Airline "kiddie section"

[Anon]

I read that most people wish airlines would start a "kiddie section" so that nobody has to sit near other people's kids.

In a way I understand this, but in another way I find it offensive. Any time I"ve ever flown, I work hard to make sure my kids are bothering nobody. Often I will have passengers who look at me with a tense, drawn face at the beginning of a flight, and then at the end, with a smile, say "Wow your kids were good." I hate it that flying with kids has everyone glaring at you, as if your kids had no right to be there....hey we paid for their seats, too...and in paying for their seats, I don't want to be packed in the back with a bunch of other parents with kids. If I want to train mine to obey, why should I be stuck with the bad ones? Luckily, the airlines probably can't do it, anyway.

I guess stupid parents who can't control their kids have ruined it for everyone else. Yeah my kids can be rowdy, but they know in public like restaurants or airplanes, they have to think about others around them.

[trc123]

If you've ever flown for 18 hours in aircraft with a plane full of young military families and their children (which we have, two of the young ones being ours), you'll understand how someone could not want to be seated near children. Now that I'm a grandfather of 8, and I fly to Florida non-stop to see my parents, I constantly try not to be seated near children. I'm not rude about it, but I prefer to be farther away from the little angels as I know it is their nature to play and cry (ears popping), etc. Not their fault, I just want a little peace and quiet to either read or sleep.

Personally, a kiddie section would be a win, win I think. The young ones would have other children to play with, the parents wouldn't be all nerved up trying to keep them from disturbing those not accompanied by children, and those without children would have more tranquility.

Also, while I've had children and grandchildren and crying isn't as big a deal as when I was younger, there are plenty of people traveling who've never had children and the crying really places them on edge.

[Anon]

True, but everyone pays for their seat...I always see airplanes as a sometimes unpleasant way to cut trip time. Its not vacation...its a fast bus, so to speak. I dunno. I just hate getting all the evil eyes on a plane just because I have kids that they ASSUME are going to be bad.

[Annie]

I read that most people wish airlines would start a "kiddie section" so that nobody has to sit near other people's kids.

In a way I understand this, but in another way I find it offensive.

I have mixed feelings about this concept also. I don't find it offensive, but I also don't think it makes a whole lot of sense. I personally have been annoyed on flights by children kicking the back of my seat, or screaming for extended periods. But the children were no more annoying than the raucous group of businessmen laughing loudly, or the large lady (poor thing) who overflowed into my personal space, or the grouchy, overworked stewardess, or the man who spent the whole flight making a circuit between his seat, the magazine rack, the bathroom, and his friend's seat, etc., or the captain's voice blaring over the speakers, or the seatmate who had no understanding of the concept of personal hygiene. The fact is that flying is not entirely "fun" for anyone, because of a number of factors. Everyone has to put up with their own set of inconveniences and annoyances that come with being squished into a torpedo-shaped tube with way too many other people. Having a positive, unselfish attitude would go a lot farther than compartmentalizing the annoyances. Would we have a section for people who reek of B.O., or people who don't fit in their seats? I don't think that Jesus Christ would have taken this approach. He mingled with--even sought out--the unlovely, and I think we should follow after our Master's example. Instead of giving in to irritation, perhaps we can lend a hand, or be an encouragement to hurting, worn-out people.

I'll never forget one flight I went on with my five children ages seven down to six months old (my husband wasn't with us). Everything went great on the outbound flight to Grammy's house. But then, after a week of spoiling at Grammy's house, all sugared up and overtired, we boarded the return flight. I was prepared with snacks, entertainment, etc., but I certainly wasn't Grammy, and the kids weren't fooled. I work as hard as anyone at training my children to behave, but I knew before the flight took off that this was going to be a challenge. I had an aisle seat with the baby on my lap, and the kids spread out across the row on both sides of me. One window seat remained in our row on my side next to my two year old, who was potty training at the time. I prayed for the person who would be sitting there; how I hoped that it wouldn't be a businessman who had lots of important work to do. And then God did a wonderful thing. I looked up to see a sweet-faced lady in her sixties walking toward us. She paused, checked her ticket...and then sat down in the open window seat in our row! As we got acquainted, she told me how much she missed her own grandchildren. She held my baby whenever I had to take the toddler to the potty, and showered love on all of us. She laughed when the baby pulled at her glasses, read books to the fussy, nap-deprived two year old, and held the baby wipes as I changed diapers. When the flight was over, she remarked how refreshed she felt after sitting with us. (!!!!) I didn't have the words to express what a blessing she had been to ME! I learned a lot about true ministry that day...

[Annie]

I just hate getting all the evil eyes on a plane just because I have kids that they ASSUME are going to be bad.

