My son took his first airplane ride to Saskatoon last weekend. The flight there was PERFECT! He was curious. He was excited. It was a morning flight so he was well rested. Had a good breakfast to start off his day!
The catch about flying with a child under the age of 2 is… you can’t buy them a seat. They ride for free until they’re 2. So the have to ride on mommy and daddy’s lap. Which worked on the way there…
BUT… the way home was a different story. My son is 22 months old. He’s a busy body, and loves everyone. The last day we were in Saskatoon, he had enough of the “wedding weekend”. He visited, he played, and he laughed. On Sunday he was tired. We had an afternoon flight at 2:40. Now by this time, he has had lunch and a nap. But since we were out of routine, he was just cranky. I was nervous about the flight.
He yelled, screamed, kicked and made himself known on the flight home. He did not want to sit with us. He did not want to sit on our laps. He wanted nothing to do with us. So what did he do… he screamed on take off. He was fine during the flight (watching tv). And then screamed on landing. Here’s where I say… I’m sorry! (use sorry as your bonus code).
I’m not sorry for my child screaming… as there was NOTHING I could do. I tried everything! I tried food, toys, hugging. NOTHING worked. I’m sorry to those parents I used to be mad at who brought their kids on the plane. Before I was a mom… I had no idea. So the next time you go on a flight knowing there’s a child on it… if that child is not happy… don’t be mad at the parents. They’re doing the best then can to calm their child! I’m sorry for ever making a parent feel like they were a bad parent!!!!
http://www.entassociates.com/airplane.htm
After many family traveling experiences, the conclusion is that all kids ‘may/scream’ cry on take off and landing. Altitude differences impact them because they don’t know how to compensate their eardrums. I’ve attached a URL you’ll find interesting. Our physician advised us to use polysporin ear drops – after you go through security. Never had problems again.
- L Gale