On Public Changing Tables
I didn’t think this warranted a full-on “doctrine”, but what’s the deal (if I may get all Seinfeldian for a moment) with baby changing tables in public restrooms?
I’m sure they are far more common now than ever before, but it still surprises me that so few places bother to install them in the men’s room at all. ”A man changing a diaper? Don’t be absurd!”
Maybe it’s just simply pragmatism by the business. There have been a number of times I’ve been changing my son in a public restroom and someone coming or going will give me a look that says (or will actually say) that they’ve never seen one being used before. I’ve actually had men say “Oooh, that’s what that’s for.” So perhaps it’s just that they’ve calculated that the expense to install/upkeep such a thing is more than that of a few men annoyed by being denied the opportunity to change a diaper. Something tells me they don’t get a lot of complaints.
(Actually, I won’t lie . . . sometimes when the family is out together somewhere that has deemed men unfit for diaper duty, it can be a handy excuse for why I can’t be the one to go change our son. “Sorry, honey, no changing table in there!”)
But although that whole thing is a frequent annoyance, the bigger issue I’ve noticed is that I think I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve found one available that actually has functional safety straps. I can also only think of one time the little disposable pad dispenser actually had anything in it (not counting someone’s dirty diapers . . . ew!), but I’m more concerned with non-existent or broken buckles. These aren’t grocery store shopping carts, where if the seatbelt buckle is broken (also a strangely frequent occurrence) you can just get another cart. No, it just seems like nine times out of ten they are either broken, missing one end, or missing entirely, and your choice is to trust your reflexes or work one-handed. Maybe one of these days I’ll start keeping track and get some hard numbers, ’cause it really seems like broken is the norm.
Is it the same in women’s restrooms? Or do the ones in women’s restrooms get fixed because they’re more likely to get complaints? Curious.
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11 responses to "On Public Changing Tables"
The men’s restroom at Crossroads Mall has a changing table! One advantage of the low frequency of use of changing tables in men’s restrooms is that they’re often in practically new shape.
Just one more reason Crossroads rules.
You’re right that not being used frequently means the ones in men’s rooms are often in better shape — probably more hygienic too — though that makes me wonder even more at how often they’re broken.
Maybe Koala Kare just doesn’t kare enough.
Greetings from a random follower of your blog (HS friend of Anna’s.) They are always broken in the women’s bathroom, too. And always out of liners.
Don’t worry, Anna will be able to return the favor for bathroom trips once your little guy is bigger and needs to use the men’s bathroom during mealtimes.
Random friends of Anna’s are always welcome.
In my experience, it’s the same in women’s restrooms. I’ve only ever seen the changing pads once as well, and the straps are usually missing or broken. But honestly, it’s never occurred to me to complain. Perhaps I should start.
I never use the safety strap, I prefer to live dangerously . . . (actually they gross me out because how can they REALLY disinfect those things??) And FWIW, at least one of my mom friends has confessed to cutting the safety strap in a moment of panic when she could not get the buckle undone. So maybe that solves that mystery for you anyway, LOL. But I DO think they ought to have a change station in both the men’s and women’s. IKEA sets a good example: they have a family bathroom and even provide the diaper.
Oh yes! IKEA’s restrooms are wonderful for that. I was very impressed.
What’s funny to me is that I would have never noticed that sort of thing before we had Tucker.
Hey Chris, we have noticed the same things. We travel across country once or twice a year and actually plan our meal stops based on places we know have changing tables in the men’s room. I do diapers while my wife nurses. Works quite well.
Would a strap with velcro sewn at each end be usable? Can’t remember, but I think their broken (or missing) strap goes through a whole of some sort for the strap to go around the table. If so, I’d be happy to make one for you and send it your way. If I made it with a heavy fabric, you could also throw it in the wash from time to time. Let me know if it would work and, if so, how long it would need to be.
I encountered this issue recently when traveling through LaGuardia Airport in New York. In the secured gate area I was in, there was only one men’s room with a changing table in it – and that restroom was closed for cleaning. So, my only options were to either (A) leave the secured area and then endure the security lines once again, or (B) find some out-of-the-way place to do it in the gate area.
After explaining my quandary to the nearest gate agent, I managed to secure a sweet spot behind/under a Delta service counter. Playing the ‘helpless dad’ card has its privileges!
I hate the broken safety straps! Also worst thing I found in the liner dispenser? Bacon. Honest to goodness bacon.
If the table is in clear disrepair and is completely unsafe I’ll usually go over to customer service and bring it to their attention, and then suggest that the customer service counter actually looks like a safer, cleaner place to change her and that I hope it gets fixed soon.
In the winter I’ll usually just go out to the car and change her there which is a pain in the butt. (especially in winter!)