The airlines are steadily reducing legroom. It’s gone from 34 inches to as little as 26 inches on some flights. The airlines know they’ve created a problem, which is evident by the fact that they are beginning to install seats that don’t recline at all.
When my son was about 4 we flew somewhere. He had was in a car seat. He was on the small side for his age. HE didn’t have enough leg room and kept kicking the guy in front of us. There was not enough leg room on that plane for a short 4 year old.
I then realized that flying was something awful to be engaged in only under dire need.
I read somewhere that a European airline was floating the idea of a semi standing coach configuration with a cushioned “rest” that was contoured to the average body. The pitch was much less, of course.