Portable dvd player on plane??

[oogieboogie]

I've worked on the kids to use both headphones and earbuds since they were small. It saves so much of my sanity.

Nowadays, when we travel by plane, the kids have their gameboys that they use with earbuds, and they play on my laptop with the mute on. Even when they're happy and giggly and laughing, I try to tell them to keep their voices down, because I know a lot of people don't really want to hear screaming laughing kids either.

I'll bring playdoh, magnetic tic-tac-toe, action figures, activity books, crayons, etc - anything to keep them occupied. I would never go in an airplane with kids and not have headphones. I think that's just rude and inconsiderate. Same thing with people who talk loudly to overcome the airplane noise and go on and on and on... Lady... I don't want to hear about your hernia story!

 

[DMRick]

So the question is, do airplane customers want to listen to music or 3 hours of variations of "Ribbit"? I will be zonked out on Xanax, so I won't care either way!

I hope there are more choices than that..maybe some of his favorite toys, or a snack (hard to say Ribbit with a full mouth LOL)..although Ribbit over and over would be agravating, a loud music is too. If nothing else works, then you should be willing to share the Xanax.

PS for those wanting to post, you have to click on quick reply in the lower right hand of a message until they fix the problem.

 

[brymolmom]

I'm with Microcell - although instead of 'ribbit' I'm afraid those around me will be exposed to 'Molly, you HAVE to keep your seatbelt on'...'Molly - stop playing with the tray in front of you'...'Molly - keep your feet OFF that seat'. Over and over and over again...

We do the best we can (and discipline OFTEN) but she's two and very energetic and very dramatic (so one 'no' will usually bring a teary response even tho she hears that a lot) and very curious and has no memory of the last time she was on a plane. SO- I'm know she'll be all over the place. And how envious I am of the poster who said a figurine would keep dc occupied for 20 - 30 minutes each. I can accomplish that with my son but with dd....I'm thinking about 30 seconds each will be about the time accomplished with that.

She does like books and I'm SURE that those around me will be hearing many stories on the flight (I bought some new Disney ones so hopefully we'll have other Disney-goers who might want to listen too). And I've got the magnets and a slew of other things. But I know there will be times when she's fidgety and wanting to get down and not behaving in the best airplane ettiquette way. She's not one to sit still for hours on end. And I LOVE her spirit and energy so there's nothing I would change about her.

We'll likely keep the DVD player as a last resort unless we can get them used to the headphones.

 

[jeankeri]

If the DVD player is new, tell your child that the only way you can hear the sound is through earphones. If they won't wear earphones, they don't get the sound. BTW- my kids thought Toya R Us was a toy museaum for 4 years. They never thought the toys could be brought home so they never asked. Those were the days...

 

[MayMom]

I realize that this won't work with a 2 year-old, but for kids that would understand it - I would tell them that it is a rule on the airplane that you HAVE to use the headphones. Kids are so used to following rules that this may work....

 

[DMRick]

This is a great idea. If they never know it makes sounds other than through the headphones..it should work. And if not, they watch the movie without sound..and they wouldn't be the first kids to do that LOL!
By the way, I'm not talking about earbuds..I'm talking about over the head headphones, that go into your ear, instead of resting on top of them.

.

If the DVD player is new, tell your child that the only way you can hear the sound is through earphones. If they won't wear earphones, they don't get the sound. BTW- my kids thought Toya R Us was a toy museaum for 4 years. They never thought the toys could be brought home so they never asked. Those were the days...

 

[JeffM]

My Daughter, now 4, uses here's in the car all the time now. I bought a cheap pair of noise canceling head phones at Best Buy. They are made by Sony and work great. I use the same style brand for when I watch Wrestling at night when my wife goes to sleep.....yes, I watch wrestling. I think they can be had for about $25. Target might have them for around $20. Nice sturdy and the phone sit on her very small head just fine. She has been using these for about 2 years now.

 

[MyZoeJane]

What a shame that so many of you are incapable of overlooking a little harmless noise on an airplane! If the person next to me were to play Sesame Street at a reasonable level, I'd gladly listen to it for the whole flight if it kept the kid happy and calm!

"Who are the people in your neighborhood? In your neighborhood? In your neighborhoooood?"

