A plane is no easy place to calm a crying baby. Choosing patience, compassion, or even humour can create a more positive environment
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My husband was the first to spot the situation. Right beside him sat the most adorable baby, probably around seven months old.
“Oh no,” he muttered under his breath.
I smiled, thinking he’d be fine – after all, we have grandchildren, and he had headphones. Maybe the baby would sleep through the whole flight.
Not a chance. The fussing began as soon as the plane started taxiing, and it quickly escalated to full-on screaming. Despite the parents’ best efforts to soothe her, nothing worked.
About an hour into the flight, a loud, frustrated voice from the back shouted, “Shut that f—ing kid up!”
Really?
Did this person think the parents weren’t already trying everything they could to calm their baby?
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Planes are challenging places to soothe a child. The aisles are cluttered with flight attendants serving drinks, passengers squirming in cramped seats, and people jostling for the tiny restroom. Not to mention, there’s barely enough room to breathe, let alone rock a crying baby.
A little patience and compassion would go a long way. Yelling from the back only adds stress and doesn’t solve the problem.
It’s so easy to get annoyed by things we can’t control. But reacting that way never helps.
On the connecting flight, the same baby boarded with her exhausted parents. The passengers who had been on the previous flight groaned and braced themselves for another hour of tears.
Then, breaking the tension, a sweet little voice began to sing: “I’m leaving on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again …” To the delight of everyone, she sang all the words.
The whole plane erupted in smiles and laughter. The tension from earlier disappeared, thanks to the spontaneous performance of this tiny singer. One man even joked, “I didn’t realize this flight came with live entertainment!”
When the baby started crying again, no one said a word.
A small, unexpected moment changed the entire atmosphere.
That’s how you respond when something is beyond your control – lighten the mood and let go of the frustration.
Faith Wood is a professional speaker, author, and certified professional behaviour analyst. Before her career in speaking and writing, she served in law enforcement, which gave her a unique perspective on human behaviour and motivations. Faith is also known for her work as a novelist, with a focus on thrillers and suspense. Her background in law enforcement and understanding of human behaviour often play a significant role in her writing.
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