Flying W/Baby - Diapers?

[KarenP99]

Where do you change diapers? I've got a very wriggly "just turned one-year-old". I dread the thought of him needing a diaper change on our Southwest flight. I can't imagine trying to change him in the bathroom, but I don't want to offend any passengers either

What do you do?

 

[cwf1028]

We just had to let ours 'sit'. We were on a FULL fight and there is no way to do it in the bathrooms. We only had about 30 minutes left, or I guess we would have flagged a flight attendant and asked if there was somewhere we could go. I think either way, you are bound to 'offend' as the cabin is small. I think if there is only a short time left in the flight, it is best to just let it be instead of 'releasing' it into the cabin. Bad situation either way, but I'm sure the fight attendants have dealt with it before and can recommend an area that is suitable.

 

[minkydog]

I agree. Unless you are on a 3hr flight, just let it ride. My 10yo wears diapers and I worried myself sick about this last summer. I just made sure he was changed before we got on the plane and hoped for the best. We were fine, btw.

One thing I wanted to suggest is if your baby can stand up, teach him to stand while you change him.He can hold onto a bar, your head, the counter or whatever. This will make things much easier for you when you find yourself in a situation like this.

 

[jennafo3]

we had that problem on our flight back from disney last month. My two year old decided that it would be the perfect time for her to go #2! I had to change her in the bathroom, standing up on the folded down toilet seat - it was an experience that's for sure - we weren't even 20 minutes into the flight and i had just changed her before we left the airport!! well, apparently she wasn't done, because 30 minutes later she did it again! I promptly turned to my husband and said "your turn- I'm not doing that again!". I thought about waiting, but I was 24 weeks pregnant at the time and the smell was making me sick!!
So it is possible, but I can't imagine trying to do it if she couldn't stand up by herself!!

 

[dcgrumpy]

I change them right before we get on the plane. Since it's only a 2 1/2 flight they're usually fine until we land. On our last trip I had to change my 1yo, I did it in the bathroom with no problem. The had a little fold down changing table.

 

[skippy]

I have changed my dd on a United flight before. There are changing tables in the lavatories that fold down over the sink. I'm not sure if all planes are equiped with these, but it might be worth a call to your airline to find out.

 

[labst60]

I've had to change a #2 diaper for DD 2x on the plane - but once she was 3m and the second time 7m - so not quite as wiggly yet!

However, on both occassions I asked the FA, and she advised to change it in the seat- I got all of my "supplies" prepared, and did it super duper quick since she was dressed in an outfit that allowed for quick changes (just in case). I also carry those scented bags to toss the dirty diapers in - so I zipped it in a zip lock, tossed it in the sassy bag - and gave it to the FA. Also, she had given me some air freshener to spray - just in case.

It would certainly be more challenging w/ a 1yo - but isn't something you should worry about.

The other thing that helped me a lot was having my "emergency packs" prepacked. I got quart size ziplocs and put in a diaper, disposable changing pad, a sandwich size ziploc with 4-5 wipes (more than I usually use, but the extra was just for my piece of mind), and one of the sassy toss bags. We kept 2 of these in our bag for on the plane and one in my tiny diaper bag at the parks. This way, we didn't have to dig through everything in a "diaper emergency", and also since I carried my tiny diaper bag on rides, etc we could leave the bigger bag (with change of clothes, etc), under the stroller. For "normal"/planned diaper changes, we just took out of the big bag - but there were a couple of times I was glad I could just 'grab and go'!

 

[justhat]

A couple of planes we've been on have had changing trays in the bathroom, but they're very tiny and not many of them had them. For other flights we've changed her in the seat. We do standing changes for pee, but the other stuff is sorta hard to do that on a plane anyway. We most often lay her on the seat, or on the floor in the back of the plane if there is room.

 

[RangerPooh]

I ahve changed DD in the seat while flying from Seattle to MCO when she was 2 weeks. However, when flying from Oahu to Seattle at 2.5 months I was able to change her in the lavitory on a fold down table. This was a must as right after take off she pooped, and boy did it smell!!! I do change her right before boarding and once we reach the baggage claim area. I am nervious that she'll be a squirm worm this time as she'll be 13 mo. Maybe the layover in Denver will be a godsend.

 

[Laurabearz]

Poop always happens when you dont want it too.... first lesson of motherhood!

I have changed my larger super smelly children on the floor in the back near the Lav....

 

[java]

May I take this as an opportunity to post this little PSA....Just a little reminder.... When packing your carry on bag- remember to pack an extra outfit for child just in case....but more importantly PACK A CHANGE OF OUTFIT FOR YOURSELF!!!
I won't go into the details- let us just say there was projectile vomit involved during a 6 hour flight.
(we drive everywhere now....we are waiting for them to build a giant chunnel so we can go back to Europe)

 

[Junebugwv]

Just do what a very young mother who sat next to me did on a recent flight. Scoot up sideways on your seat, place the wiggly 15-month old on the seat, take off the diaper and let the baby's rump set directly on the seat as well as touching the nice lady next to her, pull out a full size container of baby powder, sprinkle generously on the baby, put clean diaper on baby.

 

[Junebugwv]

Sorry for the double post.

 

[minkydog]

Just do what a very young mother who sat next to me did on a recent flight. Scoot up sideways on your seat, place the wiggly 15-month old on the seat, take off the diaper and let the baby's rump set directly on the seat as well as touching the nice lady next to her, pull out a full size container of baby powder, sprinkle generously on the baby, put clean diaper on baby.

Eww~some people have no class

 

[Addicted2TheMouse]

There are changing tables in the lavatories that fold down over the sink. I'm not sure if all planes are equiped with these, but it might be worth a call to your airline to find out.

Nope, they don't all have them. I changed DS (then 5 months) on a CanJet flight. The flight attendant put a blanket down on the floor in the back where they prepare the meals.

 

[In Luv with Disney]

I changed DD (4 1/2 months) in the bathroom on a JetBlue flight. There actually was a little changing table! I also changed her on DH's seat, when he took DS to the bathroom. Thank God no one could see and it was only #1!!! NO MESS OR SMELL!!!!! (the bathroom line was too long at that point!)

 

[lclark0621]

I always changed DS right before we board.

As long as it is a short flight, and if it was only pee, I waited until we landed. 9 times out of 10, he was dry when we landed.

Hoever if it was a LOT of pee, or a poop diaper, then we use the seat (for just pee) or the changing table in the bathroom.

It is a tight squeeze & not a lot of fun. But a Mom has to do what a Mom has to do.

 

[njdisneyfam]

Change right before boarding, but be prepared with a small emergency bag of essentials just in case. Consider including large safety pins or clothes pins to hook a blanket to the seats to give you some privacy.