Some children simply wont wear earphones. There are children with sensory issues beyond a parents control and some toddlers who, no matter how much you try to "train" them to use headphones, they wont... and to think you'd sit there like a miserly oaf judging the mother and child for infringing upon your flight with a little harmless music? Such a shame!

In no way am I knocking the need to teach children to have good manners and to be respectful of others... Of course I'm not going to let my child run rampant. I'll do the best I can to keep my child from kicking the seat of the person in front of me and I will do the best I can to teach them to use "inside voices"... but it's depressing to think that there are people out there that feel "put out" by something as benign as music! It's MUSIC it's not a freaking cigarette or porn (or maybe you wouldn't mind porn?)

I guess I just come from a family where we were taught to live and let live and I've always subscribed to the idea that mothers with children deserve a certain unspoken degree of understanding and tolerance.

Maybe it's just because I AM a mother to a toddler that I am able to understand so clearly what a challenge it can be to keep my daughter calm and happy, especially on a 3 hours flight to DISNEY WORLD!!! It's hard enough without having to worry how a tiny bit of noise coming from an electronic box is going to tick off the grump sitting in front of me to the point where he asks the flight attendant to chastize me. Come on people! Where's the love? Whatever happened to the sentiment that "it takes a village"???

 

[pbharris4]

If I had to choose between listening to a kiddie dvd or a toddler screaming for whatever reason...I'd always choose the kiddie dvd. My 3 yo can scream with the best of them!

 

[noahynav]

Ohhh, I agree with MyZoeJane!!! Very well said!!! Exactly what I was thinking, and you said it better than I ever could.

 

[DMRick]

You have to be kidding. We are supposed to be happy sitting for hours listening to a kids movie..instead of a child screaming? You think that is OK, and the rest of us are grumps (and we aren't talking about a little bit of noise when those things are blaring..and to hear over the engine noise they are usually blaring) because we don't want to share your child's movie? Those are our choices? I don't know how I ever managed to fly with my kids without DVD players, and have them not be an annoyance to other passengers (and I am not talking about the child who occasionally cries, or sings, or asks mommy for something or to be read to. It's just amazing, that you think because you are on a plane with children, anything should go. Hey, if you can keep the volumn nice and low, and the only person hearing it is you or yours that's fine..but unfortunately, since the planes I fly in have loud engines, or because someone has a couple kids they want to listen the one DVD player, those are blaring. It's no fun getting to the happiest place on earth with a migraine because someone didn't want to entertain their child by reading them a book, or bringing lots of toys for them to play with. Is the only way some kids will behave is if there is a movie to watch? Heck, my kids didn't even watch TV until they were 8 or 9..it's amazing they survived childhood.
I'm on a lot of planes in a year, and I'd say most of the kids on that plane have lots to do, thanks to moms that planned ahead. Yes there is the occasional overtired cranky or even bored child..we all expect that. But if you go on the plane with the attitude..hey, this is a child, you have to expect that he doesn't want to wear headphones, or behave, and I've not worked out a plan to keep him occupied, other than with a blaring DVD player..too bad. Well, I guess then what you'll have, is a child no one will want to be near.
My own grands each have many flights, including an overseas flight, and they all coame equipped with full backpacks, with toys they haven't played with in a while, books for mom or themselves to read..and now they have DVD's, that none of us would consider having the sound on without headphones. Did they ever misbehave on a flight..sure they did..but we didn't go on the flights expecting it, and with the attitude that hey..you either listen to his movie or his screaming. We did the best to keep any noise level down so others could enjoy their flight.
I'd suggest you (any you, not you per se) take advantage of the great advice given above..let your kids think that the only way they can hear the movie is through the headphones. And if they are too old to fall for that..well, then they are old enough to listen to reason..which would be to have them wear earphones. I won't agravate you with my chick flick, please don't agravate me with Big Bird, or Lion King.
And believe me..it's only "harmless" noise, if it's your own child.

 

[Microcell]

I was talking to DH who had been flying ALOT the past few months about movies on planes, and he said it is THE MOST AGGRIVATING thing ever to have to listen to. I asked if it was worse than DS's Ribbit, and he said he would rather hear Ribbit to that any day!

