Toddler locked in overhead bin

Maria - posted on 03/10/2011

Yea i agree im not sure i would sue that doesn seem to trying to get money where can for no reason. traumatized??? really... i think not. Even tho i woulda tore her a new one ( the attendent) i think suing is goin goverboard

Shana - posted on 03/10/2011

Wow. Well I would be pretty angry that my child was put in the locker..but really. Traumatized? Doesn't want to sleep away from her and calls out to her all the time? Does that mean my daughter is traumatized from..I dunno, being in her room at night when it's dark? Being in the naughty chair? Eating vegetables? Seriously now. The mother had a right to be angry, but she is going a little overboard with it. :/

Maria - posted on 03/10/2011

Havent read any of the comments yet so this is just what i think. I woulda kick that attendants ass dont touch my child and dont stick him in a cabinet she is crazy!! i woulda stuck her ass in a cabinet. Its not about getting a quick buck its about the flight attendant making a huge mistake. But did she put him in there cuz she was playing around with them too or what?? Either way if she was just joking around i wouldnt be looking for money or anything but it probably would bother me if she wasnt playing and just stuck him in there i woulda been pissed.

Tracey - posted on 03/10/2011

Can I have the free flights if she is too traumatised to use them?

How did it take until the baby had been put in the locker for 10 seconds to register the reaction that it was not what Mum wanted? Surely she would have said something before then, when hubby handed baby to the attendant? Doesn't take long to say Stop, or to move between baby and the locker or to put her hands out to take baby back? Why did she not intervene earlier?

Charity - posted on 03/09/2011

I think it is very possible for a 17 month old to be traumatized. But I would leave that decision to an expert.

Jodi - posted on 03/09/2011

I looked at a couple of other reports of this incident and found a comment from the mother "I was crying. My husband was in shock. For days on end I was crying."

So, by the sounds of it, in her view dad didn't really approve, but to be crying for days? She's totally neurotic. It probably never occurred to her that if SHE was carrying on like this, her child would sense her distress, and this alone could cause anxiety.

Karen - posted on 03/09/2011

I think the words "traumatized" and "abuse" are being thrown around in situations like this too casually. The kid was not abused. The flight attendant made a mistake. The mom needs to grow up and find an honest source of $ for herself rather than suing.

Jenn - posted on 03/09/2011

And as someone who is afraid of the dark and also has claustrophobia, I think if some stranger put me in a small, dark, locked cabin, I'd be having issues. But I do still think the lawsuit is taking it a bit far - especially when they already offered her free flights.

April - posted on 03/09/2011

Oh okay, it was peek-a-boo, not hide n seek. Well that makes the situation even weirder! Most people play peek-a-boo by covering their eyes. I disagree with Krista that he shouldn't have been fired. IF the overhead locker had become stuck for whatever reason, the child's life could have potentially been in danger (not talking about 10 seconds, but hours). What if the child had diabetes and would need food before a certain time so that he doesn't become ill? I don't know if this is a possibility but what if he had been stuck for so long that he was running out of oxygen in there? Choosing to put the child in the overhead locker is more than just poor judgment. Poor judgment is cheating on a test. Poor judgment is using unprofessional vocabulary. Putting a child in a possibly dangerous situation exceeds "poor judgment". He got what he deserved, but now it seems like Mom is milking it to see what else she can get from the unfortunate situation.

Michele - posted on 03/09/2011

Just to clarify my stance - I would have been pissed at ANYONE who put my child up there, husband included. And I think MOST flight attendants would have said "sir, you can't do that!"
Again, I am fine with the firing, not with the lawsuit.

Krista - posted on 03/09/2011

I think it was damn stupid of the flight attendant, particularly to close the door. What if they'd had trouble getting it open again?

Poor judgment, yes. The flight attendant should have been reprimanded, as he was not setting a good safety example. A firing offense? No. Lawsuit-worthy? Definitely not.

Sharon - posted on 03/09/2011

I find the "now estranged" part, relevant and telling as there is NO COMMENT from the "now estranged" husband on this, which shows there is NO support from him on her "lawsuit/joke".

An article says the father was playing peek-a-boo with his son "involving" the overhead locker - How else can you utilise the overhead locker to play peek-a-boo unless your child is in it? For sure the father wasn't in it unless he's a midget and even then - WHO put the midget father in there? spare me.

Karissa - posted on 03/09/2011

I agree, at bed time you put your kid in the dark for much longer than 10 seconds. The flight attendant was playing with the kid and I'm sure he did it because he thought it was funny. Clearly, wrong choice. I do think he should have gotten fired. Their job is to provide a sense of safety and peace, not put children in the overhead bin. I think the mother needs to go to therapy because she's the one freaking out. I'm sure the kid can't sleep in his own room because the mother has been coddling him ever since.

