We don't want to smell your baby's butt!

[Trjgul]

I feel I must 'fess up too.

In Germany, some places are a bit lacking in such facilities. When my MIL came out here (daughter was about 2 months at the time), we were in a little cafe and I needed to change the baby, but there was no changing table there and the nearest one that I knew of was quite a walk. I put down the changing pad on the booth seat right next to me (I knew NOT the table, ick!) and changed her as quickly as a new mother could.

I'm sorry, I really am!

[Seshat]

Trgul, NorthernZel,

You used a changing mat (or blanket). That shows a greater level of consideration than many - and than most of the people who get complained about in these forums.

NorthernZel, Tollbaby,

Disabled bathrooms need a lot more space than they often get, don't they?

Spork,

You could try checking the disabled bathrooms (in many places, they're standalone and both-genders), see if they have enough space for the purpose. Or ask for a family bathroom to be installed at the mall.

[Kogarashi]

Spork,

You could try checking the disabled bathrooms (in many places, they're standalone and both-genders), see if they have enough space for the purpose. Or ask for a family bathroom to be installed at the mall.

I second this.

I took Oldest with me to a convention when she was 6 months old, and there were no changing tables to be found in any of the women's restrooms in the convention center. I ended up placing her, changing mat and all, on the floor of the handicapped stall so I'd have enough room to work.

And then there was the Friendly's we all went to with my parents and sisters out in Boston. It has changing tables in the women's room, but not the men's room. When our waitress explained this to Hubby, she added that we should contact corporate to ask them to remedy that, as plenty of fathers will change diapers too.

[NorthernZel]

Disabled bathrooms need a lot more space than they often get, don't they?

Nah, over here they're pretty spacy. Even though Lil'Zel is able to use an ordinary toilet now we still prefer a disabled bathroom when avaiable, since the toilet is placed a bit lower + Lil'Zel tends to feel a bit claustrophobic when he has to use a "normal" booth.

I do also support that separate changing rooms should be avaiable. One of the places we often visit has only changing tables in the ladies' room and Mr Zel has been uncomfortable having to go to the ladies' room to change the baby - but then again he couldn't help laughing when he was in there, some ladies went in and were JUST ABOUT to get mighty offended - until they saw the baby on the table and went all "awwwww how cute"

[Kogarashi]

I do also support that separate changing rooms should be avaiable. One of the places we often visit has only changing tables in the ladies' room and Mr Zel has been uncomfortable having to go to the ladies' room to change the baby - but then again he couldn't help laughing when he was in there, some ladies went in and were JUST ABOUT to get mighty offended - until they saw the baby on the table and went all "awwwww how cute"

Or at least make sure something like those "Koala Care" stations are in the men's room too.

Our handicapped stalls seem roomy enough here, but it's probably my skewed perception since I've never needed to take a wheelchair in there. I'm clearly not the one to ask if they're big enough.

I do know that at the call center I worked at, the regular-size stall was far too small for any "average" sized person. Didn't help that they hung the toilet paper dispenser on the wrong side of the stall, and you could tell. The toilet was offset in this ridiculously cramped stall, and the dispenser was bolted to the near wall instead of the far wall, so my knees kept knocking against it while I tried to sit. Additionally, I could hit both stall walls with my elbows without having to stretch at all. That had to be the most uncomfortable stall I've ever been in, and that includes the grody campground stalls.

[Seshat]

Our handicapped stalls seem roomy enough here, but it's probably my skewed perception since I've never needed to take a wheelchair in there. I'm clearly not the one to ask if they're big enough.

Depending on the handicap, you need to be able to push someone in a wheelchair into the stall, help them out of the wheelchair and onto the loo, help them back, turn the wheelchair around (which isn't an 'on a dime' thing if you're pushing it), and push it out again.

Many that I see seem to be designed on the assumption that a person in a wheelchair is able to roll up facing the loo, transfer from a wheelchair that's facing the loo to the loo - somehow turning themselves around in the process - and transfer back.

