Let me begin with a little background: I am in my 40’s, I have 3 children (ages 18 -28) all of whom I never took on a plane until they were age 7 or older – obviously I don’t believe in babies and toddlers on airplanes. To parents of small children I say, “Drive to your destination!!!” I also have issues with late-in-life-first-time parents who are enablers (aka: overly tolerant of negative behavior).
I do realize sometimes there isn’t much you can do to calm a crying baby, but you should, at the very least, try to do something, especially when you are in an enclosed space with a captive audience. I, and countless others, have paid our dues as parents and have no desire to be part of a total stranger’s parenting (or lack thereof) experience.
During a flight from West Palm Beach, FL, to Birmingham, AL, I had the displeasure of sitting across the aisle from a 30-something couple with an infant. As they boarded the plane the child was crying, and I don’t mean whimpering… I mean full-out-lung-capacity screaming. I thought perhaps the baby was hungry and they would feed her once they seated. WRONG!!! Neither parent made an attempt to feed the child, burp it, or comfort it in any way to calm its squalling and stop the distress (to all involved).
Anyway, the poor thing continued its scream-fest for at least an hour at which time, I assume, it finally passed out from exhaustion. Five minutes later as we were landing in Charlotte, NC the mother decides it’s her nap time so she hands the finally-sleeping child to her husband. BIG mistake!! Jostled child wakes up and once again starts screaming. Mommy-dearest, however, is still determined to take a nap leaving dear old dad to deal with the child from Hades.
Back in the air again, the child continues to cry the entire flight to Birmingham. Once deplaning begins, Mom of still-screaming child pops up to get her baggage from the overhead making the rest of us wait while still listening to HER little darling. Needless to say, after 3 hours my nerves were raw. I got up, pushed Mom back into her seat and cleared the way so the rest of the passengers could escape. Upon my exit I heard her comment on how rude I was.
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
“Drive to your destination.”
So my parents should have driven from the United States to Finland when I was 3 months old? Dad was sent there for work and didn’t want to leave mom home alone for several weeks with a newborn.
God, I don’t have any kids and I’m more patient than you are. I agree that flights with screaming babies aren’t pleasant, but physically pushing a woman? Yes, that is rude. Next time, bring earplugs or noise canceling headphones.
You were rude, also intolerant, and quite frankly a jackass. Air travel is allowed for anyone regardless of age. According to you, what shoud the minimum age be? Should someone be required to call you and get permission for a child on the borderline? How about an upper limit? Old people move slower and cause me to wait…so should they be banned also? People who don’t speak the native language take additional time and effort, and it’s SO annoying when I can’t understand their conversation, plus sometimes their food smells funny, so what’s your ruling on them? Please post your home number, cell number, email, work phone, and home address so we can all check with you prior to purchasing airline tickets.
You actually pushed her? You put hands on her? That’s beyond rude. You were the childish one. You are lucky you were not further delayed by a night in jail for assault.
What do you think Hugh? Stuff an apple in his mouth and par boil him in oil?
While I do not agree with his actions or his opinion on the Age Limit, he does make a valid point that parents who fly with their children have a responsiblity to try and keep their children as quiet as possible on the plane.
My question is, if parents are willing to let their kids scream and cry in public, what do they do at home? If you comfort your child at home to try and calm them down, why wouldn’t you do that on a plane in public?
I have a 20 month-old and my wife is due with our second in 8 weeks. We took our oldest on a flight from Richmond, VA to Grand Cayman when he was 10 months old. We brought plenty of stuff to try and keep him occupied and happy throughout the flight. While he did fuss a little during take-off and landing, over-all he was easy. I know all babies aren’t easy, but at least be prepared incase your child is not.
I will point out, and most parents will probably agree, babies generally don’t cry for an hour straight, unless they have colick. Most babies tire out long before that, so I will throw the BS flag on this guy’s story for how long the baby was crying…
What a jackass, I can’t believe that you actually pushed her into her seat. If you touched my wife while we flew with our newborn I would have knocked your two front teeth out.