On the bright side: He said he has not had many problems at all with crying kids even in summer with kids on vacations.

I guess that the long and short of it is not to sweat the kids crying, and those who get irritated by it probably don't have kids, and will be free of yours in a couple of hours!

Really, like others have said, bring things to occupy your child. The last time I was on a plane was before small DVD's were so widespread, so there just were not any. I had no idea.

Anyone flying Kansas City to Orlando, Sept 9, listen for the Ribbit!!! DH won't have it any other way!!

BTW: DS has just discovered "copying" people. Dh is a huge fan of that.

 

[DMRick]

I'm with your husband. Ribbet and crying is preferred LOL. We don't hear many crying kids either. Even when we do, it's usually because of their ears, or just a short melt down.

I was talking to DH who had been flying ALOT the past few months about movies on planes, and he said it is THE MOST AGGRIVATING thing ever to have to listen to. I asked if it was worse than DS's Ribbit, and he said he would rather hear Ribbit to that any day!

On the bright side: He said he has not had many problems at all with crying kids even in summer with kids on vacations.

I guess that the long and short of it is not to sweat the kids crying, and those who get irritated by it probably don't have kids, and will be free of yours in a couple of hours!

Anyone flying Kansas City to Orlando, Sept 9, listen for the Ribbit!!! DH won't have it any other way!!

BTW: DS has just discovered "copying" people. Dh is a huge fan of that.

 

[Luv'sTink]

If nothing else works, then you should be willing to share the Xanax.

I sure hope you were kidding in this statement. No one should give children perscription medicine that was not subcribed for them personally, they could easily be overdose from an adult strength perscribed amount.

 

[noahynav]

DMRick....did you read MyZoeJane's post? She said very specifically, that yes a child should be taught to behave. If a child is kicking the seat, screaming, misbehaving in general...it SHOULD be corrected. I do not disagree with you on that. And maybe a DVD shouldn't be blaring, but if, as a last resort it calms an upset child, I think most people would agree it is a fair trade. But it sounds like too many people board a plane and believe they are entitled to total and complete silence. That is not the case. A child has just as much right to be on that plane, and it is public transportation. If someone is that inconveniced (sp?) by other passengers maybe they should drive. All to often I hear of people boarding the plane with exactly what you described, certain expectations. Only some people board a plane, see a young child, and automatically assume that the ride will be miserable. They "look" for things to complain about instead of letting a few minor things slide and enjoying the trip.

 

[Microcell]

I'm with your husband. Ribbet and crying is preferred LOL. We don't hear many crying kids either. Even when we do, it's usually because of their ears, or just a short melt down.

Yep, I am worried about DS and DD who hurt pretty bad last time. I couldn't keep them chewing gum well enough to avoid the pain. I think DS is more reasonable at 4 and I can hopefully get the darned Sweet Oil in his ears.

Luv's

I think DM was kidding, and don't worry if she wasn't, the thought has crossed my mind before!

Just a jokey! Really.

BTW: Op, don't worry, my DS was fascinated by airplanes when he was 2, and was a good boy until the darned painful landing! That is 10 minutes where if they are hurting, they can't be consoled. My Ped recommends Sweet Oil before descending, a drop in each ear I think. You can get it at pharmacies. People who have a problem with a kid crying in pain can take a leap. Just hug your baby and it will be better once they land.

 

[Luv'sTink]

Yep, I am worried about DS and DD who hurt pretty bad last time. I couldn't keep them chewing gum well enough to avoid the pain. I think DS is more reasonable at 4 and I can hopefully get the darned Sweet Oil in his ears.

Have you tried those earplanes? I am thinking about getting these for me and my DS.

 

[miss missy]

I made sure I got one with TWO head set plugs, some have one so be careful when you buy a new DVD player.

 

[HarambeGuy]

I made sure I got one with TWO head set plugs, some have one so be careful when you buy a new DVD player.

At dollar tree I found a 2-for-1 splitter that plugs into the one jack on a device (i.e. laptop, DVD, iPod) and lets you plug in two sets of headphones. They also have them at Radio Shack, Best Buy, etc so if the price difference is more than a few dollars or if the one you really want only has one jack don't sweat it

 

[jeankeri]

I took DMRick to mean sharing the Xanax with other adults.