Oh, Kita, I LOVE it when this happens (whether it's at a restaurant or wherever)! I just smile at them and ask them how they're doing. My kids are generally smiling too...so, who looks like the badly behaved one from the get-go? Actually, I don't blame people for being suspicious, given the behavior of many children. Our kids can probably repeat verbatim the advice Daddy gives them before we trek into a public venue...something like, "Here's another opportunity for us to show Jesus' love to people who need Him...people who will look at us and say, 'Oh, no! Here comes a family with five little monsters!' Let's prove 'em wrong!" (This is generally followed by cheers from the kids. :tum ) So, we all actually like it when people look cross-eyed at us in public places. It's a challenge we enjoy. I think we'd actually be disappointed if no one stared disapprovingly as we entered.

[Anon]

What a sweet story about the airline!!!

I agree....what bugs ME the most is that guy who can't stop buying the drinks on the flight...that and of course the PG-13 movie I'm trying to shield my 4 year old from.... or the fat guy that takes up his seat and half of yours...

Yeah. Its not just the kids.


Yeah and Annie we do get compliments in restaurants for our kids...and they are just acting like normal kids, they aren't statues, we talk and stuff but I guess some kids must be really bad or something these days.

[Guest Guest]

Yeah and Annie we do get compliments in restaurants for our kids...and they are just acting like normal kids, they aren't statues, we talk and stuff but I guess some kids must be really bad or something these days.

I think you're right... people are so used to seeing kids that are totally undisciplined. I remember when I was a kid, my parents would get compliments all the time for how my sister and I were "so behaved" when we went to a store, restaurant, etc. Sometimes it even happened when my sister and I had been arguing or slightly misbehaving, but I guess we weren't as bad as most kids out there. (Probably cuz we got spanked at home if we didn't obey our parents... hehe)

[282Mikado]

What a sweet story about the airline!!!

I agree....what bugs ME the most is that guy who can't stop buying the drinks on the flight...that and of course the PG-13 movie I'm trying to shield my 4 year old from.... or the fat guy that takes up his seat and half of yours...

Yeah. Its not just the kids.


Yeah and Annie we do get compliments in restaurants for our kids...and they are just acting like normal kids, they aren't statues, we talk and stuff but I guess some kids must be really bad or something these days.

All good and valid points. Also, what do they do about the first two rows in front or behind the "kiddie" section? Do they put up some barried to reduce noise at the cost of seats? Kind of like a somking section in restaurants. You gonna tell me that the tables near the smokers don't smell it?

Take it from someone who traveled over 50K miles this past year. It won't work. I don't like being by the noisy ones any more than anyone else, but just think of the opportunity you have to be a good witness for God in such a situation. :smile

[deafnva77]

I agree with the kiddie section.

especially after people are losing it from hearing crying babies (especially in a stressful environment such as plan rides). But then again, shielding kids does not teach people how to be tolerance.

**edited: talking too much again**

[LAF]

I doubt they would do it .Yet I think it might be a good idea.I hate having my seat kicked or them hanging over the seat .

[kevinmiller]

I had a kid behind me on my 13 hour flight back from Korea that kept kicking the back of my seat a few times during the flight.

[Anon]

I had a kid behind me on my 13 hour flight back from Korea that kept kicking the back of my seat a few times during the flight.

That "kept"...."a few times"?

LOL

One time I flew with one of our sons who's legs just happened to be too short to bend at the knee over the edge of the seat, but just long enough to reach the seat in front. Boy, that was a nightmare, for four hours, keeping his feet still so we did not disturb the person in front! There was absolutely nothing we could do about it, yet every time he even moved to a slightly different position, the person in front would feel him kick. Yikes.

[matie-k]

This is making me dread our flight back to China next month even more! We'll have a 3 year old and a newborn. :badday:

[HappyChristian]

This is making me dread our flight back to China next month even more! We'll have a 3 year old and a newborn.

Katie - Eden is so well-behaved I don't think you'll have to worry about her. Let me know and I'll get her some more sticker books or something. :cool The baby most likely won't be a major problem either. One thing my mom learned when she was on a plane alone with a baby (can't remember if it was me or one of the younger ones...) was - the baby was crying and the stewardess came and took the baby from my mom (nicely, and with permission) and held the baby's head so that one ear was against her shoulder, and put her other hand on the other ear. That helped with the popping, so the crying stopped.

A suggestion would be to have some bottles of water for the baby to suck, and a pacifier. The sucking keeps the ear from popping (chewing gum for Eden...). That will help eliminate a lot of the reason babies cry on planes.

[Anon]

I found that the slight g-forces of taking off often puts a smaller baby to sleep if they have a paci to suck on...its the older kids who get bored that have issues.