Ask any parent and they’ll tell you that traveling with a baby is hard. Before we had kids, my husband and I were carry-on only travelers and we had our routine locked down. But of course, when the kids came along, everything changed. We found ourselves loaded down with diapers and wipes and bottles and stuffies and binkies and blankets and all the things the baby could possibly need along our journey.
The two most stressful parts of flying with a small baby were, in my experience, making sure they didn’t cry for the whole flight and changing diapers. Fortunately, our kids turned out to be great travelers, maybe because we started young and they grew accustomed to it. They never had any trouble with their ears (the main reason baby’s cry in-flight) so for the most part, they were quiet and happy.
When it comes to changing diapers on an airplane, everyone should know: It is NOT a fun experience. My husband and I used to try to time our flights around naptime to minimize the possibility of crying and by extension, the need for changing diapers. Fortunately, we never had to change too many in-flight diapers but when we did, my husband and I were meticulous about it, cramming ourselves into the bathroom, whipping out our extra-large changing pad, putting on an episode of Curious George so there’d be minimal resistance (you gotta do what you gotta do) and sanitizing, sanitizing, sanitizing everything – before and after.
Having had my fair share of experience in this department, I can only imagine how appalled passengers on a recent Delta Air Lines flight were when a fellow passenger changed a baby’s dirty (number two) diaper right there in their seats. I wasn’t even there and I’m shuddering just thinking about it.
A user who goes by Jolly-Armadillo-2572 recently posted the following on Reddit:
Changing a kid’s poop diaper in seat
byu/Jolly-Armadillo-2572 indelta
The people in the row in front of me are changing a poopy diaper in their seats. The smell is horrendous. Anyone ever experienced this? There’s no reason not to do this in the bathroom.
As you might imagine, Redditors had thoughts:
FrostyWinters: Thank you for the reminder to bring sanitizing wipes on all flights!
zoeblaize: I bring a pack of disinfecting wipes every time I fly. I also offer to share with my neighbors and they usually appreciate it. the number of times I’ve wiped down a surface with no visible dirt and the wipe came away discolored is way too high.
Jazzlike-Track-3407: While you’re at it do the tray table too bc people also use those as changing tables
nik_nak1895: I always wipe down my seat, tray table, and armrest before a flight and I’ve been actively verbally harassed for it before. I’m just like mkay, you enjoy your poopy snotty seat, but I’ll pass. It takes less than a minute to wipe things down so why not?!
MeTimesTwo: I never see anyone besides myself wiping down trays and I get the weirdest looks. This is why I do it!
I find it strange that in today’s post-pandemic world, anyone would be surprised to see someone disinfecting high-touch surfaces because that feels like a widely accepted norm now (unlike the pre-pandemic days when my husband would wipe down every square inch of our airplane seats while fending off the curious stares of surrounding seatmates.)
But this disgusting story is a good reminder that airplanes are dirty and you should always sanitize your area before sitting down. Personally, I clean everything: The seat itself (especially the head rest), the arm rests, the seat belt strap and buckle, the seatback screen, the window and shade and of course the tray. And don’t even think about touching the seatback pocket because where do you think people stow those dirty diapers?
@attn Flight attendants reveal the grossest part of an airplane seat – the seat pocket! It’s not just a harmless storage space for your phone or laptop, it’s a dumping ground for dirty tissues and half eaten snacks. So if you’re flying this summer, you may want to steer clear of the seat pocket. #airplane #travel #travelhacks #airplanetiktok #traveltips ♬ original sound – attn:
So the next time you’re flying, make sure you stock your carry-on bag with a few essentials. These are five items I never travel without:
Clorox Disinfectant Travel Wipes
Disposable Airplane Tray Covers
KEEP READING
–How to make sure the TSA Precheck checkmark is on your boarding pass
–Did you know your electronic devices should always be charged when going through security?
–10 airport security hacks every traveler needs to know
–Mom shares hilarious reason she’s not getting TSA Precheck anytime soon
–How to get a full bottle of water through airport security
Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to Johnny Jet’s free newsletter and check out these popular posts: The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees. Follow Johnny Jet on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for all of my travel posts.
It’s really surprising to hear about this situation. While traveling with a baby can be challenging, it’s crucial to follow airline policies and consider other passengers’ comfort. For anyone planning long flights, it’s always a good idea to prepare ahead and be mindful of how to handle such situations respectfully.