Changing Place on Airplane

[stephen11]

Hi, I was just reading another post about a little guy who had a BM just before taking off... We will be flying Continental -- is there a place to change little ones in the restrooms??

 

[Honeymooner04]

Some of the larger planes have a changing table in the restroom but unless you are changing a doll they are pretty useless imo. What I've started doing lately with my daughter who is 18 months is putting her in the overnight pullups on plane trips. While if she has a bm it's still messy they seem easier to change in a tiny cramped bathroom. HTH!

 

[lundve]

Once on a Southwest flight the flight attendants let me use the floor of their workstation right behind the bathrooms. I had a huge changing pad so I didn't mind and there was no way I was leaving that mess there for over two hours.

 

[Mom2m&k]

Disposable changing pads are key to this situation! DH and I have done it right there on the seat in less then a minute. Just let the flight attendant know you are about to do it and they will have a trash bag right there waiting for you. Change it up quick and toss everything in the bag and then there is little fuss and hopefully little smell! With the bathrooms being so small it would be impossible to change a little one that is not fully standing on their own in there. I have yet to be on a plane that had a changing table...good luck!

 

[CastleCreations]

I had a horrible time trying to change my son. But that's another story. If it isn't horribly stinky, I would do it as quick as possible at the seat, otherwise, I would change him on the toilet seat. Just put the lid down, and put a disposable pad on there, or line it with a soft blanket.

 

[mommytobug]

I have to share this funny story. My dd and I were flying alone from Memphis to another airport about 45 minutes away. We were going to be on one of those "crop dusters" as I call them. Well, I made sure to change her right before time to board but BOOM she had a BM. I asked the flight attendant and she said no i could not change her due to time issues. I begged her and she then turned to the other passengers before we all were to walk out.......they were all MEN. They voted to allow me to change her. I laid her down, they turned their heads, and I changed her. They all HOOREYED when I was done in less than a mintue. I have never been so nervous in my life but thank goodness for nice passengers who did not want to smell stinky all the way..........

Then, another time we were flying and she had just potty trained. I put a pull up on her just in case. Well, thank goodness I did. We had horrible turbulence and could not get up. I felt so bad because she was begging to go poo poo and could not. She used the pull up and we could not move. That was not a pleasant experience either but we did have a pull up on thank goodness!!!

 

[scrapquitler]

I've never seen a diaper deck on any plane that I've been on. The only time I ever had the diaper issue with my child, I was unable to find a place to do it (the flight was FULL), and I ended up doing it on my lap (SUPER GROSS). I couldn't have gotten down on the floor anywhere since there wasn't any room, and I couldn't even put DS on his seat because his carseat was there.
It was hideous, and I was very disturbed that the airline had no accomodation for this. Even if I wasn't a Mom I'd be disturbed by this.

 

[NotUrsula]

Best bet is usually the floor right outside the lav.; keeping the door open with your shoulder or one knee so that you are in a position to dispose of your dirties and wash your hands ASAP. Do ask the FA's if this is OK, however, they have to work near there, and you could get in their way. I second the recommendation for disposable changing pads; CHUX are great for this purpose.

Diaper decks do exist, but decent-sized ones that are useable for any child larger than a newborn are usually found only in the handicap-accessible lavs on widebody aircraft (the kind big enough to have two aisles.)

 

[tjmw2727]

Many airplanes have a small changing table that pulls down in the bathroom. I always changed the kids just before boarding and hoped for the best. Even so I would always ask the FA where the best place to change is and do it early in the flight in case they are busy when the need arises.

There may be only one lav with a changing table out of say 3 or 4 so you want to know which one in case of a wait. Once the baby is standing and or walking practice changing the child while he/she is standing up. This comes in handy in many situations

Have a safe and happy flight,
TJ

 

[kerrynic78]

We flew a couple months ago with my then 6 month old DD. About an hour into the flight she has a BM and starts crying b/c she wanted to be changed. This was our first time flying with a baby so my DH takes her into the bathroom with a changing pad. He comes back about 10 minutes later and tells me that I owe him big time!

There was no changing table and he had to change her on the toilet seat. He said the bathroom was disgusting (he travels a lot and said this bathroom in particular was just nasty) and she was crying the entire time. I always wondered where other parents changed thier kids.

 

[hcmommy]

I *think* Continental has them on some of the planes but I didn't need to use it thankfully. On another airline I just asked the flight attendent if they had a changing table because my 1 yo had a BM right before takeoff and she said no, but she would get me a blanket and I could change him on the toilet seat. It wasn't easy but atleast it was well covered by the blanket. I would just ask the attendant what they suggest you do. I changed him before we were in the air and it was hard, I can't imagine how hard it would be on a toilet seat mid air!!! I'm hoping for the best on our October trip, he seems way too big to change on a ts now.

 

[Desnik]

I always wondered how parents changed their babies on planes! We didn't start flying until our youngest was about 2 and he was still in a diaper, but never needed to be changed on the plane. I just changed him right before and hopped for the best. On our last trip, we fly on JetBlue, I purposely looked around in the bathroom and sure enough tthey had a changing table in there! It was a great size and unfolded from the wall above the toilet. I would just ask before boarding if there is a changing table like that on the plane and if not then do it on the seat. I always use to carry Ziplock bags with me for dirty diapers. They work so much better than a plastic bag.

 

[seashoreCM]

1. On the covered toilet seat but if there is not enough room for you in the bathroom, leave the door open with your rump sticking out.

2. On the floor just inside one of the plane doors (spacious).

-3. Never on the tray table or at your seat where feces can get on areas where people and food touch.

Health hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/health.htm

 

[stephen11]

Thank you all so much for the great advice and good laughs.

It's hard to believe that there are no accomodations to change children on a plane, but we will be prepared.

Thanks again!!

 

[LovePug]

Yeah, fun times. I had to change my son on the final flight home from Guatemala. I had to use the back of the toilet seat, also. The poor kid. New mommy changing his diaper in this tiny, cramped space that couldn't have been much more uncomfortable. It was a small plane and the passengers by the lav commented how difficult it must've been in there. Yeah. A wee bit.

 

[DocDis]

Disposable changing pads are key to this situation! DH and I have done it right there on the seat in less then a minute. Just let the flight attendant know you are about to do it and they will have a trash bag right there waiting for you. Change it up quick and toss everything in the bag and then there is little fuss and hopefully little smell! With the bathrooms being so small it would be impossible to change a little one that is not fully standing on their own in there. I have yet to be on a plane that had a changing table...good luck!

I am a mom of 4, so I am very used to diapers, etc. (though they are all out now). I would never consider changing a poopy diaper in the seats on a plane. It is incredibly rude to those sitting next to you/near you. Unless it is a newborn, those toddler poops ALWAYS stink. Please, out of respect for those traveling with you, simply ask the flight attendants where they would prefer you to change the diaper. They are very helpful and will direct you to an appropriate place.