Changing Diapers while at the parks

[Boog's Mommy]

Ok, I have a gross story to tell you, so if you don't think you can handle it, please pass this post and read the next one.





In January 2008 my husband and I took my 9 month old son to Disney World. The first day we got there, my son caught some stomach virus and ended up vomiting the first day and having diarrhea the next 2 days. We were not aware of the diarrhea situtation until we were having dinner at the Brown Derby restaurant. My son was giggling and laughing and having a blast, then all of a sudden my husband noticed a puddle on the floor underneath my son's highchair. Yes, it was exactly what you are thinking. My son's bowel movement was pure liquid. I had to scoop him up and run to the bathroom, while my poor husband had to get our waiter to get a mop and bleach and disinfect the floor and high chair. It was a horrible experience, but I was not embarrassed at all, because the wait staff was so kind and understanding. A lot of them were parents themselves and understood my situation. We got our food to go and headed back to the resort. After a day or two my son felt better and we were able to enjoy the rest of our trip.

During that trip I ended up using all 3 options...I used the wonderful Baby Centers, I used my stroller and pulled off to the side so I could get some privacy and I used the regular rest rooms. I had disposable changing pads with me and I also had little dirty diaper baggies, so that I could wrap the stinky diaper up and throw it away without the trash can stinking.

I think in any situation as long as you try to be considerate of others, you will do fine.

 

[cassiez76]

add me as another hater of the diaper changers!

i bring my fisher price portable diaper changer every where and have changed my son from the trunk of my car many times!

i think as long as your discreet, you can change them anywhere and wash your hands fast!

 

[MissionMouse]

Changing table in Family or Baby Care restrooms are typically fine as these are newer restrooms designed around the needs of taking care of the needs of the very young. In most public restrooms though, the changing tables are an after thought added years after the restroom was built. The tables are almost always in the most inappropriate location in the room and bring doubts that their actually cleaned when scheduled. If then, most people would want them cleaned after each use and we all know this does not happen.

What we always used was a portable changing pad. We used it and we cleaned the pad as if had a easy clean surface. It was very compact. We also carried hand sanitzer with the wipes.

 

[babyfacebabe86]

I don't have a problem with it. I think 99% of us have done it at some point in time. Do whatever is easiest!!

 

[adventure_woman]

I have not ONCE used a changing table at WDW. This will be our 4th trip -we've gone with her at 8 weeks, 23 mths and 28 mths. Everytime she needed to be changed, she was changed in my Graco stroller. When she was an infant I would change her anywhere in her stroller. When she turned into a toddler I would roll the stroller into the bathroom and change her in the stroller. I never had any trouble finding space to change her in the bathroom.

Now that she is potty trained, I am bringing a little One Step Ahead port a potty that I can set up on the floor of the bathroom that she will sit on. The idea of her having her hands all over the toilet seat grosses me out.

I try to cut down on as many germs as possible, and she has not once gotten sick while at Disney.

 

[bytheblood]

Why don't you just bring covers for the changing tables or a blanket of your own? That is what they are there for. Honestly, I would not want to walk by and smell a poopie diaper.

 

[Planogirl]

We used a changing pad and wiped down the changing table with disinfectant wipes. I prefered to use changing tables whenever we could.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Normal procedure for Custodial is to do the rest rooms hourly. And they will make sure the changing tables are clean.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

We picked up disposable changing table covers and would pull off to the side and change there. We never had any trouble.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I almost always used the stroller for my boys when they were in diapers. I always went to a secluded area. I have been known to use the trunk of a car or the back of my van too. There were a few times in disney when I braved the changing tables, but I always was creeped out by it.

One day at Animal Kingdom I changed my son on the changing table. Well wouldn't you know he decided to pee while I was changing him, and it went all over my changing pad and the table. There was a huge line behind me so I cleaned up with paper towels and diaper wipes and apologized to the woman behind me. She said no problem, and then placed her child right up on the table with no pad, paper towels or anything. She saw my son pee on the table! The table had not been cleaned with anything other than diaper wipes which are not antibacterial. I never used a changing table again after that. You never know what happened since the table was last cleaned.

 

[TRICKY_TINK]

I use the changing tables mostly but will settle for my stroller or a blanket somewhere out of view if need be.

