When Baby Dan first flew, it was chocolates and notes that set the tone. On his second flight, it was strangers who carried the kindness forward.
Johannesburg, South Africa (01 September 2025) – Flying with a baby can feel like stepping into the unknown. Will they cry? Will fellow passengers be patient? Will it all unravel at 30,000 feet? For Baby Dan and his mom, Katrien Pienaar, their story started with a thoughtful gesture that turned into something much bigger.
On their very first flight together, from Johannesburg to Upington, Katrien did something unusual. Before take-off, she walked down the aisle with her four-month-old, handing every passenger a small chocolate and a printed note. The note introduced Baby Dan, explained it was his first flight, and thanked everyone for their patience if he became unsettled.
It was a simple act, but it completely changed the mood of the flight. Passengers smiled, connected and felt reassured.
One traveller later told us, “How amazing and cool is that? I thought it would classify as a Good Deed, as per The Good Things Guy…”
And to top it off, Baby Dan didn’t make a sound for the entire journey.
That story touched thousands when we shared it, but Katrien has now written to us with an update, and this time, the kindness wasn’t sparked by her gesture. It came from the people around her.
“After a week in the Kgalagadi with limited signal, I returned to Upington where I stayed over with a lifelong friend before our flight back to Johannesburg the next day. They had friends over to watch the rugby and, when asking about our flight, mentioned that they had actually heard about Baby Dan on the radio. This was a complete surprise to me, and when I searched, I found your article about what had happened. I was so happy to read that the passengers truly appreciated that little gesture which a friend recommended.”
The return flight, however, felt very different. Unlike the relaxed Thursday crowd on the first trip, this was a packed Sunday flight filled with “back to work tomorrow” energy. Katrien also realised, a little too late, that she hadn’t brought chocolates or notes this time.
“Yes, I thought, this is going well. Baby Dan fell asleep just before boarding. But as soon as I stepped into the packed plane, I felt nervous, clutching him tightly and hoping he would stay asleep. When I found my seat, I laughed and said to the passenger next to me, ‘Haha, you’re the lucky one.’ He replied, ‘Let’s hope he doesn’t cry.’ Not the best start, I thought.”
Then came a line she instantly regretted.
“As the air hostess leaned over to help me fasten my seatbelt, I said, ‘Okay, but quickly—he’s a ticking time bomb.’ The words had barely left my mouth when I realised it was probably not the best phrase to use on a plane!”
But instead of groans or cold shoulders, Katrien found kindness. The passenger beside her began sharing stories about his own little one at home. Other travellers offered help throughout the flight. What could have been stressful turned into a reminder of the patience and empathy South Africans are capable of showing.
“I was reminded that here in South Africa, people truly have humility and that you don’t need to apologise for being a parent in a different situation. Oh and Baby Dan? He slept through the whole flight.”
From handing out chocolates and notes to receiving unexpected kindness in return, Baby Dan’s flights have become more than just trips between two cities. They’re proof that small gestures can spark a chain reaction, one that continues long after the chocolate wrappers are thrown away.
And that’s the good news. South Africans still look out for one another. We are a kind nation. And sometimes it only takes one act of kindness to set it all in motion.
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