What shouldn’t be allowed is parents who can’t seem to handle their children – but you go ahead and try that. In this case, the infant was just inconsolable. It happens. Obviously you don’t remember that from when your children were very young. I recently flew with my 3-year-old (who was a saint the whole time) and my 4-month old (who cried every time someone spoke over the PA, but was quickly calmed down), and had no major problems.
You’re a jackass, and had you tried that with me, security would have met you at the gate and you would have been charged with assault.
It’s a hellish thing to bear, but pushing her crosses the line big time.
I think its bs. I bet if it did happen, he sat there and waited for mom and didn’t touch her or even go near her. ::Eye roll:;
Pushing her was wrong….
But agreed, that people that know their children do not have good temperaments should not travel on an airplane with them unless absolutely necessary.
We have all paid for our tickets, and as such, deserve a pleasant and quiet flight as much as possible….I don’t bother you…please don’t bother me, or let your child bother me.
I agree with the guy who posted this story.
No screaming kids or babies on flights.
Oh, the Finland guy, there are things called boats, they go in the water.
Or you could have gone by canoe.
I’m female. And don’t be asinine. Of course, given your username, I should really expect anything logical or intelligent in your comments.
When you buy your ticket you are entitled to be taken from point A to point B; everything else is the luck of the draw. If there aren’t any:
crying babies
child brats
smelly, sloshed, obnoxious, rude people
turbulence…
well, then you’re lucky.
If they’re there, take a deep breath and deal with it. You can’t have everything your way in life.
there are simply some things beyond your control…I suggest noise cancellation headphones and a loaded iPod
A personal suggestion is the $20 Skullcandy earpieces and any sort of portable music device. as a frequent flier, this works pretty well, droning out babies and engine noise
May be the airlines should introduce additional new flights that says “baby/toddler free flights” – seriously this will be helpful for some sick people and seniors.
I completely agree with the author; you pay $$ to fly and that one hour journey turns to be a hell – not good, agreed.
But you don’t have to be so rude honey! I understand that the mom/dad failed to calm that child, still, pushing is little too much and unfair. I have travelled on long haul flights US to Europe then to Asia and I have seen moms/dads trying to calm babies.
In my case, I had to travel with my 9 month old on a family emergency and the flying time was 18 hrs. I gave him a small dose of Tylenol as per his PCP’s suggestion to calm him for his ears popping. He was such a darling for the first leg and then the second leg, I almost cried because I knew he was getting on to others nerves so I took him away from the seat and stood for almost 4 hrs near the emergency exit door and diverted him and played with him. It was hard to explain a 9 month old that it was a plane and there are lot more people travelling!
Unfortunately, the turbulence began and I was asked to take my seat. I was nervous because what if he cries again and poor passengers… Like I anticipated he began crying again after 10 minutes and I was like begging the flight attendant to let me go back to the exit door which she could not do as per rules. My husband and I were giving him all that we had, toys to cell phone nothing make him quiet. We had to literally keep saying sorry to who ever saw us struggling.
Ohh one more thing, you will end up sailing for ever if I’d have to go to Asia! And remember babies are babies, even if it is boat they are going to be the same old creatures and one cannot jump and swim if people in the boat gets mad for a crying baby….
So dear author, next time you see a parent uninvolved when their kid is crying, don’t push them instead tell them what they need to do. And also keep in mind there are some kids who don’t calm in spite of trying everything, in such cases you have to forgive them and use ear plugs like some one said.
Well you’ve set the small minded, provencal tone by seeming to assume that everyone’s family lives on North America, or at least should… but lets assume you’re capable of logical, rational thought…
Have you ever considered that it is probably just as intolerable for the parents as it is for the other passengers. I have never met a parent who looks forward to taking their baby or toddler on flight, probably because of small minded idiots. Who knows what these parents had been through in the previous 24 hours — a sleepless night, a (few) cancelled flight(s) — the kid could have had trapped gas or an ear infection. Airports aren’t exactly sanctuaries of serenity and relaxation.
Having said this, of course there some parents who are better at being parents than others, but doesn’t this go for every type of passenger? Babies can’t rationalize or control their actions, drunk/smelly/loud/opinionated adults certainly should be able to.
