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Taking kids out requires plenty of essentials to be carried along. To make it convenient to carry essentials, one must have a bag for kids. From going to a preschool or going for an outing, kids require a bag with spacious compartments to carry all their essentials comfortably. Padded and adjustable shoulder straps, soft material, closure type and lightweight design are some of the key features one should consider while purchasing a bag for kids. We have curated a list of some of the best options available for bags for kids on Amazon. <bulletContentEmbed name="B07BNNKJ7J" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07BNNKJ7J_head"><div type="image" title="Lightweight Design" msid="86430042" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07BNNKJ7J</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07BNNKJ7J_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07BNNKJ7J_9906771375266436"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">DZert Pikachu Kids Bags</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This Pikachu bag from DZert ensures comfort for the kids. Going to the park or preschool, this bag should serve the purpose of carrying kids essentials conveniently with two compartments. The soft plush material with adjustable and breathable shoulder straps makes the carrying experience comfortable. The compact and lightweight design makes it a good gift option for kids.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07BNNKJ7J_7272074887005110"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The spacious compartments make it convenient to carry things.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07MQD8KG1" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07MQD8KG1_head"><div type="image" title="Padded Straps" msid="86430080" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07MQD8KG1</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07MQD8KG1_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07MQD8KG1_6979052857032799"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Frantic Velvet Kids Bag</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This cute elephant design bag for kids from Frantic provides sufficient storage space with one main compartment and one front pocket to carry essentials. Suitable for kids of 2-5 years, this bag features padded and adjustable shoulder straps for kids comfort. The high-quality and soft plush material ensures durability and makes it easy to clean. Also, it features a zipper closure and a lightweight design.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07MQD8KG1_4152941173627047"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The material used makes it easy to clean.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B08D5RXR3W" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08D5RXR3W_head"><div type="image" title="Spacious Compartments" msid="86430132" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08D5RXR3W</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08D5RXR3W_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08D5RXR3W_4557730724552297"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Blue Tree Cute Kids Bag</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Available in different prints, this bag from Blue Tree provides functionality with fun. The high-quality soft plush material should ensure comfort and last long. Its lightweight design with adjustable shoulder straps makes it convenient to carry. To ensure convenient carrying, it features two spacious compartments. Also, it comes with a hanging handle and zipper closure.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08D5RXR3W_5322858992673162"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The zipper closure should make it easy to open and close.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B089QNQND1" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B089QNQND1_head"><div type="image" title="Zipper Closure" msid="86430145" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B089QNQND1</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B089QNQND1_body"><bulletContentRow name="B089QNQND1_2096786888302221"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Pocket Whole Cute Kids Bag</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">With sufficient storage space, this bag from Pocket Whole ensures a convenient carrying experience. Its non-toxic and soft material makes it safe for kids. The attractive cute mickey mouse design makes it a good gift option for kids. Suitable for kids up to 6 years, it features a zipper closure for easy opening and closing.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B089QNQND1_6889714456164155"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It is said to be an ideal option for kids of 1-6 years.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B08N69QJ4W" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08N69QJ4W_head"><div type="image" title="Washable Material" msid="86430161" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08N69QJ4W</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08N69QJ4W_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08N69QJ4W_7901252457510064"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Moroses Cute Kids Bag</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Made from soft plush and lightweight material, this bag from Moroses provides a comfortable carrying experience. Spacious compartments with zipper closures keep the belongings safe and organized. The material used is non-toxic, washable and long-lasting.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08N69QJ4W_2137234767146433"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The non-toxic material makes it safe for the kids.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B089QP8DRQ" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B089QP8DRQ_head"><div type="image" title="Comfortable Carrying" msid="86430249" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B089QP8DRQ</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B089QP8DRQ_body"><bulletContentRow name="B089QP8DRQ_0176460237767789"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Black Hill Cute Kids Bag</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Gift your kids this cute minion design bag from Black Hill. With two-compartment storage space, it ensures comfortable carrying of the essentials. It comes with a zipper closure that makes it convenient to open and close by the kids. Also, its soft, good quality material makes it last longer.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B089QP8DRQ_7682349263480019"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The good quality material used makes it durable.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed>

Best toddler bags for kids in India

Courtesy of Rachel PitzelRachel Pitzel spent $1,000 on a "party stylist" to ensure her daughter's fifth birthday party theme was cohesive.<ul class="summary-list"><li>A one-year-old recently had a Luxembourg Gardens-inspired birthday party in Washington, D.C that cost six figures to throw.</li><li>It's not uncommon for wealthy parents to spend $50,000 or more on swanky soirees for their kids thanks to social media pressure to out-do one another.</li><li>Parents want custom-everything nowadays for their bashes, including $5,000 ball pits.</li><li>Even good old-fashioned sleepovers have been given a luxe makeover by companies charging four-figures for fanciful tent set-ups complete with breakfast trays, accent pillows and lanterns. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>This summer, a Parisian garden-theme party was one of the most lavish events hosted at Washington D.C.'s historic villa, the Anderson House. There was a make-your-own flower crown booth with fresh blooms, a mime, a crepe station, miniature motorized boats for children to play with in the property's pond, a balloon artist and extravagant favors. "We had picnic baskets with custom fabric lining, gardening kits, macarons and beautiful candles," said Anne Ligeard Murat of the NYC party planning company, <a href="https://www.clafoutis-creations.com/">Clafoutis</a>, which orchestrated the six-figure affair. The guest of honor? A very special one-year-old celebrating her first birthday."The family loves Luxembourg Gardens in Paris," said Murat.Murat - whose itty-bitty clients include the kids of chef Geoffrey Zakarian, "Million Dollar Listings" star, Fredrik Eklund, MLB player, Adam Ottavino and NHL star, Bradley Peltz - says her basic kid's party package starts at around $6,000, with some bashes costing up to hundreds of thousands of dollars."Our clients wouldn't consider these parties to be over-the-top," Murat says. "It's just their lifestyle, and presentation is key," she said. Nowadays, kids' birthday celebrations can put most weddings to shame, with Instagram and celebrities inspiring a seemingly endless game of one-upmanship. Instead of gift bags filled with bubbles, Nike high-tops are doled out. Ball pits are custom $5,000 creations and sleeping bags have been replaced by bespoke slumber party tents complete with breakfast trays, "fairy lights" and "accent cushions.""People today are spending more than they were even five years ago," said Murat. "There's a desire for this kind of party." And with pizza and cake no longer cutting it, wealthy parents are leaning on professionals to turn their tots' birthdays into five-star affairs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/meeting-convention-and-event-planners.htm">job growth for event planners is expected to outpace the average job growth by 4 percent</a> between 2016 and 2026. The costs of parties are rising, too. A <a href="https://www.babycenter.com/0_celebrating-your-babys-first-birthday_1493204.bc">2017 BabyCenter survey</a> revealed that 11% of parents reported spending more than $500 for their child's first birthday. But in affluent cities like New York and Los Angeles, $500 can just be the cost of the cake - if you're lucky. <h2>The days of simple parties are over: "We have done kids parties for $350,000, but I would say the majority fall in the $50,000 range."</h2>When it came time for Rachel Pitzel to plan her daughter Harper's fifth birthday party last year, the Los Angeles resident didn't blink at shelling out thousands of dollars for the picture perfect fete. She hired elite party planner and rental service <a href="https://www.teakandlace.com/">Teak and Lace</a>, which has worked with the Kardashians, Nick Lachey and Lily Aldridge. She spent $1,000 on a party stylist to make sure the "Carrousel" theme (spelled the Disneyland way) was cohesive, and cut a check for nearly a thousand dollars on a professional photographer to document the event."I drew the line at a $500 cotton candy stand," Pitzel said of her daughter's bash, which included a huge rack of rented dress-up clothes like tutus, tiaras, bracelets, necklaces, pretend earrings and kids makeup. Pitzel says her pricey affair was entirely in line with what her friends were throwing."The days of simple parties have started waning with the rise of Instagram, Pinterest, Etsy and Amazon," said Pitzel. "Parents spare no expense for the location or food. One party we went to had a manicure truck and a grilled cheese truck, and every girl got a spa makeover complete with nails, hair and make-up, plus robes. Yhey got to make their own bag of candy to go, just like at Dylan's Candy Bar."Rachel Huntington, owner of the Los Angeles party planning company, <a href="https://www.bonjourfete.com/">Bonjour Fete</a>, says her sales have been consistently climbing since she opened her doors in 2016. Mary CostaRachel Huntington, owner of the party planning company, Bonjour Fete, constructed this balloon rainbow for a lucky one-year-old's birthday celebration."We've surpassed every goal we've set," said Huntington, whose clients include Kate Hudson and Hilary Duff. She says social media has been a driving force behind her growing business, leading parents to spend more than ever before so they can post the extravagant party photos online. "I have seen an insane amount of money poured into food stations, snow hills, entertainment, flower walls, balloon clouds and custom everything. Need an American Ninja Warrior set-up in your backyard? I got you. Need a famous chef to flip burgers on your grill? No problem. If the client wants it - we don't hold back," Huntington said. "We have done kids parties for $350,000 but I would say the majority fall in the $50,000 range."<h2>Embracing their inner child</h2>From a "Singing in the Rain" theme with custom lyric books to a "Little House on the Prairie" party with kids learning how to churn butter, Murat says throwing these kinds of gatherings allows deep-pocketed adults to revisit their childhood days. "They get so excited around cotton candy or even miniature sandwiches; it allows them to feel young again," Murat said. One of Murat's clients, NYC mom Yuliya Zhang, has been hiring Murat to plan her now five year-old son's birthdays since he was one. Zhang, 33, admits she doesn't bat an eye at spending between up to $40,000 on her son's celebrations. "What's most important for me is to love what I see and to be in a beautiful, magical, organic environment that brings a fairy tale to life," said Zhang, a stay-at-home mom.Paige RigogliosoNYC mom Yuliya Zhang spends five figures on her son's extravagant bashes including a "Jurassic World" party complete with archeological digs and life-like dinosaurs.Together, she and Murat have thrown her son a policeman party complete with a NYPD-costumed actor who led a mini police academy, a dress-up corner where kids could choose to be a cop or a robber, a mugshot photo booth, and a magician. Another year, the duo planned a "Jurassic World" bash with life-like dinosaurs, an actor dressed as Owen Grady - the birthday boy's favorite character from the movie - and activity tables where kids could dig for dinosaur bones."As adults, we like to go back in time and experience these happy moments again," said Zhang, "which is why we also hired a professional photographer to capture every party."<h2>Custom, custom, custom</h2>Status-quo party packages at the neighborhood play gym or at-home gatherings with a pinata and Betty Crocker cake just don't pack enough punch when every parent with an Instagram account is a micro influencer.That means throwing a party with a wow factor is of utmost importance.Murat says for one youngster's party, she had actors dress up as Ghostbusters to create slime with the kids and even parked an Ecto-1 car outside just as the guests were leaving."You can't just park an Ecto-1 in front of a building on Park Avenue, so it requires a lot of coordination," said Murat. Last April, Manhattan mom, Madelyn Mejia, went all out to make sure her five-year-old son's $12,000 knight-themed birthday party was an unforgettable affair."The cake was the most beautiful medieval castle that had been sketched and envisioned by Anne [Murat]," said Mejia. "And the party favors were beautiful ceramic unicorn trinket boxes that we had personalized by a calligrapher for each child." Arianna TettamanzMadelyn Mejia's five-year-old son's $12,000 birthday party included a custom-designed medieval castle cake.It's that craving for something unique that helped Eunice Ong of <a href="https://meshkids.co/">MESH Kids Co.</a> break into the pint-sized party scene. Ong says she creates anywhere from ten to 25 personalized ball pits per month - with each 10 foot by 20 foot space costing between $4,000 and $5,000. "Our core demographic is children five years-old and under," said Ong, who is already booked into mid-2021 and counts the Kardashians among her clients. Marie, a stay-at-home mother of two in Los Angeles, who didn't want to reveal her last name for fear of social media backlash, is using Ong's services next month. She's justified the cost with the mindset that her son will only turn three once."I'm always trying to find new and experiential ways to entertain my kids and the birthday guests," said Marie. After all, for moms like Marie, ordering a "Fudgie the Whale" Carvel cake is out of the question. Baker Sheila Volk-Weiss, who owns the Los Angeles baking company, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peachtreeandbelle/?hl=en">Peachtree and Belle</a>, says kid birthday party cakes can go up to $700 for her three-tier confections. "They're like small wedding cakes."Her recent orders have been filled with requests for $250 volcano cakes complete with buttercream lava erupting from their cores and two cakes connected by a foot-long fondant rainbow that cost $325.And that's not where her edible masterpieces stop. "We'll often do on-theme cupcakes for the adults and personalized cookies as party favors and table decor," said Volk-Weiss, who says those treats typically tack on an extra couple hundred dollars. "I'm busier than ever because parents are feeling more and more pressure to put on photogenic parties that resonate on Instagram," said Volk-Weiss.