Jenn - posted on 03/09/2011

I'm not sure I understand what you mean Jodi. Why has what come out now? The story or the fact that they are estranged? If you mean the story, it's likely because she only filed the lawsuit now, I'm guessing for compensation for the child seeing "various specialists" She did complain immediately, which is why the flight attendant was fired. I totally agree that the lawsuit is bogus, but I just don't see how the fact that her and her husband have split up tells us that she is a "fuckin' twat waffle spazz tard".

Sharon - posted on 03/09/2011

It wasn't Hide-n-Seek - it was peek-a-boo and the attendent, with dads' approval, joined in and the overhead locker came into play.

Honest to god, when my kids were younger they WANTED to get into those things. My oldest was just over a year old and he was utterly fascinated with the overhead lockers. Thankfully he couldn't reach them but as i held him up to look, he tried to pull himself inside. I was pretty sure that wasn't gonna fly with the attendants and pulled him down.

Why doesn't anyone get that the father was happy with this? its just that bitchoid "mother" whos' having midol withdrawals who's got issues?

April - posted on 03/09/2011

It is a weird story. Playing hide n seek on an airplane, where there is little room for such a game, is super weird. Locking a child in an overhead bin...I'd have been pissed and would have asked that the attendant be fired, but suing? Claiming trauma from 10 seconds in the dark? Ridiculous. That poor little boy. What if this incident didn't bother him before, but now it does because Mom made it that way?

Jodi - posted on 03/09/2011

Jenn, why has it only come out now? I guess that's what I am questioning. They weren't estranged at the time it happened, so why now?

I just find it odd that it doesn't come out the day it happened, the day after it happened, or even the week after it happened. But THREE MONTHS after it happened and mum and dad are now estranged.....I think mum is playing it.

Jenn - posted on 03/09/2011

Sharon - how does the fact that they are now estranged tell you anything about the mother? How do you know they aren't estranged because he cheated on her? Or maybe he came out of the closet and left her? Sure, it could be because she's a nutbar, but you can't tell that just from the fact that they are "now estranged".

Jodi - posted on 03/09/2011

Sharon's baaaaackkkkkk :P
That's the Sharon we all know and love :D

Sharon - posted on 03/08/2011

1. The father KNEW where his child was.

2. The mom is "now estranged from the father" - says to me she's a fuckin' twat waffle spazz tard.

3. IT WAS A PEEK-A-BOO game! omfg - if your kid gets tramuatised playing peek-a-boo, maybe you should euthanise him now and save him a lifetime of trauma.

4. ugh I can't say it enough - she's a money seeking fuckhead. "devastated" really? really? what the fuck did she think was going to happen? The langoliers?

5. if that kid is fucked in the head - it her fault. stupid cunt fart.

April - posted on 03/08/2011

Nobody knows how another mother would feel or act in a situation like that. Could we really judge her? If that happened to either of my children i would be pissed off, that flight attendant was out of line. I would want an apology and some free tickets to other countries (LOL just kidding) BUT i wouldn't sue.

Jenn - posted on 03/08/2011

Chances are, the child is going through a normal phase at that age of not wanting to be apart from Mommy. That and the fact that the parents are now estranged. However, if that was me I probably would have been pissed beyond belief - why would they put the kid up there and shut the door?!?

Rosie - posted on 03/08/2011

now, who the hell puts a baby in an overhead bin that isn't your own? ah the judgement of some people. no i dont' think the mom should sue, no the kid isn't traumatised. this is totally a way for this woman to get some cash.

Katie - posted on 03/08/2011

sounds like the mom is going to mess this kid up a heck of a lot more then 10 seconds in the overhead bin (although the fact that someone would put a kid in one seems pretty odd to me.) Sounds like someone saw a chance to make a quick buck and is milking it for everything it's worth. What happened to common sense? Common sense says don't put kids in bins...common sense says don't sue every time you can manage to ind a lawyer who will take your case. Scary and strange the world we live in!

Christina - posted on 03/08/2011

If a flight attendant put my child in a freaking overhead bin, you bet your butt I would be suing! That is absurd! It's not about the money, it's about the message that you can NOT abuse MY CHILDREN!



However, I don't allow strangers to touch my children. So if a flight attendant did that to my kid, I would have filed kidnapping charges.

The only time a flight attendant has ever touched one of my kids is when I was 20yrs old and flying alone with my 2yr old and 5mnth old. I had the flight attendant hold my 5mnth old so I could take my 2yr old to the bathroom. There wasn't room for me to bring my daughter's carseat onto the plane, so I had no choice.

JuLeah - posted on 03/08/2011

Mom's a nut job, if the 'facts' have been reported correctly.
THe flight attendant ... really, how dumb do you have to be to lock a kid in the over head bin like that .... very poor judgment, but dangrous, tramua inducing, life altering ... no. The kid is fine. If he is freaking out it is due to mom's reaction, her seperation from dad, misssing dad, all the professionals in his life ....

