For many people one of the biggest fear of flying is sitting next to a screaming child, says the New York Times, “Please Refrain from Tantrums Aboard,” (November 14.)
According to the article, some travelers are doing some fussing of their own. They’re calling for airlines to implement child-free flights, designate “family-only” sections, or provide seat plans showing where kids are sitting – and they are willing to pay extra for such peace of mind. Airline officials are quoted as saying, “Totally impractical”, “Will never happen.”
But nowhere does the article address why infants cry in flight and what parents can do about it. So I wrote a letter to the Times, (printed November 28.) Here is an expanded version of my letter.
Some years ago we surveyed hundreds of parents planning air travel with their infants. We asked them to record the infant’s sleeping patterns, fussy periods and other traits for the days prior, during and after the flight(s). We also scoured the literature for possible remedies. Here is what we came up with:
- The vast majority of infants do NOT cry during flight. Many sleep better than they do at home. Likely, the droning of the aircraft lulls them to sleep. Many parents go for car rides to lull kids to sleep.
- Only a small percentage of infants cry excessively in flight. Most of these also cry a lot at home – and usually at about the same time of the day or night. When possible, schedule flights appropriately.
- Infants tend to sleep better when the flight coincides with their usual sleep schedule. Schedule accordingly.
- Sedating infants for air travel is not recommended, rarely effective and sometimes counterproductive. The medications commonly used, antihistamines, make some children more active – perhaps the very ones who cry excessively. Medications should not be given for trivial reasons.
- Parents unwittingly contribute to infant’s crying with excessive feedings. They believe extra fluids are necessary to prevent dehydration. In fact, in flight dehydration is a myth. But excessive fluids may cause colic. Air in the intestines is already increased by 20% from changes in atmospheric pressure in the aircraft cabin. Feeding adds more air and milk. Feed infants no more and no more often during flight than at home.
- Crying may be due to ear pain – though this is largely unproven. (Older children do occasionally complain of ear pain, usually during descent.) An appropriate dose of acetoaminophen or ibuprofen may give relief.
- Try to duplicate the sleeping environment at home. Many infants prefer dark, cool, and quite surroundings for sleeping. Don’t overdress them. A light blanket draped loosely over the infant, or over you and the infant helps decrease light and noise. Make sure that the infant can breathe. Air conditioning can help adjust temperature. Air conditioning or drafts do not cause illness.
- Walk in the aisle. Many infants respond well to the motion. Note that the infant may block your view. Be on the lookout for protruding feet and luggage.
- Make infants as comfortable as possible. Most sit or lie for prolonged periods on their parent’s lap in strange surroundings and are jostled whenever the parent moves. Turbulence may also be a factor. Infants appear more comfortable in a crib attached to the bulkhead or in a safety seat. But you may have to pay for these.
- Some parents have had success by tightly swaddling infants, using an infant carrier (some carriers may not be used for takeoff and landing), singing or humming, and using a pacifier – even when pacifiers are not regularly used at home.
If all fails, apologize to nearby passengers for the crying. Tell them that you are doing all you can. Often, they will give you additional tips – which probably will not work either. But they will have compassion for you, not hostility, and decrease your stress. Perhaps you can suggest that they listen to a program with their earphones while you try to quiet your baby.