<h2>Bring on the professionals</h2>Just don't expect the parents to be getting down and dirty with set-up.One Dallas mom, a human resources professional who asked to remain anonymous for professional reasons, said it's not uncommon for toddlers' parties in her neighborhood to have valet services, black-tie servers passing trays of sushi and a full bar service."People have staff-managed bounce houses, characters in costume, deejays, full catering, personalized candy, clean-up staff and paper invitation suites," said the Dallas mom.Even good old fashioned sleepovers are becoming fancy affairs thanks to companies like Trish Healy's <a href="https://www.wondertentparties.com/">WonderTent Parties</a>. Their "SleepOver" package starts at $450 for five guests and includes a tent, plush mattress, blankets, fairy lights, accent cushions and a breakfast tray for each kid. Celebrities like Molly Sims and Kyle Richardson have called upon the company to erect backyard installations for picturesque campouts. Leyna Noelani/@YellowheartphotographyCompanies like WonderTent erect whimsical structures for kid parties that rival most weddings.Shawna Wilson, a mother of two and founder of SBW Tennis Academy in Los Angeles said she never even gave old-school sleeping bags a thought when she planned her daughter's $2,000 slumber party."It's all about convenience. It's so much more comfortable to have a mattress and blankets and lamps and it means the kids don't have to bring anything other than themselves and the set-up is magical looking - the kids were so excited when they saw the tent," she said. Healy says it's not uncommon for parents to add on additional services like outdoor movie packages starting at $300, outdoor dining experiences that start at $300, or karaoke machines, candy stations or dress-up stations that start at $100. Leyna Noelani/@YellowheartphotographySay bye bye to the sleeping bag. Parents are shelling out thousands for WonderTent's Instagram-friendly "SleepOver" package."For the parents, it's one less stress for them knowing that we'll come in, set and style everything and then pack it all down the next day," she said.A mother of two in Los Angeles, who asked to remain anonymous for social reasons, said she's witnessed kid birthday parties that are fancier than some black-tie bar mitzvahs, including one with mermaids swimming in the pool.Not that she minds. "Do you really want to go to a party in the park or at the play gym?" she asked. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/qantas-airways-flying-worlds-longest-flight-2019-12">What it's like to ride the world's longest flight</a></h3>

Some toddler birthday parties now cost as much as weddings. Parents are dropping hundreds of thousands - because their kids only turn 3 once.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>My family consists of seven people, and we all live in a two-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles.</li><li>We've been trying to find a bigger place, but we can't afford one in the city.</li></ul>When we first moved to Los Angeles, our two-bedroom apartment had more than enough room for our <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/family-moved-from-knoxville-to-nyc-happier-despite-higher-costs-2024-3">family of five</a>.Once my husband, my three daughters, and I arrived in March of 2012, we were more than happy with our <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chart-costs-to-buy-a-2-bedroom-flat-by-country-2022-9">two-bedroom</a>, one-and-a-half-bath apartment, which came with a dishwasher. In all, the place was 950 square feet. It was especially great because we lived near good schools, and it was in a very safe area. Plus, the apartment was in a gated building with a parking lot.For years, this apartment worked for us. But then another baby came, and our <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/single-mom-divorced-multigenerational-home-safe-haven-2024-3">family continued to grow</a>.<h2>We added two people to our family</h2>While living in LA, my aunt visited from Chicago frequently because she loved <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/divorce-share-custody-kids-parenting-plan-time-regret-decision-2024-1">spending time with my kids</a>; they were little and adored her, too. As time went on and my aunt got older, she retired. We invited her to live with us, even though she refused.Then, in 2017, I had my 4th child, a son. When the pandemic hit, we had three teenagers and a toddler living in the apartment. In early 2020, my aunt had been visiting us for a while and hadn't set a date to return to Chicago yet; then she got stuck here. For a while, we weren't sure when and if she was going back to Chicago. We discussed giving up her apartment and moving to California for good as she was getting up there in age. I was worried about her living on her own as health problems began to arise.My husband then had time off from work due to the pandemic. That meant the seven of us were stuck in our 950-square-foot apartment — full-time.I was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/homeschool-kids-travel-family-benefits-2024-2">homeschooling</a> the three oldest kids with a 3 year old running around. It wasn't easy.I constantly felt overwhelmed and had a great lack of privacy. My husband, son, and I shared a king-sized bed in our small bedroom, while my three teens shared the second bedroom. My aunt got the living room.My only solace was my desk with my computer, where I would play <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/baldur-gate-3-larian-studios-sequel-dlc-new-content-staff-2024-3">video games </a>or write to take my mind off the fear of what was happening in the outside world. To say I was stressed out was an understatement.<h2>We wanted to move out, but we decided to redecorate instead</h2>By 2021, we decided to move, which was easier said than done. We currently pay $2,100 a month for our apartment, but we realized that if we wanted a bigger place in LA, we needed to pay $3,000.Finding a new place during the pandemic was another bag of problems. Many places were holding crowded <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-rent-apartments-prices-soaring-competition-millennial-gen-z-2021-9">open houses</a>, which we tried to avoid. It seemed like everyone was trying to move at the same time. It was impossible; we couldn't find the right place for us. Many places seemed to frown when we told them we were a family of seven.After lots of looking, we finally gave in and decided to stay put for the time being. With more free time around the house when the pandemic let up, I started <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-brooklyn-apartment-rent-renvation-before-after-photos-2023-11">decorating and remodeling</a>. We ordered new furniture and housewares. The older kids were disappointed we wouldn't be moving but were willing to help reorganize and redecorate.We started with the three teenagers. Having three kids in a bedroom is never ideal, but thankfully, they all get along well. We bought a new bunkbed, and the oldest child got a loft bed with a desk at the bottom.My son continued to share a bedroom with us, but on his 7th birthday, we got him his own bed, which he was excited about. My husband and I bought ourselves a new bed frame. I then transformed the bedroom into the cottage core room of my dreams. I hung fake flowers, vintage postcards, and frames with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-k-pop-songs-this-year-ranked-2023-12">K-pop groups</a>.Lastly, my aunt got a comfy reclining chair and a bed in the living room. After a certain time of night, the living room becomes her bedroom. Eventually, we also bought two new sofas for family movie nights that we could all fit on.<h2>We're still looking to move</h2>We still occasionally have issues with only two bathrooms, but we remind our kids that my husband and I grew up with one bathroom and several siblings.We're still planning on moving. We look at rentals from time to time when something good comes up on Zillow. We have even seriously discussed moving out of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-la-california-from-vancouver-canada-rent-health-care-2024-3">Los Angeles</a> as our rent continues to go up. But for now, we're staying put and making it work.

