How do you change a diaper on an airplane? UPDATE

[grandall]

Well, we are back (we had a GREAT time!!) and I have my post-poopy report!!! After I got both kids through security by myself (DH was parking the car in long-term parking), DS announced that he wanted to poop on the potty (he rarely poops in the potty at home, don't know what it was about the airport). I was so thrilled, thinking that I was totally in the clear on the plane...but NO!!!! Luckily, JetBlue has these great changing tables that fold out from the wall above the toilet and are as long as the entire width of the bathroom. DS, who is 2 and quite tall, fit fine. I was so relieved!!!

 

[kerrynic78]

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??

When DD was 9 Months we flew from Orlando to CT on Southwest and of course she had a dirty diaper. My DH had to change it in the bathroom on the toilet seat and he said it was a nightmare! He had to put the seat down, put a changing pad down and attempt to change her in the tiny bathroom. He came out, handed her to me and said, "never again"!

 

[design_mom]

Congratulations! I'm sure that was a great relief to find out they had changing tables on the plane. I hope the rest of your trip went equally smoothly!

 

[java]

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 . .

Note to self- bring antibacterial wipes on the plane and WIPE DOWN THAT TRAY!!

Oh and one more thing that I learned the hard way- bring an extra set of clothes for the child and YOU! One plane, one puke, one messy disgusting mom.

 

[crazywig]

Oh and one more thing that I learned the hard way- bring an extra set of clothes for the child and YOU! One plane, one puke, one messy disgusting mom.

Yea I learned this the hard way too. DS puked all over the gate area, I had to literally run to a gift shop looking for clothes for him. Shorts and tee (to fly back to Providence in January ). Also puked on the plane and I held a trash bag under his chin the whole flight .

DH is an expert Southwest toilet seat diaper changer . I'm so glad our diaper days are now behind us.

 

[luna99]

I love this thread! I'm not a mommy yet but hope to be by the end of next year and these are great tips for just travelling in general with a baby/infant/child.

Thanks for sharing all of your horror stories.. at least you know going through this stuff might help some up and coming mommies and daddies in the future!

 

[wendylovesdisney]

Horror story? Let me tell you a horror story. Sitting in economy for 24 hours of plane trips coming home from China with a 3 year old, and a 9 month old with giardia (a yuck diarrhea illness).
The bathrooms were beyond small, cramped, and soooo dirty already.

 

[cogero]

so glad to know I will be able to change ds on the plane if need be. especially since we are also flying JB