Tales from the Tarmac

Jackie was halfway through a five-hour flight when she heard strange noises coming from her son. She immediately knew what was happening and quickly grabbed the diaper bag and headed to the restroom. The whole way there, the smell got so bad people were turning toward them and making faces. "I swear it was like his bottom had erupted like a volcano! There was such an enormous mess … all the way up his back to his neck … that the adorable outfit I had dressed him in was completely ruined—I had to toss it in the trash," she says.

The Lesson

Always be prepared for diaper blowouts!

Sara, Las Vegas mom of four, is always prepared. "Clorox or Lysol wipes in a baggie means less germ worry. And always have an up-chuck bag and waterproof mat, good for changes and placing under Baby if they soak their pants with spit-up, juice, or leaky diaper."

Deanna's all about doubling up. "On road trips, I would pack two diaper bags worth of stuff besides outfits just in case we had issues with blow outs or messes. Also, I made sure we had extra stuff for feedings and water to keep us both hydrated."

If your child is out of the breast milk/formula stage, Melissa, mother of three, strongly suggests, "Avoid giving them dairy products, especially milk. This holds painfully true when taking car trips. Milk vomit is the worst to clean up from the inside of a car and once it dries, the smell is horrid and is almost impossible to get rid of—especially while on a trip."

To keep post-explosion stress to a minimum, consider traveling in clothes you don't mind tossing out if necessary, and don't forget to pack a change of outfits for yourself and any other family members that might find themselves in Baby's line of fire.