Wait a minute.... 28 posts and no one has posted to say how cruel and insensitive the comments here are. Personally rebelyell and pinworm, I've been on several flights such as you describe.

So far as I'm concerned it is up to parents to bear any costs in noise, space, bad behaviour, cost of extra seat etc., of their children, and not inflict those onto others. We all understand and sympathize that there can be occasions where despite a parent's efforts some disturbance to others is caused. But there are too many occasions where parents seem to expect that the costs of their children are socialized and that they have a right to expect others to bear these costs.