Parents on planes are doing this more and more. And we're not sure we approve
Is this once one-off act of kindness now becoming expected of us all?
Travelling on a plane with a baby or toddler.... Just the thought of it makes our hearts thud down into our parental boots ?
In fact, the only thing we can think of that's worse is flying with a baby or toddler is flying with 2 (or more) of them.
So, here at MFM HQ, we totally get why Christina Galese and her partner wanted to do what they could to keep their fellow passengers on side when they took their twin 18-month-old girls Ashley and Abby on a plane for the first time from Newark to Florida in the US.
But we were also a teensy bit overawed when we found out the lengths they went to ensure they made no enemies on the flight: they put together little packages (containing sweets, chocolate and earplugs) for all the other passengers –align with a note explaining this was their twins' first flight, to see grandma and grandpa, and thanking people for their understanding.
Wow.
And – wait for it – they're not the only couple to have done this. In fact, social media has plenty of examples of parents doing just this – so much so, in fact, that we'd say it's actually becoming a thing. Gulp.
We've heard of airlines giving passengers money off further flights every time a baby cries on a plane they're on (which is all very nice and all but, er, that's what babies do, and they're allowed on planes, doing what they do, aren't they?).
But this particular trend means parents are increasingly not only running around packing for themselves and their kids and organising the journey to the airport, they're also preparing 100 or so goody bags for strangers just in case someone might get annoyed at their little one crying. Hmmm.
And, while we do think the idea is quite cute as a one-off, we do wonder if, as more and more people start doing it, it'll become something that's expected of all of us?
And what then? If you're a parent who doesn't happen to bring along sweets and treats for a plane-full of people, will you get tuts and dirty looks for the entire journey?
Eek. All in all, we think this is one trend we'd be quite happy to see staying on the other side of the pond, thanks.
But what do you think?
Would you be tempted to make up goody bags for other passengers on a plane trip?
Or should other passengers just accept that babies are allowed on planes, and sometimes they just might cry? Tell us in the comments below or over on Facebook.
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Authors
Tara is mum to 1 daughter, Bodhi Rae, and has worked as Content Editor and Social Media Producer at MadeForMums since 2015
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