How do you change a diaper on an airplane? UPDATE

[grandall]

We are leaving tomorrow and I just know DS will poop while on the plane. Do they have a changing table that folds out from the wall or will I need to get creative? Thanks!

Edited to add we are flying JetBlue.

 

[mom2grace]

Are you taking his car seat for him to sit in? I have used a car seat successfully to change diapers. Although it is probably too late at this point, I liked to carry those large disposable blue pads that they give to newly delivered moms to put on seats, etc. You could put something like this on the floor of the plane and then change the diaper and throw everything away.

Or you could just wait til you get off the plane!

 

[design_mom]

Many larger planes have a fold-down changing table over the toilet in the lavatory. Good luck!

 

[mom~of~2]

Some planes do... some don't. You may need to get creative. I've done "standing" changes in the lavatory (DD stood on top of the toilet with the seat down and I worked quickly). Not fun, but it worked.

 

[polineedyan]

Please dont take the advice of the change them on the floor poster..from a father of 4..and a fellow passenger..

 

[tjlovespooh]

Before leaving for our trip, DH and I were paranoid that DS would have a poopy diaper and require a mid-flight diaper change Well, turned out we didn't worry for nothing. We ended up asking one of the flight attendants where we could change DS's diaper. She ended up telling us that the plane didn't have any such facilities and that we could change him on the floor in the back of the plane. Luckily I had a LARGE, wipeable changing mat (similar to a Patemm pad) that I used to lay on the floor to change his diaper. All in all, it wasn't too bad - just really congested. Also, DS was is awe of what was happening around him (the flight attendants hovered nearby as to provide us with some privacy - and to not offend other passengers I'm sure). This made DS extrememly squirmy!!! So, that combined with the fact that I was rushing to get the job done quickly made for a less than perfect diapering job. Turned out that the diaper began to leak as soon as we sat down and began moving on the ME bus heading for our resort (the last stop of course ).

Sooo, be prepared for anything

 

[laughinplace199]

I'm pretty sure that all JB planes have a changing table in the bathroom (it folds down over the toilet). Having said that, it is a pretty small table, so it might not be an option if your baby is too big for it. I remember using it when DS was 5 mos old and thinking that he barely fit on it.

JB flight attendants usually make an announcement telling parents that there are changing tables in the bathrooms and not to change babies in their seats.

If the changing table is too small, hopefully you can change him standing up. If that's not an option - some diapers just can't be changed standing up -maybe you could lie your DS down on the bathroom floor. Just bring disposable changing pads or even an old receiving blanket to put him on if you do have to lie your DS down on the floor. Hopefully it won't come to that!

Maybe he will surprise you and not need a diaper change during the flight. Have a fun trip!

 

[juliana_sd]

Standing-up diaper changes are a valuable skill, one that served me well many times!! Good luck

 

[bumbershoot]

Please dont take the advice of the change them on the floor poster..from a father of 4..and a fellow passenger..

I'm with you on that one!

Standing-up diaper changes are a valuable skill, one that served me well many times!! Good luck

I agree completely.

 

[LovingtheCastle]

I hope that you don't have to deal with a plane poop change! We usually have one and changing can be "interesting"

If your little one isn't so little any more, the changing table can be almost useless. The last time I could use that pull down thing, he was 11 mo old with his head squished into one corner and his legs hung off of the outer edge. His hiney was an inch from coming off, I kept pushing him up (hence, he kept hitting his head)

Our next technique was to attempt a back of plane change. It worked well on decent sized planes, not on small ones. Sometimes we got "that look" from the flight attendents, because we were keeping them from their work area. A couple times, they told us that we could not do it there and that's what the changing table (which was useless @ 1yr old!) was for .

Out of despiration, we were forced to change in the seat. It's OK if the flight isn't crowded and you can find an empty row to stretch out in. Not good when the flight is full and you have a tight audience with sensitive noses. It really does stink up your area for ever!

So, just do the best you can. I just hope it isn't an issue for you.

 

[barnaby1]

I am sorry but changing your childs diaper (poopy or even just wet) anywhere other than the toilet is disgusting and unfair to your fellow passengers. I have had it done to me and I would never even contemplate it.
(Don't even get me started on the person who said they use the staff area!!!

My dd is 27 months and we have flown 5 long haul flights with her since age
3 months (so all sizes in those toilets). I have had her squished in with her legs up against the mirror and all sorts but agree that stand up changes are actually quite easy when you try them (even for poop). One thing I did on our last flight which helped was to buy pull ups or diaper pants so they are easy just to slide up and you're not fiddling trying to get the tabs closed.

 

[brymolmom]

I have to agree with the posters who push the changing tables (or, if none available, ask the attendant for wherever you are 'supposed' to do it - and follow their instructions for the most appropriate place on that plane). Even if they are big - oh well, better to inconvenience my own child than all of the other passengers. It is possible to change larger kids on the smaller tables - you just need to be creative. But it is the only proper place on some planes. On the seats - no way is this appropriate. How would you feel if I brought a baggie-full of poop and just opened it for all the people around me to 'enjoy' during the flight?? I bet you'd be giving me 'the look' then...pretty much akin to making me smell your kid's poop.

 

[mommytobug]

I will just hope it does not happen to you!!

DD and I were flying from Atlanta to Austin and the plane had TERRIBLE turbulence. The pilot screamed for the attendants to SIT. DD had been potty training and had to poop. She kept crying she had to go and we could not get up. I had a pull up on her just in case...thank goodness!! Boy, was that smelly but we had no choice. She could not hold it and we could not get up.

