When a toddler failed to stop crying on a three-hour flight and her grandparents were unable to quiet her, two strangers took the matter into their own hands, bringing the toddler into a lavatory and warning her that she could only emerge if she stopped crying.
Locked In Lavatory: How Two Strangers Dealt With A Crying Toddler On A Three-Hour Flight
The incident took place on Juneyao Air flight H02382 from Guiyang (KWE) to Shanghai (PVG) on August 24, 2024.
As shared on Chinese social media, a toddler was traveling with his grandparents. During the three-hour flight, the child would not stop crying. Passengers became irate around them but two women offered to to take the child into the bathroom to “educate” her.
The grandparents agreed, with the grandmother accompanying them to the restroom and waiting outside.
(Now deleted) video shows the women telling the child, “We won’t let you out unless you stop crying,” and warning, “If you make any noise again, we’ll come back” as they left the lavatory.
Initially, Juneyao defended what occurred onboard:
The flight took off on time at around 7:00 am. During the flight, the child continued to cry. In order to avoid disturbing other passengers, with the consent of his grandmother, two passengers took the child to the restroom to educate him. During the process, the child’s grandmother went with him and waited at the restroom door.
But a backlash erupted online and outrage grew over what happened. In fact, there was so much outrage that Juneyao backtracked and condemned the passengers’ behavior, placing additional blame on the “oversight of the crew.”
But I’m not offended…and those accusing these women of bullying or torturing the child are leaving me scratching my head.
Yes, the prerogative of discipline belongs foremost to the parents. But the parents were not there and the grandparents were not doing anything…and maybe they tried and failed. It was a situation screaming for help and these two women, who I would even call Good Samaritans, stepped up to help.
There was consent…the grandmother accompanied them to the lavatory.
There was education…and helpful education. This is how I trained my daughter as well (not typically on an airplane, but in other public settings). Yes, this is one approach to training a child to behave.
See, I’m not anti-child on airplanes. In fact, a crying baby bothers me far less than it ever did in the past after raising two toddlers myself. And unlike dogs, babies are human beings necessary for the survival of the human race, so I cut them extra slack. But I do like it when children behave and was (hopefully forever in the past tense) always mortified when my children did not behave.
And yes, that may have included the lavatory talk with my son…
…and daughter…
Children…are children. They are going to do unpredictable things. Sometimes they won’t shut up. Treating them with compassion is wise.
But you better discipline them in love from an early age…lest you get this:
In short, I’m not offended by what happened onboard.
(Hat Tip: SH)
This is hilarious .
The headlines that strangers locked the kid inside is inaccurate. The grandmother and other passenger went inside or waited outside, according to the story, and tried to persuade the kid to stop crying.
No yelling, no hitting, no death threats, and with slight noise reduction to others by being inside the enclosure.
The headline is accurate. Toddler was locked in the lavatory (with the strangers).
Grandmother waited outside.
Legally, correct. A lawyer can claim that in a deposition or in court. However, it may imply to some people that the kid was locked in alone. That was not the case. The 2 passengers talked to the kid inside the lavatory.
If the kid was tossed into the lavatory and the door locked from the outside, the title of the story could be describing that.
So, yes, legally, one can make that claim. However, from a practical standpoint, the title could have been more clearly written. That is not to say that “Live and Let’s Fly” is a bad blog. No, it’s actually very good.
Babies cry. Ear problems, gas, and fear of strangers, and loud noises are just a few of the triggers. All of those things can happen while flying at an age they are still developing communication skills. Patience is needed from everyone. I question if this baby had the ability yet to understand ” we will lock you in the bathroom if you don’t stop crying”.
In my experience, it will depend. And indeed, maybe this baby was too young. But maybe she was not. I think it was worth a try and hardly the abuse that some are calling it.
The bathroom is a useful space to at least get them sorted out! Not abuse, but attempting to get them settled down.
With the door OPEN, OK. NOT with the door closed and a stranger in there.
Yeah, I’ve used the bathroom as the settling space but even an unknown hanging around would not have been helpful. Perhaps the grandparents were really at a loss? Weird it is.
I have entertained many crying children on an airplane. I tell stories and I sing songs with hand motions and make goofy faces. So far it’s worked every time.
And it’s fun for me to see their happy faces.
Distraction and redirection really work.
We flew an overseas day flight with 8 kids (oldest being 12). My wife and I planned the trip for about 3 months before, most of the effort being put into how to keep the kids entertained. Oh yeah, one more thing, we don’t let our kids watch movies (usually).
So we got loads of:
a) books
b) games
c) electronic games
d) tablets
e) snacks
to keep them busy. I think we did a pretty good job. We didn’t get a single nasty comment or dirty look 😉 and the FA’s were very complimentary towards us.
We did have to be on top of them the whole time. Plenty of bathroom trips and tours of the plane…
You forgot Benadryl.
We thought of it but forgot to bring…
I prefer dogs
I probably would to you as well….
I’d prefer you Matthew, especially with your shirt off.
Kid in the photos you posted looks too young to understand much beyond “good girl, bad girl” and MAYBE “shush”.
Locking the kid (and with with a stranger!) in the loo seems inappropriate, whether consent was given or not by the grandparents (the only family members there). If the door remained unlocked and OPEN with grandparents visible to the child, then OK for a time-out in the loo to calm down, but I draw the line at closing the door with a stranger in there with the kid.
Parents are responsible. THEY should have been locked in a bathroom.
Grandparents installing discipline
We need more of that these days
The Chinese have a culture that is different that Americans don’t understand. This would never pass in America but in China, it may be that punishment, hardship and suffering are a way of life.
Those two women are absolute heroes! I am sure the rest of the cabin was so relieved.
Sometimes you have to grow a spine and teach ‘em a lesson! Teach ‘em who’s boss!