I live with my 4 kids, husband, and aunt in a 2-bedroom apartment in LA. We can't find a bigger place, so we make it work.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>When my husband went to Spain for work, my five-month-old and I joined to get out of our comfort zone. </li><li>Traveling with a baby reminded me of solo travel because every small victory felt like a huge win.</li></ul>In the first few weeks after <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/what-i-wished-i-had-done-during-pregnancy-2023-5">having my daughter,</a> Blake, I didn't leave bed, let alone the house. Our four walls became our whole world. Going for a shower felt as ambitious and wonderful as trekking to a waterfall. Meeting a friend for a coffee at a cafe at the end of my road felt like a physical impossibility — those stairs with this pram?!But gradually Blake and I started walking, and walking and walking. With the country still locked down due to the pandemic, there was nowhere else to go anyway. As a travel writer, I wondered if I'd ever get my suitcase out again, or if I might one day show Blake my dusty passport as if it was an antique relic of times gone by.<h2>A chance to travel again felt exciting and overwhelming</h2>And then in April 2021, we had some news. Guy, my partner, had an upcoming work project shooting in Spain, so we decided to decamp there for a few months. Blake was five months old and the thought of whisking her out of our very small comfort zone was daunting. I lay awake at night making list upon list, thinking through all the things that could go wrong. I had to remind myself that in a former life, used to regularly jet around the world with just a few hours' notice and not a care in the world.Stepping foot in the airport for the first time in over a year, I felt as wide-eyed and incredulous as Blake was at all the shiny surfaces, bright lights and so many screens. How did we do this again?But new protocols aside, it turned out boarding a 747 is just like riding a bike. And <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/travel-with-kids-major-mistakes-best-tips-2022-4#skimping-where-it-matters-means-youll-end-up-paying-for-it-later-one-way-or-another-2">traveling with a baby</a> is very similar to traveling solo in that people are much kinder to you. In fact, it's even better than that and a bit like how I imagine celebrities get treated. Every queue was jumped, the cabin crew can't do enough for you, and everyone wants to chat.<h2>Traveling with my daughter felt like a dream</h2>When we landed in Cadiz, a sunny little city right on the tip of Southern Spain, it felt dream-like and surreal after month upon month in London. Guy was driven straight to set so it was just Blake and me, two girls on the road! Like Thelma and Louise, but if one of them kept soiling herself and had only just started eating solids.When we saw the sea for the first time we both started laughing out loud. I felt a surge of adrenaline and a tingle of excitement as I connected with some core part of myself again. All the worries I had melted away, left back at home with our wooly jumpers. I felt like me, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/solo-travel-tips-how-to-stay-positive-feel-less-lonely-2023-9">not just a mother</a>. This was my equivalent of fitting back into your pre-maternity jeans again.<h2>Having a baby actually made exploring a new country easier</h2>With Guy at work most days, Blake and I went exploring. I discovered that if you're new in town and don't speak the language, you don't need a phrase book or Google Translate to get by. You just need a baby. We got more smiles, waves, and free food than I've ever had in my life.Days were spent navigating Blake's pram along windy cobbled streets, staring at grand Moorish buildings and sipping coffees in pretty squares. We went to the market every day to buy lemons as big as Blake's head. We had lunchtime cervezas (me) and siestas (both of us).It was an unforgettable time. And not just because Blake learned to crawl on our cool Spanish tiles. Living in Cadiz was such a positive experience it made me wonder why people don't use their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/maternity-leave-in-europe-vs-us-2023-10">maternity and paternity leave</a> to travel more. If you're going to be spending all day in a constant cycle of feeding, wiping, and no lie-ins, you might as well do it somewhere with a better view.<h2>Soon, we needed another holiday but weren't sure if it was possible</h2>When we got back to London we swore that now we'd earned our baby on-board badge, we'd make regular trips away as a family. And then Blake started nursery and we got Covid, and chickenpox, and croup, and what felt like every other illness known to man and — in the case of foot and mouth disease — beast.By the time January rolled around, I felt like I'd been sentenced to wipe dried-on porridge off a high chair every day for the rest of my life. We needed a holiday. A proper holiday. Staycations are great and all, but this called for sunshine and cocktails and lying by a swimming pool, stat. But was any of that even possible with a toddler in tow?We decided to fly to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/visited-went-to-every-country-in-the-world-favorites-2023-11">Mauritius</a>. I'd visited this island off the coast of East Africa many years ago for work, but in true press trip style, I'd only spent a few days there. From what I remembered, it ticked our beaches and palm trees boxes. But it also had a really interesting mix of cultures and tasty food. Plus, with just a four-hour time difference, it seemed a good place for a baby. I was also intrigued to see more of the spot where Jeanne Baret, the first woman to sail around the world, had settled after traveling the world disguised as a man.