The ten-month-old in front of me screamed for most of the two hour flight from San Francisco to Albuquerque last night (Thank you, Bose!). NewMexiKen felt sorry for the child, who I was told was simply exhausted, and I felt for the mother who was, no doubt, exhausted herself — and frustrated and embarassed.
Next time she should just administer drugs. No, of course not to the baby. To the rest of us.
It’s too bad that the mother had to feel embarassed on top of everything else. It’s too bad the mom of this infant had to deal with, not only the baby, but also the notion that she was making others uncomfortable. That should have been the last thing on her mind.
NewMexiKen is guessing the mother was embarassed because she seemed to be. She didn’t apologize, and she most certainly had no reason to. Kids cry.
Actually everyone behaved rather well. No one I noticed complained, and at least two individuals helped her, one at great length. I played peek-a-boo between the seats when the poor little guy stopped to take a breath.
I often wonder how many of those squalling babies on flights are crying because their ears hurt. Many adults chew gum to “pop” their ears, but what’s a baby to do? (Drinking a bottle during take-off and landing would probably help, as it’s swallowing that does the trick.)
I remember a doctor telling me to be sure to feed my baby during take off and landing for exactly that reason, Debby. The repeated swallowing clears their ears without them even knowing that they are helping themselves.
A baby is one thing on a flight, but the true terror for both parent and those seated nearby is a three-and-a-half-year old. They are much louder, can undo their own seatbelts, and come with the added “bonus” of being able to kick the seat in front of them.
I remember one particularly horrible flight home from Albuquerque with my son Mack. I was completely wrung out by landing, and in no mood for the oh-so-helpful (and unsolicited) comment from the older gentleman seated across the aisle from us. “If you don’t get it under control, young man,” he told my son, “you’re going to end up in jail someday. And I’m going to have to pay for it.”
My favorite was the woman who leaned her seat all the way back into our one-year old (who was buckled into her car seat in the airline seat) leaving no space whatsoever and then called the airline attendant and complained that the baby was kicking her seat.