Controversial? Sedating Kids On Long Haul Flights

[utalkin2me]

This thread has given me a good chance to vent. I really do hate this syndrome we have in society about feeling sorry for the poor, tired mothers (and fathers). They need to do something. Stick a pacifier in there, anything. If they try everything imaginable to man, of course I am kinda ok, but it doesn't seem to be the case 99% of the time. They just seem to be content with letting them make noise after giving some feeble attempt to quiet them.

[krisb]

Have you all forgotten you once to were children?

I suggest if crying children on planes is such a problem you go sit in the toilets.

 

Having paid full price for my ticket I think I am entitled to sit in my seat in peace without being disturbed by other passengers, especially ones that havent even paid full price.

 

Children rarely went on planes when I was young and I think that is an excellent way to arrange things. Babies and toddlers in particular should just be kept off public transport altogether. They should no more be allowed to travel in planes than dogs are.

Well guess what, they are. Bad luck. Next time someone says how was the flight? You can say was a bit noisy with a young kid crying, but at least there was no mechanical problems and we made it here safely.

Sent from my LG-E612 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Chittychangchang]

IMHO children under the age of 6 should not be allowed on planes with normal people. Ever.

Edited May 13, 2013 by Chittychangchang

[mrtoad]

I can only recall on one or two occasions were a child has been screaming throughout the journey. It's not nice, and it pisses me off, but as a parent I know that it's not always easy travelling long haul. My youngest daughter is always very good when travelling, my two older ones were awful between 2-5, but are fine now.

I find drunks far more irritating on a flight and they are far more common.

[Chittychangchang]

IMHO children under the age of 6 should not be allowed on planes with normal people. Ever.

Edited May 13, 2013 by Chittychangchang

[cloghead]

Don't waste good drugs on kids too young to appreciate them. Give ME the valium/zanax/rohypnol. I'll be zoned out for six hours and totally oblivious to the caterwauling brats...

(sarcasm)

[uptheos]

I like the scene in the British comedy 'Come Fly with Me', where the flight attendant says to a lady passenger, "what a lovely little boy, let me put him in the overhead locker for you", puts him in and slams the locker shut....."enjoy your flight madam".

Edited May 14, 2013 by uptheos

[roiethome]

I am not in favour of sedating children, but I applaud any airline that does not allow children under six in business or first class sections.

[MauriceVanTine]

Smoaking on airliners has been banned because it irriated passangers. I would much prefer an aircraft full of smokers to a screaming infant. There seems to good arguments for both side of this issue. I think that a micky which could be administered by a flight attendant might be a good way to go.

[yermanee]

Fact is that on several survey's that I've read these last few years regarding annoyances on long distance flights, children always came top of the list, and I must admit it's on top of my list too.

However I do understand that very young children can have considerable discomfort because of rapid pressure changes during lift of and landing but that's maximum 2 times 20 to 30 minutes per flight during which many passengers feel uncomfortable anyway (including me)

Any disturbing behaviour beyond that is to be blamed on the parents, and if it takes a mild sedative to calm them down then that's what should be done.

Just my opinion

Yermanee

[Pakaty]

Now I understand why there are so many posters asking for advice on letting thier children fly alone.

Okay little Willy, Sorry we could not all get on the same flight. Don't worry Mum and Dad are on the flight two hours behind you. When you land at the airport find the lost and found and wait for us there. We'll be along to collect you soon. Don't worry the cabin crew will take great care of you. Bye bye, don't forget to have FUN and ENJOY the flight. Is that your cap gun? You little angel.

[roamer]

Nope, but do you enjoy the flight while the chavs and puss heads party for 12 hrs and not giving a monkeys about anyone else?

Also, do you think they all get an escort on arrival? They don't.

Plus, do the airlines actually ban them all? Nope.

Are they allowed to fly home or fly again? Yes.

So, for me they are worse than kids as they should know better and they have a choice.

Kids don't usually.

Chavs have passports?

Sure do. On one flight to LOS I was on the guy who complained to one of them about their kid kicking his seat got threatened with having his teeth pushed down his throat. probably would have done it as well, she was built like a brick sh*thouse........