<h2>My suitcases held raisins and rice cakes when they used to hold bikinis and beach reads</h2>Summoning the courage for our first long-haul flight took every ounce of my professional traveler expertise. But packing with a one-year-old felt very different from my solo trips. While once my tiny carry-on would've been stuffed with bikinis and beach reads, now I had three suitcases, one containing an entire compartment just for raisins and rice cakes. And although it wasn't a holiday as I'd known it before (I have never been less tanned or read fewer books), it was a whole new kind of adventure.Traveling with a baby is weirdly similar to solo travel in that every small victory feels huge. It has that same intensity to it, making memories emotional and vivid. I hope I'll never forget dancing on the beach with Blake at sunset or pointing out fruit bats to her like they were ducks in the park. Toddlers love water and the fact it was now the shallow end of a swimming pool and not a freezing cold puddle in the park upgraded my quality of life no end. Blake greedily drank up the new scenery, and said "flower" for the first time, while pointing at a lotus (Jeanne Baret would be proud).Of course, there were also moments that were, for want of a better word, a total shitshow. Hand-washing poo out of a sleeping bag in the bathroom sink in our Mauritius hotel room probably wasn't my idea of holiday heaven. On our first night in a hotel in Spain, we were so scared of waking her in the bedroom that we sat on the floor in the bathroom and ate cold takeaway pizza. There were times on the 12-hour flight when it seemed like it would never end. But on the whole, I'm pleased to report that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/surprising-things-about-moving-to-europe-from-us-barcelona-spain">traveling with a small child</a> is not only possible but infinitely pleasurable.Excerpted from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=3f71c2dee0aa2bccc31f3f1d6ec31bb184779c0b40a87f4690f3b39f9aeb3459&amp;postID=657c9dcd691ac4e99676e85c&amp;postSlug=solo-traveler-surprised-how-much-she-like-traveling-with-baby-2023-12&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTrip-Ones-Own-Heartbreak-Traveling%2Fdp%2F1728255279%2Fref%3Dasc_df_1728255279%2F%3Ftag%3Dhyprod-20%26linkCode%3Ddf0%26hvadid%3D598277352385%26hvpos%3D%26hvnetw%3Dg%26hvrand%3D1189945530152872100%26hvpone%3D%26hvptwo%3D%26hvqmt%3D%26hvdev%3Dc%26hvdvcmdl%3D%26hvlocint%3D%26hvlocphy%3D9007905%26hvtargid%3Dpla-1658659623268%26psc%3D1">"A Trip of One's Own: Hope, Heartbreak, and Why Traveling Solo Could Change Your Life" </a>(Sourcebooks, May 3, 2022). Reprinted with permission from Sourcebooks.

As a travel writer, I've taken many solo trips. I was surprised at how much I loved traveling with my baby.

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13569374" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="yaroslav-amosov" source="Orion">Yaroslav Amosov</keyword> returned to the front lines in Ukraine after securing his family's safety.</li><li>The Ukraine athlete told CNN that it was long before the grim reality of war presented itself.</li></ul>More than half of the critical infrastructure in <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/yaroslav-amosov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yaroslav Amosov</a>'s hometown of Irpin has been destroyed due to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/10/sport/yaroslav-amosov-mma-bellator-ukraine-russian-invasion-spt-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Speaking to CNN</a>, the undefeated <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/bellator-mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bellator MMA</a> champion described the horrors of war.He spoke about how a place he'd always associated with happiness has instead been laid to waste, as it's "on fire, destroyed," he said.He described seeing a soldier running with a small child in his arms. The soldier had blood on him, Amosov claimed, yet it wasn't from the child or from him. The blood belonged to the toddler's father.Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and, in the months since, more than <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60555472" target="_blank" rel="noopener">12 million people have been displaced</a> as multiple cities in that country have been shelled. More than 3,000 civilians have been killed there, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2022/05/02/over-3000-civilians-killed-in-ukraine-since-russia-invaded-un-says/?sh=53af2d96649e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the UN</a>."It's hard to look at your city that was once full of happiness, life," Amosov told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/sport/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN Sport</a>. "It was always very beautiful here, people were happy, they were happy with their life and took pleasure in it."Then simply to look at the city now, which is on fire, which is getting destroyed and it becomes horrible to look at."You couldn't really go driving around the city because the roads were covered with trees, in some places, there were parts of houses. Destruction."Amosov joined the country's territorial defense after ensuring the safety of his wife and six-month-old son by taking them to the outskirts of Ukraine, CNN reported.When he returned to the front lines, it was not long before he saw first-hand the stark realities of battle."In the first days, it was very hard to look at, to get used to all these events, to look at how people are running from their houses," Amosov said."Not everyone could leave, some people had parents who they couldn't leave behind, who were very elderly and can't move properly."People are running ... taking their children, taking their parents in their arms and running, crying, they don't know what to do. People are running with their pets."I saw this situation when a soldier was running holding a child in his arms," Amosov said. "The child's things were all covered in blood, but the blood was not his, it was his father's. The mother was running behind."I don't know in the end what happened to the child's father, but it's very hard to watch."The child was probably aged two or three, but he didn't even understand what was happening, I didn't hear him crying, he was just probably in some unreal shock."Amosov has been in the <keyword id="11893589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news" source="Orion">news</keyword> before as he recovered his <keyword id="12118724" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bellator-mma" source="Orion">Bellator MMA</keyword> championship belt from a war-torn town.<h2>Amosov rescued his Bellator <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> championship belt</h2><div type="image" title="Yaroslav Amosov, Bellator MMA champion." height="624" width="900" msid="91769923" hostid="261"></div><a href="https://www.insider.com/yaroslav-amosov-recovers-bellator-mma-belt-from-war-torn-ukraine-2022-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Bellator MMA source with knowledge of the situation told Insider</a> the fighter's mother hid the Bellator title in the childhood home before it got shelled during the country's ongoing fight against Russian invaders.In a video that Amosov posted to Instagram, the 28-year-old can be seen climbing a ladder in what appeared to be the basement of a house in Irpin, which had been under siege.He's dressed in military gear, wearing a protective helmet, and inside a plastic bag is the Bellator strap intact — the same belt he won in 2021 for beating Douglas Lima by decision at Bellator 260.It is unclear when Amosov might return to combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword>.

