How do you feel about babies and children on planes?

Question

Coming from a person who has been flying since she was 3 months old, I feel that I am somewhat biased in that I think babies, children, and their parents should face little to no criticism for being on planes. I have flown for weddings, funerals, and family vacations, so I do not feel that people should only fly with children when absolutely necessary. I also think that stepping up to help or being sympathetic for parents with upset children (as long as the parents are doing something, of course) is better than sitting there and griping about it. Additionally, I feel that possibly setting aside a family section on a plane is a good idea. Not only do other passengers not have to deal with children, but children and their parents don't have to put up with any anti-child attitudes. Other parents are more likely to be sympathetic if a child becomes upset.

Using this place as a sounding board, what do you think of all this?

Answer 1

I would love to see family seating on an airplane, not just for other passengers but for the ease of families. It's not an easy task to load up everything you need to on those small planes, and believe it or not, some parents feel really bad if their child cries, or is acting out because they are uncomfortable there on the plane and bothering other people. As long as parents are trying I feel no reason to blame them or a child for some crying or whining, it's what kids do. I think I fly worse then any child as I am deathly afraid of flying myself, last time I actually got onto a plane the little baby in front of me did better then I did.

Answer 2

I traveled by myself with my two year old and six-month old. I recieved no help from the airline and they only made it more difficult for me by delaying one plane and then cancelling another.

Overall, I would feel that flying is a pretty good idea for parents with children. They are not really that much of a bother as they tend to sleep a lot.

The family section would be a good idea but not very realisitic unfortunately. The first chance the airline would get to sell those tickets they would. Alos, theose "anti-child" people would not want to sit aywhere close to the family section.

Answer 3

I have taken my son on a plane several times. The first being when he was 11 months old so that we could go home and see my family for christmas. I see nothing wrong with this. Where is the law stating that planes are only for adults or only for non-parental adults? We have just as much right to a plane ride as others. We pay the say fees for our trips. And, we have to pay for a seat for our children so our trip cost more in the long run.
Parents should of course have things to occupy their children especially for long trips.

Answer 4

I have been travelling with my son since he was bron (honest his first plane trip was at 3 days old on medivac, second flight was at 5 weeks to go home... you get where this is going) My son is pleasure to fly with! As for some adults... I really would rather fly with a whole plane of 2 year olds who acted like my son than half the adults I had to share the planes with.

I would also hate to be grouped into a family section because crying kids always upset my son and got him worked up until the other kid stopped. It was like a switch he stopped as soon as the other kid did.

As long as a parent is prepared when flying with their child than there shouldn't be any problems. Bring extra bottles, some tylonol, games or toys, snacks, a soother to suck on for their ears. Be prepared, change their bum and play with them and they will be happy!

Answer 5

Parents need to control their young children on flights. I understand kids getting cranky, but if parents think ahead and bring snacks and activities for them to do, then control their behavior when they start acting out, the rest of the passengers wouldn't get that overly irritated. The worst is when a small child is sitting in front of or behind you and constantly kicking the seat or moving around so things don't stay situated on your tray table. As for babies, I just feel bad for the little, little ones that cry the whole way because you know they are crying because of the altitude change and the resulting ear pressure. When they cry the whole way, it's because they are in pain, and it makes me feel bad for them, it can't be much fun.

Answer 6

I think I'm in the minority on this one...

But my job requires me to travel. I'm on a plane 2, sometimes 4 times a week.

And let me tell ya, when I get stuck next to a screaming baby for a 6 hr flight, it does not make me a happy person.

The worst part is the parents that I've met don't even seem to notice that the people around them are uncomfortable.

I actually had a lady, on one flight, who handed me her 1 year old b/c the baby kept trying to crawl into my lap to play with my necklace...
I didn't WANT to hold the child. But the baby wouldn't stop screaming and clawing my arm (sharp little nails too lol) and squirming. So this 'mom' just dumped the kid in my lap and then got up to go to the restroom... what was I to do?!


Those people who are infrequent travelers (2-3 times a year?) don't really mind the screaming babies. And I can understand htat.

However, those of us (and all my co-workers, even those WITH infants, agree) who travel regularly don't think its fair to the babies to make a child suffer ear-pressure changes, being stuck in a seat for an hour, stuff air, etc.

And its definately NOT fair to the other passengers to make them listen to the baby wail for hours of flight.

Answer 7

Yes, I think children should be allowed to fly. They have the right to see the country just the same as everyone else does. But I am also that parent that doesn't allow my child to get our of her seat at a restaurant or behave in a way that would disrupt others around her. I have enough respect for others and I realize the world does not revolve around my children.

Off topic but..I find it interesting that it is a no win situation. I took my 9 month old daughter on a plane. I could keep her quiet but that meant I would have to discreetly nurse her in public. Which is worse a crying baby or **gasp** a baby being nursed in public?? No one is ever happy.

Answer 8

Children that misbehave are unacceptable in any public venue. My daughter knows how to act in public and would be a pleasure for anyone to fly with. Parents that refuse to control their children are a problem in society as a whole, not just on planes. I know babies under the age of one are not very controllable, I am speaking of children over 1 year.

Answer 9

I feel that, just like anywhere out in public (and even at home), parents are responsible for teaching their children how to be polite and, if their children aren't able to be polite on their own, yet, parents are responsible for making sure that their children aren't bothering anyone else.

As a parent, though, I know that even when we have the best intentions & are making the best effort we can, we don't always succeed in keeping our children from bothering other people. I would expect the other people to be equally polite & respectful & understanding to the parent who is clearly doing the best they can, but just having a bad day.

Kids in airplanes, restaurants, public spaces - all fine with me, as long as the parents are trying to fulfill their responsibility towards their children and towards society. Kids can't learn how to behave in public without practice doing it.

Answer 10

I have to say I took my son at the age of 1yr old on a trip to see his great g-ma and he was fine before I went but an hour after we landed he had a fever of 104.3 and went into a seizure and stopped breathing. We phoned 911 and when we got to the hospital they said he had a bad ear infection and had no symptoms prior too. They told me that plane rides can make the infection set in much worse. So I have no problem w/ baby's on a plane or the crying because how else are they to tell you how they feel. But please get your baby's checked before flying, it could be crucial.