WasIBU to change my DS's nappy in seat on plane...

[larks35]

rather than the 2 inches allowed in aeroplane loos.
Okay first thread but, I recently went to Cyprus with DP, DS and DP's family (oh, it seems like light years ago). On the way out I checked out the loo on the plane and decided not to change DS's nappy there as there is no room. He's nearly 1yo and honestly there is no space for it. Anyway, no one said anything on journey, I thought nothing of it.

On the way back the plane was practically empty, loads of room, DS slept like the baby he is and then needed a nappy change, so I did it on the seat again. When I took nappy to loo to bin, I was given a right old lecture by head hostess - unhygienic, have to serve food, perfectly adequate facilities in loo etc. I said that they weren't adequate and if I couldn't safely do it loo, what was I supposed to do. No answer just severe looks.

After telling DP he did the next nappy change in loo. Turbulence meant that DS nearly fell off table and DP agreed that the facilities were far from adequate for a bigger baby.

Anyway, what I want to know is your thoughts - was I UR for changing DS in seats? Or was head hostess UR for making a fuss (no-one had on my outward journey)? Or should planes have proper baby changing facilities to make it all safe and hygienic?

And OP is not BU. I once changed a pooey nappy in the middle of Luna Park as the bogs were boggin. Instant hand sanitiser is a great invention.

Wehey! Thanks for replies everyone. I thought I'd had my judgement last night but reading through these subsequent posts it's looking like I wasn't so unreasonable after all. Ooh that's actually cheered me up!

Bit minging really but I understand the dilemma. I'd ask the steward people for help next time - I had to change a stinking 18 month old on long haul once and they directed me to an empty row of seats at the back. It gets easier once they can stand up I find - then YOU sit on the loo and clench them with your knees whilst minimising the poo spread around the legs. The joys of travelling with small kids

OP is not BU

applea- unbelievable

For a pee nappy, then YANBU. For a poo nappy, then IMO it is antisocial to change at your seat. I would (and have) changed the baby either standing up on the loo table, or in one of the spaces by a door. There is always some space that is not overlooked either by passengers or the galley. If the baby is not old enough for a standing up change, then I would put a mat on the changing table.

I had a mildly amusing incident when ds2 was 18m: you know how, when the plane lands, everyone stands up and shuffles towards the door, and then there's some hold-up and you stay standing for ages? At that point ds let rip with a huge diarrhoea poo, that escaped his nappy and ran down his trouser leg. On the bus transfer from the plane to the arrivals hall the other passengers left plenty of space around us.

I wouldnt care if someone did this near me - i never understand why its such a big deal tbh after all its not as if the poo gets everywhere is it - well not when I do it anyway.

ds cant stand up but will bear in mind the asking about using business toilets for changing him when on flight lol will need bell saying unclean as i carry ds through.

mind still means will be changing him on train seats though so warning if of germ dispostion look carefully before sitting in disabled spaces

Last time I flew (BA) there wasnt a changing table in the loo. In fact there was barely room to turn around I did manage to have a wee while holding my baby but I couldnt have changed him in there if I had wanted to.

I wouldn't care - hes almost one so you are obviously an experienced nappy changer.

TBH whatever makes a child more comfortable, I support. After all it makes the rest of us more comfortable too!

What would the air hostess expect parents to do when their child needs changing and the seatbelt signs are on? After all your choices would be (a) do nothing and subject everyone to continued smell or (b) change on your lap. Surely (b) would be acceptable it that situation, so it negates her entire argument.

Secondcoming -interesting point about visitors to your house. I admit to being a bit taken aback when some 'friends' visited us and proceeded to change a huge stinking sack of poo from a nearly 3 year old on my (cream) living room carpet. They didn't even mention using the bathroom AND I'd just served lunch. It was too cold to open the windows and the smell lingered all afternoon. When I mentioned that they could use the downstairs loo to wash their hands, they breezed that there was 'no need' grin] and proceeded to tuck into turkey sarnies. 'Vomiting emocion'

I agree thesecondcoming.

