Because sometimes you need to get to where you need to go and it’s too far to drive or take a train. If that’s your attitude, I suggest you not have kids for awhile.</p>
<p>Once I was flying home from overseas with an infant, a toddler and a four year old. We had four of the seats in a row of five right behind the bulkhead. A nice looking man approached our row while looking at his ticket. He looked at us, looked at his ticket and just stood there. He said “I think I’ll see if there’s an open seat somewhere else”. I told him that I didn’t blame him and I’d do the same if I could.</p>
<p>I remember on a flight that was about two hours or so, a father sitting behind me with four kids about seven years and younger. There was an infant, two toddler/preschoolers in their own seats and the older one was across the aisle from him (so four bought seats total). He was so inept at keeping them entertained, or keeping an eye on them. Literally I think he just sat there, holding the baby, and reading a magazine most of the time. They were clamoring for his attention. One of them kept crying for his mommy. His choice was to ignore the cries, and of course, I figured because she wasn’t on the plane.</p>
<p>So the flight lands, and as we’re walking off of the plane, he acknowledges a woman sitting in the front part of the plane… as his wife. I about wanted to shoot him. She sat all by herself, probably knowing full well that he had no control over them, but I don’t know how she could have missed her own kid crying for her, because everyone could hear it.</p>
<p>They’ll be asleep before we board and I’ll make sure of it. Apparently doctors have sleeping pills made for little kids on long flights. My sister took it when she was 4 months old and slept through a 19 hours of flight time and 2 transfers.</p>
<p>Most pediatricians will tell parents to give their children benadryl to help them sleep on an airplane. The issue comes that a small percentage of children actually get hyperactive when taking benadryl. That is why you should always give a dose at home to determine if your children has the hyperactivity reaction.</p>
<p>“If you are flying with kiddos, it is YOUR duty to do everything you can to help them & those around them to have as pleasant a flight as possible. It takes lots of work & prep”</p>
<p>AMEN! We traveled extensively as a family when my sisters and I were small. My mother did an amazing job saving up special toys that we weren’t allowed to play with until the plane ride. She never expected to have time to read on the flight until I was old enough to be buried in my own book.</p>
<p>Now, sometimes you’re doing all you can, and the baby just needs to cry (or vomit). That’s no one’s fault, and we just have to put up with it. But when the parents decide to sleep or read while the kid kicks my seat, screams, etc…watch out.</p>
<p>Hubby & I knew that we had our work cut out for us on airplane trips & planned accordingly. We never expected time to ourselves on planes until our kids were totally absorbed in their own interests as teens. We have always had very pleasant flights with the kids and have always been complimented on their behavior.</p>
<p>This is a very belated shout out to whoever the very nice lady was who sat behind us when older s was probably about 2. She played peek-a-boo with him for what seemed like half the flight, and then some finger puppet type things with the overhead light for the other half. What a gem…</p>