Back brace and bathrooms

[LavenderPeach]

DS who is 3, has a back brace for scoliosis and he is not potty trained at all. His diaper goes under the brace so in order to change his diaper I have to remove all his clothes, stand him up to remove the brace, change the diaper, lay him down to put the brace back on (per doctor's orders) and then have him sit/stand to get the clothes back on. The changing tables in public restrooms seem too small and not sturdy enough to have a 3 yo standing on it, laying on it and sitting on it. He's too big to change in the stroller. Any ideas of how we can accomplish diaper changes in this situation?

I'm actually planning on a trip to DL, not WDW but i thought this forum might have more experience with this sort of thing than the DL board and i figured it wasn't a question that would necessarily be specific to a certain park.

Thanks for the help!

 

[honugirl]

First aid or baby care centers. They may not be the most convenient, but I've heard that a lot of people use them with good success. Also there may be some family restrooms around, but I couldn't tell you where they are. There may be a map somewhere?? Good luck. Have fun.

 

[SueM in MN]

DS who is 3, has a back brace for scoliosis and he is not potty trained at all. His diaper goes under the brace so in order to change his diaper I have to remove all his clothes, stand him up to remove the brace, change the diaper, lay him down to put the brace back on (per doctor's orders) and then have him sit/stand to get the clothes back on.

Hopefully, some posters with Disneyland experience can help out. I will start you out with some information from Disneyland and also based on how things are at WDW (which I think would be the same at DL).

If the restrooms at DL are the same as at WDW, most of the Ladies rooms (and even Men's rooms) will have a sturdy changing table. Most of the WDW ones are a solid surface or stainless steel countertop. The WDW ones are about the height of an average kitchen countertop and are about 36-40 inches long. I would expect the DL ones to be similar. You can find out more about DL bathrooms by doing an internet search for "happiest potties on earth". Although they would probably work, you would have very little privacy.

I think your best bet would be First Aid. They should have cots in individual cubicles or rooms so that you would be able to have some privacy.
According to the DisneyLAND Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities, they are located at:

• Disneyland Park on the northeast end of Main Street, next to the Main St. Photo Supply Company
• Disney's California Adventure Park in the Golden State, next to the Mission Tortilla Factory
• Grand Californian Hotel and Spa - call (714)635-2300
• Disneyland Hotel - call (714)778-6600
• Paradise Pier - call (714) 999-0990

They also have some Companion Restrooms. I don't have any direct knowledge of them, but here is a list:

• Disneyland Park at First Aid (this may actually be in First Aid , that's how it is at WDW).
• Disneyland Park at Frontierland near the entrance to Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante
• California Adventure Park - at First Aid
• California Adventure Park - 'a bug's land' outside of Flik's Flyers
• Hotels - in the lobby of each hotel tower

If they are like the Companion Restrooms at WDW, many of them will have a sink and toilet, but not a changing table. So, if you use them, your only option for laying down would be to place your child on the floor

On this page from the Disney site, you can download a copy of the Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities for DL.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Thanks for the suggestions! I knew I would get some good answers here.

I will definitely check out First Aid when we go.

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

While the changing tables in the ladies rooms might be sturdy, most of them have limited space. My daughter was one month from her 3rd birthday when we were at Disneyland, and I remember feeling like she didn't fit so well on the tables. Maybe not all of them, but she was definitely too long for many. For extra space to stretch out, check out the baby centers. Have a wonderful trip.....

 

[LavenderPeach]

So, if we want to try going to First Aid, do you suggest just showing up and asking them if we can do a diaper change there (explaining why) or do we need to go somewhere else first and ask about it?

 

[SueM in MN]

So, if we want to try going to First Aid, do you suggest just showing up and asking them if we can do a diaper change there (explaining why) or do we need to go somewhere else first and ask about it?

You can either go to Baby Care center or First Aid.
I'm assuming that First Aid is the same as at WDW - each WDW First Aid has a waiting room with some chairs and tables. At one end of the room there is a sign-in desk and a door that leads back into the First Aid department. The CM at the desk will ask you to sign in and ask what the purpose of your visit. Don't be concerned about that; they are judging why people are there. They just need to know a bit to let them know what they may need to do to help you and what sort of room you would need. They are also required to keep a log of the visits made by guests.
All you would need to tell them is that you need to do a diaper change and need a little extra room and privacy because of the brace. You don't really need to go into much detail.
I use First Aid pretty frequently to take my DD to the bathroom at WDW because the Companion Restrooms are often too full for us to us. I felt kind of foolish the first few times saying "we're here to go to the bathroom", but the staff were all very nice and welcoming.

Also, if your child gets hot and needs the brace off for a few minutes in a cool place, First Aid is a good place for that.

 

[Disney1976]

So, if we want to try going to First Aid, do you suggest just showing up and asking them if we can do a diaper change there (explaining why) or do we need to go somewhere else first and ask about it?

