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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that people should

29 replies

cinnamonnut · 14/08/2012 09:25

make at least some effort to stop small children sprinting around and getting in the way at baggage collection in the airports?

You end up tripping over them when you're dragging and lifting heavy suitcases off the belt when they stand and mess around so close to it. I'm surprised I've not seen an accident yet.

OP posts:

Gumby · 14/08/2012 09:29

Yes small children should stay at home

fruitysummer · 14/08/2012 09:29

Can't say kids have even registerd at baggage collection for me,

It's the annoying twats who insist on pushing their trolleys right up to the carousel instead of just standing back so everyone can see what's going on that irritate me more than anything else!

NameChangeGalore · 14/08/2012 09:30

Can't say I've ever experienced this problem before in my life. I always see parents taking their children as far away as possible from the conveyor belt.

madda · 14/08/2012 09:31

YANBU cinnamon

Have travelled across the world a few times by myself with my 2 under 5 and managed to keep them in line, one holding my hand, one on the trolley etc

don't ask me how - I think I was so paranoid that someone would grab them and take them - I have this irrational fear that they could end up anywhere in the world from an airport, then I realise that airport security wouldnt let that happen

so yes, it is not impossible to control your kids in an airport

I aint the most slick of mothers usually, quite clumsy actually, but if I can do it, anyone can

(jelly sweets as bribery worked - they would get 2 each once on the plane if they behaved...it worked, somehow!)

Pascha · 14/08/2012 09:33

YANBU its so inconsiderate. If people just packed their child in the case and carried the clothes on board instead it would all be much more civilised

Original poster

cinnamonnut · 14/08/2012 11:02

I think they would be the first to get pissed off if someone accidentally bashed them with a suitcase or whatever.

Gumby, it's nothing to do with kids should stay at home or whatever. It's about being considerate enough to at least TRY to ensure they don't get under everyone's feet!

OP posts:

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/08/2012 11:08

Hooray. I have two flights with a 20 month old hellion child in a few days. I was worried about noise, food, milk, sleep, the airline re-seating me so I am in the middle of a row, people tutting, people being mean, people not understanding what flying can do to their ears, nappies exploding, my baggage going missing (as it did last time we flew), delays, cancellations (again, last time), my extreme fear of flying...

Now I can also worry about you thinking my child is in your way after a 9 hour flight at baggage claim.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 14/08/2012 11:10

I've never noticed this being an issue, but of course they'd be pissed off if someone accidentally bashed into them! You wouldn't think it was ok to bash into an adult, why do you think it would be ok with a child?

You sound like one of those people who basically thinks children shouldn't really exist, and are in the way wherever they are.

I think you can reasonably assume that if small children are around near an airport luggage pick-up, it's not because their parents are deliberately trying to make your life more difficult.

madda · 14/08/2012 11:48

usually it's the parents who are more annoying than their kids anyway

MrsTerry - good luck, you'll be fine, make friends with the airhostess on board, let your 20mth old crawl/toddle around as much as poss before boarding, give it a bottle to suck at take off and landing, and if all else fails walk up and down the aisles a few times

usually though they just love the chance to sit on your lap and cuddle you then sleep on you, so bring their fav blanket snuggle thing whatever

oh and I soon realised that if I was relaxed, they were super flyers and just slept (there's always kids cartoons too) or load up your phone with apps/cartoons in advance, to use these too in emergency

wouldnt recommend any child medicine etc, they usually vomit

Kayano · 14/08/2012 11:52

I've missed my case before because of someone's unruly kid weavin in and out of people. DH ran and fetched it.

I think a lot o people just think its their holidays do let loose. I however think you should teach your kids proper etiquette and manners. There is a time and a
Place

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/08/2012 11:52

Thanks so much madda. I'm hoping she charms everyone because she is a runner and really full of beans. Videos are a good idea. She will think it's heaven.

