travel question re changing tables

[alison]

We are putting dd in diapers for our upcoming trip. She is afraid of changing tables because they're "too high" off the floor and she's worried that she'll fall. Am I really going to have to change her on the floor of the airplane bathroom if she does a #2. What do you all do? I cringe when other people change poopy diapers in their laps while in their seats. But what are the alternatives.

Sincerely,
Panic-button presser

[GreyhoundsRUs]

You're talking about on the airplane? I doubt there's enough room to put her on the floor and you to bend down. Not to mention that most men can't aim when the toilet is not moving all over...ew ew ew. I would say to kick DH to the aisle and lay her across the seats with a towel underneath. Good luck!

[Pollyanna]

I'm with your dd, those changing tables should be avoided at all costs. In the airport you can change a poopy diaper with her stroller laid back or find an out of way place and change her there (no need to use the restrooms). On the plane do what Jen suggested and just change her in the seats, place dirty diaper in the vomit bag and you've got trash you can live with

[MrsK]

ITA with Jen and Tara. Also, use overnight diapers for traveling. You never know if you'll be delayed and, if you run out of diapers on a plane or in an airport, you're screwed.

[alison]

Our airport has a store with baby and kids' supplies

We'll figure it out. I'm just dreading a big #2 on board the plane. You can't do those at your seat, can you? The smell can be wretched. But--when I think about how many people let really stinky farts rip on the plane, it should be ok, right?

[Pollyanna]

Our airport has a store with baby and kids' supplies

We'll figure it out. I'm just dreading a big #2 on board the plane. You can't do those at your seat, can you? The smell can be wretched. But--when I think about how many people let really stinky farts rip on the plane, it should be ok, right?

Umm, dd10 spent almost the entire flight of both legs throwing up into vomit bag after vomit bag. We kept her right in her seat and not a soul complained (it was either that or occupy the bathroom for the entire flight). It's not ideal but you do what you've gotta do. Don't worry about the smell, you will do a quick change, seal up the stink and no one will be the wiser.

[MrsK]

The airport you get stuck at will likely not have a baby store. And if they have a vending machine that sells diapers, they will cost $6 each and they won't have your kid's size anyway.


Yes, you can change her at your seat even if it's poo. You can try to find an empty row if you are extra considerate. Otherwise, buy your seatmates a drink and they'll get over it.

[peggyfromwastate]

Lol. Empty row on an airplane. Haven't seen that since the 90s.

Anyway--- you don't have a layover right? I have never had to worry about poo on a plane but we did have many overflowing diapers (even overnights) and lots of vomit from ds1 when he was little.

Just put out some wet wipes--- disinfectant kind-- that odor is strong and can mask the odor of the poo I would think. Does she let you change her standing up? You can even clean poo standing up--- in the airplane bathroom. It's possible...

[alison]

It's a nonstop flight. So is our flight to Germany this summer.
Thanks for giving me some good advice. You're right about te Clorox wipes; they're very strong smelling.

[peggyfromwastate]

I wouldn't worry about the other passengers too much. U r on a Seattle flight and Seattle peeps tend to be less uptight. Try flying out of the dc area. These uptight people can kiss my ass already. They give me the evil eye every single flight. My beloved fellow passengers. And after the flight they say "oh your kids were soooo good!" and I just roll my eyes. So over it really. But Seattle outbound flights always have a better vibe.

Orlando flights are party flights tho. Always have a blast on those-- usually the crew is awesome and there are kids everywhere!!!

Midwest flights are a little... Over friendly. My kids really don't know what to do with strangers talking to them and to me like they know us. Dd3 says "is that lady your friend?" me: "no I don't know her.". Dd: " but she's talking to you like she's your friend.". Lol.

I'm interested for your international flight experience!!! It will all be fine--- poo or puke-- you'll endure!!

[Pollyanna]

Midwest flights are a little... Over friendly. My kids really don't know what to do with strangers talking to them and to me like they know us. Dd3 says "is that lady your friend?" me: "no I don't know her.". Dd: " but she's talking to you like she's your friend.". Lol.

So true! The folks at the Nashville airport are always so nice to us too. Even though pre-boarding for families is a thing of the past the gate agents always come find us so we can board first Not the case at DFW where they seem just irritated at your existence

[alison]

Germans aren't known to be exactly kid-friendly (see other thread on European low birth rate).

Chicagoans are super friendly for a big city. Drove me nuts, because sometimes I just want to sit and not talk. Or not hear conversations between people behind me that begin the second they board to the time they get off.

Lots of kids here, so people are used to it, I suppose.

[MrsK]

The MIA-Cleveland mid-week flights always had lots of empty seats. . For out last trip, we were able to pre-board with our kids but it took forever to get the kids organized and stroller broken down at the gate so we never actually pre-boarded.

[corn poffi]

I am not exactly known for my tolerance of kids in general, but seriously, don't worry about the stink. I think everybody would rather deal with a few moments of elevated stink than to sit through an entire flight with a stinky diaper.

[Lala]

What worked for me was making sure to get an aisle seat, then changing the diaper with the baby on the seat, and me kneeling in the aisle. Travelling with babies is so stressful and exhausting, but I always try to remember that it's just a few hours of my life.