Tom,
What you seem to overlook is that the parents chose to have the child. As such, sleepless nights, crying babies, etc…is what they signed on for. It is their responsibility. And, they should not expect the world to gladly accomodate their choices in life.
It’s already been said here many times, but I’m saying it anyway – who are you to dictate to others that they should drive with their small children because it might inconvenience you if they flew?
Not everyone has that option. Not everyone has your circumstances. Good for you that that’s how you did things. Now shut up about it.
RJ,
Who are you to dictate to others that they must put up with someone elses small, crying children…because it might inconvenience the parents to drive?
Good for you that you had children…good for you that’ s how you did things. Now shut up about it, and go raise your child…and, quit expecting everyone else to accomodate your decisions to procreate and your decision to fly with your small, noisy child.
Your child. Your responsibility. Not mine.
Hey dumbass? I don’t have kids. I’m a nanny. Who the hell are YOU to dictate anything to anyone? You should be concentrating on pulling your big oversized head out of your big oversized ass.
You come near any kid I take care of and you’ll be in traction.
RJ,
You get paid to take care of the kid…so, even more your responsibility…not mine…dumbass.
If I have to put up with their screaming and crying on the plane…because you do not know how to do your job…then you should give me part of your salary, for enduring what should be yours to endure.
Obviously, if the parents have hired a nanny…they don’t even want to be around their kids or take a hand in raising them….and, then the flying public are subjected to their “little darlings”. Pathetic.
Bottom line…I have flown many times with good, well-behaved kids. The parents were attentive and sometimes stern. You could tell they were good, involved parents…. and, I do not mind flying with those kids or those parents…and, for those I am sympathetic when the kids get fussy and tired…because they have tried.
but, there have been times when kids on flights were absolute brats, and the parents did not make any effort to parent. And, to that extent…those people should not fly….again, they chose to have the children…they should raise them…or pay you to raise them…and, not expect the world to accomodate their choices.
Hey Jimmy, dumbass, honey? If you had just acknowledged this:
“Bottom line…I have flown many times with good, well-behaved kids. The parents were attentive and sometimes stern. You could tell they were good, involved parents…. and, I do not mind flying with those kids or those parents…and, for those I am sympathetic when the kids get fussy and tired…because they have tried.”
Instead of making your obnoxious blanket statement in the first place in response to mine, we wouldn’t have had this exchange.
Oh, and Jimmy? I do my job, and do it well. Why don’t you find one, too?
“They should not expect the world to gladly accommodate their choices in life” – what a brilliant statement!
Wonder why we completely forget what we were taught as kids; adjust, be nice to each other, forgive, love, courteous and respect.
Jim, I agree with you it is sole responsibility of a parent to manage their kids. But what would you do if a baby is not calming down in spite of a parent’s attempts to pacify that child?
Someone pointed earlier that no baby cries more than an hour – I don’t agree with that.
Jim, you said parents have made a choice to have a child knowing how life will be after that – you’re right its100% true. Like wise you must also realize that when you made the choice of flying with 100 more people of different ages you should also be aware of the crying babies, dirty toilets, broken seats, stinky passengers, cramped space and many more. (That’s what you signed for)
You cannot complain! If you think that a parent had failed to play their role in controlling a crying baby, I stand by you but what will you do if the baby is not calming down in spite of all the attempts to keep him quiet? Each child is different, one will calm down with in 5 minutes while another will calm down after 20 minutes and some will never calm down at all. What will you do at that time?
Because they don’t understand anything they are called “babies” and because we know what is around us we are called “adults”!
Complaining passengers should fly on a private jet!
We grown ups are unable to tolerate a baby crying and express our frustration by writing on a blog like this or even being rude by pushing; same way a baby is unable to tolerate something that he can’t tell out in words instead expresses by crying.
We adults are no different than babies!
Shall I also add on that baby basinet are disgusting. Airlines do not wash or change the cover. Imagine a baby before yours peed or poop or vomits on it and the mother just wipe it off? Too much bacteria to even mention. big DISGUSTING