Editor’s Note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
You’ve settled into your seat on the plane, started watching a movie, opened a book, or started up your laptop when you hear that scary shrill sound – a baby has started to cry. It’s just a few seats. It can start as a whimper or groan and eventually escalate into a loud howl, since whatever the baby wants obviously isn’t happening fast enough.
Fast news: Baby crying on plane. And, well, everywhere else, too.
Of course, a crying baby can annoy both parents and nearby passengers on a plane. Before you start yelling or throwing malicious glances at a parent — or baby — consider this definitive guide to dealing with outbursts from the smallest of passengers on a plane.
Why do babies cry on planes?
As most people know, babies don’t cry to make your life harder. Babies cry because they need or want something, and this happens to be a communication tool they can use at will. Once you’ve lived with a baby, you’ll quickly realize that babies cry… a lot. Or rather, there are developmental timeframes when crying happens to be quite common.
Feelings of discomfort, exhaustion, hunger, loneliness, boredom, anger, pain, and general unrest are all expressed by crying and tears. The sobs can be quite intense at times, but usually only parents and caregivers hear and respond to those cries. However, on a packed plane, others share the stressful experience, like it or not.
I’m a mother of two and when my baby cries as a baby, my blood pressure and stress levels immediately skyrocket. A physiological response to their suffering has forced me, as their mother, to react as quickly as possible. That stress response occurs at home but is magnified on the plane.
At 36,000 feet, the increased pressure of limited resources and additional audiences will enhance the experience. As a parent, knowing that your child is having a hard time is incredibly painful – and others suffer as a result.
The last thing parents in this situation need are snaps, comments, eye rolls, audible sighs, or people berating them on social media. Parents should focus on meeting their child’s needs in the best possible way.
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If you’re an unfortunate passenger who encounters a crying baby, put on those noise-cancelling headphones, plug in some earplugs, turn up the volume for your movie and be glad you’re not the one. sit on the hot seat.
Related: Flying with an infant in your lap? Here’s what you need to know
How to keep your baby from crying on the plane
While we sometimes wish they could, babies can’t always tell us exactly what they need. Because flying takes babies out of their typical environment (and often keeps them out of schedule), some fussiness can be unavoidable. However, there are things you can do to make your baby as happy and comfortable as possible and, hopefully, stop her crying.
Related: 43 real-world family travel tips that really work
First, think about where your baby feels most comfortable at home. Do they sleep like a baby (pun intended) in the car seat when you’re driving out for a long distance, or do they prefer snuggling up to you in a baby carrier?
If it’s the former, you may want to bring your seat (or travel-friendly car seat) on board. If it’s the latter, you also have the option of bringing your baby on board as an infant in your lap and having the baby in a sling (unless the plane takes off and lands). The baby must be under 2 years old.
Related: Airline-approved car seats
You also want to make sure breast milk or formula is available during the flight. Not only can this help soothe a hungry, crying baby, but the sucking motion can help ease the discomfort that comes with pressure changes in the cabin, which can be especially uncomfortable for a baby. Infant. Pacifiers also help here. Just pack some extra accessories to replace the ones that will inevitably be under the seat.
You might also consider bringing a favorite stuffed animal, whiteboard books, or other toys that can help keep your baby distracted and entertained while on the plane.
What to do when your baby is crying on the plane?
Most of the time, the one thing parents want from other passengers is simple: empathy, or at least some non-judgmental space to deal with the situation.
Of course, depending on the specifics, there can be many ways for you to proactively help the situation if you feel like it, and as a result help calm a fussy baby. So even if you’re not a parent, here are some things you can do as a passenger when your baby cries on the plane.
Provide an aisle seat if parents are stuck in the middle
Getting out between two strangers and into the aisle with just a little shoulder space can make all the difference. Of course, you don’t Have to provide your seat, but if you’re looking for practical ways to help, this is an option at your disposal. You can also simply offer to get up and let them in the aisle to walk around, assuming the seat belt sign is off.
Share a kind word or a smile
An easy way to help with minimal effort is to simply give a parent a reassuring smile, a nod, or a kind word. Letting parents know that it’s okay to cry, we’ve all been there, and that it’s (eventually) getting better, can help reduce their stress levels. In turn, this can help them focus on the crying baby.
Provide hands-on help
If you are willing and able, and feel fit, you can offer to help. Perhaps you have a toddler-appropriate toy or snack that you can part with so that you can keep your toddler from screaming.
Or, in some cases – especially if the parent is the only adult traveling with the child(ren) – they may even expect another adult to take turns trying to reassure the baby. A polite suggestion that you are willing to help if you want is not inappropriate. Just don’t take it personally if your parents don’t accept your offer; We all know these days there are a lot of strangers and children.
See if there are empty seats
A few minutes of crying hopefully not a big deal. However, if you are in the area of direct exposure to sound waves for a prolonged situation (and the flight is not full), you can politely ask the flight attendant if it is possible to move to an empty seat in the area. quieter areas of the plane. plane.
Related: What to do if there is an unruly passenger on your flight
bottom line
Sure, sitting near a crying baby on a plane can be stressful and even frustrating. But showing those sighs and rolling eyes only adds negative energy to a situation that already abounds. I often find that the most tired, stressed, and unprepared families on a plane are the ones traveling for the most stressful and unavoidable reasons.
When a baby nearby is crying on the plane, the best approach for other passengers is simply not to aggravate the situation. If you are willing and able to make a reassuring comment or provide practical assistance in some way, a polite offer may be appropriate.
As both a mother with a baby who is now past the baby stage and a frequent flyer without children, it is important to always remember that babies are just babies. The plane will land and that moment will be over – finally. Until then, have your headphones ready and a little more patient.
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