[draftvader]

I have a kid. Suggesting that she is sedated when she is a well mannered, calm child is very offensive to me as a parent. Has anybody thought about all the theories involved in Madelaine McCann's disappearance? There has never been a clear answer to this and there is a strong theory that her parents, both doctors, had sedated their children so that they could go out and they got the dose wrong (or there was a reaction) which killed the child.

Your peace or my child's life. Guess what I say?

[BlackPuddingBertha]

I have a kid. Suggesting that she is sedated when she is a well mannered, calm child is very offensive to me as a parent. Has anybody thought about all the theories involved in Madelaine McCann's disappearance? There has never been a clear answer to this and there is a strong theory that her parents, both doctors, had sedated their children so that they could go out and they got the dose wrong (or there was a reaction) which killed the child.

Your peace or my child's life. Guess what I say?

What is the connection between some disappearance in Portugal and me having a relatively commotion-free flight for which I have paid full price? And how do I know that your offspring are going to be well-behaved when most of the others one sees are disgusting little monsters that only deserve to be shot?

Your children belong at home and not on public transport, and so do everyone else's. They should be safe there and if they aren't then it's entirely your fault. Either way it should not be my problem as I specifically chose not to be burdened with children by not having any. You did choose to have them, and you (and everyone else who made the same decision) should just put up with the fact that the nasty little creatures are going to destroy your life for 20 years or so. But dont think that just because your life is ruined it gives you the right to ruin everyone else's. It doesn't.

[watcharacters]

Sedation should be mandatory for all young children on all flights. There is nothing worse than having a screaming child near you on a flight of any length. The only thing worse is the bratty, screaming child in a seat directly behind you that takes great pleasure in kicking the back of your seat. I have had words with more than one mother that would not or could not control their children. Before the peanut gallery chimes in, yes, I can be a real prick.

Not sure I can agree with mandatory sedation and I am one who flies long haul flights regularly with screaming kids. But when it comes to kids kicking the back of my seat, I'm with you. Last time it happened was on a flight from Singapore to BKK. After the plane landed, I told the brat's father he was a lousy Dad for allowing his kid to be disruptive. He must have lost face as his wife and her parents were along on the flight, and he challenged me to a fight...I told him I wouldn't strike someone I was likely to leave behind in a pool of their own blood.

.

Since its been mentioned twice, just some food for thought.

While it's only happened to me possibly on four occasions in all he flights I've taken, the sure fire solution I've found to the matter of an annoying person behind me is to turn on the attendant light and speak to the flight hostess.

It's never failed me. It works. I don't want any kind of confrontation on a plane or a failure to resolve the matter at hand. At least two of the four stewardesses mentioned to me how the understood how annoying it is to have anyone kicking the back of the seat.

Then sit back and enjoy the flight.

Good luck.

And why limit sedation to long haul flights? 555

[Lancelot]

For the record, I am against drugging children.

I see too many parents shirking their responsibilities with regards to making thier children mind and consideration for others. If I were traveling with children, I would try to engage them in some physical exercise before the flight to tire them out a bit so they would be more inclined to sleep on the flight

[utalkin2me]

Sedation should be mandatory for all young children on all flights. There is nothing worse than having a screaming child near you on a flight of any length. The only thing worse is the bratty, screaming child in a seat directly behind you that takes great pleasure in kicking the back of your seat. I have had words with more than one mother that would not or could not control their children. Before the peanut gallery chimes in, yes, I can be a real prick.

Not sure I can agree with mandatory sedation and I am one who flies long haul flights regularly with screaming kids. But when it comes to kids kicking the back of my seat, I'm with you. Last time it happened was on a flight from Singapore to BKK. After the plane landed, I told the brat's father he was a lousy Dad for allowing his kid to be disruptive. He must have lost face as his wife and her parents were along on the flight, and he challenged me to a fight...I told him I wouldn't strike someone I was likely to leave behind in a pool of their own blood

Yep, the old kicking of the back of the seat. Yet another category for the "ignorance of my child's misdeeds upon others" list. It really does get so old and annoying.

[Neeranam]

I bought some sedating medicine once for one of our daughters when she was 9 months. When I saw there was alcohol in it, I wasn't too keen but then thought of the other passengers when she was screaming, so gave her some - it worked a treat. They give babies opium in parts of India I visited and banned alcohol. Alcohol should be banned on planes - it does a lot more damage than smoking.

