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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think putting your baby on the floor under the seat on a plane is not cool?

79 replies

Nirvana1979 · 12/07/2017 21:57

Just flew back yesterday from holiday and there was a couple across the aisle from me on the plane. They had a baby about 8 months and a toddler.

As soon as the seat belt sign went off after take off the mum sat her baby on the floor at her feet. Budget flight so no room at all hardly. The baby sat chewing on the dads shoe that he has taken off.

Mum then gives the baby her bottle and she falls asleep so mum lies her under the seat in front at her feet. The baby's head was right next to the aisle all this time with people passing and also the trolley going up and down. I thought the baby was going to get kicked or stood on.plus the floor was filthy with crisps and god knows what from the previous flight.

I actually offered to hold the baby in the end as I was so worried she would get hurt. The mum said no she's fine, thanks.

Would you have said anything in these circumstances.
It just would never have crossed my mind to put my baby on the floor of an aeroplane.

OP posts:
StillDrivingMeBonkers · 12/07/2017 22:03

I'm sure the mother had her childs wellbeing covered.

BlahBlahBlahEtc · 12/07/2017 22:04

She was chewing on a shoe? As in a used, walked in by an adult, shoe?

and put on the bare floor without a blanket or anything under her? Like being on the floor on top of a blanket wouldnt be bad enough but on the bare floor?

What the fuck is wrong with people?!

MsVestibule · 12/07/2017 22:06

And the cabin crew didn't notice???

And bonkers what makes you think that?

Fluffypinkpyjamas · 12/07/2017 22:06

That sounds rank and yes, I would have said something.

Original poster
Nirvana1979 · 12/07/2017 22:07

Yes Blah, to all of the above.

Maybe she thought she did Still but just looked quite risky to me.

OP posts:
SkintAsASkintThing · 12/07/2017 22:08

What the hell would they have done if they'd suddenly hit turbulence ??!

Original poster
Nirvana1979 · 12/07/2017 22:09

The cabin crew didn't seem to notice. She was on the floor for about 90 minutes.

OP posts:
LadyPenelopeCantDance · 12/07/2017 22:09

Very lucky there wasn't any sudden turbulence. Silly thing to do.

Cloeycat · 12/07/2017 22:10

How long was the flight? I've been lucky that my baby DD has always slept in the sling on planes but in general she will not sit on my lap for long periods of time and absolutely kicks off if she can't lie down and kick about for a while. If in an aisle with family members and not strangers I may consider putting her down on a blanket but not with her head to he aisle and would give her a toy and not a shoe to chew on 😕 Had the baby been crying before this? Was it a last resort to calm her?

PineappleScrunchie · 12/07/2017 22:12

I'm pretty laid back (the shoe chewing doesn't bother me for example) but that's a stupid thing to do. Maybe at the front of the cabin ok (although turbulence still an issue), but what you are describing, never.

MargotLovedTom1 · 12/07/2017 22:13

That baby must have a cast iron immune system!

YANBU. It'ss not something I could ever have imagined doing, especially when there was an adult to each child.

Autofillcontact · 12/07/2017 22:13

"What the hell would they have done if they'd suddenly hit turbulence ??!"

They might be a bit bonkers but I'm sure they'd have picked her up😭

Sounds really odd OP. Not necessarily dangerous, just a strange thing to even consider

NemosKnickers · 12/07/2017 22:14

Well that sounds almost unbelievable! Shock

Original poster
Nirvana1979 · 12/07/2017 22:16

Cloeycat - the baby was good as gold, smiling away when I was chatting to her when she was first put on the floor. Didn't hear a peep from her at at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nirvana1979 · 12/07/2017 22:20

Nemosknickers - I know. I actually took a photo to show partner who was sat at the other end of the plane as I didn't think he'd believe me.

OP posts:
Handsoffmysweets · 12/07/2017 22:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request

MrTurtleLikesKisses · 12/07/2017 22:25

Maybe baby hates being held and needed a nap so the mother did the best thing she could for both of them. You just don't know, I've probably done things that looked awful but made sense to me at the time.

Original poster
Nirvana1979 · 12/07/2017 22:27

Quite possibly MrTurtle.

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 12/07/2017 22:34

thy dont even lik you putting bags there let alone babies

Strokethefurrywall · 12/07/2017 22:44

Meh - I've done long haul with my kids when they were tiny and I've let them sleep on the floor. On a blanket to make a little play area but yep, they fell asleep there so I left them. No harm done if they're on a blanket or something. Gross if just on the floor.

Illstartexercisingtomorrow · 12/07/2017 22:48

I have never done it.

But I can maybe see the mum's POV. Dd1 would never have slept on me she was so used to sleeping in her cot horizontally on a firm surface. She was as good as gold on every flight because I did all the things required to ensure she behaved that way. Maybe this mum was just doing the same. However no way would I have put her on the floor as my first option and certainly not without some kind of cushioning etc not directly on the floor. I was lucky dd would actually sleep on dh (not me) and he held her on flights.

Esspee · 12/07/2017 22:54

Don't airlines provide bassinets any more? I clocked up thousands of miles with my two safely in a bassinet when not being fed. What was that mother thinking? I would have been making sure the cabin crew knew what was happening.

HateIsNotGood · 12/07/2017 22:54

I always used to sleep curled up on the floor - from a 2 to 4 seat row.
Haven't tried it recently due to duties towards ds. I'm aware I could be 'challenged' if I were to do it again which I think is based on turbulence, but my view is that jammed into the floor is pretty safe. If emergency landing, wake me up but if no time I'll take my chance on the floor.

Really, plane crashes are very rare and survivable ones even rarer, so happy baby on floor is way better than unhappy, crying baby not on floor.

thatverynightinmaxsroom · 12/07/2017 23:14

Esspee I don't think there are any bassinets on short haul flights and only certain seats have access to them on long haul flights. I've flown a lot with babies and never been given a bassinet.

I can't get too worked up about this to be honest. I've never put mine down to sleep on the floor of a plane but I've often put them down to play in that spot and I really don't care if they want to chew a shoe or whatever as long as they're quiet and contained! And, yes, both of mine do have cast iron immune systems!

MadMags · 12/07/2017 23:22

It's not great and I wouldn't have done it.

However, nor would I have taken a sneaky picture of someone else's child.

We all have our own boundaries, I guess.