Originally Posted by drbond
Yes, I can say what an accepted norm is. Just because some people lack respect for others or just because, some people do not care about others health or don't have the dignity to change a diaper in private, does NOT make it acceptable.
Would a person change a diaper in the kitchen right before or after a meal?
Would a person change a diaper in the chapel during a church service?
That seat is where people eat. That seat is where everyone is forced to smell or be exposed to any bacteria.
Everyone's immune system is not the same and some could become sick from this action.
It does not take a rocket scientist to have respect for others.
Anyone whose parents raised them correctly would know what common descency is.
Anyone that is not interested in getting flamed would not post a reply reiterating their position as the "OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE IN A REASONED WAY"
, that is begging for a response.
Um...ok. From my perspective, "anyone" who would like to win converts to
his/her side would give a more calm/content-ful answer than a string of red
frownie faces. Clearly it is not your preferred "norm" to have diapers changed
in your presence. I hope that I am not on a plane with you anytime soon.
I'm sure the feeling is mutual. BTW I do not have a diaper-aged child at
the moment. But I hope that any parents who do, are sitting next to me
and not next to you.
I am beginning also to see that flyertalk may have a "norm" of a slight
anti-child bias. I encourage the OP to have a look at babycenter.com or
yahoogroups (under 'travelling with children') so that s/he can get a more
nuanced discussion instead of the spiteful comments that I'm getting here.
At any rate, I don't think that an airplane is very much like a restaurant or
church etc. The main difference is that a plane is a small, sub-optimal
environment for everyone. Compromises must always be made. Not every
compromise will be made in favor of the childless business community.
On one of the other threads, someone hoped for non-family flights to be
available so that s/he could travel with adults only. I would prefer this
as well, so that it would segregate people with those views away from
parents and their small children.
One more practical idea for the OP - if you dress your baby in a diaper that
is one size up from the usual, you can go longer between pee-only changes.
That's probably most convenient for parents and on-lookers alike.
I do have a practical question - how is there a "bacterial" risk from a diaper
changed on a mat on a mom's lap? Where is the bacteria coming from or
going to? Let's assume that the diaper is wrapped up and put in an "air
sickness bag" and thrown away in the trash, and that the mom uses an
anti-bacterial wipe on her hands after the change, and puts the changing
mat back into her diaper bag.
Frankly, I'm a lot more worried about people who wear short skirts/shorts
on the seat before I get there (see "The Secret Life of Germs" for more
on that one...apparently there are measurable levels of adult-bottom
bacteria on seats due to that). I'm also a lot more worried about
adults who don't wash their hands properly etc. etc. If I had to make
the epidemiological choice of whose germs to be near, I'd choose the
baby every time.
--LG