A place to talk about parenting.
Be respectful of others' parenting decisions.
Assuming they are bigger than a lap child, bring the car/booster seat. It's a comfort item, sized for them, and allowed on the plane. Also, they can't wiggle out of a 5pt harness.
Alternatively/also add: a tablet, phone, video or game to distract them if they are just scared. A few hours of video for the flight will not corrupt them.
Hell, you can play switch together with your child.
We did some good progress on our stardew farm during our last flight. My daughter loves do watch and backseat the game while I play. Steam Deck for the win.
Another good tip I received was to get them something new for the plane. When I had to fly with my son I got him a new game for his switch and waited to give it to him until after we boarded the plane. That way there was something fresh and new to keep his attention.
Ooh that’s a good one!
The moral panic has gone so far out of hand if anyone even worries about distracting a kid with a phone on an airplane of all places
Good tips! I was also thinking candy or the child’s favorite snack. Anything is better than the plane getting cancelled. Use whatever bribe it takes.
Sadly, food bribes last 15 minutes on a lucky day, because the tray table needs to be up. You need an item of power, like Dad's phone.
This situation started long before the flight.
Not necessarily. My child did something like this once. She was totally fine until it was time to strap her in. Then she completely freaked out and I had to hold her in with the seatbelt on while she screamed like she was being stabbed. It was a great experience.
Oh no, I’m so sorry :(
This is why I didn't take my kids on a plane until the youngest was 7. But even when I did, I was a bit worried about something like this.
Thankfully, giving him a tablet loaded with videos he likes kept him occupied. In my experience, don't really on plane Wi-Fi! It's always sucked (been unusable) for me. Someone else here mentioned about bringing candy/snacks, which is also a very good idea.
I have three kids, all within 2 years.
We did not travel on planes because I always though people with small kids in planes acted like entitled assholes.
That family will now face a lawsuit from the airline. Someone has to pay for that flight.
My son is autistic and stubborn. I could totally see him doing this. I'd try to get him to keep it on but if I can't, I'm taking my family off the plane. It's not reasonable to delay a plane full of people under any circumstances.
This plane had already left the terminal though. Maybe the kid was fine until the plane started moving?
Any kid may do this in an unfamiliar environment
We only took a little one once, at an age when nursing is a great distraction plus made him sleepy. Otherwise, we drove or didn’t travel longer distances.
The reality is any kid may misbehave in such a scary environment. You may think the parents are entitled or poor parents when they don’t do something about it but the reality is in an airplane your options are limited
One thing that helps a lot with take off and landing is to get them to swallow some liquids or eat a small snack. This lets them equalize their ears to the changes in pressure. Those can be very painful if you don't instinctively do it (like kids) or if you have trouble with it.
Benadryl.
Easiest solution? Don't have children.
Bold comment on c/parenting.
Ah, whoops, didn't see where this was posted.
Or fly.