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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

180 replies

larks35 · 07/01/2010 23:40

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?

OP posts:
PussinJimmyChoos · 08/01/2010 13:22

YANBU...I've changed DS on both trains and plane seats. The plane toilets were revolting and no way was I going to lay him down on a floor covered with piss and shit spray - even though I have a changing mat -it is wipe clean but it does have to go back into the mummy bag after!

However, as he's got older, I've used pull ups for journeys and have found that standing him on the loo seat is not too bad so it does get easier as they get older. The whole public loo thing is grim full stop really

I did and still do keep a little perfume sample in my bag so I can do a discreet spray if I need to but as soon as the nappy comes off its in a fragranced bag and tied!

I've smelt a lot worse on planes than a little baby's nappy though - some people reek of garlic and fag smoke.

I'm tee total and can't stand the smell of booze on trains or planes so there is always going to be something that others don't like

I think there needs to be better provision..I mean I've often wondered how disabled people manage on plane toilets - they are so badly designed!

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 08/01/2010 13:33

Oh I very much agree BoF - that was a great post.

I have changed DS (also doubly incontinent) on a train platform before as the toilets were locked. There were two other people there and I felt I had to explain myself but neither even glanced at me.

I've also peed behind a car from time to time - needs must.

but when there are facilities use them!

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 08/01/2010 13:37

PussinJimmyChoos - I'm sorry but perfume with an underlying smell of shit is even worse.

I have bad memories of a flatmate that would liberally spritz the bathroom with ck1 after doing her business. Boak.

bronze · 08/01/2010 13:37

Ivy the last plane I was on didnt have a table. There wouldnt have been room for one and to stand up if there had.
Train loos are huge in comparison.

Ivykaty44 · 08/01/2010 13:38

I can't pee behind a car - I just have to be as desperate as desperte can be - in fact in the last 43 years I have done it three time...my dd's though jump at the chance on windy lanes miles from anywhere

As a child I would not pee in the sea either - my to my parents dismay they had to wlk me half a mile to the nearest loo

MABS · 08/01/2010 14:02

i agree DevilwearPrimark, i have changed disabled ds in many places, but would and have always used the facilities provided first. As i always did with non disabled dd when she was little.

what aircraft was that Bronze with no table? that's terrible.

Phoenix4725 · 08/01/2010 14:09

im going to take and use idea about asking if we can use business class toilets had not thought of doing that

RustyBear · 08/01/2010 14:23

I remember at Gatwick when DS was about 18 months old he suddenly & totally without warning produced the most spectacular burst of runny yellow diarrhoea. I scooped him up and made a dash for the nearest loo. There were no changing facilities so I put the mat on the floor and started the clean-up, only to be accosted by a furious cleaner, telling me I 'couldn't do that here, there's a baby change room over the other side'

I pointed out that DS was literally dripping yellow slime everywhere he went, and if she wanted to follow me with her mop and bucket clearing up our trail, she was welcome, but I didn't think the other passengers would appreciate it.

She retreated muttering....

I hope that in the 20 years since, they have managed to put more than one babychange room in at Gatwick.

MABS · 08/01/2010 14:48

always Clubclass toilets Phoenix,or better first class toilets on BA, if you ask the crew i'm sure they will be more than happy for it.

(never had any problem with ds ,tho dh works for airline)

joanne34 · 08/01/2010 15:00

If the Loo facilities are not suitable then what are you supposed to do ?

Tough poopey on them !

Its only a bus that flies through the air anyway !

Peasants !

MABS · 08/01/2010 15:04

would you change a nappy on a busy bus seat joanne?

MadamDeathstare · 08/01/2010 15:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MABS · 08/01/2010 16:51

yes indeed, but an aeroplane journey has no ventilation, you can't open a window to get rid of the smell. someone changes a dirty nappy next to you, there is no respite.

violethill · 08/01/2010 17:20

Let's do some straight talking here.

We all know that plane toilets are cramped, and aren't the nicest of places. Just as the aeroplane seats themselves are often pretty squashed - DH has spent many journeys with his knees under his chin. We all know that when we buy our tickets.

So just put up with the inconvenience. Because that's all it is. It is not physically impossible to change a nappy in a plane toilet. It's just something you'd prefer not to have to do. I don't using plane toilets myself particularly.

But don't over dramatise it. It certainly won't bother the baby. (Does anyone on MN even remember having their own nappy changed? thought not.) Just have some basic manners and consideration for other passengers. If you don't mind your friends changing dirty nappies in your sitting room or dining room, fine. This isn't your sitting room.

Get over yourself and don't make it into such a big deal.

lovechoc · 08/01/2010 17:32

YADNBU - I changed DS on a plane when he was 4.5 months old on my lap - couldn't be bothered with the hassle of taking him all the way to the back to change him in such a cramped space. It was the lesser of two evils changing him where I sat.

And it wasn't poo, just pee.

SomeGuy · 08/01/2010 17:34

ugh. I can't believe anyone thinks this is acceptable. The only time this would be ok is if you own the plane.

It's only a four hour flight anyway, don't see why you'd need to change twice....

And if there's turbulence you should be in your seat, not in the toilet.

WidowWadman · 08/01/2010 17:34

"Get over yourself and don't make it into such a big deal. "

I suggest you try that yourself. Fereavensake, it's just a nappy change, over in 2 seconds and probably no more smelly than the child was already.

violethill · 08/01/2010 17:39

If it's over in two seconds then go to the toilet and do it! Can't believe what wimps some MNers are. 'Oh the hassle of walking down the aisle with a baby and maybe even - shock horror- having to queue while someone else finishes in the loo first!'
OMG. The baby might self destruct while you're waiting!

Never mind, by the time you have a couple more children you'll be waltzing down the aisle, babe on each arm,and toddler in tow, changing them in in a flash and back in your seat without a second's thought!

MadamDeathstare · 08/01/2010 18:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ronaldinhio · 08/01/2010 18:17

widow
not sure how you can equate changing a dirty nappy where people sit and eat as quite the same as smelling a dirty nappy...
very unhygenic and deeply unpleasant for all around

still grim and v selfish

MABS · 08/01/2010 18:46

i agree violethill and Ronaldnhio

Laquitar · 08/01/2010 18:51

What violethill said @17.39

WidowWadman · 08/01/2010 20:22

Ronaldinho - if she had done it during the lunch service I'd say that'd be wrong, but outside of that it's an airplane, not a restaurant

Ronaldinhio · 08/01/2010 20:32

but not a toilet and that seems to be the point
shit outside a toilet isn't acceptable

thederkinsdame · 08/01/2010 22:47

Sorry, but I think YABU. There are health and safety rules around palces serving food, and frankly, I wouldn't want to sit on a seat where anyone has changed a poo-ey nappy if I had to eat there, any more than I would want an adult next to me to be having a dumop in a bedpan.

I cannot stand it in cafes when parents change their babies on the chairs, just because they cannot be botehred to go to the babychange. I've changed DS in some appalling facilities, but always took a decent size change mat that I could wipe down with anti-bac wipes.

Mind you, given all the reports on poo-covered shopping trolley handles etc, we should probably train adults to wash their hands, too ;-)