Is it okay to change a baby’s diaper at a table?

[kevschickee]

Yep. She told me I was unreasonable and that I couldn't possibly understand because I didn't have children. Oh, yeah, she went there... and I was in the throes of infertility treatments.

She sounds like a peach ugh

 

[minkydog]

I don't think Starbucks should have apologized. The parents were upset because they got called on their inappropriate behavior. Maybe if more people got called out on their behavior we would see less of these bizarre happenings.

I go to two Starbucks in downtown Boston. Neither one even has a bathroom. I would be disgusted if I saw someone changing a baby at one of the tables.

My daughters were infants in the 1990s and somehow we managed to get their diapers changed even though there were not many changing tables. I remember being excited when I found one and didn't have to put a changing pad on the floor.

Yeah, and you should try changing an older kid in there. My youngst, Christian, is 18 but due to developmental disanilites he wears Depends. Very few places have a family restroom which would afford us the needed space in which to change him. MANY times I have escorted him out to the car parked way in the back of a parking lot and strippedw his wet clothes off and cleaned him up. Inconvenient, for sure. But you're not gonna see me throwing a tantrum over it

 

[Blessedwithboys]

I believe that there is a vast difference between having a restroom that can accommodate those people with disabilities and having a restroom that has a baby table in it. I imagine that a business needs to consider teh number of employees available to clean the bathroom if patrons decide that it is okay to leave filthy diapers laying around rather that placing them in sealed bags. They also need to worry about patrons who allow their children to head to the restroom alone, and those children use the tables as a jungle gym, and they also consider their liability if a baby is left unattended for even a moment and that child injured.

I took my babies with me and always made sure that I had the appropriate materials to keep the baby clean. It was not always convenient for me but that was my issue, not anyone else's.

I have seen many more 'wrongly disposed of' feminine products than I have ever seen 'wrongly disposed' of diapers. But maybe that is just in my area. Even choosing most of the time to not use the changing tables in restrooms and take care of my child in the comfort of our vehicle I still think that the option should the there in EVERY restroom.

 

[Arielle22]

I have seen many more 'wrongly disposed of' feminine products than I have ever seen 'wrongly disposed' of diapers. But maybe that is just in my area. Even choosing most of the time to not use the changing tables in restrooms and take care of my child in the comfort of our vehicle I still think that the option should the there in EVERY restroom.

That is a business decision to make. As another poster said, if you don't like the lack of a table, don't spend your money there and let the management know.

My niece waitressed her way through college and told stories of diapers being left behind at a table. It was not a one time occurrence.

I think wrongly disposed of feminine products is gross as well.

 

[krcit]

Tell me this - where on earth did my mother change MY diaper when we were out in public (I'm 43). I actually don't know the answer, but I can guarantee you that it was not at a restaurant table. And those plastic, fold-down bathroom changing tables did not exist either.

I was just going to post this!! How on earth did our parents manage

 

[Nancyg56]

I agree that feminine care products should be disposed of properly, and do not understand why some people do not.

 

[kevschickee]

I agree that feminine care products should be disposed of properly, and do not understand why some people do not.

I don't understand it either

 

[Wendy31]

The employees, while probably in their right to be annoyed with the prospect of baby urine or feces on their seats, should have kept quiet. Customers are seldom ACTUALLY right, but you still try to treat them that way.

Meanwhile, the family should have thought more about what they were doing and how it affected everyone around them and changed their child in the car.

The father escalation of dumping his coffee was just really immature.

Normally, I would agree w/ you that the employee should have kept quiet.

However, maybe if more people start calling other people out on their rude, self-centered behavior, more people would start thinking before they act.

I also don't believe that Starbucks should have issued an apology. I actually think less of them for apologizing than I do of the employee for saying something.

The couple was wrong. Why should their behavior be excused? And why does Starbucks need to apologize?

Bad behavior is bad behavior, & if Starbucks had not apologized & their lack of apology caused this particular couple (& other couples like them) to no longer patronize Starbucks, what has Starbucks really lost?

