Flying with cloth diapers isn’t glamorous. Let me be upfront about that. When you’re crammed in an economy seat at 30,000 feet with a squirming toddler who just had a blowout, you’re not thinking about saving the planet or your wallet. You’re thinking about survival.
But here’s the thing: we’ve been doing this for seven years across three continents, and we’ve figured out what actually works.
The Reality Check
First, let’s address the elephant in the airplane cabin: most people think we’re crazy. And you know what? On some flights, they’re right. There are times when disposables make more sense. I’m not going to pretend otherwise.
But for the majority of our travels, cloth has been not just doable, but actually preferable. Here’s why and how.
What We Pack
For a typical 8-12 hour flight, here’s our setup:
- 6-8 cloth diapers (we use pocket diapers for flights - they’re the most compact)
- 2 large wet bags (one for dirties, one as backup)
- 1 small wet bag for immediate changes in the tiny bathroom
- Travel-size pack of wipes (yes, we use disposable wipes for flights - pick your battles)
- 1-2 disposable diapers as backup (for takeoff/landing or emergencies)
The System That Works
Before Boarding: Change into a fresh cloth diaper right before you board. I cannot stress this enough. Start with a clean slate.
During Flight:
- We change in our seats for wet diapers (yes, really - with a changing pad and some strategic positioning)
- For poopy diapers, we brave the tiny bathroom (more on this below)
- Everything goes immediately into the wet bag - no rinsing, no spraying, nothing
The Airplane Bathroom Reality: Those airplane bathrooms are hilariously small. Here’s our technique:
- Fold down the changing table (if there is one - not all planes have them)
- If no changing table, we use the closed toilet seat with a changing pad
- Quick change, everything into the small wet bag
- Back to our seat, transfer to large wet bag
What About the Smell?
Good quality wet bags are your best friend. We use PlanetWise bags, and they truly are odor-proof. After 12 hours, you cannot smell anything from outside the bag. Flight attendants have never once complained or even noticed.
When We Use Disposables Instead
I’m not a purist. We use disposables for:
- Overnight flights when we need the extra absorbency for sleep
- Very turbulent conditions where changing is dangerous
- When we’re sick (parent or child - no shame in making life easier)
The Cost-Benefit Analysis
Here’s the honest math: we’ve spent about $400 total on our travel cloth diaper setup (bought over time, not all at once). We fly internationally 4-6 times per year.
If we used disposables for every flight, that would be roughly $40-60 per trip in diapers we’d need to buy or pack. Over seven years, we’ve saved approximately $1,400-2,000 just on flights alone.
Plus, we don’t have to worry about running out or finding the right brand in a foreign country.
Tips From Seven Years of Trial and Error
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Don’t overthink it. Your first flight with cloth might feel awkward. Your tenth will feel normal.
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Explain to your seatmates if needed. Most people are curious, not judgmental. We’ve had some great conversations.
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Gate-check your diaper bag if possible. Having everything accessible makes changes so much easier.
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Wash as soon as you land. Hotel sinks work fine for a quick hand wash if needed. Most Airbnbs have washing machines.
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Lower your standards. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about doing what works for your family.
The Bottom Line
Is cloth diapering on planes harder than disposables? Yes, marginally. Is it impossible? Absolutely not. Is it worth it for our family? Most of the time, yes.
The key is flexibility. Some flights we’re 100% cloth, some we’re 50/50, and occasionally we’re all disposable. And that’s okay.
We’re not trying to win any environmental awards here. We’re just trying to travel with our kids, save some money, and not contribute more than necessary to landfills. If you’re curious about trying it, start with a short flight. See how it feels.
And if you decide it’s not for you? That’s fine too. Parenting is hard enough without judgment about diaper choices at 30,000 feet.
Have questions about traveling with cloth diapers? I’m happy to share more specifics about our setup or troubleshoot your particular situation.