OcUK Dadsnet thread

If adult only flights were offered surely they would just become the preserves of stag/hen parties?

I would pay for no kids on travel tbh.

But have to say the underlying feature which defeats the moaners is that it is *public* transport so you have to accept kids/humanity on planes.

There are some (many) parents who do a bad job on the planes and a few (minority in my experience) who really do a good job.

Either way don’t hesitate to fly with your kids is the point I’m making!
 
A simple mitigation step would be to pay for a seat allocation at the front of the plane, if we're talking budget airlines. I do that as often as I can, as you don't have half a plane in front of you so there's less noise surrounding you. A baby crying is a shame, but not the end of the world. I would rather have that than a group of drunk people/rude people causing stress and discomfort.
 
Axeboy said:
Our second arrived at 1031 this morning. A wee girl, Katie, at 7lb 15. What a difference to the first time, very smooth, planned and everyones enjoying the time.

Took to feeding instantly and has slept most of the time.
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Congratulations mate
 
We took our twins on the plane for the first time a few weeks back. They were just shy of 5 months old at the time. It was a bit of a nightmare because airports, like much of the world are not designed for little ones, let alone two of them.

We got through generally fine until we were past departures and there was 2 flights of stairs to get down with no lift. Then you get down and you have to get 2 babies out of a pram, break down and pack the pram so they can stick it in luggage. Luckily when people see you have 2 babies they often offer to help.

On the way out it was generally smooth sailing. Plane took off on time, my partner fed one on the boob and I gave the other a bottle.

On the way back we sat on the runway for about 45 minutes and naturally just as they say we are about to go, both boys do massive poos. Had to sit there for 10 minutes trying to keep them calm and hope they don't smell too bad for the poor people around us.

Other big issue is that you have to have them on your lap when they are little. Plane seats are horrible for me at the best of times. 6'2" so trying to have a baby in that tiny space as well wasn't much fun. Very sore back after that.

Honestly. Before becoming a dad, children on planes etc only ever bothered me when the parents didn't give a **** and just let the kids do what they want. If your kid is acting up and you are trying to mitigate it then thats absolutely fine. If you are just ignoring it or even better, sticking some headphones on to drown it out, **** you.

In other news, the world needs to understand that dads are not 5'2" women. Everything baby changing related assumes you are a midget.
 
fez said:
We took our twins on the plane for the first time a few weeks back. They were just shy of 5 months old at the time. It was a bit of a nightmare because airports, like much of the world are not designed for little ones, let alone two of them.

We got through generally fine until we were past departures and there was 2 flights of stairs to get down with no lift. Then you get down and you have to get 2 babies out of a pram, break down and pack the pram so they can stick it in luggage. Luckily when people see you have 2 babies they often offer to help.

On the way out it was generally smooth sailing. Plane took off on time, my partner fed one on the boob and I gave the other a bottle.

On the way back we sat on the runway for about 45 minutes and naturally just as they say we are about to go, both boys do massive poos. Had to sit there for 10 minutes trying to keep them calm and hope they don't smell too bad for the poor people around us.

Other big issue is that you have to have them on your lap when they are little. Plane seats are horrible for me at the best of times. 6'2" so trying to have a baby in that tiny space as well wasn't much fun. Very sore back after that.

Honestly. Before becoming a dad, children on planes etc only ever bothered me when the parents didn't give a **** and just let the kids do what they want. If your kid is acting up and you are trying to mitigate it then thats absolutely fine. If you are just ignoring it or even better, sticking some headphones on to drown it out, **** you.

In other news, the world needs to understand that dads are not 5'2" women. Everything baby changing related assumes you are a midget.
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I imagine just using the toilets on the plane being a bit tricky for you. I'm just under 6 foot and I'm sure I had to stoop slightly.
 
I might be completely making this up but I don't think you are allowed to have a baby on your lap in the extra leg room seats. I think my partner looked. At 6'8" the whole world hates you. I have a mate who is the same height but slightly more svelte (not but that much mind) and he couldn't go on half the rides at a theme park we went to years ago.
 
fez said:
I might be completely making this up but I don't think you are allowed to have a baby on your lap in the extra leg room seats. I think my partner looked. At 6'8" the whole world hates you. I have a mate who is the same height but slightly more svelte (not but that much mind) and he couldn't go on half the rides at a theme park we went to years ago.
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Aren't the extra legroom ones the ones that have to help open the doors? If so that would make sense about no kids on laps.
 
Yes it's only the emergency exit seats that no children are allowed I believe.

Our kids haven't been in nappies for years, but I physically struggled with the toilets to change them in there. I can barely fit in them let alone carry a baby and their bits needed! I do remember when I was changing my youngest, and we hit turbulence and I had to return to my seat, the stewardess asked me to return to my seat... I had a handful of nappy and pooey wet wipes... I gave her a look "really?" she grimaced, closed the door and let me crack on! :cry:

We're looking at Malaysia next year to see the family there - because it's end of term, the flights are hideously expensive! The joys of flying during school holidays!
 
It's frustrating as hell being 6ft8, 29st and physically disabled. I'd love to travel, would love to see my sister in New Zealand but I've been told by several airlines my best bet for seat width and leg room is first class. Yeah, no problem once I've finally won the Euromillions. Couple that with a missus and 2 kids aged 13 and 6 and the cost is truly astronomical.
 
