Air Travel – Part 3

This is a continuation of a series of posts regarding the challenges presented to those who might wet the bed by the prospect of long haul flights. In previous posts (Part 1 and Part 2) I explained how I would typically bring and wear protection when on a flight where I may be sleeping.

There are some dilemmas and additional concerns to address when considering wearing a diaper on a long haul flight. The first is when to change into the diaper. I have read different opinions on this question, and will share a summary of the major points.

Myself, I change before leaving home (or my hotel). I do this as it allows me the most comfort and privacy when changing. I can make sure everything thing is in place (and not visible) before I leave. Upon arrival at ,y destination, I will duck into the first loo I see and change out of the diaper I’m wearing. If I wake up wet, I will of course change on the plane.

As I’ve said, I bring a spare pair and also baby powder and wipes with me in my carry-on. These I will generally have wrapped up together in a reusable bag which I can carry discreetly to the airplane washroom, under a cardigan for added discretion. I have also taken to bringing my own plastic bag, just in case the garbage in the loo is full.

The other option is of course for you to carry your protection on in your carry-on, and then change before taking your nap. This method has the added benefit of you not having to sit in a diaper for the portion of the flight where you are not planning on napping, and not having to wear a diaper through security.

You can also change in a washroom after clearing security but before boarding your flight. I have done this on occasion as well.

These are all good options and should be considered based on your circumstances. Personally, I prefer the convenience of already having my protection on when I board the flight, and not having to worry about waiting to be airborne to sleep (if I’m planning on sleeping, I try to go for the whole flight or as much as possible). Also, getting to the loo right after takeoff, or right before I want to nap,  may not always be possible, and being constrained by the vicissitudes of meal and drink service are unappealing.

Some are concerned with wearing a diaper through security, and we have all probably seen news stories such as this one (Airport Security Story). I for one have worn protection through security on multiple occasions and never received any trouble from the security people. I’ve had a number of pat downs and not a single agent has noticed or made comment about the protection I was wearing.

I have even worn protection while in one of those body scanners without any additional attention from security. On one occasion, because I was very late for a connecting flight and awoke just as we landed, I wore a rather wet diaper through a body scanner, without incident, or comment from the security people.

If security does take an interest, as I recognise that my experience may not be universal, simply ask to be checked in one of the private screening areas if it is crowded, or if you can, explain that you are wearing a protective undergarment. Why you are wearing protection is none of their business. My prepared line for the possibility of an inquiring security person is to show them a small portion of the waistband and say “I am wearing an absorbent undergarment” using those very clinical terms to deter any further inquiries.

As I mentioned above, I do bring a change with me in my carry-on, and this equally applies to those who plan on changing after security. In this case, you are carrying adult diapers in your carry-on. In my experience these are the most likely to be seen, as random bag checks happen all the time. I had a security person take a rather long time in swabbing my bag one time, and all the while a Mollycare was clearly visible. In this case I simply blushed and carried on, comforted by the fact that they likely see this sort of thing all the time and that I would never see them again.

Ways to make security easier and therefore avoid additional checks entail following all the security protocols:

• take everything out of your pockets.
• remove your belt and boots (if relevant).
• take out your laptop, readers, etc.
• follow the rules regarding gels and liquids.
• be polite and friendly to the security people, they are just doing their jobs.
• and remember, you can always ask to have your bag checked in privacy ( or simply ask the security people to be discreet), and to be searched in private.

I would love to hear other people’s experiences with long haul flights and air travel in general, and I hope you have enjoyed this longer series on the subject.

Air Travel – Part 2

In a previous post (Air Travel – Part 1), I discussed how I will typically wear protection on long haul flights where I’m planning on sleeping or where sleep may be inevitable. This practice has led to a couple of other additional practices which I thought I’d share with my readers.

First, I drink a significant amount of fluids on planes, usually as a way of staving off jet lag. I avoid diuretics like coffee or soft drinks but for long international flights will sometimes have an alcoholic beverage to help me sleep. I always try to get an aisle seat, as the result of this fluids regime is a greater than average number of bathroom visits. When not sitting on an aisle, I have more than got over being nervous asking the person sitting next to me to let me out to use the restroom, though I know this is a concern of some people. I have also offered to swap places if I am making many trips. Staying hydrated is important and, as most readers will know, dehydrating yourself is not an effective or healthy way to avoid wetting the bed (or seat as the case may be).

