# Here's a new take on crying kids on airplanes! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 14, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337 "2003-03-14T14:52:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/141 "2003-03-19T21:49:31Z")
No one likes ill behaved children and the parents who won’t control them. I have 3 of my own, so I know how hard it can be to get little ones to do what you want. But I am constantly annoyed at uncontrolled kids. But that’s not what this thread is about. Feel free to start a thread about that (it’s been done to death, but I’ll still contribute an anecdote or two). This thread is about a 19 month old who was allegedly drugged because he cried on an airplane. Toddlers of that age can’t yet be reasoned with, and most of the time if they start crying there is little to be done to stop them. The parents can try (juice, toys, books) but success is far from guarenteed. Maybe all people should be judged for their ‘annoyance factor’ before they are let on planes. You’ve got too much perfume on! You have a cold! You snore loudly! You have terrible gas! You have a toddler who might cry! You’re legs are too long and would bump the seat in front of you! You like to tell long and boring stories to strangers! Sorry guys, part of living in society means that you have to deal with people, of all kinds. Some are great, some are annoying. If you don’t like it, get a cabin in the forrests of Montana and live off the land. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/142 "2003-03-19T22:43:47Z")
Too bad the government has such a problem with separatists. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/143 "2003-03-19T23:11:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\* Diphenhydramine (benadryl) is often mentioned as useful for these purposes, but it is not reliable. About one third of young children get paradoxical stimulation from this medication, and are more awake and irritable. > > QtM, MD \*\* Although I’m not a doctor (nor do I play one on TV), I can vouch for what **QtM** has said here from personal experience. My oldest is almost rendered limp and lifeless by Benedryl, but son number two? Well, let’s just say that ‘paradoxical stimulation’ made me chuckle. It was more along the lines of ‘Jesus Christ?! Did you give him speed?’ Son number three reacts the same as number one. Fortunately the God of Travel invented Gameboy advance for ages 7 and up. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/144 "2003-03-19T23:23:41Z")
I’m surprised this hijack actually continued beyond this post : > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gundy \* > \*\*Mr. Bond: > > You may think your opinions are iconoclastic and edgy. You would be wrong. We’ve been through this many, many times and have come to the following conclusions: > > 1. Yep, kids can be loud and obnoxious sometimes. > 2. Yep, their behavior can ruin a flight, or movie, or store trip. > 3. Yep, parents who let that behavior continue through the movie, flight or store trip are buttheads. > 4. Sadly, you are also a butthead. Shut up. \*\* Seriously, yes, there are bad parents out there. There are also good ones. The world is full of arseholes, some of whom have kids, some who don’t. Let it go already, people. This thread is about a FA accused of drugging a passenger. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/145 "2003-03-20T00:06:08Z")
Children are a part of this world that cant be avoided. And airplanes make thier ears hurt, so they cry. Its a fact of life. Get used to it. Its dangerous to sedate children that small. So if you really cant stand to hear children cry, and your going to fly, go here [http://www.etymotic.com](http://www.etymotic.com) these earphones sound great, and block out 20 db or so of external noise. I play in a band that uses ear monitors, and I use the ER6’s and I can bairly hear the full drum kit not 10 feet away from me. I can promise you, thats louder than any screaming child(especially with my drummer). That and a laptop or cd player, and your set. And they sound incredible. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/146 "2003-03-20T00:35:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BondJamesBond \* > \*\*My you be cursed with having little “RY” grow up to have a loud, untalented garage heavy metal band that plays out-of-tune, covers of KISS, Ozzy, and Whitesnake at all hours of the night in your downstairs living room! \*\* If he was in a garage band, he’d play in the garage…until I pulled the power switch. No problem. But you’re still an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/147 "2003-03-20T01:35:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nittanylion119 \* > \*\*It’s true, though, mhendo. Sorry you think that. > > By way of example, I’d like to point out that Disney World had trouble with visitors from certain South