Public Diaper Changes, What Are the Guidelines?

[northriver]

This thread is way to funny!

I have two kids well out of diapers so perhaps my memory is faulty, but I only remember once ever changing a poopy diaper in public ever. My dd not quite two was very very sick, vomit, loose poop, high fever. Our flight had been cancelled and we somehow got seats on another flight which had a standby list of like 120 ppl, more than the seats on the plane. So when my dd had an accident JUST before boarding, I had to change her on the floor of the airport in a very crowded area. I was horrified, I had the other two members of my family circle around me for a bit of privacy. The nearest bathroom was a LONG way away and there was no way I was going to miss that flight!

When my kids were little, we had a stroller with a full recline, so I'd change them on that, usually in a handicapped stall of the bathroom. Whenever possible, I'd get to my own car for a diaper change. I always carry a thin baby blanket, and would change them on the floor of a bathroom when needed. I'd put the blanket in a plastic bag after using it so any ick from the floor wouldn't contaminate the other items in my diaper bag, lol. Again, love those handicapped stalls for the extra room. Two kids, 5 total years of diaper changing and only once ever was a handicapped person waiting on me, so don't feel guilty for using the handicapped stalls.

 

[pktbMouse]

Oooh I agree. changing a baby on top of a picninc table is very unhygenic...the baby could catch anything..you just dont know been eating there

 

[maxiesmom]

Ok ,if you are flying and there is no changing table in the bathroom here is the best way to handle it. Assuming the seat belt sign is off. Have your DH get out of his seat. (Now you have two empty seats.) Put the changing pad over the seat to protect it and your baby from anything icky. Have DH hold up a blanket to provide some privacy. QUICKLY change your baby's diaper. Pack that diaper up in a zip lock bag and dispose of it where the flight attendent tells you to. Problem solved. The changing pad keeps the seat safe from goo and it's a cleaner place than the bathroom. It's not ideal but it's better than the top of the toilet seat.

I'm a firm believer if there are changing places in the bathroom that is where a child should be changed. Please do not change them where I can see them. Whatever you do please do not change them on the tables where I might eat my dinner!

Well, you are contradicting yourself. Many people eat in their airline seats. So you are changing your baby's diaper where people eat. And the people sitting across from you can see it! So you are expecting a courtesy of others that you yourself are not giving.

Also, you seat is never the place to change your baby. Even if you have your hubby's seat as well, do you not think the others sitting around you can smell it? Gross! The only place to change your baby is in the bathroom. Keep an extra blanket or pad and put that on top of the toilet lid to keep the germs off of your child.

 

[nooneshome]

I can’t believe I didn’t see the obligatory comment on the numerous “baby bidets” located throughout each park!!

​

 

[cmassey]

my daughter is almost two and we are right in the middle of this whole topic. i still feel the same as i did when my son was toilet training:

when i see a parent change a diaper anywhere other than a bathroom or on the ground in a discreet area (when absolutely necessary) i think that person is a disgusting, foul individual and i pity the child for being raised by someone with such little regard for hygiene, public decency and their own self- respect.

"dueling banjos" begins running through my mind.

where do the little boys who pee in the bushes in public learn that behavior? i wonder.

 

[missfigment]

A few years ago, while at disney waiting for mickey's philharmagic, this lady plopped down on the floor (no changing pad! ) and changed her what looked about 9 month old's diaper. i just thought to myself...uh-uh Number one....gross! Do you know how many people walk on that floor? Your kids tush was just exposed to like a bajillion germs. Number two...(no pun intended) No one wants to see that. She didnt even make any attempt to ensure some privacy. Just right there in the middle of everybody! Number three...even though my son is still just a baby...there is no way Im gonna put him on display for everyone to see what should be private.

I change diapers in bathrooms, I have changed them in my car, and once when we traveled by train, I did have to change on the seat, however i brought a blanket to lay down on the seat and threw a blanket over the overhang so that it created a curtain for us. I dont think anybody needs or wants to see whats going on.

 

[bdiddy]

I would never change on a bus or monorail either. We just went in Sept and our son was just over 2 and not potty trained. We took our own double stroller and I would just find a corner and lay him back in the stroller and put the top shade down - I don't think anyone would have any idea what we were doing.

 

[m2j]

I have a crazy phobia of public restrooms so I have always tried to avoid using them. When my children were in diapers that needed to be changed and we were out in public, I always found a secluded area and changed them in their reclining stroller. I put a few changing pads under them so that nothing would get on the stroller seat. Hopefully I never offended anyone...like I said I would find an area where there were VERY FEW people.

 

[inkkognito]

I can’t believe I didn’t see the obligatory comment on the numerous “baby bidets” located throughout each park!!

​

Good lord, you have brought up a repressed memory for me. I saw that once and successfully put it out of my mind till now. Ugh, I nearly tossed my cookies when I saw it (I think it was at Epcot).

 

[scottish mum]

A few years back we got on a wdw bus and there was a woman changing her toddler on it. The bus was stinking, anyway she changed her put diaper in a bag left it on a seat and then changed seats herself. The bus was still waiting to pull off so myself and whole family got off the bus and told the driver what the woman had done. There was no way I could have stayed on the bus with the smell that was there. I have 3 kids and there is no way I would ever have changed them on a bus. If they were smelly well we just had to miss that bus and change and wait for another

 

[TinkPearl]

We just got back from 7 nights at the World a few weeks ago and we took our 9 month old. He had many "messy" diapers while we there unfortunately (I think due to trying new food) Anyway.......I ALWAYS changed him in a bathroom or baby care center! There was never a need for me to do it anywhere else......I was actually a little embarrassed when he had a very bad diaper and I had to change him in the Crystal Palace bathroom. Their changing table is small, and cramped between the sinks and the entrance door......but there wasn't anything I could do but try to be as quick as possible. At least I was using the right area!.....but I felt so in the way, I hated it! Poor DS cried everytime I layed him on those metal changing tables but never minded the ones at the baby care centers, love those!

