Flying with a baby is already an extreme sport, but for one Oregon couple, it became an Olympic event.
Mark and Sarah Penewit were midair with their 13-month-old, Dawson, when they realized they were about to face every traveling parent’s worst nightmare: a full-blown, high-altitude poonami.
The couple, en route to Michigan for a work trip, had just settled in when Sarah noticed a suspicious brown spot creeping up Dawson’s clothing. And unfortunately for everyone on board, there was no turning back—the plane had just taken off.
A diaper disaster at 30,000 feet
The couple scrambled to contain the mess, opting to change Dawson right in their row, grateful for an empty middle seat. But the blowout quickly escalated beyond anything they could have prepared for—his back, hair, and even ears were coated. Sarah took the brunt of it, with poop ending up on her arms and even her face.
With Dawson wailing and wipes disappearing at record speed, Mark made the dreaded walk to the flight attendants to ask for plastic bags. Fellow passengers braced for impact, but instead of side-eyes and sighs, the couple was met with kindness—an unexpected lifeline in the middle of the chaos.
Related: How traveling with kids can reshape your view on motherhood
The internet has thoughts
Once they finally got the mess under control, Sarah took to Instagram to share the aftermath—and let’s just say, parents everywhere had opinions.
Sarah shared a now-viral clip on Instagram (@sarahppen) documenting the aftermath, complete with the caption: “Poop was everywhere 😳💩 It was on my face at one point… I wish I was kidding.”
Parents were quick to commiserate: “We just took our first flight with our 6 month old and it went so well but this was def a fear of mine! It happens though and you just gotta laugh about it! “—@misssarahp83
How to prepare for the inevitable when flying with a baby
As someone who traveled with my newborn at just two months old, I know the stress of being hyper-aware of everyone around you. You do the best you can to keep your baby comfortable while silently praying that no one gives you the side-eye—or worse, a passive-aggressive comment. But the truth is, babies are babies. They cry, they poop, and sometimes they unleash a level of chaos that can only be met with deep breathing and a whole lot of wipes.
Related: Travel or have a baby? 7 reasons I chose BOTH
Here are a few parent-tested survival tips for flying with a baby
- Dress your baby in old or disposable clothes for flights. “Traveling a 14-hour flight soon with my toddler, and this reminded me to put him in old clothes so I can toss them if he poops through.” —@shoejean2
- Bring a wet/dry bag for messy clothes. “Large Hanging Wet/Dry Cloth Diaper Pail Bag for Reusable Diapers or Laundry on Amazon always works for us in situations like this!” —@f.aith.777
- Pack multiple outfit changes—for baby AND you. “This is why I always travel with several gallon sized ziploc bags and a change of clothes. Always!!!” —@whereiskim5280
- Don’t forget wipes—a LOT of them. “I think I used an entire package of wipes once when this happened in a department store. Stroller, baby—everything covered!” —@tfoxy386
- Always keep a spare air sickness bag in the seat pocket. “Bad time not to have the air sickness bag in the seat pocket! 😂” —@dianakdee
- Be mindful of your baby’s diet before flying. “My 2.5-year-old was living on apple juice for two weeks before our flight home. The poor kid had the worst poonami in the airport lounge. Lesson learned: Watch what they eat before traveling!” —@tutus_and_treasures
- Keep a sense of humor. “My first grandson pooped the minute he got on a plane or when my daughter was boarding. It happened for the first year of his life 🤦🏻♀️🤪.” —@teveretts50
The best travel essentials? Extra ziplocks, a whole lot of wipes, and the ability to laugh through the chaos.
