Screaming lap babies

[disfan07]

If someone wants to spend money for first class (and it is a lot of money) for their family to try to make their kids more comfortable - good for them - I wish I could be one of those people.

Fine, but not at the expense of other people. We all know that on flights babys adn toddlers do cry....sometimes al ot. And everyone else in first class paid just a much so they should be able to be comfortable without kids screaming and crying. JMO

I'm flying in july with a family that has four kids. The only 2 have flown, the younger two have not. Their dad has enough miles on American to get all 7 of us First class seats (he travels A LOT for business) but we all decided that only he and teh two oldest (11 and 8) will fly first class and their mom, me and the two youngest (5 and 2) will fly coach b/c they ahev never flown before and we expect a meltdown and we will be prepared but we dont think its right, with that possibility to have teh 2 year old in first class

 

[Zeebs]

If your child has their own seat, they have to be in it whenever the seat belt sign is on (e.g. during take off and landing). If you see a child (who has there own seat) in their parent's lap during take-off/landing, they have moved the child after the FAs went through (and are now belted into their own seats).


Passing a child between seats during take-off/landing is just stupid.

We had a seat for my 18 month old (no carseat) and during takeoff on one of the flights we had to wake him up - (I had just got him off to sleep to my relief so I was grumpy about that) and sit him on my knee. So just because they have a seat doesn't mean they have to use it under 2.

This was an international flight so they gave me a lapbelt to use so I can attach him to me.

Out of the 4 international flights we took he was in his seat for 2 at takeoff.

On an internal American flight he was a lapchild, for takeoff he sat with me for landing he and his brother sat in the same seat and I put the 1 seatbelt over the pair of them. The flight attendants came past and checked, saw what I had done and never said a word. The kids thought it was fantastic.

Kirsten

 

[Zeebs]

It is neglect have a lap baby. You would never ride in a moving vehicle without a car seat. Everyone recommends a car seat.

To not do so is foolish.

(I have been on a turbulent flight where a baby flew out of a parents arms and went headfirst into the ceiling - that is a sound I will not forget.)

More chance of a child choking to death on a grape than being seriously injured or killed on an airplane. Yet I don't call you neglectful for feeding your child a grape so how about affording me the same courtesy.

I appreciate it isn't a risk you wish to take and that is fine but as I have mentioned in an earlier post I fully researched my decision when deciding to fly with my first child and was happy with the risk. No I wouldn't travel in a car without being buckled in but that is a totally different set of statistics, and one I am not will to risk.

Kirsten

 

[disfan07]

I agree that it is a parents choice about lap child or a seat. That being said, i understand the cost, convenience, etc. for the family. That only time i have ever seen it be a problem was when i was sitting next to a mom who had a kid who had to have been almost 2 b/c he was sooo big. When the kid causes discomfort for other passengers b/c they are so big and so wiggly, its time to buy them a seat.

I have to say, when i see the parents with kids between the ages of 1 and 2 as a lap child and teh child is well behaved and stays on trh parents lap....i applaud that parent b/c i would never be able to do that..lol

But i do stand by my opinion that i have no problem with lap babys....but, be considertae of your other passengers and if you have a big kid and you are not going to be sittign with family, buy them a seat please

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Ok, so if it's ok, can I share my NIGHTMARE flying with my 5 month old exactly 5 years ago? We flew to disney..it was me, my then 12 year old and my 5 month nursing dd.

Well, once in WDW, baby became horribly constipated. I think we spent 1/2 the time at the parks in the baby care centers and my poor baby was sooooo uncomfortable. NOTHING and I mean NOTHING worked for this child. They gave us prune juice...a pharmacy made a delivery of something to our resort..nothing worked.

On our last day, dd was miserable, oldest dd miserable because we were now not even in the parks, and I was pulling my hair out. Soooooo, I got us on standby for an earlier flight home.

Got on a PACKED plane..dd and I got the last 2 seats on the plane. Baby was going to be on my lap. In row 1, was another mom and baby and we both said "PHEW!"...and I was about to sit with her with baby on my lap...she wouldn't mind..I wouldn't mind..we'd suffer it together. Well, federal regulations prohibit 2 babies being in the same row. I don't get that..it's dumb..but it's the law...so oldest dd got to sit there. She had a *wonderful* flight talking to this wonderful lady.

I kept walking down the aisle, crying baby in hand..and yup. There on the right hand side was ONE empty seat on the plane..between two very much older women ..neither volunteered to let me have an aisle or window..no biggie..but you should have seen the looks on their faces when they saw a young mom with crying baby coming to sit right between them.