 

[Colleen27]

Wow, and I thought I was casual about this! If there's a bathroom available that's where I'd change my kiddo, but I have been known to toss a blanket or changing pad on the ground for a quick change in places where bathrooms aren't readily available (like the ballfield where my older kids play, where port-a-johns are the only facilities available). And I've gotten a fair bit of criticism for that from people who think that an out-of-the-way patch of grass isn't private enough. But on a picnic table? A restaurant booth? Ewwww!

At Disney, I can't imagine why you wouldn't just find a bathroom. There are plenty of them and they aren't all that far apart. And unlike the real world, they ALL have changing tables!

 

[tartemis]

I see nothing wrong with changing diapers in public places, as long as you can find an area that is not surrounded by people. If you throw down a blanket first (and who doesn't) its not like you are exposing other people to potential germs. (Of course, I wouldn't ever do it on a table or other eating surface.)

A crowded bathroom where your ittle one's butt is two feet from the face of someone else seems to be more of an offense. The Baby Center's are, of course, ideal.

Also, I think people are a little too uptight about shielding baby's "private" areas. They are babies -- not full grown adults. If you didn't know already, exposure to sunlight can be one of the best ways to prevent or cure diaper rash. When we went to Disney with my 5 month old daughter -- on more than one occassion her little tush was exposed to the sun when we laid by the pool so that it could get some sunlight.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Eww....I agree about the resturant booth etc.....I would never change a dirty diaper there.....if I had driven to a resturant that didn't have a changing table....I'd go out to my car to change the diaper....I wouln't do it in a booth....

 

[Disney DieHard]

Sorry, a bathroom or changing station is the proper place to change a diaper! I think when people go on vacation they leave their brains at home!

You know, I once saw a Mom changing, what had to be, her 10 year old son's pull-up type diaper at a bench in World Showcase. Mom took of the boy's shorts had him take off the pull-up and step into a new one ... right out in the open!

While I have no problem with an older kid being in diapers at Disney...

(We had to jump out of line a few times for bathroom emergencies)

... I do have a problem with changing any age in public! It's just not appropriate, I'm sorry!

All these Mommies and Daddies who slam their kids down on a public table or bench and do the deed would be the first one's to be offended and complain it was done to them. My parents NEVER did that with me or my sister when we were in diapers and if you're going to use the convenience excuse or it's a hassle to find a bathroom excuse then maybe you should have waited until the children were older.

(This is a generic comment not directed at anyone)
Besides ... what makes YOU so special what while other Moms and Dads look for a bathroom you just throw your kids down on the first flat surface you see?


Have A Magical Day!

Frank
Disney DieHard

 

[woodkins]

If you would not let your child pull down their shorts and go where there are then you should not take off their diaper wherever they are. There are changing tables and baby care centers for a reason. I am a parent and I have NEVER changed my daughter in a "public" or "outdoor" area, and the thought of someone using a restaurant booth is just appalling.

 

[Disney DieHard]

If you would not let your child pull down their shorts and go where there are then you should not take off their diaper wherever they are. There are changing tables and baby care centers for a reason. I am a parent and I have NEVER changed my daughter in a "public" or "outdoor" area, and the thought of someone using a restaurant booth is just appalling.

Woodkins, you are my hero!!! Thank-you! You are what "Good Parenting" is all about!

"There are changing tables and baby care centers for a reason." I LOVE IT!!!

Have A Magical LIFE!

Frank
Disney DieHard

 

[distherapy]

If you would not let your child pull down their shorts and go where there are then you should not take off their diaper wherever they are. There are changing tables and baby care centers for a reason. I am a parent and I have NEVER changed my daughter in a "public" or "outdoor" area, and the thought of someone using a restaurant booth is just appalling.

I agree 100%. I saw someone changing her baby's diaper on the long communal booth at Mama Melrose's and was completely disgusted. It wasn't hard to notice, and I certainly wasn't looking too closely - she was about 1 foot from us on a shared surface.

The bathrooms were close by, I have no idea what compelled her to use the booth - so unhygienic. Not to mention, bathrooms have handy sinks and soap where the mom can was her hands - a restaurant booth? not so much.

Totally disgusting and uncalled for.

And it's not a case of my just not understanding how tough it is to be a mom - I'm a mom of twins and have changed two wiggly babies in a bathroom (and in a plane bathroom!). It's called common courtesy.

 

[muscarello4]

When we need to change a diaper QUICKLY and can't wait to get to a changing table, I will take care of it in the stroller. Just park the stroller in a private area, recline it, and carefully take care of business. I always have plenty of wipes and hand sanitizer and the only thing we are defiling is the kids OWN stroller. If your not a messy diaper changer, you really don't tend to make a mess. I really don't see what all of the fuss is about.

 

[PrincessBelle94]

I've changed my son in public more than once. It's amazing the places for families that don't have a changing table (Burger King being the first the comes to mind). I have changed him on a plane in our seat, on benches at our local amusement parks (bathrooms are not plentiful), and anywhere else that was available to us. He is at a point now where the changing table scare the snot out of him & he screams bloody murder when laid on one (I think it's because his feet hang off the end and he feels like he's falling). I have changed him in many booths and if people can see what I'm doing when I do it, then they're watching too closely.

Just my 2 pennies thrown into the pot.

Who cares if (you think) someone is "watching too closely"? Someone else has to sit on that booth.