I was reading the times this morning and came across this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/travel/14babies-journeys.html
As someone who flies frequently, and now frequently with a child, I was a little upset by people's reaction to children on planes. The worst was one Ian Burfurd's reaction to screaming child. Apparently he thought the parents weren't trying hard enough to quiet their child. His solution, "...give them a pacifier, do something to make them stop." Really?! Give them a pacifier? well guess what Ian Burfurd, my daughter doesn't use a pacifier, and would yell even louder if I tried to shove one in her mouth. So stop trying to parent someone else's kid.
I understand how trying it can be to be on a plane with an upset child, I wasn't always a mother, but I have always tried to be sympathetic. Just remember that as difficult as it is for you to listen to a baby scream it's about one hundred times worse for the parent. You never know how your child is going to act on a flight. My daughter has made many cross country flights, and has behaved differently on each and every one. She is usually very well behaved, but there have been flights where she has done nothing but cried. And try as I might, there was nothing I can do about it. We do tend to fly first class, and, as you can imagine, some other passengers don't always appreciate it. However, on our last flight, the man behind me didn't even know she was there until he stood up and looked over my seat as we were LEAVING the plane. So all parents can do is try to prepare for every possible situation, but sometimes parents are just as helpless as their children.
As someone who flies frequently, and now frequently with a child, I was a little upset by people's reaction to children on planes. The worst was one Ian Burfurd's reaction to screaming child. Apparently he thought the parents weren't trying hard enough to quiet their child. His solution, "...give them a pacifier, do something to make them stop." Really?! Give them a pacifier? well guess what Ian Burfurd, my daughter doesn't use a pacifier, and would yell even louder if I tried to shove one in her mouth. So stop trying to parent someone else's kid.
I understand how trying it can be to be on a plane with an upset child, I wasn't always a mother, but I have always tried to be sympathetic. Just remember that as difficult as it is for you to listen to a baby scream it's about one hundred times worse for the parent. You never know how your child is going to act on a flight. My daughter has made many cross country flights, and has behaved differently on each and every one. She is usually very well behaved, but there have been flights where she has done nothing but cried. And try as I might, there was nothing I can do about it. We do tend to fly first class, and, as you can imagine, some other passengers don't always appreciate it. However, on our last flight, the man behind me didn't even know she was there until he stood up and looked over my seat as we were LEAVING the plane. So all parents can do is try to prepare for every possible situation, but sometimes parents are just as helpless as their children.
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