[smokie36]

My inital comment was a joke of course.

I am against sedating kids really in any situation..

Live and let live....its just a shame with the worry about child abusing nutters that we can't all share more in dealing with problematic children on flights by entertaining them as we are all responsible for looking after them really.

Sad society we live in nowadays.

[draftvader]

I have a kid. Suggesting that she is sedated when she is a well mannered, calm child is very offensive to me as a parent. Has anybody thought about all the theories involved in Madelaine McCann's disappearance? There has never been a clear answer to this and there is a strong theory that her parents, both doctors, had sedated their children so that they could go out and they got the dose wrong (or there was a reaction) which killed the child.

Your peace or my child's life. Guess what I say?

What is the connection between some disappearance in Portugal and me having a relatively commotion-free flight for which I have paid full price? And how do I know that your offspring are going to be well-behaved when most of the others one sees are disgusting little monsters that only deserve to be shot?

Your children belong at home and not on public transport, and so do everyone else's. They should be safe there and if they aren't then it's entirely your fault. Either way it should not be my problem as I specifically chose not to be burdened with children by not having any. You did choose to have them, and you (and everyone else who made the same decision) should just put up with the fact that the nasty little creatures are going to destroy your life for 20 years or so. But dont think that just because your life is ruined it gives you the right to ruin everyone else's. It doesn't.

and how is my little girl going to get to the UK this summer? My suggestion is that you take your complaint up with the airlines and see how far it gets you.

My life ruined? How VERY arrogant of you.

[Chittychangchang]

Some outragious suggestions on here by non-parents.
Long haul flights are a painful experience for everyone unless you can fly business or first class.
My kids love the consoles for games and movies and are more well behaved and less of an anoyance than....
The obese who take up more of your space and should be charged for two seats.
The drunks.
The constantly chattering new best friend here's my life story.
The prince and princess's constantly pressing the attention button asking for an extra pillow etc
The salivating sex tourists who want to tell you every detail of their planned stay in Pattaya.
The smelly ones.
The neurotic part- time western mother who's parenting skills and limited and wants to show of to her work buddies back home what an exotic holiday she had.
The list goes on....
At the end of the day we where all children once so it's nickpicking adult who should take the chill pill and leave the children to be children!

[BlackPuddingBertha]

and how is my little girl going to get to the UK this summer?

What business is that of mine? I chose not to have children so that I would never have to think about them. In exactly the same way as I dont have a dog and so dont expect to woken up by barking.

My suggestion is that you take your complaint up with the airlines and see how far it gets you.

Maybe one day the airlines will realise just where the revenue comes from on flights. (Several of them already have for business and first class, in that they dont allow children.) They probably dont make any money out of children in economy either, once they factor in the lower price paid for the seats and the extra hassle and inconvenience and ill-will caused to flight crew and other passengers.

My life ruined? How VERY arrogant of you.

No. Just common sense.

[MESmith]

Maybe one day the airlines will realise just where the revenue comes from on flights. (Several of them already have for business and first class, in that they dont allow children.) They probably dont make any money out of children in economy either, once they factor in the lower price paid for the seats and the extra hassle and inconvenience and ill-will caused to flight crew and other passengers.

Lower price paid for kids? Last time I flew return to UK with my 5 yr old son, his discounted ticket bought in Thailand cost substantially more than people I spoke to who were flying UK-BKK-UK

Currently looking for flights to take him to UK for a holiday. Not much difference between quotes for my ticket & his.

[David48]

sorry, flown thousands upon thousands of km with my child since she was 3 months old.

my father worked for an airline and i travelled by air from birth as well.

the biggest problem i have had was pressure in the ears during landing and take off, and with an infant, tears are to be expected.

if a child older than 2 or 3 is misbehaving throughout the flight, it is down to the parents.

books, crayons, ipads, iphones, portable dvds players as well as proper discipline are the responsibility of the parent, if the kid is uncontrolled on the ground, it will be a bastard in the air.

sedation, i would not touch it.

Never thought this day would come but I agree with candypants 99% (sedation, is an option of last resort).

His words about ... "the biggest problem i have had was pressure in the ears during landing

and take off, and with an infant, tears are to be expected." are so true ... giving the child something to suck on, but it a chuck-a-chup or what ever seems to allow the pressure equalise.

