Childfree Abby - You Want Some Cheese With that Whine?02 March 2005Message ID: 38mtm4F5kmpj5U1@individual.net
Dear Annie: I'm still mad, so I guess I'll write. I'm talking about the woman who was so sanctimonious about mothers changing their babies' diapers on the plane seat. Where would she like me to do it? There is no changing station in the bathroom. The options are to place your infant on the bacteria laden, flimsy toilet lid or, if you are a gymnast, sit on the lid and place the baby on your outstretched legs. If this woman thinks she can birth a baby that will politely hold its bladder until the trip is over, she is welcome to try. -- Jet-Lagged Mom Dear Jet-Lagged: Agreed, it is difficult to properly care for an infant on an airplane, but you still need to have some consideration for the passenger next to the seat with the dirty diaper. Some mothers bring a portable, washable changing pad so they can lay the child on the floor. At the very least, apologize to your fellow passenger before submitting him/her to this unpleasantness. It will go a long way toward easing hard feelings. (We think the airlines are missing the boat by not providing changing stations on flights.)
Dear Jet-Lagged, You have no right to contaminate the general area in a plane with your child's faeces and urine. You may be immune to it, but let me assure you that everyone else is not. Not to the smell, not to the sight - and you have no right to inflict that on the travelling public. Let me put it this way: Since you feel entitled to change your child's diaper on a airplane seat, surely you won't mind if someone takes a crap on your dining room table while you are eating dinner. Not the same? I beg to differ, it is exactly the same. Forget about change stations, it won't ever happen. Why? Because, M'dear, its all about bums on seats. That is what makes money for an airline. Anyone who has ever travelled crammed like sardines on "Thrombosis Airlines" can attest to this. Putting in a changing station requires space, and airlines are not likely to delegate space to anything that does not turn a profit, like your child. Face it, you are already getting a break - your child travels free as a "lap child" (Don't get me started on the safety of that. However, don't blame the airline if clear air turbulence launches your kid into space and bounces it off the bulkhead several times. But hey! Your child is the most important thing in the world, right?) Take the kid to the washroom. Toilet seats are not flimsy, and the suggestion to bring along a changing pad is a good one. Sorry you don't like it, but as the saying goes "them's the breaks". Suck it up, Toots, or stay home.
Childfree Abby
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