A Continental Express flight attendant did just that.
First she advised the mother to give her child Benadryl to quiet him down. What! How low are the airlines and their crews going to go? Especially, when the child wasn’t crying, screaming or throwing a tantrum. I am shocked. Since when can a flight attendant order a plane to return to an airport and have the mother and child taken off the plane just because the child was talking?! And have them wait, I think it was 11 hours, for the next flight.
I have traveled by plane with an infant, a toddler and young children. I have traveled on flights with young children who wouldn’t stop crying. No one ever quieted them by medication even if it is an over the counter one the flight attendant suggested using. People like that shouldn’t be in this profession to begin with. Where there are young children you will have issues to deal with, but one of them – a talking child- shouldn’t be one of them.
Something is terribly wrong here. Not only is this improper for her position, it is medically and morally wrong as well. No parent in their right mind should ever give a child any type of medication, OC or prescribed, for no reason other than under doctor’s orders when the child is ill, and definitely not to make him stop talking. Kudos to the little guy’s mother, who refused to take the attendant’s advice.
Here are some tips for flying with children:
1. Always be prepared with enough to keep them busy.
2. A talking child cannot be more bothersome than a whining adult. Deal with the situation realistically.
3. Make the child feel grown up. Pack the child’s must-haves in a child size backpack the youngster gets to carry.
4. Plan your route so you fly in and out of smaller regional airports. There are usually less passengers as the planes tend to be smaller in size.
5. If you have a long flight, plan for a stop of one to two hours along the route so the child can wear off his energy. Walking the halls of an airport is good exercise for both the child and the parent.
6. Consider a red-eye flight. Young children do fall asleep on the plane. It’s the motion, and it is a know hearsay that when having difficulties in falling asleep, a car ride will put the child to sleep. I’ve been known to do it with mine. When my oldest son was four months old we flew with him, and he slept almost the whole international flight.
7. Always accept offers to entertain your child from other nearby passengers. You will be able to relax and the child is distracted and given something new to deal with.
8. Don’t pinch pennies. Buy the seat for your child, he’s more worth it than the additional souvenirs you probably don’t really need anyway. And if necessary, bring his car seat with you and use it.
9. Bring lots of your child’s favorite drinks. The air is dry and can make the little one fidgety.
10. When it comes to milk bottles, fruit and other products, make sure you know what will be allowed through. For example fresh fruit is not allowed through customs. I once took a pear from the meal on the plane and the guy at customs took it and threw it away. So if you want to have enough on hand to satisfy your little one’s appetite, know what goes and what doesn’t.
11. Always talk to other parents who have flown with little ones in the same age group. Ask for tips that helped them. And read, read, read as much as you can. Many a parent has flown with kids and each has a story to tell.
Happy flying, stay safe, and enjoy your vacations.
Till next time,
Gloria
