A tale of two children (in J)

[Quickstatus]

Ummm, sorry but when I fly it happens.

Did you get a warning or were they SBDs?

Yes as the inflight altitude is 6000-8000 feet, the gas expands into greater volume. Presumably the lower cabin altitude of the Dreamliner would be an improvement?

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Now this is a discussion I had this very day but in a cafe. SIL who has cared for 2 grandchildren for a few years now, lets them play with the iPhone and watch videos and play games as we chat.

I just don't get that. An adult reading a book or newspaper aloud on the next table would be tolerated by few.

 

[Pushka]

I just don't get that. An adult reading a book or newspaper aloud on the next table would be tolerated by few.

Me either. Maybe I buy the kids ear buds for Xmas.

 

[RAM]

When a child doesn’t behave well nothing would be said.

and sometimes they REALLY mean it.

In a maniacal moment, I decided to upgrade the 5 of us at the airport to J for the SYD/AUH leg on the way to Europe on Etihad. This was back in the days when it was $750 (not the nail-pulling out prices they have used since 2 years after that).

My better half declared never again in whY, number one son (youngest) did NOT like the food and vowed never again in J - the on-demand steak sandwich even with no special sauce was 'not nice' - so I had to eat a 2nd one (Y E S!!!). He only complained about this to me not the attendants and passed the food across the aisle when they had their backs turned.

His two sisters thought it was best thing ever.

We were seated on either side of the aisle for 2 rows with wife on far side center.

So I was able to hear passengers directly behind and over the aisle (and several other 'loud' adults).

Thankfully our three said please & thank you every time, gathered up the various dishes and handed them to the attendant etc. Attendants raided 1st class and brought them back extra desserts and other goodies that we poor parents missed out on.

Not one of the other adult business passengers I could hear ever said please or thank you, not one.

As we were preparing for landing (as #1 son had laid out our entire itinerary for the two female attendants) they each came carrying as much as they possibly could and began loading up the three childrens bags with packets of the assorted nuts (500gm), chocolates etc etc. Not sure where the bags of chips came from but they were equally well received by our health conscious children.

.... So when they turned to me and said they appreciated how well behaved our children were - I believed them.


PS: Children not really that well behaved - they refused to share any of their chocolate stash nor chips just the nuts!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

[QUOTE="ermen, post: 1877105]

What would you do?
[/QUOTE]
Children are our future. Without them, we are dust. The guy was the epitome of a WP. No worries. He moved on ... You move on and everyone is happy (unless you have to watch the Wiggles )

 

[Quickstatus]

Include “Frozen” in that list

 

[Mikana]

Most kids behave well on long flights. Littlest, not so much. They don’t have the filters yet and the noise and air pressure can be quite painful for them. I expect the best and practice kindness and good ear plugs when my expectation is not met. They’re kids, FFS.

 

[Pushka]

They’re kids, FFS.

Well yes, exactly, which is why people get a little anxious when they see them in J.

 

[Franky]

Most kids behave well on long flights. Littlest, not so much. They don’t have the filters yet and the noise and air pressure can be quite painful for them. I expect the best and practice kindness and good ear plugs when my expectation is not met. They’re kids, FFS.

Way, way back I recall in regard to the pressure on the toddlers ears, it was the practice to pinch their nose and blow into their mouths, which seemed to ease the problem. Anyone else recall that? To this day, I hold my nose, close my mouth and puff my cheeks to pop my ears on take-off and landing.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Way, way back I recall in regard to the pressure on the toddlers ears, it was the practice to pinch their nose and blow into their mouths, which seemed to ease the problem. Anyone else recall that? To this day, I hold my nose, close my mouth and puff my cheeks to pop my ears on take-off and landing.

Air NZ gives you little sweeties to suck on at descent. Even the grown up kids get them

 

[Quickstatus]

Air NZ gives you little sweeties to suck on at descent. Even the grown up kids get them

I remember they cabin crew co-opted child passengers to hand out a basket of lollies.
That was always a job coveted by the kids.
I’ve always wondered what the liability would be if there was sudden turbulence

 

[RAM]

Way, way back I recall in regard to the pressure on the toddlers ears, it was the practice to pinch their nose and blow into their mouths, which seemed to ease the problem. Anyone else recall that? To this day, I hold my nose, close my mouth and puff my cheeks to pop my ears on take-off and landing.

what you are trying to do is to equalise the pressure in the Eustachian Tube.

