How would you handle a child's tantrum on a plane?

Question

Air Tran removed a family from a flight because they would not or could not control their three year old daughter. She was crawling under and around the seats, screaming and hitting her parents. If I had to deal with it, I would have picked her up, placed her in the seat and buckled her in. Once this was done, I would have asked one of the flight attendants for some juice and then worked to calm the child down. I'd love to know how other people would have handled the situation and whether you feel that the airline did the right thing.

Answer 1

I completely agree with AirTran's decision to remove the family. Not only was the child's behavior unacceptable, it interferred with the flight crew.

When families fly with small children, they are allowed to pre-board. This pre-boarding is done to allow time for parents to situate their children and get them buckled in their seats.

Think about the last time you flew, how long did it take the entire plane to board? If the parents could not gain control of their unruly child within 15 minutes, why would anyone think that additional time would help the situation?

I read in numerous articles that the child was hitting the mother. If the child was doing this in a plane full of people, how many times do you think it has shown the same behavior in other areas?

I wish that other eating establishments as well as stores would follow AirTran's lead. Just because you cannot handle your children doesn't mean the general public has to.

I have a son that has been flying since he was 2 months old. I can guarantee you that we never had a single incident like this. How did we ensure a quiet trip? The night before we flew, we had a "going on vacation" party where we stayed up very late and had a huge dinner. The next day, my son would be tired and would fall asleep within minutes after take off. We didn't use Benedryl (but it was suggested by our family doctor) or force.

The long and short of this story is that the parents had little to no control over their little terror. AirTran was more than kind to not only reimburse them for their flight, but also offered round trip tickets.

Answer 2

I've trapsed my family all over the place and have been fortunate enough not to have had a child have any big meltdown on a flight. Once a meltdown has started it is hard to control.

I don't ususally support giving in to tantrums, but stuff some candy at the toddler and hold that buckle shut, and put your arm around them.

I think sitting in her own seat was probally a really hard issue considering it was takeoff and the child couldn't be held to calm it. Often being held is the best way to calm a tantrum, the child has totally lost control of its little self at that point.

Answer 3

My folks carted me and my bro and sis around the country when we were young kids. Mom always gave us a generous helping of cough syrup or benadryl syrup before we flew. It was like a pre-flight ritual. Then we all got to choose a favorite candy, to suck on to help our ears pop (and shut us up, i imagine). We always had books and magazines.

If you do those type of things before hand, then you would think that it wouldn't escalate to any sort of tantrum. So in essence, the child should be given something to look forward to on the flight. For us it was candy and books and magazines.

I totally thought the airline did the right thing. I only hope that the flight attendants get kudos from the airline for doing that. I would hope that any flight, anyone who disturbs the peace, no matter what age.... should be removed from the airplane!

Answer 4

You really don't know until you are in that situation, to have everyone staring at you while your child is screaming and hitting you in such a confined area. I don't know what I would have done but I think that she should have been allowed to take her child into the bathroom while she could calm down. I don't think placing a child in the seat and giving her some juice would have done the trick other wise she would have done it. You never really know until you are in that situation, if it was me like I said I would have tried to take my child to the bathroom.

Answer 5

The parents are bigger than the child, there was no reason why the parents could not have pjicked her up and put her in her seat. I have a 3 year old and it would not have been a problem, 3 year olds understand haveing to sit down, this display of behavior was a serious reflection on the parents skills she is growing up with. Because of their inability to do what they needed to do, every was made to be later than what they already were.

Answer 6

When I was a Flight Attendant with TWA we would lock screaming kids in the overhead compartments and if they didn't quit screeming we would take them out and lock them in the smelliest lavatory on the aircraft for the duration of the flight.

Answer 7

well first the parents you saw should have raised the child better that is a big influence that can make a big difference but if there a the age that they dont know better i would do every thing in my power to keep it calm even if it starts to scream and yell they can allow that on a plain just not a wild child

Answer 8

The airline did the right thing. If parents are not going to do their job they should be kicked off the plane. Disturbing other passengers is not fair. Had I acted like that when I was that age, I would have been beaten.

Answer 9

possibley give the kid some tylenol before we got on the plain to have her be a little drowsy but ya.. id sit her butt down in the seat buckle her in and give her something to get her attention towards something else..but ya thats a hard one to deal with untill your in that situation that had to suck for them.. ohh i d be soo pissed if i got bumped cuz of my kid..that would suck...

Answer 10

you have to discipline a child. i would have whooped her so bad i would have went to jail