As someone who has used the First Aid stations at WDW many times, you shouldn't have to explain why you're there (I'm thinking it's pretty similar at DL). Basically, just ask them if you can use a private room, and they'll show you to one. You'll have to sign in with name and time as they have to keep records. At least at WDW, the rooms are very nice -the table they have is large (like a doctor's examination table, except comfortable) and covered with that same white disposable paper like a doctor uses. Some of them have large disposable pads under the table you could use too (but don't count on that, I'd bring my own). There is a garbage can inside the room to dispose of the used diaper (some may even have a seperate can labeled for used diapers). When you're done, just let the nurse at the desk know, so they can change the paper for the next guest.

Oh, and I agree with the pp about the changing tables at DL -the tables aren't like the large ones you find almost everywhere at WDW, but much smaller -maybe because that park was built years earlier. In general, I found bathrooms hard to come by at DL and smaller in size, whereas in WDW, you practically trip over the bathrooms and they are large.

California Adventure, if you go there, has bigger changing tables, that would probably support your 3 year old just fine. Also, I am almost positive that in the "Bugs Life" area at California Adventure, there is a companion bathroom area with changing tables.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm not sure DL First Aid has individual rooms, but they have long, low 'beds' that can be separated from each other with existing curtain partitions.

There are two Companion Restrooms in the First Aid location, but while large, I don't remember there being changing tables in them.

And since I didn't ride an ECV sideways off a curb at California Adventure, I never got to see the inside of First Aid there

 

[SueM in MN]

This is a picture of one of the First Aid rooms at MK at WDW. There is a curtain that can be pulled across the front of the room to block it off from the hall.
MK at WDW also has some individual rooms with doors.

I don't have pictures of Epcot, but they actually have a large room with room divider cubicles and curtains to section it off into different rooms.

kaytieeldr, does this look like what you remembered at DL?

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

I've been to DL. The First Aid does have doctors office type rooms with doors. There is an exam like bed, chairs, and sink.

I would also suggest getting instant ice packs from an athletic store as braces get hot.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Thanks SueM for the picture of First Aid so I can get a general idea of what to expect. Looks like there would be plenty of room for us.

And yes, the brace does make DS hot so those ice packs would be a good idea. We live near DL but more inland and it gets SO hot here so I try to keep him inside with the A/C as much as possible. Being 3 years old, he loves to go outside and doesn't care how hot it is. If I let him, he would play outside all day, even in the heat!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks SueM for the picture of First Aid so I can get a general idea of what to expect. Looks like there would be plenty of room for us.

And yes, the brace does make DS hot so those ice packs would be a good idea. We live near DL but more inland and it gets SO hot here so I try to keep him inside with the A/C as much as possible. Being 3 years old, he loves to go outside and doesn't care how hot it is. If I let him, he would play outside all day, even in the heat!

Even though the pictures I posted are MK at WDW, it sounds like First Aid at DL looks very similar.

Another thing to keep cool is neck wraps. They are made of cloth that has a small amount of polymer beads sewn inside. When wet with cold water, the beads expand and the evaporation of the water cools you. This website has some neat Disney ones and the maker says she donates the money paid for them to the American Cancer Society.

 

[mykidsintow]

Another thought/suggestion.... from experience.

My daughter has had a backbrace for years (she is now 5, got her first at less than a yr). For cases such as Disney or going out and about when she was not yet going to the potty.....

I would put the undershirt hers requires then her brace. I would take any extra shirt (we have ultra stretchy shirts and just tank shirts for under her brace, both come out the bottom) and pull them out around the bottom edge. I would take a maxipad, yes even for a boy who cares! I would put one in the front and one in the back around the bottom edge of the brace (width wise). Then I would put a diaper/pullup over the pad. Easy peesy and SO MUCH EASIER to change!

With a light wetter or once he is beginning to train panty liners work as just backup or even for padding on his skin because without a diaper it can rub and pads are nice sanitary (ha!) ways to keep them padded but moleskin just gets icky down there, even when pottytrained. However, for still in diapers I recommend a pad. Then when you change him if the back is dirty or front is damp you can peel and pitch and not take the brace on and off.... just slide a new pad up under the edge and wrap around.

Companion restrooms are good. First aid places are good. Have a great trip!

 

[LavenderPeach]

Another thought/suggestion.... from experience.

My daughter has had a backbrace for years (she is now 5, got her first at less than a yr). For cases such as Disney or going out and about when she was not yet going to the potty.....

I would put the undershirt hers requires then her brace. I would take any extra shirt (we have ultra stretchy shirts and just tank shirts for under her brace, both come out the bottom) and pull them out around the bottom edge. I would take a maxipad, yes even for a boy who cares! I would put one in the front and one in the back around the bottom edge of the brace (width wise). Then I would put a diaper/pullup over the pad. Easy peesy and SO MUCH EASIER to change!

With a light wetter or once he is beginning to train panty liners work as just backup or even for padding on his skin because without a diaper it can rub and pads are nice sanitary (ha!) ways to keep them padded but moleskin just gets icky down there, even when pottytrained. However, for still in diapers I recommend a pad. Then when you change him if the back is dirty or front is damp you can peel and pitch and not take the brace on and off.... just slide a new pad up under the edge and wrap around.

Companion restrooms are good. First aid places are good. Have a great trip!

Thanks for the great suggestion! I will definitely have to give that a try. I thought about doing pull-ups over the brace but wondered about the shirt getting wet so your suggestion would solve that problem.