I bring baby powder in my carry on, as I find this is a must given how sweaty a diaper can be, especially when sitting in it for a long time. Wearing a breathable option helps address this problem and cuts down on possible embarrassing noise.  I’ve never had any trouble with airport security, simply buy one in a travel size, and have it in your carry on.

A few wet wipes in a baggie also help, as even if you end the flight dry, you will still want to freshen up, after sitting in a potentially sweaty diaper for multiple hours. These, along with the baby powder can be kept in your carry-on or purse.

Another practice I have adopted is to wear underwear over top of my diaper, which allows me to quickly change out of my protection at the end of the flight. If the underwear is sufficiently tight fitting, it also helps dampen any embarrassing noise, and covers any potentially revealing waistband.

I will almost always bring a spare diaper to change into. Despite my efforts with regular bathroom visits, I have had the odd wet sleep while flying. And while I’ve never had two accidents on one flight (despite some very long flights indeed), wearing protection is an important part of making me comfortable enough to sleep. A second pair also stands as protection against delays, missed flights, or lost luggage.

I’ve been delayed where the airport has put me up in a hotel for the night, and I’ve been very pleased to have brought a backup (as well as a toothbrush and a couple other essentials). Similarly, lost luggage will usually arrive within a day or so (if it is going to arrive at all), and having a backup helps should this occur.  If I’m doing a series of long flights with lengthy stop overs (where napping and sleep might be recommended), I will bring additional pairs as needed.

Comfortable travel clothes are a good way to not only be comfortable (implicit in the name), but also conceal the protection you are wearing. No one wants to sit on a long flight in tight fitting jeans, though I’ve seen people who inexplicably do.

Something to bear in mind is that you are most certainly not alone in wearing protection on the plane. Numerous people wear diapers on long or even short haul flights (See for example Here and Here). This may be done for a number of reasons, which include bed wetting, but also other forms of incontinence, phobias, as well as to avoid stress and things such as UTIs should someone not be able to access a washroom promptly. I would imagine some not wanting to miss your flights, and facing quick connections, or long lines for security or customs, might also constitute reasons for opting for protection when traveling. (I recall seeing articles on older children wearing diapers at Disney Land to avoid issues with long lines).

More to follow in Part 3.

Air Travel – Part 1

Thus far this blog has mostly explored the challenges posed to travelers who happen to wet the bed as they relate to staying in hotels, however there are several other possible occurrences that I wanted to explore; the first is the potential challenge presented by long haul air travel. Others that I will consider in future posts include: staying with friends or family, staying in other alternative accommodation, and camping.

To turn therefore to long haul flights. Growing up I used to have strongly mixed feelings about air travel, I loved the idea of quickly visiting another city and the wonders of modern air travel, but I also dreaded things like protracted times where the seatbelt sign was on, periods of seemingly endless taxing or circling, and most of all, the worry about falling asleep and potentially having a very public accident.

I would always try to stay awake on long flights, for fear of drifting off and waking up wet. More than the discomfort of sitting in damp clothes for the remainder of the flight, I was much more concerned about the horrors of a potential walk of shame to the toilets after an accident and this walk of shame extending through the very public baggage pick up and customs (for international travel). Staying awake for an entire flight is not always an option given efforts to avoid jet lag, and also the duration of some flights.

As a youth, I would always carry a spare pair of sweat pants ‘just I case,’ and there were a couple of occasions where they were needed. After one such occasion when I was old enough to be thoroughly embarrassed walking to the toilets with an airplane blanket wrapped around myself with one of my parents carrying my change of clothes, I decided to wear protection on flights where I intended to sleep, or on flights where sleep would be inevitable.

As a result, from around 12 or 13 to current days, I will wear something absorbent on a flight over 4 hours. Growing up, this would be a pair of mostly discreet Goodnites, and now, it’s usually a slightly less discreet Mollycare (depending on what I’m wearing and the duration of the flight).

Wearing protection help me feel confident enough to actually sleep on a plane. The worry of having an accident, coupled with the cramped space on a ship, the noise, movement and potential for crying babies are enough factors preventing sleep, there is no reason for an additional worry.

More to follow in Part 2.