Potty trained 3 yo on the plane

[GoinToDisney]

My 3 year old has been potty trained for 5 months or so with very occasional accidents. She does use the potty quite often and I am nervous about the plane ride to Orlando, especially the part where you are not to get up. What have others done besides the obvious taking her right before we board the plane. On the way home, it is easy. We have a late flight, and she will be in jammies and a diaper, as she still wears diapers at night and once in a while (if she seems really tired) for nap. I am tempted to put a diaper on her on the way down as well. We leave right at lunch time and nap does follow lunch. I am also wondering how on earth you take a kid to the potty in those tiny bathrooms and get them not to touch everything and.... diapers sound so much easier.

 

[laughinplace199]

DD's first trip to WDW was when she was 3. She had been potty trained for only 2 months, and I had the same concerns that you do. I ended up putting a Pull-Up on her for the flight. I told her that I accidentally packed all of her undies and that she could just wear the Pull-Up, but she should still tell me when she needs to use the potty. I also wanted her to have the Pull-Up on in case she fell asleep, since she wore Pull-Ups for naps and overnight at the time. It worked fine for us. She told us when she had to use the potty and her Pull-Up was dry when we reached Orlando.

As for using the tiny bathrooms and trying not to touch anything, just do your best and bring lots of wipes and Purell!

 

[moparop]

What about having her board the plane right at the end. You are relaly only Forced to be in your seat for about 10 minutes on each end. Good luck!

 

[Colinsmom]

Limit her fluids before the flight, too. And don't count on only being kept in your seat for 10 minutes on each end - I've been on flights where the seat belt sign was left on the whole time due to turbulence. One time, I was pregnant and just dying to get to the bathroom; I finally pushed the flight attendant's button and they did allow me to get up and go (lectured me the whole way, but sheesh I had a baby kicking my bladder and pg women are specifically instructed to NOT limit fluids when flying).

I'd go with the pull-up, just to be safe.

 

[Disney1976]

I agree, I'd have her wear a pullup or diaper just in case -I think it's much easier. Like a pp mentioned, I've been on flights where the entire time they tell you to remain seated. Plus, you never know if your child will fall asleep during the flight, in which case it is best to be prepared.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

We've always gotten on during the pre-board for families with small children. That allows us to get up really quickly before lots of people get on the plane and take DS to the bathroom.

But I agree that if you are nervous have her wear a Pull-Up.

 

[Princess Roo]

Since she's still used to a diaper at night, I would do that on the plane, too. That's what we did (a Pull up) on flights for DS when he had only been trained for a few months. We may also do it for our next flight, even though he'll have been trained almost a year (but still in Pullups at night). Unless they really fight it, it seems like it's less "traumatic" for them to wear a diaper on a flight then for them to want to use the bathroom, not be allowed to, and have an accident. Like a PP said, it can be a LONG time with that fasten seatbelt sign on. I almost had "an accident" of my own when I was pregnant and we were held out on the jetway 45 unexpected minutes before being allowed to park!!

 

[K8T]

Hi

Our daughter is three and been reliably potty trained a year now, (still has pull ups at night) but whenever we fly, I put a pull up on. Luckily we have some very pretty princess ones.

I put her underwear over the top, so if I have to take it off, I can just rip the sides and she is still Ok.

I just say to her that she needs to have one on, because if she falls asleep, or there is a long queue for the toilet, she won't have to worry. However, I still get her to 'go' before getting on board and ask her now and again during the flight. In several flights, she has never wet her pull up, but it gives us all peace of mind and I am not anxious about it!

However, I don't take a change of clothes around with me anymore but am wondering if I should - our flight is around 8 hours, not including the two hours check in time!

Kate

 

[KayW]

I plan on doing using a Pull Up for my 3 1/2 year old. I will still put her in a pull up when we run errands because you just never know what the bathroom situation may or may not be.

 

[lclark0621]

Use a pull up. I know some think they are the worst thing in the world.

But if they will avoid wet pants & embarassment (which can sometimes set a child back), they are well worth it.

We always used a pull up on my DS on planes, even after he was fully potty trained, but still saying he has to go & meaning RIGHT NOW.

On the bathroom thing, man I hate those airplane bathrooms. But luckily, it is my DH's job to take DS on the plane. I dont know how we came up with that, but we did his first flight (in diapers) & has always worked (for me anyway ).

Take your child to the bathroom as close to boarding time as possible one last time. Then put on the pull up.