An MMA champion from Ukraine says his city has gone from a place of happiness to one that's 'on fire, destroyed'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I <a href="https://www.insider.com/flight-attendants-favorite-destinations-2018-11">worked as a flight attendant</a> on domestic and international flights for four years. </li><li>Passengers frequently made ill-advised, and sometimes dangerous, choices in the air.</li></ul>When I worked as a flight attendant, I always wished that airlines played a video about mandatory in-flight etiquette as a prelude to the aircraft safety demonstration. Because the pandemic has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/violence-on-airplanes-in-stores-explained-harvard-psychologist-2021-7">heightened many people's social anxiety and violent behavior on planes</a>, I think a general reminder about how to behave on planes is long overdue. After four years spent working on domestic and international flights, I strongly <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-people-should-never-do-on-airplanes-flight-attendant-tips">advise passengers against doing the following things</a> when they're in the air.<h2>Stand up when the plane takes off, lands, or experiences turbulence</h2>Flight attendants' instructions can seem redundant over time, leading some passengers to ignore them. However, they constantly remind fliers that the seatbelt sign is illuminated, signifying that people should be seated and strapped in, to keep them safe.The sign is usually on during unpredictable or delicate periods of a flight, such as takeoff, landing, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/plane-flight-turbulence-horror-stories-2019-5">turbulence</a>. Be aware that flight attendants will probably deny your requests to stand during these periods for your own safety.<div type="image" title="A plane." height="4159" width="5557" msid="97202884" hostid="261" sizebytes="487662"></div><h2>Attack crew members or other passengers</h2>In recent years, it seems that respect for crew members' instructions can be as difficult to find as lost luggage.When I began my flying career in 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration <a href="https://www.faa.gov/data_research/passengers_cargo/unruly_passengers">reported 102 investigations into unruly passengers</a> that year. In 2021, when more normal operations resumed in the midst of the pandemic, there were over <a href="https://www.faa.gov/data_research/passengers_cargo/unruly_passengers/2021_archive">1,000 investigations into unruly passengers</a>.Some onboard incidents included punching flight attendants, fighting with other passengers, and refusing to comply with crew instructions. In response to the uptick in disruptive and violent behavior, the FAA passed stricter policies with <a href="https://www.faa.gov/data_research/passengers_cargo/unruly_passengers/toolkit">a zero-tolerance approach</a> for passengers who assault, threaten, intimidate, or interfere with crew members. The policy bypasses warnings and counseling and gives the FAA the ability to pursue legal enforcement action instead. So, treat the crew members and your fellow passengers with respect. <h2>Attempt to disrupt the flight or damage the aircraft</h2>I've seen some nervous fliers tap the aircraft door for good luck, but keep in mind that getting physically violent with any part of the aircraft will raise concerns.Once, on a flight to Cancun, Mexico, I saw a passenger punching the air vents on the ceiling to try and quiet the people behind him.I warned him that any serious attempt to <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/32">damage the aircraft</a> is a federal offense and that further disruption could result in legal action. <div type="image" title="bulkhead seats on plane" height="3442" width="4589" msid="97202888" hostid="261" sizebytes="766464"></div><h2>Bring bigotry and prejudices on board</h2>Tolerating entitled passengers is bad enough, but bigotry will not fly. If there's one unwritten fact that people should understand, it's that airlines, pilots, and passengers rely on flight attendants to be the cabin's eyes, ears, and moral compass.Passengers must practice tolerance and understand that they're going to occupy a small space with people from all walks of life. They should do so with respect.If the crew feels like bigotry or discrimination is afoot, there could be significant consequences. <h2>Smoke cigarettes or e-cigarettes on the aircraft</h2>In the air, my biggest fear isn't hijacking or crashing. It's smoke and fire. Even sneaking a puff of an e-cigarette can set off the lavatory's fire alarms.When I worked as an <a href="https://www.insider.com/flying-internationally-how-to-make-trip-better-flight-attendant-2022-12">international flight attendant</a>, passengers would frequently ignore the smoking rules on long flights. It was a weekly occurrence that served as a gut check for the crew and sent us rushing down the aisles.Our extensive training informed us that if a fire occurs, the air in the cabin can <a href="https://www.aviationsafetymagazine.com/features/in-flight-fire/">quickly become toxic smoke, or worse, the fire can be uncontrollable</a>. Crew members have only seconds to contain flames using the onboard equipment. Most oxygen masks <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/cox/2016/06/05/ask-captain-how-long-can-you-breathe-through-oxygen-masks/85350902/">provide up to 14 minutes of protection</a>. However, an uncontrollable fire can completely consume the entire aircraft within minutes depending on the plane's size and the location of the fire.If a crew member catches a rulebreaker smoking, they shouldn't be surprised if they get fined or reported to the authorities.<h2>Board an airplane drunk or consuming alcohol from home</h2>If a passenger smelled like alcohol or appeared unable to control their motor functions on one of the airplanes I worked on, the crew members had the ability to turn them away at boarding. Per FAA regulations, the crew must also keep a close eye <a href="https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/more_info/?hazmat=5#:~:text=FAA%20regulations%20prohibit%20passengers%20from,served%20by%20the%20air%20carrier.">on who's sneaking shots</a> from their duty-free packages. Opened bottles that aren't served by the airline are likely to be confiscated until landing, no questions asked. <div type="image" title="airplane passengers drinks alcohol flight plane" height="667" width="1000" msid="97202891" hostid="261" sizebytes="24496"></div><h2>Mix prescription medicine with cocktails</h2>Mixing <a href="https://www.insider.com/why-you-shouldnt-drink-on-antibiotics-2018-7">medications with alcohol or other drugs</a> can be dangerous, and I've <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-flight-attendants-want-you-to-stop-doing-on-flight-2019-1">seen many people do it</a>, especially on long international flights. Ideally, flight attendants can remove an unruly passenger from the plane before takeoff. However, the effects of a mixture of drugs may not appear until a few hours into a long-haul flight.This exact situation presented itself when I spotted an intoxicated