Travel with Children - Family kicked off JetBlue for not controlling toddler

This has been doing the rounds on the net so I thought I'd post it here.

http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/46703604#46703604

As most of you know, this is not new but I found it interesting that 1. the toddler did have a seat and 2. that the flight still returned to the gate, even when they got her seated.

Not meant to be a warning or anything because I know all of us here are totally able to "control" our wee ones on airplanes :p

I suspect the pilot had made the decision to deplane them before the girl got calm down.

I'm wondering how long the tantrum lasted? It must be quite long since they don't just deplane a crying kid.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/03/toddler-kicked-off-plane-not-the-first/
This story above has some puzzling statements. It says:

The station reported that when the family finally got Natalie to sit, security appeared with a JetBlue representative. Although Vieau said passengers around them and security were sympathetic to the situation, the pilot was not. A flight attendant told them the plane would be pulling back to the gate.

If the plane had already left the gate, how did security get onboard with a JetBlue representative?

An amusing audio clip interview with the mom:

http://mix1065fm.radio.com/2012/03/13/mom-who-was-kicked-off-jet-blue-flight-tries-to-explain-about-her-unruly-toddler/

As with most of these stories, I am sure there is much more to it.

Actually, your kid can scream and yell all s/he wants. It's not a FAA violation. The whole issue is staying in the seat. If the little girl had been silent and running down the aisles, they would have been deplaned.

Interesting how the press sees this as a parenting issue.

Good eye on the security question. They probably just got the order wrong.

In the interview Dr. View said that three to five minutes passed from the time the tantrum began to when she was buckled in and settled. That's a heckuva long time to wait for a passenger to settle if the plane was waiting to push back.

I think they were already rolling since the F/A said that the decision was to return to the gate.

Actually, your kid can scream and yell all s/he wants. It's not a FAA violation.

Perhaps, but one of the links here has a story of a family removed from a plane because their screaming child was so loud that other PAX could not hear the safety briefing.

As with all stories of this type, the public almost never gets the whole true story. Who knows what really happened?

sounds like most parent's worst nightmare

Saw a clip of this family on Good Morning America - the toddler was out of control on the sofa while in her parent's lap. I can only imagine how she was on the airplane.

Saw a clip of this family on Good Morning America - the toddler was out of control on the sofa while in her parent's lap. I can only imagine how she was on the airplane.

C'mon she is a 2 year old and she was on the TV show doing nothing and her mum was busy talking to other people. She is trying to get her attention.

C'mon she is a 2 year old and she was on the TV show doing nothing and her mum was busy talking to other people. She is trying to get her attention.

2 years old or not, children can and do have good manners, if they are taught them. She did not.

2 years old or not, children can and do have good manners, if they are taught them. She did not.

According to the interview with the parents that i saw (from the link eclipsepearl shared) she'd flown before with no problems, this was a return home so clearly they got out with no issue. I've seen 2 year olds with good manners (I have a child and i also worked in a nursery) who also have tantrums, it can happen to anyone

2 years old or not, children can and do have good manners, if they are taught them. She did not.

+1. Children, believe it or, can be held accountable for their conduct.

O.T perhaps but what is the age of criminal responsibility in the US? Thats normally the age when children can be accountable for their actions

Age 6, I believe. They were just discussing that on BBC World radio.

I think preparing a child ahead of time works even better than strict discipline. Even pretty cool parents can discuss with a child what to expect. One of mine didn't talk at all at age 2 and one very little (but the middle one used full sentences in both languages, never mixing, go figure!) so communication can be tricky.

Two year olds can be stubborn and willful. Perhaps those parents were following the dire "fly when they nap" tip which so often goes wrong. A car seat would have helped (says mom who has strapped unhappy toddlers into them more than once). She might have just been hungry. Time to whip out the new toy, just on push back...

I agree, a special toy or snack while buckling has helped me with even the most stubborn of my children. The last time we flew I ended up giving cookies to [the mother of] one extremely upset toddler whose mother didn't seem to have brought snacks. It stopped the tantrum cold.

Plus, at that age they were in car seats on the plane, so happy or not they were buckled in safely.

Two year olds can be stubborn and willful. Perhaps those parents were following the dire "fly when they nap" tip which so often goes wrong. A car seat would have helped (says mom who has strapped unhappy toddlers into them more than once). She might have just been hungry. Time to whip out the new toy, just on push back...

On the video link you shared it was mentioned that she'd missed her nap, and that by the time they flew all she wanted was to be held on somebody's lap.
Agree whole heartedly about food or new toys, my daughter liked the new interaction of being able to look out the window :)

Guys, there is already discussed in JetBlue forum.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/jetblue-trueblue/1323106-toddler-tantrum-gets-family-booted-jetblue-flight.html

Wow, they're way more sympathetic over there!

Thanks for pointing it out. I never go to that forum (never flown Jet Blue).

Guys, there is already discussed in JetBlue forum.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/jetblue-trueblue/1323106-toddler-tantrum-gets-family-booted-jetblue-flight.html

Wow; those jetbluers ....hmmm...;)