Why do kids cry so much on planes?

According to The Health Journal, the most common reason for their discomfort on flights is because cabin pressure presses down on their sensitive ears. Babies' ears are more sensitive than adults' ears, and they cannot equalise the air pressure in their ears as well as adults can.



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If they are inconsolable, try taking your baby to the back of the plane where the hum of the engine may mask their crying. Try to remain calm – a good distraction is to gently talk to your baby – or try letting them look out the window where they may see other planes or perhaps a nice view.

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“There's a plethora of evidence that you go into a relative state of hypoxia [oxygen deficiency] when you're in flight,” said Quigley. The affects, she says, may not be realized by passengers. “One person might feel weepy, another sleepy – hypoxia affects people in different ways.

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And a mix of psychological factors related to the plane's altitude and a perceived loss of control can cause a person to break down emotionally once in the air, DeLuca says. “We have little control over our environment while we are traveling by plane,” De Luca says.

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The good news is, I think flying with a 2-year-old is much easier than traveling with a 1-year-old toddler. 1-year-olds have no attention span, and just want to crawl or walk and explore. 2-year-olds are slightly more reasonable, and a bit more easily bribed to sit for a while.

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Fifteen Best Activities for Toddlers on a Plane
  1. Window Gel Clings. This is such a super easy thing to bring along, and it can make for some great play. ...
  2. Water Wow Books. ...
  3. Lacing Cards. ...
  4. Lift-Flap Books. ...
  5. DoodlePro Trip. ...
  6. Little Cars. ...
  7. Little Figures. ...
  8. Electrical/Decorative Tape.


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O'Connor said that as a flight attendant, she'll often sit down with a mom whose baby is crying and encourage her, ask if she needs something or just start a conversation about the baby just to move the focus from the tears.

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In response to overwhelming stress in young children: The brain drives the fight or flight response and release of stress hormones, The young child has limited capacity to manage this overwhelming stress and experiences increased arousal — fear and anxiety (physical and emotional sensations).

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Just like in other situations where you are trying to calm a child, distracting and/or comforting is often just what they need. Hug them, give them a treat, sing a song or play a game; strategies that work off the plane will often work on it.

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For customers on the autism spectrum, the Delta travel experience is welcoming. In addition to Delta-curated tools like multi-sensory rooms, our partners at airports and the Transportation Security Administration can help make the journey an accessible one, no matter what your needs may be. DELTA NEWS ON THE GO.

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The best time to fly with kids
While you can't always fly at the optimal time (based on your child's age, that is), it's great when you can. The best times, most agree, are between three and nine months, when kids aren't yet mobile, and any time after age two or three.

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Stay calm. Try to stay calm and speak softly. Don't worry about dirty looks from other passengers—they'll just distract you from helping your child calm down. Once it's all over, you can give a sincere apology. If your child is meltdown-prone, consider stocking a few cookies or other treats to hand out as well.

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Although children who have not reached their second birthday are permitted to travel as lap children, the FAA strongly discourages this practice and recommends that you secure your child in an approved CRS in their own seat for the entire flight.

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After your child reaches about 4 years old, travel suddenly gets much easier! Your children will start pulling some of their own weight and will begin to be capable of making long-lasting memories. Every year, you will find that you have more and more options for exciting travel!

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12-18 Months Old One year olds are often highly mobile yet totally uncontrollable, making for a potentially dangerous travel combination. At this age, children are still too young to understand and follow instructions, so discipline is ineffective.

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You can choose to keep your baby or toddler in your lap if she's under 2. But children 2 and older have to sit in their own seats. In that case, both the FAA and AAP strongly recommend using a car seat or approved harness (booster seats aren't allowed).

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While air travelers aren't quite as peeved by these behaviors, other annoying habits include removing your shoes (23.59 percent), flirting (21.89 percent), getting out of your seat too often (19.95 percent), utilizing overhead bin space too far from your seat (18.12 percent), being overly affectionate with your partner ...

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One in three people said that the most stressful part of travelling was during the flight, with a further 35% saying they found landing the most stressful. Boarding, finding your seat on the plane and the flight itself all came at the bottom of the list, making them the least stressful moments whilst travelling.

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