If the loos are crappy (!) then it's not nice, but everyone else manages to use them. Bet the OP would complain if the passenger next to her took a shit in their seat just because it was pleasanter than the loo. I'm not of the school of thought that thinks if you have a baby then everyone finds it's bodily functions fragrant.

Obviously an older child with a disability is a different matter, but there are issues about privacy and respect for the child, so I would be complaining to the airline if the facilities were actually not usable. But very unreasonable to inflict it on other passengers

totally disgusting, ask the crew where to do it if you can't do it in the loo for some reason.

Have always managed to change my now 9 yr old disabled ds in the toilet,not easy but still doable i assure you. And we fly 8-10 times each year so have done it many many times.

mabs can your ds stand ?

that some of you think I was being precious. I'm really not. It wasn't that the loos were crappy, more that there just wasn't the room to do it safely (IMO). DS not standing yet so that wasn't an option. With regard to the smell, surrounding passengers would have been inflicted to the smell for a while as DS takes his time when pooing. TBH I don't think everyone else does always use the loos in this situation, I've seen babies being changed on plane seats before and never thought anything of it.

I think its a case of horses for courses, cos when my friends and family visit they change their kids in my living room and it doesn't bother me at all.

If (very unlikely) I am in this situation again then I think I will ask stewards help and maybe use 1st class or a secluded corner or something. You've got to see the size of BA loos and the changing table they provide to realise that changing an 11mo in one is nigh on impossible.

oh and larks it would not have botherd me would habe been far worse if babys screaming becuase had poohed

Why do your friends not use the bathroom, out of interest?

Far more convenient, as you have the washbasin on hand to wash your hands straight after.

Do they think changing their child's nappy is a spectator sport? Is there an age at which they start to consider the need for a bit of privacy? Would they change a two year old's shitty nappy in your living room? Nowt so strange as folk!

sorry
yabu and it's just grim

I'd be very unimpressed if anyone changed a nappy on an aeroplane barring reasons of disability

ugghhh grim
weirdly it's as though there is some sense of entitlement.. that as a mother suddenly common manners and decency are defunct

"You've got to see the size of BA loos and the changing table they provide to realise that changing an 11mo in one is nigh on impossible."

How bloody patronising.

I was going to say YANBU, but all plane loos are the same size and I've changed a 2 1/2 year old in one with no problem.

When I travelled to Austria when dd was 9 months there were no changing facilities (RyanAir) They 'kindly' let me change her on the floor at the front of the plane.

Get over y'self love.

No I don't think my friends or family see nappy changing as a spectator sport - now that would be strange. Usually we are chatting and the nappy needs changing to it gets done there and then. I don't see anything odd about that, like I said different horses for different courses - vive la difference!

Sorry MorningTownRide - wasn't meant to be patronising and don't really see how that could be interpreted that way.

Well, each to their own, in their own house, though personally as you need to wash your hands anyway after a nappy change, it seems simpler to use the bathroom. I tended to use plain water to wipe my babies' bums too, so being by a washbasin made sense.

But a plane is not your living room!

I was told off each way on Easyjet flights in October. On the way out, my husband and I changed our 9 week old from pajamas into clothes on the seat between us and were told to "do that in the toilet" by bitchy stewardess. On the way back, as I breastfeeding my by now 10 week old in her sling with her seat belt around her tummy on takeoff, was told off by steward for not having her sitting upright on my lap pointing forwards (she couldn't sit ffs, she was 2 months old!). "I'd hate to see her splattered all over the inside of the aircraft if we have to make an emergency stop", he said. What a loon. I just think the airlines are staffed by little Hitlers these days and ignore quite a lot of what they say (apart from the location of exits and life jackets).

Apoologies - you are vile is a personal attach. I take that back. What you did was vile.