adults could be as well behaved.

 

[eric2011]

Being stuck in a metal tube for unto 15 hours ( i.e. LAX - SYD ) is bad enough for me, I can only imagine what its like for a 3, 4, or 5 year old.

That having been said.....what Dr Ralph says below sure works for me!!

Separate sections for kids is a great idea.

 

[Pleb Status]

Separate sections for kids is a great idea.

There is a pressurised area of the cargo bay which could be available

 

[drron]

If I am flying domestically by myself I actually enjoy having an infant in the same row.I am usually able to help the parent/s have their infant enjoy the trip.If not I just go to sleep.No problems.

 

[eric2011]

There is a pressurised area of the cargo bay which could be available

Oh dear, thats almost as bad as the Jet* flight attendant who stored one in an overhead locker a few years back

 

[Deleted member 29185]

There is a pressurised area of the cargo bay which could be available

For whom.....the pigs of adults who place their feet all over tray tables, bulkheads, seats, armrests.......or the kids who are just being kids (and mostly pretty well behaved IME)?

 

[kermatu]

More often than not I find kids light up a cabin - make everyone smile and relax, remind you of the wonder that is flying, take pleasure in small things. Sure, there are some kids and parents that are difficult and dominate a cabin - but that's the minority in my experience and we all have our bad days!

The idea of having small mini-cabins dedicated to parent/kids would be interesting. Trouble is such cabins (Emerald city..) are usually sought after by status pax for long-haul flights anyway.

 

[Denali]

I really don't know what people expect FAs to do with other peoples children.

I mean, FAs are not there to baby sit... although Im pretty sure they babysit a lot of the adults... but when people say the "FAs didn't do anything", what do they expect? Its not like an upset child is going to be receptive to a complete stranger swooping in, picking them up, telling them to shush and the kid will stop crying/calm down.

And then theres the parents that complain about the FAs not "helping". Again, FAs are not there to babysit your kids so what do they actually expect from the FA?

Kids usually cry for a reason, we may not understand or appreciate their reason but its how they communicate so unless its a out of control kiddie due to bad parenting there is no point to giving snide looks at the parent for being unable to shut their kid up because Im pretty sure most parents would love their child to have a happy, quite flight.