That's fine for the wheelchair athletes of the world.

[MadMike]

When our waitress explained this to Hubby, she added that we should contact corporate to ask them to remedy that, as plenty of fathers will change diapers too.

As a former single father, I ran into that problem myself a few times. Thankfully, it didn't happen that often, and before my son was out of diapers, I saw more and more places put those changing stations in the men's rooms.

I'm surprised that there are still any places left that only have them in the ladies' rooms.

[EricKei]

I do know that at the call center I worked at, the regular-size stall was far too small for any "average" sized person.

I'm hardly "average-sized", so I have run into this issue fairly often. I've even been in booths where the TP dispenser is located, at least in part, ABOVE the seat >_> ...Thus, requiring some maneuvering to gets one's butt down upon the latter without hitting the former, presumably even for skinny people. I wouldn't know.

[Teefies2]

Getting back to the diaper changing thing, I just don't understand. When my kids were in diapers ... thankfully a LONGGGGG time ago ..... I would rather go back out to my car (and did, many times) than choose to diaper on a bench, a shelf, or a restaurant table (Yeee Gods !!!!!!!!!!!)

Maybe I'm just too anal about it?

[XCashier]

Getting back to the diaper changing thing, I just don't understand. When my kids were in diapers ... thankfully a LONGGGGG time ago ..... I would rather go back out to my car (and did, many times) than choose to diaper on a bench, a shelf, or a restaurant table (Yeee Gods !!!!!!!!!!!)

Maybe I'm just too anal about it?

No, you're not, I did the same thing. I've changed my son on the changing mat on the car seat more than a few times. Awkward, but better than some of the "alternatives".

My first job was at a pizza restaurant. Many times, I've seen people change their babies right there on the dining room tables, leaving the dirty diaper sitting amongst the pizza pan and plates! And these tables were usually the ones within twenty feet of the restrooms! Oh, and guess who got to bus the tables?!

Needless to say, that stuck with me. I decided then if I were to have any children, I'd take them to the bathroom or the car and change them there. It's totally tacky and rude to make someone else clean up your mess.

[Kristev]

I know. But It is my job. I just hate the primates I clean up after.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Depending on the handicap, you need to be able to push someone in a wheelchair into the stall, help them out of the wheelchair and onto the loo, help them back, turn the wheelchair around (which isn't an 'on a dime' thing if you're pushing it), and push it out again.

There is a scene in Death at a Funeral that shows how not to do this. (I saw the English version.)

[Peppergirl]

Getting back to the diaper changing thing, I just don't understand. When my kids were in diapers ... thankfully a LONGGGGG time ago ..... I would rather go back out to my car (and did, many times) than choose to diaper on a bench, a shelf, or a restaurant table (Yeee Gods !!!!!!!!!!!)

Maybe I'm just too anal about it?

Not just you.

Mine are 23 and 20 now, so yeah - its been YEARS, but I'd haul-ass out to the car and change them on the back seat if I was desperate.

Sure, it made MY car stink for awhile but hey. MY kid, MY problem.

I've never personally witnessed anyone changing a diaper on a restaurant table, but I've sure as hell read about them here and I'm always in a state of about it. I can't imagine a diaper emergency so dire that it would require someone to do THAT. I'd consider that an arrest-able offense. (kidding).

[Kogarashi]

I've never personally witnessed anyone changing a diaper on a restaurant table, but I've sure as hell read about them here and I'm always in a state of about it. I can't imagine a diaper emergency so dire that it would require someone to do THAT. I'd consider that an arrest-able offense. (kidding).

Seriously. We had a diaper emergency in a restaurant once (blowout with a 1-year-old). What did I do? Hauled butt to the restroom to handle it, rather than contaminate our benches or, heaven forbid, the table with the mess. Ick. You just don't do that where you eat! Do these people change diapers on their dining table at home too?