Flying With Preschoolers Tip 587: Bring Diapers For Potty Trained Kids

Here are two family travel horror stories worth sharing.

In the first, my friend and her daughter were stuck on the tarmac for an hour waiting for permission to take off. It stands to reason that in the middle, her newly potty trained daughter realized she needed to "go." The flight attendants insisted she stay put, however, a preschooler takes a long time in the bathroom and she might jeopardize the flight's ability to take off should permission arrive. So, while adults used the restroom as needed, my friend's newly potty trained toddler sat in her seat. (Honestly, I can't imagine what the flight attendants were thinking. A potty accident in an airplane seat cannot be a good thing). Luckily my friend had an old diaper in her carryon, and she finally put it it on her daughter, averting certain disaster.

Another friend flew recently with her newly potty trained son. Unbeknownst to her, he is deathly afraid of the airplane toilets (I can't say I blame him). He dug in his heels as only a 3 year old can, and refused to use the toilet. No amount of bribing, cajoling or threatening worked, so on their 6 hour flight, potty "accident" followed potty accident, and they left the plane with their son wrapped in an airplane blanket.

So, a word to the wise, even if your child is totally potty trained... pack a few diapers in your carryon. Consider slipping one on your child before takeoff. You never know whether you might need them.

Filed Under: flying-with-kids packing-with kids packing-with-babies

Save to del.icio.us | Posted on November 24, 2008 | 4 comments

Subscribe to our feed

Comments

jamie
http://www.travelsavvymom.com/
November 24, 2008 at 9:18 a.m.

Uh, Debbie? Some time (over a few dozen margaritas) I'll tell you a story about a pregnant woman (who may or may not have been me), an overturned big rig, a 2-hour traffic jam, a large coffee, and an extra diaper.

Oh wait, I already did.
Debbie
November 24, 2008 at 9:50 p.m.

As I was writing this post, I thought to myself "this would be much funnier if a TravelSavvyMom wrote it! Thanks so much for coming over and adding some humor ;)

Hope you're loving our fancy new "link back to your website so that people can find out who you are" feature. We've officially joined the 21st century ;)
Marina
http://muchacostarica.com/blog.aspx
November 25, 2008 at 9:39 a.m.

My kid has been potty trained for ages, but he still sleeps with diapers and we always have tons extras for when we travel.
<a href="http://muchacostarica.com/blog/2008/11/23/muchacostarica-weekly-roundup-.aspx">Happy Thanksgiving!</a>
Bill
September 29, 2009 at 10:15 a.m.

I personally saw my 11 year old daughter pee in her pants after the plane landed but before she could get off the plane to a bathroom. She was obviously mortified; I don't think she had peed her pants in at least two years. She is now 12 and gets very nervous for both car and plane travel and has wet herself numerous times since in travel situations. However, ever since the first time, she has had a pullup on. It is DEFINITELY recommended to use pullups with kids on planes; I have told friends and co-workers, and they have in turn gone to pullups with their kids too (ages 3-12 or so). So, tell your kid their not the only one and make them wear it; either they use the toilet just as normal, or they wet their pullup. No downside.