Three common mistakes parents make on planes that put their children in danger

A TRAVEL expert has pointed out the mistakes parents with small children make when flying and which can actually endanger them.

Travel experts Mark and Jocelyn Wolters have been touring the world with their sons Caleb and Liam for the last 16 years.

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The husband and wife couple began traveling with Caleb when he was just six weeks old.

In the years since, Mark and Jocelyn have mastered the do’s and don’ts of traveling with kids — including why vacationers shouldn’t assume flight attendants are babysitters.

Mark told Sun Online Travel: “Flight attendants are not babysitters.

“Flight attendants have to focus on keeping the entire plane safe and that means they can’t focus their time on an infant.”

Mark explained that when parents think a flight attendant will look after a child, air travel can become dangerous.

He said: “The galley where the flight attendants work is not a playground but a work area with very heavy trolleys that can roll out and injure a small toddler.

“There can also be heating elements to prepare meals, so don’t leave your little one hanging around in the galley.”

The father-of-two encourages families to let their children pace the plane, but only when it’s safe to do so.

He added: “Don’t let them walk up and down the aisle on their own, it’s dangerous because the carts can be very heavy and there can be turbulence at any moment.”

The travel expert urges parents to watch out for their young children and not expect other passengers or flight attendants to become carers.

But Mark recommends speaking to your flight attendant at the right moment, adding: “Be nice to them because they’re best at helping you when you need an extra hand.”

And Mark isn’t the only travel expert who thinks flight attendants shouldn’t babysit kids on planes.

Caroline Skahn, who has worked as a flight attendant for five years, revealed that treating cabin crew as babysitters is one of the most annoying things a passenger can do on a flight.

She said: “Every day I see so many parents who get on a plane and fall asleep straight away or just not paying attention and leaving their children unattended. It’s not fair to the crew or other passengers.”

Mark also explained why parents shouldn’t give their kids orange juice on a plane.

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