to now be freaked out travelling on plane?

[ninenicknames]

So, just read the thread about OP's 2.5 year old having a tantrum on the plane & everyone being awful.

I am due to take my 2.9 DS on a 2.5hr flight next month on my own, lone parent so no back up.

I am now totally SHITTING myself (no offence to the original OP)

I don't handle confrontation well at all & the thought of my DS going nuclear & everyone having a go at me is now giving me a panic attack.

Seriously considering not going if this is how public react? Or do I strap him down physically & then get reported to SS!?!?!!

Literally. Don't know what to do?

[MumOnTheRunCatchingUp]

i think i'd be feeling the same! glad mine are older,parenting has changed

[ninenicknames]

Oh god ......

[ninenicknames]

The worst is, this actually happened to me on a train recently & he was actually being good, just really chatty & a bit bored.

This woman was VILE to me

I just sat there & cried my eyes out, whilst DS was sorry Mummy, don't cry he didn't understand.

I'm not strong enough to do it am I?

I'll take the £500 hit I think & forget seeing my Mum if this is the way people react

[beccake]

Lots of stickers, crayons and paper and snacks (not sugary send LO bonkers)They are on their own seat you'll be fine.

[MadameCholetsDirtySecret]

Don't let it stop you going. Keep your DC entertained with stickers, colouring etc and roll with it. I took my toddler DS on many a long haul flight on my own. You will be fine.

[Jengnr]

Shedload of sweets/raisins. If he gets restless open another bag. If you have a portable dvd player take that too.

It'll be fine and totally worth it.

[AnyFucker]

Not everybody is a child intolerant nasty piece if work

Most of the rest of us understand that unless you charter your own plane you are going to have to share the space with little ones who might get bored and annoying. Jeez, I get bored and annoying on plane trips.

Have your holiday.

[waitingforsomething]

How long is the flight? If it's just you and him (no 2nd child with you) then it'll be okay, he's not a tiny toddler.
Have a lot of treats and snacks , a loaded ipad and a bumper pack of stickers and don't worry about what people are thinking

[HumpMeBogart]

What AnyFucker said. I don't have kids and am pretty sensitive to noise, but for 2.5 hours I'd be sympathetic to any parent who was doing their best. Hell, I'd even offer to do a bit of rocking / bouncing if it would help! Good luck and try not to worry too much

[FortyFacedFuckers]

Op honestly don't worry not everyone is like that I love seeing babies/young children on flights and would definitely help if the parent wanted me to.

[FernieB]

You'll be fine. I took two 4 year olds on a flight on my own once and it was much better than I feared. Take lots of distractions so you magically make something new appear if he seems bored or restless.

If he does start to whinge, remember that most people you think are giving you evil eyes are really just glad it's not them with the child and are actually sympathetic. Lots of them have been through it themselves and although may feel frustrated at being disturbed by a noisy child, they understand. Cabin crew can be quite helpful sometimes as well.

Enjoy your trip.

[kensausage13]

Don't let people like that put you off. We took DS (then 23 months) on a 10 hr flight to the US last year and we survived! People were generally really understanding and kind. Just enjoy your holiday

[CakeNinja]

No. Don't you bloody well give up.
Get your arse on that plane, iPad and big over the ears headphones meant my charge around at full speed 4 year old didn't move during a 4 hour flight recently.
Trolley comes round with snacks.
Sit him by the window seat so contained.
Sticker books. Fuzzy felts. No musical instruments or pens/crayons which will spend the whole time rolling onto the floor. Exercise as much as possible prior to the flight.
You'll be fine.
I think generally people on planes are pretty tolerant. I have flown with my 3 on my own at least once a year since they were born (obviously started with just one!) and they've all been fine, no kicking off or tantrums. Allow a little more leeway than usual if you think it will diffuse a difficult situation.
Please don't cancel on the basis that some people are intolerant and don't know what it's like travelling with children.
On the flight that I took last, there was a toddler having an absolute hysterical tantrum. I gave the mum sympathetic smiles and deep down just felt grateful it wasn't me! No anger or irritation!
Do not cancel.

[Trickiewoo]

I often flew 7 hours with young children to visit family. Would always pack treats/distractions and remind myself that I had paid for their ticket and was just as entitled to fly as anyone else. Don't let what ifs spoil your trip.

Also, that other post said the flight attendants were very nice and helpful as were some of the other passengers.

[minesapintofwine]

I feel exactly the same op! Am due to take two 4 year olds on a plane next month was feeling fine but that thread has left me fearful and anxious...

Im sure we will be fine

[Shenanagins]

Try not to worry about it as you don't know how your ds will react and nor the people around you. I was in London recently (not from anywhere remotely close to London) and was expecting the worst from threads on mn, yet the Londoners I encountered, even the suits in rush hour, were lovely and so helpful!

Relax and just go with it, you might be pleasantly surprised.

[BennyTheBall]

shed loads of sweets/raisins

Look, it's a short flight and he probably won't kick off and most people are nice.

I was once on a 10 hour flight with a 9 month old. He was in the sky cot most of the way, but constantly lobbed his toys at the poor woman next to me. When he wasn't doing that, he was filling his nappy with diarrhoea. She was good natured about it.