.

[eeeya]

Kicking the back of my seat winds me up.so bad.

I used to snap and turn around, but its better to use the air crew as a mediator.

Or just suffer in silence

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[RogueLeader]

sorry, flown thousands upon thousands of km with my child since she was 3 months old.

my father worked for an airline and i travelled by air from birth as well.

the biggest problem i have had was pressure in the ears during landing and take off, and with an infant, tears are to be expected.

if a child older than 2 or 3 is misbehaving throughout the flight, it is down to the parents.

books, crayons, ipads, iphones, portable dvds players as well as proper discipline are the responsibility of the parent, if the kid is uncontrolled on the ground, it will be a bastard in the air.

sedation, i would not touch it.

Never thought this day would come but I agree with candypants 99% (sedation, is an option of last resort).

His words about ... "the biggest problem i have had was pressure in the ears during landing

and take off, and with an infant, tears are to be expected." are so true ... giving the child something to suck on, but it a chuck-a-chup or what ever seems to allow the pressure equalise.

.

Not for everyone. When I was a child, I used to experience terrible pain on landing and for several hours after and nothing helped. I used to think that everyone experienced this and was amazed at how stoical people were.

I've always loved flying though. It's my one environmental vice - I don't have children or drive a car.

[irishken]

ill be flying with my 11 month old and this is what ill be doing.

giving her some calpol before take just in case her ears hurt and she is in pain,i don't give a dam if somebody gets upset if she cries as long as i know she is ok, and the first person to say something or give me a crooked look will have a problem.

i will also give her some glycerine & aniseed on her soother when taking off and landing. its great stuff fro keeping kids quite,tasty too.

sedating kids is wrong whatever way you look at it

[BlackPuddingBertha]

Lower price paid for kids? Last time I flew return to UK with my 5 yr old son, his discounted ticket bought in Thailand cost substantially more than people I spoke to who were flying UK-BKK-UK

Currently looking for flights to take him to UK for a holiday. Not much difference between quotes for my ticket & his.

I think you are comparing apples and pears there. Tickets bought ex-UK are invariably cheaper than tickets bought ex-BKK. My next flight is with BA LHR/BKK/LHR for GBP558 but the same ticket bought ex-BKK would have cost nearly double.

Don't 5-year olds still get significant discounts on the adult fare for the same sector? They used to.

Edited May 17, 2013 by BlackPuddingBertha

[utalkin2me]

ill be flying with my 11 month old and this is what ill be doing.

giving her some calpol before take just in case her ears hurt and she is in pain,i don't give a dam if somebody gets upset if she cries as long as i know she is ok, and the first person to say something or give me a crooked look will have a problem.

i will also give her some glycerine & aniseed on her soother when taking off and landing. its great stuff fro keeping kids quite,tasty too.

sedating kids is wrong whatever way you look at it

That is the whole problem with many parents. It is great to make sure your child is happy and healthy, but when you brought her into the world, this was not the only responsibility you took on.

[RabC]

I have a kid. Suggesting that she is sedated when she is a well mannered, calm child is very offensive to me as a parent. Has anybody thought about all the theories involved in Madelaine McCann's disappearance? There has never been a clear answer to this and there is a strong theory that her parents, both doctors, had sedated their children so that they could go out and they got the dose wrong (or there was a reaction) which killed the child.

Your peace or my child's life. Guess what I say?

What is the connection between some disappearance in Portugal and me having a relatively commotion-free flight for which I have paid full price? And how do I know that your offspring are going to be well-behaved when most of the others one sees are disgusting little monsters that only deserve to be shot?

Your children belong at home and not on public transport, and so do everyone else's. They should be safe there and if they aren't then it's entirely your fault. Either way it should not be my problem as I specifically chose not to be burdened with children by not having any. You did choose to have them, and you (and everyone else who made the same decision) should just put up with the fact that the nasty little creatures are going to destroy your life for 20 years or so. But dont think that just because your life is ruined it gives you the right to ruin everyone else's. It doesn't.

You haven't paid full price, you have been happily telling us of your discounted BA tickets, sit in Cattle and expect to be treated like Cattle. I do support a Ban on kids in Business and First but not economy , they do have to travel after all.