Crying Babies...Help!

[GearUpBitch]

First off, I don't have kids, so I don't know too much about them and have a couple questions. What can I tell parents who's kids are crying the entire flight. I mean, it sounds like they aren't crying because they are unhappy, but almost screaming in pain. I believe that they are unable to "pop" their ears and the pressure is just too much for them..but I don't know. With me in uniform commuting to work 4 hours each way, pax tend to look at me to do something when a kid is screaming for 2 straight hours. HELP....what can I do, or tell the parents to do when this happens. This is killing me on the red-eyes! Someone with kids or a DR please chime in here.

 

[Stephen]

I've travelled cross-continent a couple of times with our kids (now 5 and 3, but they've been younger). I think the most we've upset people was not with crying but stinky diapers, but that's a different story.

I doubt that most crying kids are due to pain. Sure, their eustachian tubes are smaller and they get more colds, but I still doubt it. It is probably more due to being frightened and over-tired from being in an unfamiliar environment. There are a bunch of strangers very close by and it is noisy and they can't do what they normally do to keep sane.

Benadryl does wonders to put a tired but uptight kid to sleep. We brought some with us each time, but I don't recall having to use it. Though as we recently learned, having the FA spike the kid's juice with Paxil is not the best idea. Beyond sleep, distraction is good - but if the parents haven't suceeded with this, you probably won't either. Of course, introducing yourself as a pilot (in uniform) might strike awe into an older kid - might be worth a try.

So, since you said that these are red-eye flights, your best bet is to carry liquid Benadryl and offer it to the parents

 

[350DRIVER]

Ear wax for kids-

seems to solve most problems for the longer flights-

I dunno what else to suggest other than for the parents to "attempt" to cheer the kids up by some means (dunno how though)

good luck

3 5 0

24 & NO kids

 

[GIVJoc]

Just ran this by the ole spousal unit (RN, EMT-P) and here’s what she said.


Children can find air pressure changes uncomfortable and frightening because their ears are more sensitive. The effects will be felt more in a child that has an ear infection or wax build up. The only advice is to tell the mother to feed the child, if infant breast or bottle, warm milk preferred. If an older child give them a warm liquid from a cup with a straw, have them sip it slowly and then give them something soft to chew maybe a soft cookie, cake or bread. This will take their mind off the pain and will help clear any blockage that may exist in a child with just earwax build up.


Also another cause may be general dehydration if this is the case have them drink water or juice, not sodas.
Sedatives are not recommended for any infants when flying even if sick, generally a physician will tell the parents to delay travel but if not able keep the child hydrated and close by, monitor at all times.


Also the child may just be plain scared in which case a good ole fashion lullaby will work wonders.

GIV

 

[172driver]

I had an FA on a SWA flight explain to me that she carried suckers and gum for crying kids. She claimed it helped them clear their ears. Seemed to work but is the sugar rush an acceptable side effect?

 

[sidesaddle]

Having our younger babies suck on a pasifier (works on the ear pressure like chewing) and giving them their "Woobie" (blankie) has usually worked great. Speaking for the parents they are usually as frustrated w/ the situation as you are. If you handle it tactfully and empathetically, all three of you might get a little sleep.

Seen on a baby's shirt "If I'm not sleeping, NOBODY IS!"

 

[ShawnC]

Well there is always the liquid babysitter, Nyquil

But I found that suckers, and gum work best.

 

[ArcticFlier]

A bottle always worked with our kids............

AF

 

[Snakum]

I always put mine in those small dog carriers and checked 'em as pets until they got too big. I'd usually write 'African Dingos: Fragile' or something on some masking tape so the pitiful whining didn't freak out the rampers. Jut make sure to put a water bottle in there for domestic flights less than four hours, or food for cross-country and international trips.

Minh

Oh yeah ... stop by the flight deck and remind the crew they have mammal cargo this leg. You don't want 'em to forget about flipping the dead-dog switch and then have 'kid-cicles' at the other end.