Then, I didn't know what to do, because she was in soooo much pain and discomfort and she needed to nurse. Many older women are very offended by any "public" nursing..so I sat there almost in tears...do I whip it out? What do I do? Finally, I didn't care..I was going to comfort my baby. So as discreetly as possible, in between these two women on a crowded flight, I proceeded to nurse baby on take off. You should have seen their faces.

So, we're taking off, baby is sucking away happily..and yup, you guessed it...she did a load in her diaper like there was NO tomorrow and in 5 minutes, the plane wreaked like you wouldn't believe!!!!!!!!!

I was just dying. I honestly did not know if I would survive this flight. Once in the air, I got out to go change dd in the tiny lavaratory..trying to change her diaper..turbulence while in the lav. Ugh..

The rest of the flight baby slept and I wept internally "you stupid idiot..why on earth would you ever think to go to Disney world alone with 2 kids..one of them a baby..you moron! Why????? What were you thinking?"

Oh I get upset just thinking about it!!!!!!!! I don't even want to think about what others thought of me and my screaming lap baby.....

Holy SMOKES, what an experience that must have been!! Sounds like exactly the kind of situation I'd find myself in -- feeling the same way!

Wonder what the deal is with the "two babies in a row" rule? Seems weird, but I'd love to hear the reasoning.

 

[Zeebs]

Holy SMOKES, what an experience that must have been!! Sounds like exactly the kind of situation I'd find myself in -- feeling the same way!

Wonder what the deal is with the "two babies in a row" rule? Seems weird, but I'd love to hear the reasoning.

Think it has something to do with the oxygen masks. Could be wrong but that is what I thought.

Kirsten

 

[NJDevsfan]

I thought Jack Daniels and headphones were created by people who spent long flights with screaming babies. Here is a thought for those who don't like screaming babies - you can't control them, so plan for them.

Consider an ipod with your favorite relaxing music? How about the in-flight film with headphones? etc.

Maybe some Rosary beads?

 

[JUJU814]

Think it has something to do with the oxygen masks. Could be wrong but that is what I thought.

Kirsten

I remember something to that effect...I think. Other than that, it makes no sense because if the plane goes down, doesn't matter if the two babies are next to each other or two different rows.

Speaking of oxygen masks and lap babies..aren't there only one mask/seat? so what happens if the o2 masks come down and there's mom/baby, and two other people in the row...now there are 4 people and three masks. If you're supposed to secure your own mask before helping the other, then that leaves baby out!

YIKES!

 

[JUJU814]

I thought Jack Daniels and headphones were created by people who spent long flights with screaming babies. Here is a thought for those who don't like screaming babies - you can't control them, so plan for them.

Consider an ipod with your favorite relaxing music? How about the in-flight film with headphones? etc.

Maybe some Rosary beads?

Or the bar at the airport and get good and toasted so you pass out for the whole flight...

nope that didn't work for me flying Laguardia to charlotte...then I was drunk and majorly irritated by the screaming baby behind me.

My webmaster uses these super duper headphones that let NO noise in at all. I've seen many people with them on.

 

[disfan07]

I remember something to that effect...I think. Other than that, it makes no sense because if the plane goes down, doesn't matter if the two babies are next to each other or two different rows.

Speaking of oxygen masks and lap babies..aren't there only one mask/seat? so what happens if the o2 masks come down and there's mom/baby, and two other people in the row...now there are 4 people and three masks. If you're supposed to secure your own mask before helping the other, then that leaves baby out!

YIKES!

There are four oxygen masks per row. 1 for each seat and and extra if tehre is a lap baby. Thats why only 1 lap baby per row.

 

[MiniGirl]

Holy SMOKES, what an experience that must have been!! Sounds like exactly the kind of situation I'd find myself in -- feeling the same way!

Wonder what the deal is with the "two babies in a row" rule? Seems weird, but I'd love to hear the reasoning.

It is because of the oxygen masks. Each row has enough masks for the number of seats in that row plus 1. That extra is for lap children and also for the f/as should they be unlucky enough to be in the aisle when a decompression occurs. Also, so they can go up and down the aisle (going from mask to mask) helping those who need it.

ETA: Sorry. I didn't realize this was answered. I should've kept reading before posting.

 

[Kat77]

You must not have seen that ep of Jon & Kate where she's so frazzled from traveling that she sits and bawls on the plane? I think she said something like, "I'm crying because, let's face it, everyone else wants to but won't!" (paraphrasing)

So go ahead and let it out!

That just reminded me-

Last December DD10 sat next to a woman who apparently bawled the entire flight ....so how 'bout that- crying adult annoys child on flight

Even better is when MIL & I inquired whether or not DD10 asked the lady if she could help DD's response was "Well, honestly, I did not want to get involved."