American countries jumping and cutting in lines, and worse. They were not used to the American custom of what I will call civility, and so frustrated the American tourists at the parks with their behavior. Our behavior is uniquely American. \*\* Oh PUH Lease!!! Tell that to the teenage AMERICAN brats cutting lines at Magic Mountain last time I visited there. And not unobtrusively either, these kids were leaping over and under railings and just tearing on up to where they were nearly first in line. Americans don’t have exclusive rights to “civility” (much to our shame), where do you think other countries get the term “the ugly American”? I wish we were the be all and end all of all that is civil. We’re not. As far as the “brats on airplanes” thing. I’ve been on both sides, I’ve had a teething and wouldn’t be consoled 16 month old, and I’ve been on the unwilling and receiving end of listening to screaming children. I’m of two minds here. With babies, those that are truly too young to know what is happening, and parents not always able to comfort them, people need to be as patient as possible (though may FLEA infested armpits plague those that refuse to give babies a pacifier or bottle well BEFORE the plane begins it’s descent, HELLO, it’s too late then!! Give the baby something well before that time). But with older kids 3, or 4 on up, parents should have them under control. Some whining and fidgeting is understandable, out and out brattiness and spoiled “I want it” crying is really stretching the limits and not very responsible. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/148 "2003-03-20T01:47:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by squeegee **I have been the poor slob** traveling with a barely 2 year old not all that long ago. Here’s what my spouse and I did in hopes our kid would be quiet on the flight:…And how did it go? For about the first 2+ hours (of 5) it went swimmingly. For reasons that can’t be known, after that he’d had it and decided to scream his lungs out for 2 1/2 hours more. Toys, candy, DVD movies, etc, would bring a brief respite for 10 minutes or so, then the wailing would begin again. Boy did you bring back memories, I took my daughter, then 4, to Hawaii on vacation. It was a 7 hour flight over (severe headwinds). During the several hours prior to getting ready for the flight, getting to the airport and waiting at the gate, she was WOUND UP!!! Running around all excitable, asking every 5 seconds when the plane would leave. We did the “chase mommy around” game to wear her out too. She was wound tight the whole way over, not crying, but definitely in need of attention. Somewhat cranky, fidgety, wanting to get up and complaining a bit. She remained high energy until exactly 5 minutes before the plane landed. And then she fell instantly and deeply asleep. And then I had the joy of half carrying a cranky half asleep child AND our luggage through the Honolulu Airport to the taxi area. whew. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/149 "2003-03-20T02:03:40Z")
PS, the several people who mentioned that maybe the “easily annoyed” should drug themSELVES before getting on a plane might have something there. Good idea! I’ll have to remember to visit my doctor before my next flight. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/150 "2003-03-20T02:27:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CanvasShoes \* > \*\*Oh PUH Lease!!! Tell that to the teenage AMERICAN brats cutting lines at Magic Mountain last time I visited there. And not unobtrusively either, these kids were leaping over and under railings and just tearing on up to where they were nearly first in line. > > Americans don’t have exclusive rights to “civility” (much to our shame), where do you think other countries get the term “the ugly American”? > > I wish we were the be all and end all of all that is civil. We’re not. > \*\* You’ll notice that **nittanylion** hasn’t returned to defend his ridiculous assertions. He seems like one of those “i saw it so it must be universally applicable” type of debaters. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/151 "2003-03-20T19:36:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by catsix \* > \*\*The cookie incident was one of many. > > I worked in a restaurant for a very long time, and saw hundreds or thousands of parents with little kids in there who misbehaved. The vast majority of the time, the parents were not happy at all about being told to control the behavior of their child (do not let your kid walk on the counter, play with the food on the dessert cart, make mashed potato sculpture on the carpet, etc). > > I have experienced more ill-behaved kids with parents who think they should tell off anyone who points out the bad behavior than I have well behaved kids or parents who correct their kids. \*\* Wow…sucks to be you. I mean that. If you’ve encountered **thousands** of parents who refuse to control their kids, let them walk on the counters and make food sculptures on the carpet…then you win. Kids are evil, parents suck. If you’ve shown the same tolerance for children in your restaurant as you do for children on an airplane, I think I understand why **thousands** of parents had a problem with you asking them to control their kids. It’s not me…it’s them :rolleyes: (I had to do one) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/152 "2003-03-20T19:41:15Z")
