Reminds me of a story... and it goes like this. A friend of mine was a captain for Northwest. He was taxiing a DC10 out to the runway when a stewardess entered the cockpit and stated that there was an unruly male passenger complaining about a crying baby next to him. He demanded that he be moved. The plane was full. My buddy literally stopped the plane on the taxiway (pre 911 of course) walked back to the passenger and barked “Babies cry! That’s what they do. This baby will probably cry the whole trip. This plane is full and there are no other seats to move you too. Now I will turn this plane around and back to the terminal where you will be escorted off. Or you can sit quietly without another word!” He never said another word. Moral of the story : babies cry.
When we encounter the little loud ones (just did a couple of weeks ago. 4:30 am!) we smile, put on the headphones, close the door or leave ourselves if we really can’t take it. Doesn’t happen often. And we tent camped for many years.
Also agree with go dogs. Could have been an ear infection. My son had one on a trip and he was brutal. We wound up takin’ the poor kid to the ER and they had to drain his ear. He was like a new kid after.
Kids are tough. We all try our best.