Thumbwitch · 14/08/2012 11:58

YANBU - it's a safety issue, not just for the small child potentially being bashed by baggage being lifted off the conveyor belt, but also in case they try and clamber on it (which I have seen)

madda · 14/08/2012 11:59

you're welcome MrsTerry

also, what I did was say if you're good, I'll get you a surprise when we get off the plane...bribery materialism yep last resort but it worked a treat for both of them

Plus, usually, like a car journey, the white noise of the engine sometimes lulls them to sleep, if I dozed off, made my breathing slow and steady to settle them, they settled too (although on my lap, so I wasnt the most comfortable, but didnt care as at least they were sleeping)

oh and a good bowl of carbs such as pasta about an hour before the flight helps too

Original poster

cinnamonnut · 14/08/2012 12:08

That's exactly the kind of thing I mean, Kayano and Thumbwitch.

OP posts:

Camusfearna · 14/08/2012 12:23

It's interesting that there's a very different response to this thread than one where children were misbehaving in a supermarket. Not sure I see why they baggage reclaim is different. .

catus · 14/08/2012 12:39

I understand your frustration, but YABU, sorry.
I fly alone quite often with my 2yo, have done since he was a tiny baby. It is getting easier now, but when he was around 20 months it was hell.
After going through the security, flight, transfer ( so security again in a lot of cases), 2nd flight, a missed nap, he was completely exhausted and mental by the time we got to bagage reclaim. And I couldn't physically lift a heavy suitcase from the belt and hold a tantrummy demonic toddler at the same time. So it was the moment he ran around and got in people's way.
TBH, I didn't care at the time. I was tired and relieved to have got through it with my sanity intact. If people want to tut, I don't think I would even notice.

tarantula · 14/08/2012 12:53

I see this often at the airport and think it is so dangerous as the kids are legging it round and are at just the right height to not be noticed and to get a bash in the face from a suitcase as someone takes it off the belt. I have seen a kid going flying in fact and they were very lucky that the luggage in question was a large rucksack rather than a hard case as they wouldn't have had any teeth left. I don't think anyone expects kids to behave perfectly after a long flight and mine never did but I always tried to move away from the crowd and wait for my baggage further along the carousel as I was frightened that dd would get bashed.

Level3at6months · 14/08/2012 12:58

I flew a lot with DS from him being 2 to 6 and despite him being very well behaved most of the time, it was very hard work. Yes, I'm sure he got in the way of people, but I couldn't leave him sitting patiently on his own in a crowd, so not sure what I could've done better (apart from keep a closer eye the time he surfed along the luckily very slow and small carousel in a French airport...)

Onthebottomwithawomansweekly · 14/08/2012 13:02

Emmm, if you miss your case they don't take it off, they just let it go round again? So you might have to wait a whole 60 seconds more to get your case?

Have to say whenever I've flown, it's adults blocking the belt with trolleys that seem to cause problems getting the luggage, never the kids. I've had my ankles banged a few times by people pushing trolleys in to make space.

I think it makes sense to let kids that have been cooped up for hours have a good run around in the big spaces in baggage reclaim (but not by the belt!) - there's usually lots of room and good visibility, and they are probably going to be cooped up again on the journey from the airport.

I always saunter through the airport slowly, go to the loo, send texts and make phone calls, and only then head for baggage reclaim.

If I've timed it right, half the luggage has come out already (and half the passengers are gone) and it's much more relaxed and easier to get your bags.

iMoniker · 14/08/2012 13:07

Kayano - do the conveyors at your airport go round and round? Why would your DH need to chase your luggage?

Original poster

cinnamonnut · 14/08/2012 13:13

iMoniker, nobody wants to wait ages for the conveyer to go round and round and round until they finally get a chance to grab their suitcase.

OP posts:

iMoniker · 14/08/2012 13:17

But it only takes a few minutes to go round again

Original poster

cinnamonnut · 14/08/2012 13:32

Yeah, and then if there's someone in the way again, then you'll have let it go all over again, and so on.

OP posts:

Katiepoes · 14/08/2012 13:37

My two year old was knocked sideways by a twit with a backpack bigger than herself on. Said toddler was nicely holding my hand in a baggage drop-off line. Twit swings around without a care in the world, toddler goes flying. Twit then spent the next few minutes muttering about 'people who let their kids run riot'. Witch. Some kids do run riot. But some adults are tossers - who wins?

Original poster

cinnamonnut · 14/08/2012 14:32

That's fair enough, Katiepoes.

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