[WorraLiberty]

I've managed to reach 47 years of age in a busy, packed city where I regularly us public transport...I mean to the point where I used to take 20 buses per week to and from work.

Yet I have never ever experienced or witnessed all these rude, vocal, sneering people that some Mumsnetters post about.

I think it's actually very rare and that's why people tend to post about it when it happens.

Also, remember there'll often be a bit of 'poetic license' going on when some people recount their experiences on Mumsnet.

Chill out and I'm sure it'll be fine OP

[Queenbean]

You shouldn't feel shit about it at all.

But. If the very worst comes to the worst, and even the whole plane is tutting and snarling at you, what is the worst that will happen? It's over in a few minutes, you get off the plane and you will never ever see these people again in your life. So why care over what they think about a situation that you don't have much control over?

I'd embrace it and try and enjoy the flight. Please don't cancel, don't let other people make you feel shit. You sound like you're doing an excellent job of being a mother :)

[alteredimages]

If the plane has mostly British people on it then I reckon the worst you are going to get is maybe some eye rolling or tutting.

I posted on the thread you mentioned and DS was having a proper freak out, but if your DS is freaking out completely you will be too busy calming him down to notice any comments.

If you do hear anyone being snarky then a G&T should sort you out alongside the knowledge that you will probably never see your fellow passengers again.

I am doing a 5hr flight in two weeks' time with 5yr old DD and 2.5yr old DS so maybe I am just in denial, but seriously don't cancel. I am sure it will be fine.

[genericusername1]

You'll be fine! I've flown a few times with mine and people are generally understanding. The last time I flew with dcs a lovely lady took dd for an hour and sang nursery rhymes to her! You might find that the motion sends him to sleep anyway, please don't let fear of other people's reactions put you off your trip.

[backinthebox]

I work on planes and see all sorts, but let me counter the story the other poster put up with one that might reassure you.

I was travelling with DH, DD (who was 3 at the time) and DS (who was just 8 months old.) He wailed and screamed his was through take off. We were sitting in Club and there was a very glamorous couple behind us - younger very tall woman who looked like a model and older man who looked very familiar to both DH and I and we suspect to this day he was someone famous but we couldn't figure out who he was. I was sure they were going to complain. But he leaned forward and started a conversation with DH, saying 'ah, I reckon it's he ears. He's so little, I love 'em when they are little. My kids are all grown up now, I wish I'd spent more time with them when they were babies. Etc, blah, blah....' As soon as the seat belt signs were off his girlfriend jumped up and came round and said 'you must be tired, let me take him for a little while.' And she proceeded to walk up and down the cabin with him chattering away while her boyfriend regaled my husband with tales of his kids when they were babies.

So not all strangers on planes are horrible - you are just as likely to come across some lovely people. Having experienced several lovely people, both passengers and staff, I try and do my little bit to be one of the nice people where I can when I am at work. Yesterday I helped avert a toddler meltdown on the airport shuttle train when his 2 brothers got the last seats on the train. I pointed out that he could stand right at the front and seat where the train was going. His mother gave me such a look of gratitude, I reckon she must have come across a few nasty fellow passengers. There's no need for it though - we were all children once and I am sure none of us were angels!

[KeepOnPlodding]

Please don't let the other story put you off. It will be fine.

I have flown a lot with DC (from 6months old) and have never encountered the abuse that others describe (although I am not suggesting that it doesn't happen).

Be prepared and take snacks, drinks and things to entertain DC. Even if it all goes horribly wrong you'll never see these people again.

I am forever grateful to the strangers on one flight that sent the flight attendant down with a glass of wine for me - they thought I might appreciate it given that DC was fast asleep on me and I couldn't move anywhere. I must have looked pretty desperate by that point!

[CakeNinja]

I have just remembered a flight i took when I just had the 2 of them. Dd2 was 18m so didn't have a seat of her own, was sat on my lap. Trolley came round, I bought her a packet of chocolate fingers. She set to work on them, ended up in a happy chocolatey mess. Then in about 5 seconds, managed to stand on my lap and wipe her hands on the man in front of me. He was wearing a smart shirt and suit trousers. I nearly cried. Stood up to apologise and offer him wet wipes etc. He turned sideways to me and gave me a heartfelt smile. He explained he was flying out for a meeting straight off the plane and returning home that evening, but he had a suit jacket he would wear the entire time so chocolate epaulettes wouldn't be seen, not to worry and please to sit back down and enjoy the rest of the flight. I nearly cried with gratitude. Seriously.

At the end of the flight I gave him a piece of paper with my name and address on and asked him to Bill me for any cleaning costs (obviously chocolate washes out but I was so embarrassed and stressed, I wanted to make things better). He thanked me and took it. When I got home from my holiday he had sent me a photo from his meeting where he was sat with his jacket all done up and on the back had written something like "accidents happen, I'm a parent too, I know how hard it can be!"
Honestly, such a lovely tolerant man, and I do think most people are like this.

I have never forgotten his kindness. Travelling with children can be stressful, routines are thrown all out, they are herded like cattle through the airport and then expected to sit still in a chair for hours. But really, people are generally very kind.