Handling Crying Infants on Airplane Flights: A Guide for Cabin Passengers

After flying on a weekly basis to all corners of the world for almost ten years, I have seen and felt the stress when a small child enters the plane. Stressed parents, a stressed child, and the rest of the passengers, including myself, are all stressed. My typical reaction to a child crying was to ignore the child, deeming it the parents' problem.

However, since our son was born and started to accompany us on flights from the age of 3 months, my wife and I noticed we were handling the stress of flying in a different way compared to most people. We've learned and used several distraction techniques that have proven effective in managing crying infants on flights. This guide aims to help all cabin passengers handle stress more effectively.

The Power of Distraction

The number of times we've seen parents travel with small children without any distractions is concerning. A child can look outside but will soon get bored after staring at clouds for just two minutes. Therefore, distraction is key to maintaining a calm environment on the flight.

Distraction Techniques for Surrounding Passengers

Ear Plugs: These are a valuable tool if you are not directly in the vicinity of a crying child. Wearing ear plugs can help you manage your own stress and avoid engaging with the situation. Talk to the Parent: Redirecting a parent's attention from a crying child can help the child eventually start paying attention to you. This is particularly effective as the child will notice the change in the situation and may respond to the relief of their parent's stress. Comfort the Child: Babies may not respond to distractions because they are more focused on their own well-being. Identifying the cause of the crying, such as hunger, sleepiness, or pain, and addressing it can help. Remember, babies need comforting, not added stress. Toddler Distractions: For toddlers, engaging them with bright colors, pictures, videos, or toys can be highly effective. If you're without children of your own, even a simple toy car or doll can help keep the toddler engaged. Explore with Magazines: For children past the age of 3-4 years, in-flight magazines with numerous pictures can be a wonderful distraction as these children love to explore and learn about the world around them.

Managing Your Own Stress

In no circumstance should you add to the stress situation. Becoming angry with a parent with a crying child is counterproductive and does not help anyone. It's important to diffuse the situation and focus on finding a solution that can bring a little tranquility to the flight environment.

A Final Thought

Every flight comes with its unique challenges, but with the right methods and a bit of patience, we can all contribute to a more enjoyable and less stressful experience for everyone on board. Distraction techniques are powerful tools in our arsenal to manage the stress of flying with crying infants. By using these techniques and maintaining a calm and supportive attitude, we can help ensure a smoother flight for everyone.