Children kick the seat on the plane?

Flight attendants explain what to do

Created: 08/18/2022, 09:22

By: Franziska Kaindl

What do you do when toddlers get loud and restless on a plane?

© Imago

If children get restless on the plane, the relaxed flight is quickly over.

Flight attendants reveal their tricks to calm the little ones.

Sitting still, staying buckled, being calm - all of these can be a challenge for children and their parents when it comes to travel.

Especially on the plane, the employment opportunities for the little ones are limited, which quickly causes unrest.

But what can passengers on board do when children suddenly become loud, crawl under seats or kick the backrests with their feet?

Kicks and noise: what is the best way for passengers to react to restless children?

"If you're sitting near a child and their behavior bothers you, try to clarify the situation before you involve others," advises former flight attendant Bobby Laurie, according to the online portal Conde Nast Traveler.

A little kindness and humor will get you a lot further than "going straight into a hostile and accusing tone," as ex-flight attendant Shawn Kathleen attests.

Distraction, in particular, seems to be a reliable way to calm children down.

So if you want to help the parents and have something with you that arouses the interest of the little ones, you can use it - from coloring books and snacks to your own dog flying with you.

But if all else fails, it might be time to alert flight crew.

In some situations, informing the crew is even safety-relevant, as Bobby Laurie says: For example, when children press the call button too often, climb over and under seats or disregard the seat belt sign.

Even then, flight attendants find it difficult to resolve the situation.

"But if they're not acting like responsible parents and ignoring the disruption to the cabin environment that their children are causing, I tell the kids to stop what they're doing," said flight attendant Ashley Davis.

Then the parents would usually intervene and admonish the children.

However, if she had the impression that the parents were already making an effort, she would not pursue it any further.

You should urgently avoid these mistakes in travel cancellation insurance

View photo gallery

On the plane: what can parents do to calm their children down?

The flight attendants also have a few tips for parents: "Bring a mix of old and new toys and make a game of handing out the toys by wrapping them up and letting your kids guess what's inside." says Emirates flight attendant Emily Jones according to the British newspaper The Sun.

She also advises parents to bring extra clothing, like pajamas, in case of a spill.

Norwegian Air crew member Liliana Chantre also advises bringing noise-cancelling headphones for toddlers and newborns.

These would help to cope with the feeling of pressure in the ear.

A few dabs of lavender balm on the child's temples would also calm them down.