I cannot believe a grown man would spill his coffee on purpose! How childish & jerkish is that?!

We never changed our kids' diapers on changing tables in restrooms - too germy! We would take them back to our car. I've also changed their diapers in their strollers in out of the way places.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Normally, I would agree w/ you that the employee should have kept quiet.

However, maybe if more people start calling other people out on their rude, self-centered behavior, more people would start thinking before they act.

If they had a policy, the employee certainly should have said something, he (or she), should have just worded it differently to not be rude.

 

[lizzi6692]

If they had a policy, the employee certainly should have said something, he (or she), should have just worded it differently to not be rude.

For all we know the employee wasn't rude. A customer who was caught doing something wrong is not the most reliable source for information about what actually occurred. For all we know all the employee did was walk behind the counter and inform the manager or someone else that had the authority to deal with the situation. Not saying the employee was definitely in the right, but I wouldn't immediately jump to accepting the customer's story either.

 

[Wendy31]

If they had a policy, the employee certainly should have said something, he (or she), should have just worded it differently to not be rude.

You're right. And the employee should not then have been talking & laughing about the couple w/ other employees within hearing distance & in view of the couple.

The employee was a bit rude too.

However, I still think the employee should have said something - but perhaps more politely.

 

[kevschickee]

Some times you have to be rude to get your point across. If the parents are ignorant enough to change a diaper where people eat then I'm guessing a nice little comment wouldn't prob do any good.

 

[Social Worker Sue]

Even choosing most of the time to not use the changing tables in restrooms and take care of my child in the comfort of our vehicle I still think that the option should the there in EVERY restroom.

I don't.

Some places are not meant for children. My favorite restaurant does not have anything child related and I am so happy for that

 

[kevschickee]

I don't.

Some places are not meant for children. My favorite restaurant does not have anything child related and I am so happy for that

I agree!!!! Everyone does not have to.cater to children.

 

[branv]

Given the way the father behaved, can't help but be entirely skeptical as to his side of the story about the "attitude" of the employees. Hard to trust a man who clearly has the emotional maturity and anger management of a 2 year old (and that doesn't even take into consideration the type of people who would change a baby in that manner and not even think twice about it...blech!)

I was at a family dinner at a restaurant with DH's extended family. At the end of the meal, but while some at the long table were still finishing drinks/snacking, his cousin's husband plopped their baby ON TOP of the table and began changing her. We must have gotten a horrified look on our faces, b/c his wife took one look at DH and I whispered to her husband to put her on the chairs. Of course, these are the same people who laughed at me b/c I wouldn't throw my trash out the car window ("what do you care, they pay people to clean that up!"). Kind of funny that they both go on and on about how "trashy" or "redneck" other people are acting. Cough...

 

[Arielle22]

If they had a policy, the employee certainly should have said something, he (or she), should have just worded it differently to not be rude.

I spent 5 years working as a retail manager. I learned quickly that customers were quick to paint themselves as angels and employees as the devil when the customer didn't like what was said to them.

Maybe the employees were laughing about something unrelated to the custoemr and the customer was paranoid.

 

[Wendy31]

I don't.

Some places are not meant for children. My favorite restaurant does not have anything child related and I am so happy for that

I agree. Not every place is intended for children. And that's perfectly fine.

I've never been offended by any restaurant just because they may or may not have a changing table in the restroom. Honestly, I don't even look.

And, regardless, there's absolutely no excuse for changing your child's diaper at the table.

I spent 5 years working as a retail manager. I learned quickly that customers were quick to paint themselves as angels and employees as the devil when the customer didn't like what was said to them.

Maybe the employees were laughing about something unrelated to the custoemr and the customer was paranoid.

This is true too.

Do we really believe the account of the father?

 

[jrmasm]

Do Starbucks locations generally have highchairs?

 

[Wendy31]

Do Starbucks locations generally have highchairs?

I've never seen a highchair at any Starbucks.

 

[kevschickee]

I've never seen a highchair at any Starbucks.

Me either