Maybe it's different in the USA, but I've travelled a lot and don't think I ever remember a long haul flight without multiple babies and young children. It's just a fact of travelling.
I recently did a 16hr flight solo and the other 3 seats in my row of 4 were parents and a toddler.
That's just part of flying and you should plan for it (noise cancelling headphones, sleeping tablets, ear plugs).
kids crying/screaming on public transport/etc rarely bothers me. impatient parents hissing at them to shut up and sit down does, however... i get it, they're tired, being a parent is hard, but still.
a kid cries on the tram? i keep reading, barely even notice
a parent goes off on their kid? rips me right out of the book and makes me take notice