BTW, what about Celestial Seasoning’s Sleepy Time tea? It’s just herbal tea that tends to have a calming effect (I usually get sleepy drinking it). ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/153 "2003-03-20T20:29:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*BTW, what about Celestial Seasoning’s Sleepy Time tea? It’s just herbal tea that tends to have a calming effect (I usually get sleepy drinking it). \*\* There are also those “naturopathic” (sp?) all natural herbal “melt on the tongue” teething tabs that you can get from the health food section, or your pediatrician. Don’t know if they’re still available, but when my kids were small I used them with pretty good success. The thread does seem to have gotten off-track though. It’s wrong to drug someone (ANYONE) against their will and without their knowledge, particularly a helpless child, no matter how “bratty” he or she is being. That being said now (and to add to the “it’s not just crying kids that destroy the peace” school of thought), I wish that **Bond** had been on the red-eye flight I “endured” from Anchorage to Salt Lake City, this January. Two college freshmen (from their conversation, returning to school after their first semester and from Christmas break), talked for the ENTIRE 4.5 hour flight. We’re talking from 1am til 5:40am or so Anchorage time. And not in low “library voices” either. I went to the restroom a couple of times, and they could be heard for a good 10 row radius. People all around them were trying to sleep, or at least rest somewhat. But these two laughed, talked (with an INFINITE and unending supply of “No WAY dude!!” throughout their conversation), for the entire flight. The subject(s) of their conversation ranged from childbirth (in play by play color) to the death penalty, to their classes and the “cool” parties their respective colleges had to offer. People gave them looks, sighed, tried to sleep, glared, stared, harrumphed etc., and all to no avail. No one actually came right out and said “SHUT UP”!!! See? People like Bond actually DO come in handy. I mean, that is if he’s not just all talk on boards like this, but a milque-toast in person. Those of us on that flight would have gladly had a “Bond” give those inconsiderate brats a piece of his mind!!! ---
**Author:** ![BondJamesBond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@BondJamesBond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BondJamesBond)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/154 "2003-03-21T07:46:35Z")
BONDJAMESBOND WROTE: "My you be cursed with having little “RY” grow up to have a loud, untalented garage heavy metal band that plays out-of-tune, covers of KISS, Ozzy, and Whitesnake at all hours of the night in your downstairs living room! " RYSDAD REPLIED: “If he was in a garage band, he’d play in the garage…until I pulled the power switch. No problem.” * * * So let me get this straight. In response to an annoying sound sound from a child, you would respond by forcibily, and against the child’s will, depriving the child of the ability to make the aforementioned annoying sounds. I wonder how Ry and his band would feel about this rude, self-centered, asshole telling them that they could not express themselves. You would not ask little Ry to stop? If little Ry failed to stop, then you would not meekly go back to bed and endure the off-tune and off-key renditions of “Stairway to Heavan”? Surely, Ry and his band have a right to perform their covers to “Shot in the Dark” at 2 a.m. Funny how the double standard applies when it is YOU being annoyed! ---
**Author:** ![BondJamesBond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@BondJamesBond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BondJamesBond)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/155 "2003-03-21T07:55:16Z")
CANVAS SHOES WROTE: "People gave them looks, sighed, tried to sleep, glared, stared, harrumphed etc., and all to no avail. No one actually came right out and said “SHUT UP”!!! See? People like Bond actually DO come in handy. I mean, that is if he’s not just all talk on boards like this, but a milque-toast in person. Those of us on that flight would have gladly had a “Bond” give those inconsiderate brats a piece of his mind!!! * * * Yes, I have done that many times. People will be surprised at how effective a “Please can you keep the conversation down…I am trying to work…” Actually on one long-haul flight the person sitting next to me spilled his “glass” of red wine on my clothes. He did not apologize or even acknowledge that his Pinot Noir was now all over my lap. When it became apparent that the stain was not going to come out with a simple daubing and washing, I asked him to re-imburse me for my dry cleaning expenses. We exchanged business cards. Several days later I sent to him a copy of my dry cleaning bill. To my surprise, he paid me. Now, had he apologized for spilling his wine, I would have graciously accepted and not asked for paymeny for dry cleaning… ---
