Diaper change at poolside..would you say something?

[kelscross]

I also agree about changing a baby on a table that someone will eat on. The thing I also am amazed at...is the mother didn't put anything down for the baby be it on a table or a changing table!!

I work in a hospital and one of my patients had visitors and when I walked into the room the mother was changing her baby on the floor with no towel or anything!! Ewww....the hospital floor is the nastiest thing in the whole place! So I went and got a towel and offered it to the mom.

On our way back from the Disney Cruise there was a little one who obviously messed his diaper...okay...I'm not sure what I would have done in this situation. You're on a Disney Bus...it's approx 45+ mins to the airport, the driver can't stop the bus...do you leave the kid in the messy pants for everyone to enjoy the whole way or do you change him in the seat gagging everyone in the process? She changed him, but I think she should have went to the back of the bus or something. Tough call.

 

[labst60]

I defintitely would have said something. I am a Mom of 3 girls 5,4 and 18 months and can not even imagine someone doing something as disgusting as this.
It really amazes me at how many people(both Men and Women)do not show any common courtesy or any type of manners anymore, and how many Women i see that do not wash their hands after using the restroom...EEEEWWW (lol thats just a vent i needed get in here,,)
Anyway so sorry that you had to sit through that..but even more, i feel bad for the children of parents that act this way.

I am one of those women who you think are not washing their hands - I have read that the door is the dirtiest part of the bathroom, so we always squirt the hand sanitizer as soon as we get out - so I'm sure to others it seems that we "didn't wash".

 

[CampbellScot]

I am one of those women who you think are not washing their hands - I have read that the door is the dirtiest part of the bathroom, so we always squirt the hand sanitizer as soon as we get out - so I'm sure to others it seems that we "didn't wash".

you want to know something else? The SINKS are sometimes just as filthy as the toilets and door handles!! I'm a bit of germ phobe though and my doctor said that soap and running water is important to getting hands clean,so I use a paper towel to turn on the sink, don't touch ANYTHING, wash my hands with soap, use a paper towel to open the door and then I do anti bacterial gel once I get out!! One bout with staph that infected a teeny cut I had on my hand during a week as a camp counselor and dirty bathrooms made me VERY afraid of public restrooms. It was AWFUL. Although I try not to go nuts with the anti bacterial as we NEED our immune systems to be challenged to stay healthy.

I don't think people realize what they are exposing others to when they plop their babies dirty behinds on a public eating surface. Seriously.

 

[Dicecatt]

I am one of those women who you think are not washing their hands - I have read that the door is the dirtiest part of the bathroom, so we always squirt the hand sanitizer as soon as we get out - so I'm sure to others it seems that we "didn't wash".

Off topic I know...but couldn't you wash your hands, and if the door is that scary, use sanitizer after? Sanitizer doesn't get anything off your hands, should something be on them, if you get what I am saying...especially if you have kids, that might not be the best way to go about sanitizing...I don't mean it as an insult, just my opinion. Personally I do both...wash, then sanitize...but I've got to wash!

 

[daisyduck123]

I definitely would've said something.
That's just gross!

 

[TheDizMom]

That is so gross . People just don't think . It reminds me of on of the flights I was working when I was a flight attendant. I was heading up to first class and this woman at the bulkhead was changing her baby's very messy and smelly diaper right on her tray table . I was flabbergasted. When I asked her why she was doing it, her excuse was the bathroom was to small to change it in. I told her I understood they were small but that A) the smell was bothering the passengers around her (for a good 5 rows in either direction at least) and B) that people eat their food (we were still serving food in those days ) from those trays. It was just so disgusting . At the very least she could have used the seat or the floor in front of her since she was at the bulkhead. Needless to say when we landed I made sure the groomers cleaned that tray table really really well . In case you are wondering, the answer is yes this really did happen .

 

[wannago2disney]

ok I just gotta say it...YUK...just the thought of it gives me a whole body shiver.

As a mom with one still in the potty training stage (DD is 2), that would soooo tick me off. We try to hit the washroom if available...if not then I have done it on my lap sitting on the ground at the park. And I would absolutely say something...and the fact that it was so close to your table,...that is completely inconsiderate and inappropriate.