woman <a href="https://www.insider.com/airplane-flight-horror-stories-2018-1">sitting on the lap of another passenger's husband</a>. The couple was confused and laughed off the moment as I escorted the woman away to the last row of the aircraft. For several hours, the inebriated woman was incoherent and requested to call her mom. I had to say, "Yes, of course, in a few minutes," over and over again just to calm her down.At her seat, I discovered a stash of orange pill bottles and empty wine containers that did not belong to the airline.Ultimately, I had to watch her like she was a toddler on the loose and even buckled her into her seatbelt several times over the course of the 11-hour flight. I confiscated the rest of her alcohol and told her not to use the lavatory without assistance. After putting on a movie and forcing her to drink water, she finally fell asleep,<h2>Forget essential items that make the trip more comfortable</h2>When I was working on planes, I typically kept the cabin cold, not only because I was constantly moving around the aircraft but also because I wanted to combat the intense odors in the cabin. On top of the plane's chilly temperatures, the cabin air is sometimes dry, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/worst-people-to-sit-next-to-on-a-plane-2018-11">the people around you</a> are sometimes loud. That means passengers' <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-and-worst-things-to-pack-in-carry-on-flight-attendant-2022">in-flight essentials</a> actually go beyond identification documents, medications, and cell phones. Flying without warm clothing, moisturizer, and entertainment can leave people underprepared and uncomfortable during their journey. Be sure your carry-on bags <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-you-should-do-before-flying-flight-attendant-reveals-2022-8">contain essential items</a> like a jacket, a scarf, and socks. Bring <a href="https://www.insider.com/flight-attendants-recommended-beauty-products-2019-10">hand cream, chapstick, and a water bottle</a> as well. And of course don't forget snacks, a book, and headphones to ensure an enjoyable and peaceful experience in the air. <div type="image" title="Airplane travelers waiting for luggage from a conveyor belt." height="1998" width="2664" msid="97202894" hostid="261" sizebytes="285590"></div><h2>Walk around the cabin without shoes or socks</h2>Lavatory floors <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffwhitmore/2019/03/20/how-dirty-are-airplanes/?sh=54fae1232ebb">are less clean</a> than you may think. The stains on the carpeted aisles are probably not dried-up cola, and the galley floors have seen various forms of waste and the bottoms of thousands of dirty shoes.At the very least, wear socks, and if necessary, bring hotel slippers to walk around the cabin. <h2>Fly while showing signs of being sick</h2>Flight attendants are trained to watch for passengers exhibiting general signs of viral pathogens.In addition to adhering to all of the unique international COVID-19 regulations, please take all necessary precautions to stay safe and get well before flying to avoid spreading any harmful germs. <h2>Use tray tables as diaper-changing stations</h2>Tray tables are designated areas for people to eat and work, not to wipe babies' bottoms. If you're traveling with multiple children and don't want to leave them alone to help one in the bathroom, I recommend asking a crew member for assistance. It's <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-make-flight-attendants-like-you-2020-1">our pleasure to take a break</a>, hold babies, or <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-things-for-long-flight-with-little-kid-2022-11">hang out with kids</a> for a few minutes. Flight attendants are caretakers, spouses, and family members who understand what it means to be away from home. Expecting passengers to have proper aircraft etiquette and listen to instructions is not about a power play. Rather, our instructions comply with federal regulations and promote peace on planes.

I was a flight attendant for 4 years. Here are 11 things passengers should never do on their flight.

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="44023" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="airlines">Airlines</keyword> and federal regulators are scrambling to contain a sudden uptick in unruly passengers on planes.</li><li>The FAA <a href="https://www.faa.gov/data_research/passengers_cargo/unruly_passengers/">has</a> received 3,420 "unruly passenger" reports in 2021, and 3,000 weapons have been seized at airports.</li><li>Under <a href="https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=25621">zero-tolerance policy</a>, fines are larger than ever, and some are pushing for federal prosecutions for in-flight assaults.</li></ul>In undisclosed locations near airports around the country this month, flight attendants are receiving training in aggressive self defense moves that are specially designed for close-quarters. Flight attendants learn the double-ear slap, the eye-poke, and the groin-kick. They learn tricks to swiftly disarm passengers with sharp weapons, and how to use items readily available aboard a plane for defense.The moves are designed to de-escalate and quickly subdue passengers because in the words of former<a href="https://www.afacwa.org/security_training"> trainer Scott Armstrong</a>, "you don't want to get into a long, drawn-out fight."This is, as they say, not a drill. Just last week, the training was famously put to good use, when a female passenger on an American Airlines flight to North Carolina attacked and bit several flight attendants and tried to open the plane's door mid-flight. Resourceful flight attendants grabbed a roll of duct-tape, and the woman arrived at her destination, subdued and bound tightly to her chair. It might not have been standard protocol but it was effective and American Airlines later <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/tiktok-video-shows-woman-american-093719603.html">applauded</a> its crew. It's not just your imagination; there really has been an extraordinary amount of mayhem in the skies recently. Last month, an off-duty attendant on a Delta flight to Los Angeles from Atlanta <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/12/us/delta-flight-diverted-oklahoma-city-fbi.html">overpowered flight attendants</a> and took charge of the PA system. Passengers had to step in to help<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9IUUs2CCG0"> subdue him</a>. A video of a woman attacking a Southwest flight attendant and<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/05/28/southwest-video-punch-flight-attendant/"> knocking out two of her teeth</a> before another passenger stepped in to help recently went viral.The annual flight attendant training, which the Transportation Security Authority (TSA) started in 2004 and paused due to Covid19, resumes at a time of record-breaking reports of delays due to passenger misbehavior on commercial flights. <div type="image" title="Three flight attendants restrain fellow flight attendants in a training drill." height="2021" width="3000" msid="84503612" hostid="261"></div>During