 

[Addicted2TheMouse]

We went to Disney in August and my DS3 was recently potty trained. I didn't put a diaper on him during our day flights and he did fine. There was one time when we were waiting on the runway to take off and he decided her had to pee. They let us go really quickly.

On the way home, we had a late flight and he fell very soundly asleep. He hadn't had a single accident on the trip so I didn't even think to put a diaper or change of clothes in my carry on. Of course, he peed in his pants while he was sleeping. When we landed, he was tired and I had to carry him through the airport in his pee pants. Still sometimes when we see an airplane he says, "Remember? On the plane? And I peed?" Poor kid.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you still want the 'feel' of underpants, put the underwear on first and put the pullups over the top of them. That way, if the child does wet, the outer clothing should not be wet and you won't have to worry about leaving a wet seat for the next passenger.

 

[bellebud]

We went to Disney in August and my DS3 was recently potty trained. I didn't put a diaper on him during our day flights and he did fine. There was one time when we were waiting on the runway to take off and he decided her had to pee. They let us go really quickly.

On the way home, we had a late flight and he fell very soundly asleep. He hadn't had a single accident on the trip so I didn't even think to put a diaper or change of clothes in my carry on. Of course, he peed in his pants while he was sleeping. When we landed, he was tired and I had to carry him through the airport in his pee pants. Still sometimes when we see an airplane he says, "Remember? On the plane? And I peed?" Poor kid.

Poor kid - and LOL what he says when he sees a plane! It's so funny the stuff that sticks with them!

That brought up a question in my mind - did you tell the stewardess and what did they do w/ his seat? Just something I never thought of before I sit in my seat - to check if it's wet. I bet it happens w/ kids often on flights, especially w/ delays and such today. Just curious...

 

[SueM in MN]

That brought up a question in my mind - did you tell the stewardess and what did they do w/ his seat? Just something I never thought of before I sit in my seat - to check if it's wet. I bet it happens w/ kids often on flights, especially w/ delays and such today. Just curious...

That happened on a recent flight I was on. The person assigned to the seat sat down and got a bad surprise.
The flight was full, so he ended up sitting in one of the Flight Attendant jump seats (lucky one was empty).

 

[graygables]

That brought up a question in my mind - did you tell the stewardess and what did they do w/ his seat? Just something I never thought of before I sit in my seat - to check if it's wet. I bet it happens w/ kids often on flights, especially w/ delays and such today. Just curious...

Yes, there was a recent incident where a passenger had urinated in a seat and the next passenger sat in it. She wound up sitting wrapped in a blanket for her flight, then had to go through the airport IN THE BLANKET b/c the airline wouldn't pull her suitcase for her to change. It was a mess.

PLEASE, put your child in a pullup/diaper if they are not 100% reliable on the airplane. As PPs have mentioned, there have been flights that the turbulence is so bad that not even the FAs can get up. As far as helping them go, I just stand in the doorway. With the new rules, people aren't supposed to congregate anyway, so it's not like anyone's watching. When they are done, wash hands and have them step out while you take care of the flushing/sink drain. Whatever you do, do NOT flush that potty with them in there!!! My now 22yo went potty on a trans Atlantic flight when she was 6 and she didn't flush a toilet again until she was in junior high school.

 

[GoinToDisney]

I'm not terribly worried about the airplane seat because we will have her car seat, but I don't want her to be embarrassed or have to to deal with a mess. She drinks a lot, and goes right through pull-ups, so it will have to be a diaper. She is too smart to not go because she feels fabric on her skin, although I really like that idea. She is the type to know there is a diaper over top and have to pee then to see what it is like, so that won't work for us. I think I'd better usedo a diaper. Hmmmm.... I drink a lot of water too. If we have a turbulent fight, I might need a diaper too!

 

[lclark0621]

I'm not terribly worried about the airplane seat because we will have her car seat, but I don't want her to be embarrassed or have to to deal with a mess. She drinks a lot, and goes right through pull-ups, so it will have to be a diaper. She is too smart to not go because she feels fabric on her skin, although I really like that idea. She is the type to know there is a diaper over top and have to pee then to see what it is like, so that won't work for us. I think I'd better usedo a diaper. Hmmmm.... I drink a lot of water too. If we have a turbulent fight, I might need a diaper too!

You could also try those Goodnights. They are the pull ups for older kids who still wet the bed.

My DS still has some accidents once in a while at night, so we use them. He would go right through a pull up, and while he still fits in the size 7 diapers, he started saying they were for babies. The Goodnights work great though.