Actually, pressure starts changing as soon as the door is closed. That is when the toddlers start crying. This is where a lot of moms make the mistake of waiting too long before starting to bottle feed.

--

I do agree that it is the parents responsibility to control their children. As a father of 3 children we have done 2 round-the-world trips in the last year. We have flown almost 100,000 miles.

95,000 of those miles have been excellent. We have received praise from the flight attendants and fellow passengers. 5,000 of those miles could have been better. Either the children were sick, tired, or they were just children and we did get 'looks' from others. We did the best we could.

My question if the OP has children is based out curiosity, not judgment. I have in business flights by myself where children around me have been very loud. It does not bother me even a little, but I understand how it can bother others. I have no problem with either talking to the parents and the children when appropriate. Sometimes, however, it is no ones fault that children [or old people for that matter] are acting up.

I wonder if others with children are really bothered, or have they been immunized to loud noises.

I too find that passengers in the USA have a lower threshold in the acceptance of children being children than people outside the USA

p.s. I drive a Toyota

Somehow, this is very difficult for me to believe, I mean now a days, the FA's have a tizzy if more than two people line up at the rest room sheesh and they are just going to let 15 kids run up and down the aisle screaming and no one else complaining - I don't think so - This guy has lost a lot of his credibility here - he is full of it

Please tell me as to how this will work; how it will be enforced; what will you do when there are cancellations? will you tell your best customers, sorry you spend a 100K with us but on this family trip; you can't fly us? yeah right

plus all the administrative costs the airline would incur again yeah right

I think he inhaled to many dirty diapers on the flight

My 14-month old infant travels JFK-SFO-JFK at least once a month with me. The United PS planes are really nice, but lack one thing: changing tables in the bathrooms...

So, even though I change him right before we board, sometimes "shift happens"... what should I do?? wait another 3+ hours to change him?

What ever happened to tolerance? I am not saying you have to enjoy kids, or come to help me with the diaper change (it would be nice of you, but you don't have to ), but some of you guys need to get down from your pedestal and be a little more, dare I say, Human....

Dont give me that, you can still change the 14 month old in the lav; in the seat is disgusting; don't even try to support that move.. nasty

Where, and how, exactly?

I would suggest you move over to the Travel with Children forum, where you'll find the support you need (trust me, I got into a debate over there a while back and promptly got outnumbered and shouted down with all the classic "parental bingo" phrases such as yours). Over here, there are enough of us childfree that we're not going to tolerate your ridiculous points such as the one you've made above.

Use the frickin' lav. Period. There's no other counterargument. I'm guessing you're probably also a cell-phone-shouter.

I agree, that parents have the responsibility to keep their children reasonably behaved. Running up and down the aisles is unacceptable, of course. As is kicking the back of the chair in front, throwing things, screaming for no reason, etc. There are too many parents out there who refuse to discipline their children or recognize that their kid's behavior is unacceptable. These parents are usually spineless "don't want to emotionally scar my children" wimps, or are rude and clueless themselves.

That said, kids are kids. Even the most well-behaved children will act up occasionally and cause a scene, yell, cry, throw a tantrum, or just be generally upset. Sometimes it takes even the most considerate parents some time to calm their children or administer effective discipline. In a restaurant, parents have the ability to walk their kids out while doing this. Unfortunately, there is no such luxury in an airplane. And as for crying because of the pressure changes, drinking water/bottle helps but does not always do the trick. As long as the parents are being considerate and responsible in handling their children, the childless need to show some patience. Suggesting a minimum age for flying is ridiculous, however.

As for diaper changing, there is a line there. Changing a child on the seat right next to somebody is pretty rude, but if the family has the all the seats on that side of the row, where is the harm? I have done this myself (on my lap or on a changing pad, of course.) Would you rather them stay unchanged and smell the entire trip? Same for other public places. I have changed my child in the terminal rather than lug my carry-ons and 3-year old into the bathroom 100-yards down the terminal. I have also done this outside at Disney World on the stroller. Although in public view, I make sure to do this discreetly and privately as possible, not right next to somebody.

There has got to be a middle ground here based on consideration for other people and understanding of those with kids, and its a place I try to be.

Even if you are childless, you have to remember you were a child once too. And those with children have to realize that not everybody loves you child as much as you.

That was a pertinent, salient, and even-handed response...nicely done. Really. ^

Too bad you "bingo'd" with this one sentence:

hmm. i take it you were like stewie and built a time machine to go from 18 mos to 18 yrs?

cheers.

"Bingo!" (as in...not "bingo" you were correct, but "Bingo!" I just filled in another space on my "parental phrase bingo" card).

Cheers back atcha...

can i have one?

cheers.

Sorry, but your intolerance (excuse me, ignorance) is as bad as the many inconsiderate parents out there. Have you ever tried to change a baby in an airplane lav without a table? One person can barely move in there let alone change a baby without somewhere to set them. Although with your obvious disdain for kids and parents, I suspect you wouldn't care if a baby was dropped and had its head bashed into the side of the sink. Good riddance?

The poster was just trying to make the point that there are no facilities to change a baby on some planes. I don't condone whipping a kids diaper open right next to some stranger. If there is a reasonable place to change them available, use it. But I don't think changing a baby in a public place is automatically taboo either, if an effort is made to be discreet and private.

That is, indeed, a non sequitur I've never understood. Yes, I was once a child. No, my parents didn't take me on aircraft and change my diapers at the seat.

Disgust factor notwithstanding, diaper changes at the seat pose a health hazard -- people eat at their seats and are not expecting fecal contamination. All sorts of people fly, including the elderly, people with compromised immune systems and, yes, even children who are quite prone to put their hands in their mouths.

There is no excuse for jeopardizing the health of strangers.

I don't care. Not my problem. Just don't create a significant risk of fecal coliform and/or viral contamination at my seat.

Sorry Drat19, maybe this was a little over the top and uncalled for. But I do think you really brushed off the valid point she was trying to make, and was not a "bingo'ed" catch phrase.

If we are going to forbid kids to fly on some flights then can we also 'exclude' the big fat guy in front of me who INSISTS on fulling reclining his economy seat into my lap for the completely full flight across the Atlantic? Can we also exclude some of the adults I have seen on flights who behave worse than some of the children's behavior described? I have seen lots of very rude adults on flights so what about them?

BTW, I do agree the diaper and the tray table is unacceptable and anyone who sees it should complain.