**Author:** ![BondJamesBond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@BondJamesBond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BondJamesBond)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/156 "2003-03-21T08:01:26Z")
BDGR WROTE: “Children are a part of this world that cant be avoided.” * * * You must be Catholic. 🙂 With the proper precautions, children can quite easily be avoided. There are a lot of sexually active, heterosexual couples who have managed to avoid children by taking the necessary measures. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/157 "2003-03-21T08:27:34Z")
Mods, if I say “Why didn’t your parents take them?”, does that fall into the category of wishing death on someone? ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/158 "2003-03-21T16:10:01Z")
> [@](#): > > You would not ask little Ry to stop? If little Ry failed to stop, then you would not meekly go back to bed and endure the off-tune and off-key renditions of “Stairway to Heavan”? Surely, Ry and his band have a right to perform their covers to “Shot in the Dark” at 2 a.m. > > Funny how the double standard applies when it is YOU being annoyed! Are you that stupid? You really can’t see the difference between someone playing loud music at 2 a.m. and a child crying? Me sleeping in my bedroom and someone deciding to play loud music at 2 a.m. is no comparison to being on a form of transportation and child deciding to cry. You’re really grabbing for straws trying to back up your hatred of children. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BondJamesBond \* > \*\*BDGR WROTE: “Children are a part of this world that cant be avoided.” > > * * * > > You must be Catholic. 🙂 > > With the proper precautions, children can quite easily be avoided. There are a lot of sexually active, heterosexual couples who have managed to avoid children by taking the necessary measures. \*\* Hey numbnuts…I think the idea is if we’re going to survive as a species, children can’t be avoided. You may not be bright enough to realize this, but you were a child once, as was everyone. Specific individuals can certainly avoid having children, and for the sake of humanity, I hope a person with a fucked up mind like yourself that advocates the poisoning of children, does not even think of reproducing. Seriously, are you typing this with a straight face, supporting the drugging of crying children without the parents knowledge so you can rest, or are you chuckling at the thought of what sane people might think when they read your deranged ideas. :wally ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/159 "2003-03-21T18:21:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BondJamesBond \* > \*\*BDGR WROTE: “Children are a part of this world that cant be avoided.” > > * * * > > You must be Catholic. 🙂 > > With the proper precautions, children can quite easily be avoided. There are a lot of sexually active, heterosexual couples who have managed to avoid children by taking the necessary measures. \*\* No, not Catholic. Just looking at it from a bigger perspective. People will not stop having children(nor should they…imho), and people do have to take these children into public places. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337/160 "2003-03-21T18:27:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BondJamesBond \* > \*\*CANVAS SHOES WROTE: "People gave them looks, sighed, tried to sleep, glared, stared, harrumphed etc., and all to no avail. No one actually came right out and said “SHUT UP”!!! > > See? People like Bond actually DO come in handy. I mean, that is if he’s not just all talk on boards like this, but a milque-toast in person. > > Those of us on that flight would have gladly had a “Bond” give those inconsiderate brats a piece of his mind!!! > > * * * > > Yes, I have done that many times. People will be surprised at how effective a “Please can you keep the conversation down…I am trying to work…” > > \*\* Bleagh! That wasn’t exactly a pat on the back for your attitude here bond. It was a facetious comment. Though I’m sure you already knew that (or am I giving him too much credit?). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-a-new-take-on-crying-kids-on-airplanes/161337.md?page=9)