Vidar said:
It's frustrating as hell being 6ft8, 29st and physically disabled. I'd love to travel, would love to see my sister in New Zealand but I've been told by several airlines my best bet for seat width and leg room is first class. Yeah, no problem once I've finally won the Euromillions. Couple that with a missus and 2 kids aged 13 and 6 and the cost is truly astronomical.
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A friend of mine is 210cm whatever that is in inches. He can't fit in any normal seat. He's 140kg - he's not fat, just solid. It's effectively a disability, so why should he pay more just because of genetics? Anyway, he always gets moved as his legs go into the aisle, and you're not allowed to have your legs in the aisle.

I do feel for you. I'm only 184/5cm and only 100kg and even that's tight for me.
 
Been trying to get my daughter into nursery seeing as she turned 3 in August, and we qualify for 15 hours of free childcare. She’s only doing an hour and a quarter between 1.15 and 2.30 at a nursery attached to the Primary school she’ll hopefully be going to , but even then that’s proving too much for her, and a few times now either my wife or myself have been called in to come and get her due to her undergoing a meltdown that the staff can’t manage.

We’re trying to arrange a meeting with the school’s SENCo (special educational needs coordinator) to discuss the way forward, and look into whether she can find out from her contacts within the local authorities whether they would accept a private Autism assessment to access further help. With the diagnosis from the assessment she should qualify for one-to-one support, which would mean there’d be another teaching assistant in the class, dedicated to helping with my daughter, as right now the class only has 1 teacher and 1 TA for 26 children, which is the absolute bare minimum ratio of 13:1, which means when Anna does go into meltdown, they can’t spare anyone to try and calm her down.

The only other thing I can think of is that we pull her out of the school nursery and put her into a private nursery that’s better equipped to deal with her. We’re lucky that with my change of career earlier this year, we should be able to afford it, the only issue now is that my wife resists any effort to have anyone other than either myself, her or her mother look after our daughter for any significant amount of time. Infact, any amount of time.
 
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The emotional rollercoaster of having a kid is mad at times. Our 1 year old hated baths for 2 weeks - completely out of the blue, would scream if she saw the bath - now is absolutely fine with it and is back to splashing around and loving it.

Now she absolutely hates having her nappy changed, it's like wrestling a monkey just to change her nappy and she screams bloody murder the entire time. Then 2 seconds after it she's fine...!

But - the benefit of her now being a bit more of a 'person' and less of a potato is that she can be adorably cheeky. We've got a few words (daddy, mummy, cat, shoe, book, potato, no) which has been really lovely.
 
Hah, must be something interesting around babies first words

My boys are Car, Door, Key, Cow, Green plus the usual family names. Interestingly my brother is now crowned "Ning Ning"

:)
 
dlockers said:
If you are sending your kid to nursery "because it is free", I would try and zero-base what it is you are trying to achieve.
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The whole point of sending her to this particular nursery is because it’s attached to the primary school she’ll be attending. She’s going to have to start school eventually, and in my view it’s better to use the time to ease her into it now, rather than have it all come as a shock to her when she does have to start.
 
The Funktopus said:
The whole point of sending her to this particular nursery is because it’s attached to the primary school she’ll be attending. She’s going to have to start school eventually, and in my view it’s better to use the time to ease her into it now, rather than have it all come as a shock to her when she does have to start.
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Is she actually exhibiting signs of autism beyond having a tantrum?

I'd argue a arbitrary hour and a quarter is doing more bad than good. Her hours seem to fit a "budget" rather than something good for her. And to be fair, 3 years old is very late (at least around here, most kids are in childminders/nurseries with a full spectrum of learning support from 9 - 12 months).

Have you sat down with the nursery manager to discuss a plan?

I know more hours may be the last thing on your mind, but the structure of the day helps them build confidence and comfort in their surroundings. Breakfast, lunch, structured play, group time etc...
 
dlockers said:
Is she actually exhibiting signs of autism beyond having a tantrum?

I'd argue a arbitrary hour and a quarter is doing more bad than good. Her hours seem to fit a "budget" rather than something good for her. And to be fair, 3 years old is very late (at least around here, most kids are in childminders/nurseries with a full spectrum of learning support from 9 - 12 months).

Have you sat down with the nursery manager to discuss a plan?

I know more hours may be the last thing on your mind, but the structure of the day helps them build confidence and comfort in their surroundings. Breakfast, lunch, structured play, group time etc...
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It’s not just tantrums, she displays pretty much all the other hallmark behaviours of autism as well, such as stimming, Gestalt language processing and a delay in communication and social skills. She has seen a consultant paediatrician, and in her words ‘she would be very surprised if she wasn’t’. However, we had to wait a year for that appointment, only to then be told we have to then go onto another waiting list for an assessment to get a diagnosis which will unlock further help. Meanwhile I’ve been paying for private speech therapy, and looking into getting a private assessment, if that’ll help move things along.

The other issue we have is my wife, as until this point she’s flat out refused to put our daughter into daycare or nursery until now. When we had her she was able to take a full year’s maternity leave from her job as a primary school teacher with me picking up the slack financially, and then only went back to work 2 days a week, so she’s flat out refused to consider childcare in any way shape or form when I’ve raised it, as I always thought it’d be a good idea from a socialisation stand point, and establishing our daughter in a routine for when she does start school. So up until now she’s been looked after entirely either by my wife and myself, or the mother-in-law when I’m back at sea and my wife’s in work. This just over an hour a day was all I could get her to agree to, which was laid out with the school’s SENCO. And even then, my wife pulls her out at the drop of a hat.

I just don’t know what to do.
 
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