Just one question...if she was too lazy to walk to the washroom, did she dispose of it in the closest garbage can too for all the rest of the morning diners to appreciate?

 

[Limmer]

When I read the title I too, was thinking, yes I would change my baby by the pool. Why go back to the room? But in her stroller or on the grass or somewhere removed from food. All I would be thinking is what if my 3 year old sits here later? She is not known for keeping her food on her plate (which grosses me out to no end).

The bus thing would be hard. Nobody would want to sit near us for 45 mins after a dirty diaper. There would be complaints, I couldn't do it and it is my kid! Is there not a bathroom on the buses? I think the lesser of those two evils would be to change the baby.

I have changed both my kids on the floor of my minivan in parking lots. Not pleasant for those walking by but I won't let her have a dirty bum for the time it would take us to get home. My kids are prone to diaper rash though. As long as the diaper is disposed of properly. One of my pet peeves is lazy, gross people who leave them in parking lots. eeeewwwww!!!

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

When our girls were babies, we couldn't stomach the thought of what invisible "yuckies" might be on the baby changers. We'd normally change the baby in our car. If we were out and about, there was the occasional stroller change away from other people. I can't really remember if we did a bench change, but if there were no other options, I would definitely put something down and try to avoid doing so when others were around. I would never change a baby on a table! Yuck! I have to admit, though, that my DH did something that embarrased me once. We were in a back room at a restaurant since it was a large family group. No one else was in there. When we were done eating and were moving around talking, instead of taking our dd to the car to change her, he discreetly laid her on a chair with a blanket and quickly changed a wet diaper. He then gave her to me and went to the bathroom to dispose of the diaper and wash his hands. We were at a table in the corner and no one saw, but I was mortified that someone would see and say something! I don't know what he was thinking. Ack! I should have just taken her out the car myself.

 

[TravelinGal]

duplicate post... sorry

 

[TravelinGal]

I was always pretty laid back about changing DS's diaper, but I would never ever have changed his diaper on a table where people eat! That's disgusting.

I admit I changed him in a booth at a restaurant (on the seat of course) when he was itty bitty. And I'd stop and change him on the floor if necessary if we were at someone's home etc.

Now, I apparently have, based on what I've seen other people do, a very unique way of changing diapers. I put the clean diaper under my child while his dirty diaper was still on him. I then opened the dirty diaper - cleaned DS keeping the wipes in the dirty diaper, and then took the mess away while the clean diaper was still under all this. His bottom never touched the surface I was changing him on - and we always had a plastic bag open and handy for the dirty diaper, so it was never laid on any surfaces. I also don't get how you get poo on your hands changing a diaper. Maybe I'm just super anal, but I never got my DS's poo on my hands. No fecal matter to deal with. (But I did always cleanse with a hand wash gel or with soap/water afterwords anyway)
I never thought it was that unusual to put the clean diaper underneath before changing, but I've never seen anyone else do it since I started noticing about a year ago.

Now DS is potty learning and my fear is how to find the closest bathroom at WDW in Sept when he says he has to go "NOW!" (don't worry, I won't let him go in line or on the side of a building...gross!!! You'll just see us frantically running to the closest bathroom.)

Oh - I'm sure some of you will just LOVE this...I also changed DS's diaper in Spaceship Earth when the ride got stuck. We'd been sitting there for 15 minutes already and he'd had a stinky diaper for about 10 of those minutes. He was hurting (sensitive skin - got diaper rash easily). (and so were our noses!) DH got our our little flashlight and we took care of him. (like I posted above - so his bottom never touched the seat) Diaper went in a plastic bag and got tied off and stuck in the diaper bag. No more stink. No more fussy baby. It took another 20 minutes for the ride to get going. It was a BAD breakdown!

 

[gasperdam]

I can't tell you how many times I changed my kids diapers right before leaving the house only to have them "fill it it up" 2 seconds later.

I guess I don't have a problem with this mother changing her child on a bench.