My kids are accustomed to sitting with strangers, wherever space is available as non revers. They also claim there's an awkward staredown encountered in first class when they land there unaccompanied by an adult, but thankfully it is followed by a collective sigh of relief once everyone realizes, and I'm assuming this, that no food fight, fidgiting, or tantrums will be go down!?

 

[crisi]

Then call CPS on me because my child flew as a lap baby. If it was neglect then it would not be allowed by law.

You do realize that there is a non-legal definition of neglect? If my kid doesn't bathe regularly - it isn't enough neglect to call CPS, but it IS neglect. If I let my kid watch ten hours of TV, I'm not abusing my kid, but I am neglecting them.

And yeah, if your kid isn't old enough to chew grapes - feeding them whole grapes is neglectful - by this softer definition of neglect.

 

[LWatson]

You do realize that there is a non-legal definition of neglect? If my kid doesn't bathe regularly - it isn't enough neglect to call CPS, but it IS neglect. If I let my kid watch ten hours of TV, I'm not abusing my kid, but I am neglecting them.

And yeah, if your kid isn't old enough to chew grapes - feeding them whole grapes is neglectful - by this softer definition of neglect.

Okay. I'm a neglectful parent then. Wow nice to know. Heck I thought I was doing a good job too. LOL. Thats your opinion not everyone elses. If you saw my kids in real life w/ me (not just on the internet) you would know my kids are far from neglected. If having my youngest flying in my lap makes me a bad parent then I guess there are a whole lot of bad parents in this world. Nice to see everyone is on their "Mightier than though at parenting" kick today. I dont care if you chose lap or seat as long as you take care of them when they need you. This is something not everyone agrees on, so why dont we all agree to disagree. But, leave stupid labels like "Neglect, neglectful" out of this.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Okay. I'm a neglectful parent then. Wow nice to know. Heck I thought I was doing a good job too. LOL...

See, we learn something new every day!

jk

 

[crisi]

Okay. I'm a neglectful parent then. Wow nice to know. Heck I thought I was doing a good job too. LOL. Thats your opinion not everyone elses. If you saw my kids in real life w/ me (not just on the internet) you would know my kids are far from neglected. If having my youngest flying in my lap makes me a bad parent then I guess there are a whole lot of bad parents in this world. Nice to see everyone is on their "Mightier than though at parenting" kick today. I dont care if you chose lap or seat as long as you take care of them when they need you. This is something not everyone agrees on, so why dont we all agree to disagree. But, leave stupid labels like "Neglect, neglectful" out of this.

Actually, that isn't my opinion - its the definition of the word.

–verb (used with object)
1. to pay no attention or too little attention to; disregard or slight: The public neglected his genius for many years.
2. to be remiss in the care or treatment of: to neglect one's family; to neglect one's appearance.
3. to omit, through indifference or carelessness: to neglect to reply to an invitation.
4. to fail to carry out or perform (orders, duties, etc.): to neglect the household chores.
5. to fail to take or use: to neglect no precaution.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

lol!

 

[Colleen27]

You do realize that there is a non-legal definition of neglect? If my kid doesn't bathe regularly - it isn't enough neglect to call CPS, but it IS neglect. If I let my kid watch ten hours of TV, I'm not abusing my kid, but I am neglecting them.

And yeah, if your kid isn't old enough to chew grapes - feeding them whole grapes is neglectful - by this softer definition of neglect.

Okay. I'm a neglectful parent then. Wow nice to know. Heck I thought I was doing a good job too. LOL. Thats your opinion not everyone elses. If you saw my kids in real life w/ me (not just on the internet) you would know my kids are far from neglected. If having my youngest flying in my lap makes me a bad parent then I guess there are a whole lot of bad parents in this world. Nice to see everyone is on their "Mightier than though at parenting" kick today. I dont care if you chose lap or seat as long as you take care of them when they need you. This is something not everyone agrees on, so why dont we all agree to disagree. But, leave stupid labels like "Neglect, neglectful" out of this.

That "soft" definition of neglect is so broad and personal that it isn't worth wasting any time or mental energy on.

Signed,
Been called neglectful for everything from not raising my kids in a religion to allowing my son to play a "dangerous" sport (football).

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

That "soft" definition of neglect is so broad and personal that it isn't worth wasting any time or mental energy on.

Signed,
Been called neglectful for everything from not raising my kids in a religion to allowing my son to play a "dangerous" sport (football).

No kidding. Neglect is always about the other parent. If they do something different, they are neglectful. And we have the "mommy wars."