My kids are older now and know how to entertain themselves with puzzles and hand-held devices and play-doh and crayons and dolls. But ever so often you see little infants and toddlers crying because they are uncomfortable, restricted or are experiencing pressure changes.
I see that many folks are intolerant and make horrible faces and nod their heads as if to say “oh what an example of failed parenting.”
A few times I’ve gotten up and offered to help walk a baby to relieve the tired parent and that has been well appreciated.
I have come across both kinds of people.
It could have been my experience but the young unmarried people around me were sympathetic with me and were palyful and all smiles with my son.
The older ones were kind of unsympathetic and I noticed this more of men. (just my personal experience !!!)
There was this old lady sitting next to me in one of the flight and she was all about giving me her unasked for adice regarding my son.
I took the window seat so I could be a little more discreet when breast feeding my son and she was happy to take the aisle one but I think later she was a lot bugged about getting up whenever I needed to change my son or use the bathroom.
true. easier said than done. but it is extremely annoying to be traveling a 10 hour flight sitting next to a woman with an extremely fidgety one year old ... esp when you've had an emotional departure form your loved ones, haven't slept in 2 days and are traveling alone :(
I have come across both kinds of people.
It could have been my experience but the young unmarried people around me were sympathetic with me and were palyful and all smiles with my son.
The older ones were kind of unsympathetic and I noticed this more of men. (just my personal experience !!!)
There was this old lady sitting next to me in one of the flight and she was all about giving me her unasked for adice regarding my son.
I took the window seat so I could be a little more discreet when breast feeding my son and she was happy to take the aisle one but I think later she was a lot bugged about getting up whenever I needed to change my son or use the bathroom.
true. easier said than done. but it is extremely annoying to be traveling a 10 hour flight sitting next to a woman with an extremely fidgety one year old ... esp when you've had an emotional departure form your loved ones, haven't slept in 2 days and are traveling alone :(
I can see both point of views and sympathize with both of you :D
its just one of those situations....the parents obviously are doing the best they can, but I've been a passenger on a plane where the child pretty much screamed for 5 hours. I logically knew that the parents were doing everything they could but was so tired and couldn't help but be annoyed.
I won't mind giving my child just a slight dose of flu medication or something that'll put him to sleep for few hours. Thing is, the kid gets tired and exhausted too of screaming and crying and there isn't much the parent can do about it. I've experienced a situation where the kid was yelling, crying, screaming all the way from dubai to atlanta. It was horrible experience. I was alone and this kid was sitting right next to me. Not saying the parents weren't doing their job but I do think giving a lil bit of over-the-counter flu medication that has some sleep in it wouldn't hurt.
I can understand being on a flight but there should be some consideration when you're in an otherwise normal public place, like a mall, coffee shop or on the public transportation.
i always got annoyed on plane when liitle babies were crying................. now i myself is gng 2 travel wth my baby next month though the flight duration is less but still i m worried.............any tips plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
i know its irritating, when kids cry but obviously we understand neither its kids fault nor parents... i'm sure its hard with kids esp on a really long flight!
why is it that some babies (from the time of birth) cry a lot anyways .. and some are rather chilled out ... what's the difference? then of course there are those that learn to cry a lot to gain attention.
Oye hoye i remember my flight to uk from pk with my lill one .He made me also want to cry such a fuss he created thanks to the passenger next seat she was a lovly girl and was smiling every time i saw her making me relax koi baat nahi baccha hay but cant tell ya what was my experience.
I've travelled extensively with Noor and thank Allah that it has never been an unbearable trip.....not even when she has been extremely ill with the flu. It has been tiring but not uncomfortable for the passengers around me.
She still cries from the pressure on her ears and I feel for her. But I carry gum, lollipops and other goodies to help the situation.
When she was younger I gave her Gravol (an anti-nauseant that makes you drowsy without any serious side-effects) for the really long flights and it worked like a charm.
I guess I have been on enough flights with frustrated mothers that don't know what to do to keep their kids either busy, entertained or comfortable. I've even seen mothers travelling with infants carrying nothing but a couple of diapers. Not even a change of clothing!!!! Imagine that!
Once upon a time when we didn't have a baby we used to get so annoyed at kids shouting, screaming and crying especially during long flights. :o
So, what are some solutions? Any advice from experienced parents would be greatly appreciated by new moms like me!
i personally feel that takeoffs and landlings are the worst. What i was advised to do (and it worked like a charm) was to feed my baby during those times. The baby's sucking action helps minimise the effect of pressure difference during changing altitudes.
it was heaven traveling with a newborn upto say 7 month old (or as old as they can be before they are too big to fit in the basinet provided by the airline)… after that its hell.
especially if they can walk… 12 hour flight with constant chair kicking and pulling hair of the person sitting infront of me.. my son was deeply hated by that person and the man sitting next to me.. i wanted to be swallowed up by my chair before realizing.. abbay… im trying to make him stop doing all the annoying things he is doing.. if he coninues to do so.. BITE ME no amount of toys, food, chips, junk food and walking up and down the alley way did anything to relieve my son of his boredom. a very exhausting flight … nevr taking a long haul dayflight with him ever again until he is 20. never… way back . same 12 hour flight was heaven once again.. cuz it was at night.. he slept all the way.
oh and ppl vouching for cough medicine or other such things to make your kid drowsy… do make sure it works on your kid… such medicines have a reverse reaction on my son… he gets hyperactive. not good :nono:
I traveled to Pakistan with my then 6 month old daughter.It was a direct flight and a night time one and she mostly slept through it in her bassinet.The lady next to me was very nice and offered whatever help was needed.
On my way back she was 9 months old,hated to be held in the lap and all she wanted to do was just left alone...she was too big for the bassinet.She did not sleep enough through the flight.Did have a few crying sessions but was easily distracted.I had a load of toys and she also found the airline disposable plastic cups to be very fascinating.Next to me was an old couple.The aunty was bit too old and had health issues but still they both offered to hold her when she cried or when I wanted to eat or go to the washroom.
So actually no one hated me on the flight because of the baby.:D
The only horrible thing about the flight was actually not the flight itself but the transit and then dragging a very sleepy baby and baby bags on the airport and the immigration lines and the baggage claims...!!!
I wish there was a stroller of some sort where you can just fold it hide it in your carry on luggage and take it on board with you.
MY daughter thankfully had no problem during take offs and landings.I also did not use medication to make her drowsy .
I have traveled a lot before I had a baby.I cant recall I ever had any issues with any parent with kids,crying or running or doing whatever they do.
I although do have issues with people sitting behind you who keep pushing your seat especially when you try to recline it a bit...but that is an altogether different thread...:D
no amount of toys, food, chips, junk food and walking up and down the alley way did anything to relieve my son of his boredom. a very exhausting flight … nevr taking a long haul dayflight with him ever again until he is 20. never… way back . same 12 hour flight was heaven once again.. cuz it was at night.. he slept all the way.