Who knows how far her room was. Also imagine if she had other children with her. It would be hard to convince them to go back to the room when they are so excited to get to the parks. I think it was a better choice than taking the child with the offending odor on the bus for everyone to enjoy

I also try to give the mom and child a little privacy and direct my kids in another direction.

We have all been there!!!

I agree with you. My dd is still in diapers and trying to control
my other two ds's while changing her can be a lot, let alone having to worry
about where the next restroom with a changing table will be. I have changed her in the van or on a bench or on a changing pad in the grass.
I'm sorry if it upsets others but it is better than having a stinky, miserable child!

And, yes, I too, have changed her in a booth at an almost empty restaurant (it was wet and there were no changing tables in the restroom), but no I never could on a table people would eat upon.

 

[kileybeth]

last time we were in Disney I had 2 in diapers, one a 2 year old (tiny bum for 2 but still a taller child) and a 5 month old w/ medical issues and on a monitor (heart) who simply could not be left unattended at all or be exposed to germs (unreasonably so)

Please don't ask why we were in Disney and tell me you would have stayed home, I had been home, for 5 months to be exact and we needed to get away from Doctors and stress (sorry about that rant!)

Back to changing diapers in less than ideal locations for 2 who never could seem to coordinate their needs! I have found there are so often out of the way places to park your self, your changing pad, your huge honking double stroller or whatever it is rarely necessary to offend others.

And amen to those scented bag thingys. But sometimes when you have one in the pool , one who is a mess and no other adult to help, you feel stuck. That said, my rule of thumb is do whatcha gotta do, do it quick, and do it in the 8 seconds no one is looking! (not on a table tho!) And of course, clean up after yourself!

I am also a pro changer tho, my own family usually doesn't know what I am up to!

love love love disposable changing pads and rarely use those nasty changing tables in womens rooms. Never use a table tho, a bench for a 6 pound baby on her own blanket and pad tho? yup. (but not if stinky for everyone else to smell)

 

[Princess Minnie5]

I have 2 kids. DD is 12 and DS just turned 2. There is no way I would ever consider changing a diaper ON A DINING TABLE. That is just disgusting. What would I have done? I would like to say that I'd have the guts to approach her and tell her how unsanitary and unhealthy it is to do such a thing. But honestly, I probably wouldn't. I might gag and made a big to-do, stating loudly to DH how nasty and inconsiderate she is. I'm a loud coward. I would have told a CM to sanitize the table and I would of got up and left, disgusted. As the OP and others have mentioned she could have used a lounge chair with a towel underneath it, her stroller, bathroom, etc. There were just too many options for her.

We were at WDW in December and had lunch at Backlot Express one day. As we left, we walked through the outside dining area and I noticed a mother who was changing a poo dipe in her daughter's stroller right by the table she was eating at. I was so grossed out and gave her a dirty look. It's one thing to change a diaper in a stroller in a discreet place, but in the dining area of a restaurant? Puh-leeze. There were other adults with her. She could have either moved her stroller elsewhere or gone to the the bathroom. I'm glad we weren't sitting near her table. I'm against changing a diaper in dining areas. Period. I'm sure she didn't wash her hands afterwards. I don't care if she had hand sanitizer. You need soap and water.

BTW: The post about soap and water is right on. DD and I use a towel to turn the sink handle and door handle. We also give each other disgusted glances when we see someone who hasn't washed their hands. Sorry, but I'm sure that the majority of women who walk out don't use hand sanitizer, not that it's a good alternative. Like someone else posted, both would be best.

I'm also grossed out by that lady at Dixie Stampede. A dirty dipe in a soup bowl? That woman was nasty and insane.

I probably sound intolerant, but I am sympathetic to parents who have to make do. Bus stop bench with changing pad underneath? I think I'd look the other way. I'd rather them use a stroller and move away, though. But if she didn't have a stroller . . .

By the way, I too hate changing tables. I'd rather change DS in the car, NEVER leaving a dirty diaper in the parking lot. Disposable changing pads and scented diaper bags are great inventions.