a year when many travelers stayed home due to Covid-19, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) <a href="https://www.faa.gov/data_research/passengers_cargo/unruly_passengers/">says</a> it has received 3,420 reports of "unruly passenger" incidents on planes as of July 13. More than three quarters of those incidents have been related to passengers refusing to abide by the federal <keyword id="9589570" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mask-mandate">mask mandate</keyword>. With five months left in the year, the average number of reports has already been surpassed roughly threefold, and the FAA has set up a new special task force to investigate. There are also more firearms being discovered during routine x-ray screenings of carry-on luggage, according to the TSA. As of mid-July, roughly 3,000 weapons have been intercepted so far in 2021, and 85% of them were loaded, the TSA told Insider in an email. Over the 4th of July weekend, 70 guns were discovered at airport checkpoints. This month, six firearms were seized at airports in Oregon over a single 10-day period, an "<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2021/07/08/tsa-officers-oregon-discover-six-firearms-carry-luggage-10-days">astounding" number</a>, according to the TSA. Nationally, the TSA says we are on-trend to double the yearly average for weapons seizures. Flight attendants are on the front lines, and say the self-defense training is sorely needed.Sarah Nelson, the president of the International Association for Flight Attendants (AFA), believes the training should be made mandatory. In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU1g25tJWeU">town hall</a> posted on YouTube, she said that flight attendants have become "literal punching bags" for the public and that many had left their jobs. "This should send a message to the public that these events are serious and flight attendants are there to ensure the safety and security of everyone in the plane," Nelson told the press. Nelson's group says it received over 5,000 responses to its fact-finding<a href="https://www.afacwa.org/unruly_passenger_survey"> survey</a> on unruly passengers. According to an AFA spokesperson, more flight attendants than ever have been requesting support and advice from the union. <h2>What can be done?</h2>And yet, in the face of all of this, the options that are available to airlines are limited.There are not necessarily enough federal air marshals - officials who dress in civilian clothes and are tasked with protecting against the most extreme in-flight scenarios - to be aboard every flight, and their responsibilities have never covered keeping the peace for fellow travelers. For security reasons, the TSA does not disclose the number of federal air marshals or discuss their specific duties or routes.Regulations <a href="https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/cabin_safety/media/CabinSafetyIndex.pdf">say</a> that cabin safety is the responsibility of flight attendants.<div type="image" title="A flight attendants with a cart carrying cups and juice boxes smiles at an unseen passenger" height="2392" width="3552" msid="84503615" hostid="261"></div>Meanwhile, unruly behavior in the skies has traditionally been met with warnings and relatively small federal fines, as well as bans imposed by individual airlines. When an arrest is made, it is generally by state law enforcement. Nick Calio, the CEO of Airlines for America, an aviation coalition, wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland in May to urge<a href="https://www.afacwa.org/aviation_coalition_urges_swift_action_against_unruly_passengers"> swift action against unruly passengers, and proposed that </a>the FAA refer the most severe cases to the Justice Department for federal criminal prosecution.Looking for new ways to shame travelers into exhibiting better behavior, the FAA has broken with its usual protocol and began publishing details about the incidents. The FAA has previously kept this information private but, a spokesperson explained, figured the details might make people think twice before acting out on a plane.Also, the FAA has chosen to get creative. The agency has tweeted jocular memes, including one<a href="https://twitter.com/FAANews/status/1412466520765108228"> featuring Brad Pitt</a> as part of a public awareness campaign.In another campaign launched in early July, adorable kids starred in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0dSF3diGlo">public service announcement</a> that lampooned poorly-behaved adults. A wise, winsome toddler cautions that grown-ups can go to jail if they keep "doing that stuff." "They should know better if they're, like, adults," another child says - quite reasonably - while swaying past the screen perched in a swing.<div type="image" title="A woman throws a punch at a second woman, who blocks it, during a training." height="2021" width="3072" msid="84503616" hostid="261"></div>Since January, the FAA has had in place a <a href="https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=25621">zero-tolerance policy</a>, which did away with warnings and made it possible for fines - which accused passengers can contest in court - to be larger than ever.When FAA's chief administrator Steve Dickson announced the policy in January he cited the events of Jan. 6, when supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol, but more recently incidents have been tied to the mask mandate. Passengers deciding to bring alcohol aboard flights was another common thread to the incidents. That policy will be reviewed in September, when the mask mandate is set to expire, and there is some discussion of making it permanent. As a result, in-flight misbehavior has become increasingly expensive. Under zero-tolerance, the FAA has handed down a whopping $682,000 in fines year-to-date against 84 passengers, many over<a href="https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=26140"> $10,000</a>. The steepest fine proposed so far this year was $52,500 for a Delta Airlines passenger who, last December, tried to open the cockpit door, <keyword id="6359886" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="assault">assault</keyword>ed a flight attendant, and was subdued and cuffed with the help of passengers. The woman, who was flying from Honolulu to Seattle, then freed herself of the cuffs to assault the flight attendant a second time, and was met by law enforcement upon arrival.Another <a href="https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=26300">fine </a>of $21,500 went to a Frontier Airlines passenger who argued about the mask policy, drank alcohol not served by the airline, and argued with a nearby passenger before striking the passenger in the head. And a woman in Indianapolis was fined $18,500 because she argued with the captain of the plane, and punched a nearby passenger in the back of the head, while the passenger was holding an infant. Because of the enormous caseload, the task force has not yet processed fines for the incident involving the flight attendant who lost teeth.

You Searched For "toddler bags in 2021" and got 9 results

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