Judge me!

[Gracie09]

As I've said, I've traveled alone with them before. If I need to get up, I ring the flight attendant and they are happy to hold my youngest. It is part of their jobs, and I have never had one ever be unwilling or unhappy to help me out. Often I'll have other passengers offering to help me as we'll. (obviously I don't ask when they are busy)

Actually caring for your child even for a few minutes is not part of their job.

 

[Aliceacc]

Our plane tickets were $650 each on sale. Buying a seat for my daughter means going or not going.

Then our family wouldn't go. To us it's that simple.

I agree.

As I've said, I've traveled alone with them before. If I need to get up, I ring the flight attendant and they are happy to hold my youngest. It is part of their jobs, and I have never had one ever be unwilling or unhappy to help me out. Often I'll have other passengers offering to help me as we'll. (obviously I don't ask when they are busy)

Any flight attendants want to weigh in here?

 

[fabulousfive]

I'm really unhappy with the way the tone has turned in this post. I truly think the OP was looking for answers, support & ideas. Even my earlier comment trying to help was poked fun at. I wish the OP all the best & I will be exiting this thread. I don't want any negative vibes changing my love for the Dis boards & all the help & community I have experienced here so far.

 

[luvmy3]

As I've said, I've traveled alone with them before. If I need to get up, I ring the flight attendant and they are happy to hold my youngest. It is part of their jobs, and I have never had one ever be unwilling or unhappy to help me out. Often I'll have other passengers offering to help me as we'll. (obviously I don't ask when they are busy)

OP, I'm willing to support your decision to fly with a lap baby, and even your choice to give some benadryl with the OK from your pediatrician, but I cant support the thought that babysitting your child is part of the flight attendants job. They have responsibilities and if they are caring for your child while you are in the bathroom for 10 minutes with your other one, they wont be able to fulfill them. Please dont use them as your personal babysitting service.

 

[Cinderella94]

As I've said, I've traveled alone with them before. If I need to get up, I ring the flight attendant and they are happy to hold my youngest. It is part of their jobs, and I have never had one ever be unwilling or unhappy to help me out. Often I'll have other passengers offering to help me as we'll. (obviously I don't ask when they are busy)

As people have said...

Even if ones you've encountered have been "happy to help you out," don't assume that that's part of their job. It's not.

 

[maxiesmom]

Actually caring for your child even for a few minutes is not part of their job.

Wow, no way is it! If someone is happy to help, that is great. But it is not something you can depend on happening. The only thing you can depend on is yourself. And if someone can't fly and handle their own family without strangers helping, then they really need to rethink flying. It would be horrible to be stuck in a situation where you needed an extra set of arms, and had no one willing to help.

 

[Nancyg56]

Wow, no way is it! If someone is happy to help, that is great. But it is not something you can depend on happening. The only thing you can depend on is yourself. And if someone can't fly and handle their own family without strangers helping, then they really need to rethink flying. It would be horrible to be stuck in a situation where you needed an extra set of arms, and had no one willing to help.

That was what I was trying to point out but I was taken to task. This is not a short jaunt, it is a long flight and now it is clear that the OP is depending on strangers pitching in to help her. Nothing wrong with people stepping in to assist, I would offer myself, but no way should this be the back up plan. At least if the baby is strapped in a car seat, teh OP is free to help the 4 YO, or to ask a neighbor to keep an eye open while she runs to the rest room. This is not at all the same imposition as asking a FA to hold the baby or relying on a passenger to hold the child.

I just think that the logistics are not going to be easy

 

[christineangel]

That was what I was trying to point out but I was taken to task. This is not a short jaunt, it is a long flight and now it is clear that the OP is depending on strangers pitching in to help her. Nothing wrong with people stepping in to assist, I would offer myself, but no way should this be the back up plan. At least if the baby is strapped in a car seat, teh OP is free to help the 4 YO, or to ask a neighbor to keep an eye open while she runs to the rest room. This is not at all the same imposition as asking a FA to hold the baby or relying on a passenger to hold the child.

I just think that the logistics are not going to be easy

Yep. I stand corrected. I'm done here. Just glad I won't be on that flight.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

OP since you seem to already have all the answers and a plan, I don't get why you opened this. Why don't you ask the mods to close it since you disagree when the vast majority of people have said we think it's a bad idea, it doesn't really serve a purpose anymore.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I'm really unhappy with the way the tone has turned in this post. I truly think the OP was looking for answers, support & ideas. Even my earlier comment trying to help was poked fun at. I wish the OP all the best & I will be exiting this thread. I don't want any negative vibes changing my love for the Dis boards & all the help & community I have experienced here so far.