 

[laughinplace199]

I've changed my kids in the stroller if they were just wet. However, if they were stinky, I used the changing table in the restroom or the baby care center, whichever was closer. I always bring disposable changing pads to put on the changing tables. My diaper bag came with a vinyl changing pad, but I wouldn't put that down on a public changing table and then put it back in my diaper bag. Gross. I also bring scented bags to dispose of the diapers, and lots of Purell, of course!

 

[Ktharee]

I seriously skeeve changing tables...do you think it would be rude of me to change my DS's diapers in his stroller if I take him off to the side where there isn't much pedestrian traffic? Just asking, please no flaming if you don't agree I'm sure we'll be using the changing tables, but just wanted to see other's opinions and if anyone else has ever done this. DS is 22 months

I understand how the tables are skeevey, we always brought disposable changing pads and laid them down. I suppose if you really go off to a secluded corner to change the diaper then that would be ok, but please put the diaper in a bathroom trash bin. It's kind of gross to see people putting a dirty diaper in a receptacle outside of a counter service restaurant while you are eating. Or at least buy those scented bags and close it tight.

 

[kissthemouse]

Now that she is potty trained, I am bringing a little One Step Ahead port a potty that I can set up on the floor of the bathroom that she will sit on. The idea of her having her hands all over the toilet seat grosses me out.

What kind of potty do you haul around the parks with you all day? I can't imagine my DD's little potty fitting in our stroller...

I did buy one of those foldable potty seats that go on the big potty (not this exact one, but almost http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=150774&cmSource=Search ), and it never fit right on public pottys that have the gap in the seat at the front.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Never used the changing tables myself. As soon as the kids could stand, we mastered the standing diaper change. Just went into a stall. Plus, then you have a toilet handy to flush the stinky stuff and a trash can for the diaper.

 

[vroomagain]

I use this potty: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3055781. It's not *that* small but it is incredibly sturdy and convenient.

What kind of potty do you haul around the parks with you all day? I can't imagine my DD's little potty fitting in our stroller...

I did buy one of those foldable potty seats that go on the big potty (not this exact one, but almost http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=150774&cmSource=Search ), and it never fit right on public pottys that have the gap in the seat at the front.

 

[ariel53098]

I didn't read all the replies, but I'm a germ-a-phobe and the changing tables were really clean to me when we went this past spring.
I did change one diaper when we couldn't get to a restroom quickly enough. It was a wet one, but she was VERY wet! I did it in a corner with the stroller turned around, etc and no one even saw it.
I'm not really a fan of doing that in a stroller and I wouldn't want to walk by and see someone doing it. HOWEVER, if you do it right, no one will even know what you are doing. I carry some old plastic grocery bags in the diaper bag and put the diapers in there, tie it up and then find a place to properly dispose of them. Even the smelly ones don't smell through those for a while (so you have enough time to find a trash can in a bathroom).
Rachel

 

[Mommytobree]

I always would wipe down the changing table and throw a changing pad over it. But, I don't think it would be a problem if you find a spot to do it that is not crowded.

 

[lauris87]

I just got back, and rarely used the changing tables with my 17 month old son. I was with a group of 11, and we stayed together most of the time, so it was so much easier to just pull over to the side and change the diaper in the stroller, especially if it's just pee.

 

[minniem]

I use this potty: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3055781. It's not *that* small but it is incredibly sturdy and convenient.

I just have to add that I love this potty and we use it quite a bit.
When my DD was first potty trained we would bring it with us b/c she was too small to really sit on the big toliet without putting her hands all over it. Now we use it in the car for emergencies.

As far as changing tables go I am skeeved about them too...I just think they are gross and don't get cleaned like they should. I think I used a changing table 2-3 times for all my kids in their lives and only when there was no other option.

I think it's ok to change in the stroller as long as your discreet. You could also wheel the stroller in the bathroom and change in there. We've done that quite a few times. As far as changing while standing, we used pull ups for our trip to WDW just for that purpose. Then I didn't have to lay DD down to change her especially if it was just pee. For poops it was a little more difficult, so I would lay her down and just rip the sides open and change it like a diaper.

I agree it's nicer to bring the little bags to dispose of the diapers in, just so they are covered and it contains the smell a bit better. I also have hand sanitizer to use after changes but if it's a poop diaper I always wash with soap and water. Hand sanitizer does not kill all the bacteria in poop (specifically c. diff-which causes diarrhea).

Good Luck and have fun...we took DD when she was just 2 and she had a blast!