For babies and small children, as you'd expect, it has a very small diameter (not necessarily round actually but you understand the drift).

Chewing (on nothing, but the movement of the jaw helps), the classic 'nose pinch & blow', swallowing - all can help. For a small baby the pain they can experience is akin to a dull knife being pushed into your leg muscle to a depth of 3-5cm - not nice.

Which is why they scream.

Many airlines used to include this knowledge in their training, sadly it appears to no longer be part of the courses since the mid 80s or so. Many flight attendants have thanked me over the years for explaining the issue and ways to alleviate the pain for small children. You would think that airlines would still be covering it in their training given the adverse impact not only on the child but their parents and surrounding passengers.

IMHO there is nothing quite so pathetic/soul destroying as seeing a small baby obviously in pain, shrieking with tears running down its face (and quite often the mother's face streaked wtih tears as well) - when it is totally preventable.

 

[Pushka]

what you are trying to do is to equalise the pressure in the Eustachian Tube.

For babies and small children, as you'd expect, it has a very small diameter (not necessarily round actually but you understand the drift).

Chewing (on nothing, but the movement of the jaw helps), the classic 'nose pinch & blow', swallowing - all can help. For a small baby the pain they can experience is akin to a dull knife being pushed into your leg muscle to a depth of 3-5cm - not nice.

Which is why they scream.

Many airlines used to include this knowledge in their training, sadly it appears to no longer be part of the courses since the mid 80s or so. Many flight attendants have thanked me over the years for explaining the issue and ways to alleviate the pain for small children. You would think that airlines would still be covering it in their training given the adverse impact not only on the child but their parents and surrounding passengers.

IMHO there is nothing quite so pathetic/soul destroying as seeing a small baby obviously in pain, shrieking with tears running down its face (and quite often the mother's face streaked wtih tears as well) - when it is totally preventable.

Yes but in some cases if the child has congestion that you aren’t aware of then there is nothing you can do to help.

 

[RAM]

Yes but in some cases if the child has congestion that you aren’t aware of then there is nothing you can do to help.

The chewing/jaw movement will ease most congestion combined with altitude pressure related issues as it has a similar effect as patting a baby to alleviate wind.

 

[Pushka]

The chewing/jaw movement will ease most congestion combined with altitude pressure related issues as it has a similar effect as patting a baby to alleviate wind.

I wish it was that simple with our child. We knew what was causing the issues but we could not alleviate it.

 

[Quickstatus]

Can be very difficult to equalise the pressure in the middle ear via the Eustachian tube in babies - because the diameter is so small. The pressure required is higher than in adults.

Crying actually helps, as does a dummy or drinking from a bottle

 

[LadyC]

Luckily, I was able to breastfeed MasterC when he was younger on take off and descent and he never had any problems.

 

[Haplo]

My view has always been that an airline is a common carrier and passengers have to accept children and infants in business or first class. If you don't like to travel on a common carrier then get a private jet instead.

 

[nutwood]

Confess I haven't read the full discussion and am simply replying to the OP's question, but I don't think it's an offensive request. It could be taken as a complement to the OP, in that he appeared a mature and sensible person to whom such a request could be made. Possibly the person making the request loved children but desperately needed to get some sleep? Surely it's better to be upfront, than wait until half way through the flight, where any such comment would be interpreted as criticism?
Not sure I'd ever make such a request, but that is possibly my own immaturity in dealing with strangers. Would not flying be better for all, if we could find a way of politely conveying our expectations of our fellow travellers? Not many people deliberately set out to annoy others, however most resent criticism of their behaviour.

 

[get me outta here]

We all right in this thread at some stage whatever our 'status' - BC, AK, or NC.

(Before children, after kidz or no kidz)

Well, a couple of the suggestions are stupid but other than that...