September - posted on 03/08/2011

Yes those days are long gone. When I was a kid I was allowed in the cockpit as well, it was really cool! In May of 2010 we traveled to Florida with our son and he was allowed to stand at the door and look in but was not allowed to actually go in. He thought that was pretty cool! :)

Jodi - posted on 03/08/2011

Oh, that's ok :) It was nice to share a story about a kid actually being ALLOWED in a cockpit, LOL. Those days are now long gone. He doesn't remember it, but I can at least tell him he has been in one and seen the view!!!.

September - posted on 03/08/2011

Jodi I meant without my permission. I left out a few words in my original post. Opps :)

Jodi - posted on 03/08/2011

Oh, I don't know, there have been times I'd love to stuff my kid in an overhead locker....... :P

Lady Heather - posted on 03/08/2011

Oh yeah, I've had flight attendants hold my kid and help me out with her and stuff. Because I needed the help! It's not much help to stuff the kid into the bin. I think this is a little different than just general toddler handling.

Jodi - posted on 03/08/2011

No Becky, I didn't ask her, she offered first though and waited for my approval. I was just respoding to the comment about never letting them touch your kid.

Jodi - posted on 03/08/2011

With regard to the OP, I find it a really WEIRD story. No, it isn't okay to put a kid in an overhead locker, that was just stupid. Traumatised? I doubt it. 10 seconds isn't going to traumatise a child. Given this marriage is now estranged, obviously this happened some time ago. Why is it only coming out now? Sounds like someone is setting the stage for the coming custody battle......"the father of the child HAPPILY handed baby over to a total stranger, and look how that ended up, he has no right to be alone with baby, therefore I should have full custody". That sounds more like it.

But maybe I'm just a skeptic....

September - posted on 03/08/2011

I've had flight attendants play and laugh with our son during flights as well but pick him up without my permission...never! These parents are just wacko and yes, looking for a quick buck!

Becky - posted on 03/08/2011

Did you ask her to though? Because that is totally different than the flight attendant just picking your child up. They are there to help, I'd have no issue with asking them to hold my child for a minute if I needed help, but for them to just pick them up univited is totally inappropriate. (unless they're in danger, of course)

Jodi - posted on 03/08/2011

When I was travelling alone on a longer flight once, I had a flight attendant take my kid to the cockpit for a look and entertain him while I ate my dinner once :) I was in Business Class, so the flight attendant had the time to do that. My son was probably about 2 at the time. I didn't see it as a big deal.

Michele - posted on 03/08/2011

Well, in fairness, I had a flight attendant hold my infant when I was traveling solo and had to get everything ready for the flight.

Bonnie - posted on 03/08/2011

Traumatized? I doubt it. I don't really see why a flight attendent would take it upon herself to put the kid in the overhead bin either way though. Toddlers are still at the age where they giggle at peek-a-boo. I think that would have worked well enough. No one knows how a small kid is going to react to being in a confined space even if it is just for 10 seconds. I would be pissed if someone did that to my kid.

September - posted on 03/08/2011

Personally I would never allow a flight attendant to touch my child without my permission. What the hell where the parents thinking? I think the parents are at fault just as much as the attendant is. I mean come on now!

Becky - posted on 03/08/2011

Well, the flight attendant was definitely in the wrong for taking the child without the parent's permission and putting him the overhead bin! That just doesn't seem safe at all! But I agree, the idea that the child has been traumatized by it and has needed to see specialists sounds a little farfetched to me. If anything, he is picking up on his mother's over reaction to it and that is what is causing his anxiety.

Lady Heather - posted on 03/08/2011

Okay, the he part makes it even weirder. It is usually the menfolk who are the most militant about the safety stuff because they've usually never been the parent flying with a toddler. This is me generalizing based on my kabillion flights. "omg! Do not let the kid turn away from you during take off! No, it does not matter if they are clawing your eyes out and kneeing you in the gut! Rah!". Really the the whole thing is weird though because well...would you ever pick up someone else's kid and shove them in a box? Sure there are times you've probably wanted to, but who actually does it?

Michele - posted on 03/08/2011

In this case the flight attendant was a he. But I agree, traumatized? He is having some separation anxiety, which is probably more compounded now by the fact that the parents are now estranged, IMHO, than the overhead bin. She has gone a bit overboard on this one.

Lady Heather - posted on 03/08/2011

It seems unlikely that a kid would be traumatized by 10 seconds in the dark. That sounds like a stretch to me. But wtf? Who does that? Aren't these the same people who obsess to me about the safety for my baby/toddler on the plane? And she thought it was cool to stick him in an overhead bin? I pity the fool who tries that with my kid.

Michele - posted on 03/08/2011

I would have been pissed if a flight attendant put my kid in the overhead bin and shut the door. Probably not if he had just been put up there without the door being shut. I would have been pissed if my husband put my kid up there and shut the door. It is my guess that most flight attendants would have put a stop to a passenger putting a kid in the overhead bin, door open or not. And I would have gotten the kid out immediately.

I would not, however, have considered the kid traumatized and sent him to specialists. I probably would have complained to the airline, though, since this is really bad judgment, and I am glad that the attendant was fired. But I wouldn't sue.
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