 

[Skyrunner]

It's almost always the ears

Hey Ya'll,

I've travelled a lot with my 3 year old, especially when he was 2. On more than one occasion, during the descent, my son was screaming that his ears hurt. My wife and I had forgotten to give him a juice sippy cup before the descent. I think that drinking is probably the best remedy for the ear problem.

As a pilot, if I knew I had little ones on board, I would try to keep the cabin altitude as low as possible. Coming down from 9k can be hard on little ears that aren't accustomed to it.

As for being scared, try to bring things that they like to play with and sleep with. This will distract them. Also try the window seat.

Take care and fly safe,

Chris Bow

 

[FlyingSig]

My son in 18 months old and has 19,000 Continental OnePass miles already!

What has worked for us his either have a pacifier or a bottle in the mouth during takeoff and initial descent. Don't really need it for the entire climb/descent... just the initial pressure change.

Most of the time though, he's wide awake through takeoff and sleeps for a good 2 hours at cruise. Wake up, eat something, turn the lights on and off 790 times, press the FA call button about 40 times, and you're there before you know it!

 

[Flying Illini]

Wake up, eat something, turn the lights on and off 790 times, press the FA call button about 40 times, and you're there before you know it!

Is it bad if your 23 and STILL doing that?!

 

[toneal]

Horse tranquilizers will work too

 

[Draginass]

Aside from putting on a civilian shirt, there's not much you can do. If they're having ear problems due to descents, a lot of times the crying itself helps them clear their ears. If they're crying the whole flight, then they are probably that way at home as well . . . especially if the parents seem unconcerned. Fortunately, I've had no instances where I've been in the cabin where there was a child screaming uncontrolled. Although the dress and appearance of many passengers these days is bus-station chic, at least the courtesy of a vast majority of passengers is still good.

When you're trapped in an aluminum tube for 4 hours, however, just a couple of rude pax can make it unbearable on everyone.

 

[avbug]

I can't speak for anyone else's kids, but I found that predosing with Prozac (X2) prior to the flight, and then the use of a little starting fluid on a rag at regular intervals during the flight, works wonders.

For children with a sore throat or an illness that can't be helped, duct tape spread liberally about the mouth serves to muffle the sound. Be sure to cut air holes and monitor vital signs.

If children have been raised properly to like tobasco sauce on their scrambled eggs, a little jose cuervo in a bottle with a little apple juice is also a real plus.

There is always intravenous.

 

[toneal]

Here is an easy answer...

Put the parents and the crybaby in the back of the plane so you wont have to listen to it. Tell them it is a W&B issue.

 

[trainerjet]

Well it looks like we have another retarded troll on the boards...

Yep. If further proof is needed, click on the link below.

http://forums.flightinfo.com/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=231587

 

[BlackCoffee]

all joking aside fly on a md-88 on one of the last three rows. It puts my kid to sleep immediately by one of the engines. Now that I have a baby I feel for others, but still there is nothing worse than the looks you get when you walk on the plane with an infant. Everyone wants to die when they see you sit down by them. My wife puts him right on the boob. better for everyone else. Sorry, raising a kid is hard! Your turn may be coming.

 

[enigma]

I can't speak for anyone else's kids, but I found that predosing with Prozac (X2) prior to the flight, and then the use of a little starting fluid on a rag at regular intervals during the flight, works wonders.

For children with a sore throat or an illness that can't be helped, duct tape spread liberally about the mouth serves to muffle the sound. Be sure to cut air holes and monitor vital signs.

If children have been raised properly to like tobasco sauce on their scrambled eggs, a little jose cuervo in a bottle with a little apple juice is also a real plus.

There is always intravenous.

Might this work for the bear too?

 

[Singlecoil]

I too commute and have experienced babies who cry for the entire flight. I thought the parents must be truly defective. Now that I have a three week old, and have done some extensive reading about babies I've learned that those babies may very well have colic. Colic is defined as unconsolable crying for at least two hours a day. UNCONSOLABLE. Fortunately our little one doesn't have it, but I've heard from parents who have had these children and it is tough on everybody. It usually goes away by the time they are six months old, and doctors don't know exactly what the problem is.
So if the baby you see doing this is very young, I would have some sympathy for the folks, because they are surely at their wits end.