I agree and will be joining you in my exit.
I really don't understand all the "I'm so glad I'm not on that flight" nonsense. Dramatic much, LOL!
I fly to FL every year and those flights are always packed with kids and the majority of babies are on laps. IME, whether or not a baby is in a car seat has no bearing on the comfort of other passengers, only on the person with the baby. In fact, they are less likely to cry if they are not strapped in.

OP - Once again - have a great trip!

 

[Nancyg56]

Yep. I stand corrected. I'm done here. Just glad I won't be on that flight.

I was not trying to insult you, if I did so I apologize. I just thought that I was the only one who had a problem with a mom juggling two little ones and no one to take one if the other needed help.

I agree and will be joining you in my exit.
I really don't understand all the "I'm so glad I'm not on that flight" nonsense. Dramatic much, LOL!
I fly to FL every year and those flights are always packed with kids and the majority of babies are on laps. IME, whether or not a baby is in a car seat has no bearing on the comfort of other passengers, only on the person with the baby. In fact, they are less likely to cry if they are not strapped in.

OP - Once again - have a great trip!

I think that you may not understand why folks have concerns. Not the kids, but the situation. The Op is traveling with a lap baby and a young one. She has no other adult to hand the baby off to or to watch the 4 YO if she needs t leave her seat. She is depending on FA's and passengers to tend to teh children f she needs help. The problem is not babies, at least not for me and I have not shared my opinion on drugging the baby or not using a seat. I understand crying babies, but I really see potential problems with this situation.

 

[christineangel]

Not insulted at all! Just wrong. I am a sahm to a 3.5 yr old and a 22 month old and I ASSumed she was used to juggling two like I am. But she corrected me when she said she relies on the FAs. Up until then I was pretty sympathetic.

 

[martinezmom3]

Poor OP has taken so much heat, for not agreeing with opinions that she did not ask for. I don't think she asked if anyone thought she needed to cancel, if she needed another seat, or if she should ask grandparents to change plans. I'm pretty sure her question was about benedryl, and for that, the best thing to do would be to ask her pediatrician. As far as a flight attendant helping out for a moment, I didn't read her comment as "here, take this baby because I need to get some things done." Apparently, in her experience, she's had kind people offer to give her a hand once in a while, so yay for kind people! Doesn't mean she can't juggle her own kids, maybe means she didn't quite word her sentence well, which is easy to do while typing. OP, good luck, just check with your pediatrician, and be prepared

 

[Sugar Jones]

Take lots of snacks, treats, games etc.. And enjoy the time with your family. I give two of my three kids Benedryl when we travel. One for motion sickness , one for anxiety, both recommended by their ped.

I wouldn't cancel a trip due to "what if's".

It could be the flight from hell, but it could also be easy peasy. If we lived our lives on what it's we would never do anything.

Traveling alone with small kids is not as difficult as some of you make it out to be. Some people have no choice but to travel alone. You make the best of the situation you are in.

Enjoy Disneyland with your parents and children. Life is precious, enjoy every minute you can

 

[DSNY4ever]

Poor OP has taken so much heat

Okay I haven't read most of this thread...but it is titled "Judge me"

 

[Freesia123]

Okay I haven't read most of this thread...but it is titled "Judge me"

It is indeed I'm tough!

 

[DSNY4ever]

It is indeed I'm tough!

Good And the bottom line is you will get from point A to point B. It could be terrible (maybe the worst day of you life), and maybe it will be fine, but you will get there and hopefully the destination will be worth it!

 

[Freesia123]

I use a flight attendent if I need to pee. That's about it. And every flight I've been on with my kids 23 round trips with two legs each = 92! They have told me during the security briefing that if I need to pee to call them. My friend the flight attendent said to me that it was her favourite part if the job :holding babies while mommies did a quick bathroom trip. If I have to, I'll take my daughter with me . I am perfectly capable to handle it. I'm going to have a great trip.

My question was all about the benedryl. Thank you for leading me in the right direction, and thanks to everyone else who was NICE and gave me some excellent tips

 

[Sundancer UK]

To counteract some of the 'I'm glad I'm not on your flight' comments, I'd just like to say I wish I could be on your flight! Honestly, being a parent is hard, being a single parent even more so. If I could lend a hand to a mum in need I certainly would I hope it goes well.

 

[Freesia123]

I guess you are all set for the flight then. I think I am just a bit confused why you wanted feedback from us, because you have already traveled with teh kids, don't want to discuss the merits of seats for each child, have no problem having a baby on your lap for I think it was 7 hours, and don't mind the flight attendants or passengers helping with the kids.
/QUOTE]

Because my question was about the benedryl only. Others brought the rest up (which led to spirited discussion which is just fine!)