 

[WildGrits]

It's been a long while since I have had to change a diaper. Thank the Lord.

Personally I don't see the issue with changing at the bus stop or any other public area, not on a table of course. We are all naked under our clothes. But I ALWAYS used my changing pad.

A lady in man in a bathing suit smaller than I would dare to wear? I really don't care, I work for the Lottery, not the modesty police. Actually I probably would have pointed her out to my hubby and said, "look there's a little magic for you here to ".

As for changing on a table. Yes that is quite classless. But like the OP said, these where tables outside. You should already assume that they are dirty. Lots of wildlife living around the WL.

I have never owned a hand sanitizer. They make no sense to me. You can ask any nurse how to get out of the bathroom still clean. Wash your hands grab a paper towel to use to turn off the sink. Wipe your hands. Toss your towel and grab another to open the door. Toss in the nearest basket.

Of course you still are in WDW with a bazillion strangers. So to think you can keep the germs away is foolish. And using a ton of hand sanitizer is just going to crack your hands causing you to be subceptical to germs anyways.

 

[averysmom]

Yuck!!!

My fav. story though about diaper changes is at Chef Mickey's - a woman changed her toddler's poopy diaper on the floor right there beside her table!

She was so concerned about missed the characters that she just went and did it I guess!

Another lady who was sitting by her just about had a heart attack! She reamed that lady out like crazy!

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

No way, no how would I diaper a child on a table (unless it was a changing table.) My are older now, but I've changed them in the stroller, on the back seat of the car, on the floor but always on the changing pad.

I would have spoken to a CM about the person changing on the table. Ick!

 

[guelde96]

Yech -yes I would have asked them to find an appropriate place to change the diaper and alerted a CM.

I also don't understand the comparison between a bikini or thong or speedo and changing a diaper on a table meant for eating. It isn't about the possible sighting of a naked baby but rather the germs and general distaste of that situation.

TJ

'

Having your bottom hang out at a family resort is generally distasteful.

 

[Golden Rose]

I've got a two year old son who has very sensitive skin and is very prone to rashes, and I have to admit that I have changed him - on a changing pad - on the floor at friends' houses, in the back of our van, and on the occasional public bench when we just couldn't find a bathroom around. I've even changed him on the counter or the floor of the bathroom in restaurant bathrooms that just don't have changing tables. I'll usually wait if he is just a little wet, but if he gets poopy, he has to be changed pretty fast.

So while I have a little sympathy for changing on a dining table, I wouldn't do it (YUCK!), but I totally understand using a public bench. As far as some of the bus stops at Disney are from the room, it can take 15 minutes to get to the stop, and that would be another 30 minutes round trip to head back to the room and then back to the bustop. My sympathy is with the mom on that one!

We'll see how it goes for us in September...

 

[auntie]

The idea of "do what you gotta do"....I have to tell you..anyone who has been a parent has been in that situation at one time or another. Sometimes it's pretty darn inconvenient.., but doing what you have to do..sometimes means doing the right thing..and not whats convenient. That's just being parent. If a child has a poop diaper...then what you have to do..is get the other child out of the pool, and go to an appropriate place and change your child. I'm sorry, this business of changing a child on a restuarant booth...I don't see a reason for that. Why wouldn't someone just go out to their own car and change the child there? Aside from that they could be spreading germs associated with fecal matter..why would you want to expose your child to germs where other people have put their butts down? In this case..this woman was not poolside alone. Her other child was in pool, along with her husband, and what appeared to me grandparents. She could have at the very least used a stroller..or even a lounge chair, had she spread a towel out under the babe. She just didn't want to miss anything. She changed the baby without having to bend over...and still kept on looking at the pool area where her relatives were having a fine time. She could have indicated to one of them, that she had to leave..and just taken a few steps away in the stroller to a less populated area and change the baby. It's one thing to say..we should have figured it was an outdoor dining area, and should expect that there might be germs from other sources..like wild life. I mean we all sit at public tables every day..and I certainly don't wipe them all down , but by the same token no one wants to smell or look at the butt of any child as the parent wipes crap off of it..espeically while they are eating!