My kids seem to have more trouble during the landing, so about 30-45 minutes landing I bring out a chewey snack. For a two year old one of the spill proof sippie cups that you actaully have to sip hard to get the liquid out work pretty well also.
TJ
Off Topic a little, but I've read that the new Boeing (787 ??) that is being developed will be pressurized higher than current planes. I believe current planes are pressurized at 10,000 feet or so. The newer plane will have higher pressure, meaning it will feel like it's at a lower altitude, and the air pressure change upon landing will be less than current planes.
Back on topic, I'm retired now, but for years did a lot of frequent flying.
I've observed a lot of things from people of all ages. Yes there can be bratty kids with parents who do nothing, but there are also others who are angels, or if not, their parents handle the situation well. But adults are not immune. Mostly adults are mature, well-mannered, and in the case of business travelers, professional. But I've also seen my share of drunken, disorderly 'fans' going off to some sporting event, and who think the plane is their 'personal' vehicle to do with as they see fit.
Age makes no difference. Being responsible is what matters. And also being considerate of others. As the old saying goes, "you have a right to swing your arm, but your right ends where my nose begins". Yes, a child has a right to watch a DVD, but he does not have the right to have it so loud the 'noise' is at my eardrum.
Finally, one last comment. Business flyers in most cases pay the highest fares of all travelers, mostly because many flights are booked late. Most flights I flew were booked less than two weeks ahead, and many were booked only hours ahead. So the point is, those cheap tickets you got your yourself and your kids, were cheap because it's the business flyers who are making the flight possible in the first place. A little consideration should be extended to their needs.
The above of course does not apply during holiday travel....
In that case, since it's a zoo anyway, everyone's lucky if they just make it to their destination.
, or if parents really don't see that if there is a way to have your cake and eat it too (bring the DVD and either headphones, or no sound it's a good choice..). No one is saying that kids won't be kids, and we won't hear them at all. This thread is about DVD players and should a child wear them, or what to do with a child who isn't used to them. Gosh, I've brought three grands flying with me (we've gone as far as Ireland, and many trips to Disney), and we always did all we could to keep the kids busy, and the passengers around us as non distracted by our kids as possible. Did they always sit like statues and do nothing? Of course not, and no was expecting them too. However, I certainly tried my best to give them enough to do, and keep the sound of their toys/DVD players/game boy in the ears of the child using it, and not our neighbors. I never thought twice about it, knowing it's a small place with lots of people.
Based upon some of the responses, especially those who are encouraging parents to stay off of airplanes with children, I think we may just leave the DVD player at home. You can never make everyone happy - as evidenced by just the posts to my question - and I don't want to CREATE more problems by having one child with headphones and the other one without.
I'll try to remember that we all have our individual quirks like that.