We were then flying from Memphis to Columbus, MS. (VERY SHORT FLIGHT) and I had just changed her when she POOPED right before loading. The employee told me I could not go and change her, it was too late. Well, we were flying on a crop duster (small plane) and when I saw the flight attendant, I explained to her. We were flying with a plane full of men. She asked if they minded if we took one minute before loading to change. I changed her on the floor (where they could not see) in remarkable time and when I stood up and threw the poopy diaper away, they all HOORAYED! It was funny then but I knew there was no changing on that tiny plane.

I am sure the attendants will help. They will guide you. There are lots of internationally adopted children who travel a long way and lots of children who travel a long way every day. I am just grossed out at places like Disney when people just whip it out in front of everyone near where people eat. That is gross!

 

[scrapquitler]

I would not be inclined to do the change anywhere but on a changing table in the bathroom, but realisitcally, there is not always a changing table in the airplane rest room, then what do people expect a parent to do??

When my DS was 9 months old, we flew from CT to Orlando with him. Southwest had NO changing table in the rest rooms on board. The flight attendant told me that I could NOT change the diaper in the back area on the floor near the bathrooms. Well what the hell was I supposed to do? Let my child sit in a poopy diaper for 2 hours? I couldn't change him standing up in the restroom because he did not stand up at that point. I was absolutely beside myself about what to do? I was so upset that I was crying (my DS ws not happy about the dirty diaper either, so he started screaming). The plane was totally full, not an empty seat on board. The lady in the seat next to me finally said, "PLEASE, change his diaper on the seat, I'm sure that it is less of an issue than him sitting in a dirty diaper and screaming for two hours for the other people around us". I spread my blanket on my lap and changed my sons diaper. I did NOT want to do it that way, but noone gave me any choice. What the hell else should I have done??????? If the airline doesn't provide a place for changing diapers, what do they expect parents to do??

 

[TheDizMom]

VERY CAREFULLY . There just is no easy way. As a former FA I can tell you near other passengers is not OK. An even bigger NO NO is on the tray table. I kid you not I actually had a passenger do this on one of the flights I was working. Whether I was supposed to or not she got a huge lecture about the fact that people eat food on those!! I totally didn't get what she was thinking . You have to go to the bathroom and just do your best. I also did the standing up diaper change when my DS was 2. I was on a DC10 at the time and just went into one of the big bathrooms in the back. If it's just not an option because your child is to small you have to use the floor, or put the toilet seat down and lay the baby on that with something underneath if they are small enough to fit there. It really sucks that there is not really much being done by the airlines to help out in this situation. Good luck and with any luck you won't have anything worse then a wet diaper .

 

[NotUrsula]

Unless you're on a widebody with a disability restroom (those usually have nice-sized changing tables) your best bet is normally the floor directly outside the lav in the tail of the plane, across from the galley in the open space by the rear door.

If possible, position yourself so that you are holding the lav door open with your foot, so that you can reach in to dispose of nasties without stepping away from your child. Pick up your change pad, and if there is someone back at your seat, carry baby back and then return to completely wash up. [Also, carry some plastic bags for disposing of smelly dipes in the trash, that way the smell will be easy to quickly contain.)

I don't suggest the lav floor for the same reason that I don't suggest going barefoot on it. Baby would be within arms reach of a lot of possible bad-aim-debris, and that is really hard to police while trying to quickly change a diaper.

Whatever you do, do NOT change the diaper at your seat, unless you are dealing with a fastened-seat-belt-sign *and* an impending leak.

 

[disneybridetobe]

I read that someone mentioned PullUps, I'm thinking that might be a good way to go for DD. I've been leanrning how to change her standing up since she's perfecting the art of standing and doesn't want to sit now!

Thankfully she's a once a day pooper, and it's usually late at night or early AM-- and we have an afternoon and early evening flight

 

[WDWorBUST]

We always just kept our fingers crossed we didn't need to.....and we got lucky. I would suggest the change right before boarding (of course) and if you have a connection do another one then if humanly possible. I don't know if they still have them or not - but they did have Pampers that were diapers made to be pulled up with the sides that were easily torn. They were more diaper than pull up though designed for when kiddos were about 12 months and fighting diaper changes. I LOVED those. For wet diapers they were the bomb....and for poopy ones they were still easier. And I didn't have to lay DD down on all types of surfaces. I found them before our first trip with her at 13 months. Good luck - it is definitely a dilemma.

*just checked pampers.com and it doesn't look like they make the in-between type pullup diaper anymore - but I would think their easy ups would work the same.

 

[Wendybird55]

Though it's not the easiets and most comfortable thing to do - I've changed my son on my lap in small bathroom stalls when he was oto young to stand.

SOme publen restrooms are gross and the changing table - even with a pad is something you don't want to touch or soemtimes it looks wobbly on the wall and in one case the restaurant restroom didn't have one.

So I took my son into the restroom - sat on the bowl (at least in airplane there's a lid on the bowl) - had to settle for paper sear cover and changed him on my lap - which was no wasy feat especially since he likes to wiggle. But I did it.

Yes these were wet and not poopy diapers. But putting one of those disposable changing sheets (I use Huggies brand) on your lap is helpful to make sure you don't get your clothes dirty.

My son will almost be 2 when we fly to Disney. So the stand up diaper change should work - I hope. But those airline bathrooms can be small.

 

[kmodory]

Hope that one turned out okay for you. It's a challenge especially those stinky ones.