Changing Your Tot's Diaper in a Public Place

[Turquesa]

Yesterday, I took my LOs to an FEC (Family Entertainment Center), which has lots of toys, indoor playground equipment, etc.  The set-up is one giant room with couches integrated throughout.  There’s a café off to the side with tables, but eating is permitted anywhere on the premises.

At one point, DS (age 20 months) started reeking like poo, so I took him to change his diaper.  The place was PACKED, and it was lunchtime.  All of the tables and couches were filled with people eating.  The bathroom was not an option.  Even with a belt, DS is uncontrollable on the changing table, and it presents a falling hazard.  The bathroom floor is unsanitary.  I finally found a place by the side of a couch where my friends were sitting and changed a very messy diaper. 

Twenty minutes later, an employee approached me and told me VERY kindly and politely that somebody had complained about me changing a diaper in “the eating area.”  She explained that they didn’t like to see that while eating their lunch. 

I replied just as politely that while I was sorry to offend customers, I was also in sort of a bind.  I explained that bathroom changing tables don’t work with a squirmy toddler (and can even be a hazard), and the bathroom floor wasn't the most sanitary option.  (I do use a changing pad, but DS is constantly squirming off of that!  His poo stays contained on the pad when he does that, so I just use a sanitary wipe to get it off when I’m done).  The employee was really sweet and promised to work with management to brainstorm some solutions. 

I should make it clear that nobody involved over-reacted—not me, not the employee, and frankly, not even the customer who complained.  I totally get not wanting to see a poopy diaper while you eat lunch!  I’m just not sure what I should have done in that situation. 

There weren’t really any remote places there.  I agree that the sanitary aspect of changing a diaper (blech!) needs to be balanced with the need to find a sanitary place to do it.  I'm just not sure how to strike that balance.  (Read: I really do want to do the right thing, so no flames, please!  )

It also got me thinking….most public places aren’t even half as accommodating as this business, which is clearly designed for small children.  What is the right thing to do when you’re in public, the bathroom isn’t an option, and there’s no room in your car?  How do YOU deal with changing your tot’s diaper in public?

Edited by Turquesa - 3/29/11 at 4:52pm

[Chamomile Girl]

Well shoot right at the end you killed the car option . That is what I normally would have done. If I thought the diaper was really bad I might have left though. Because with a nasty poopy diaper its not so much the unsanitary aspect as the smell...if you're near food.

I do think though you did the best you could given the circumstances. The FEC you describe sounds like heaven to me. A place where kids can play that serves food (and dare I hope...coffee??). Sigh. Wow.

[just_lily]

No way would I change a poopy diaper near where people were eating.  Sorry.  I am not surprised that someone complained.

I have changed diapers on the floor of public bathrooms before.  As long as you aren't laying your child in a puddle of urine or something, I don't think it is that bad.  Usually I use the handicapped stall, and move as far from the toilet as possible.  I also changed her on a toilet lid once, when she was a baby and could fit. 

In this case a change table was available, your kid was just likely to squirm off it.  In that instance I likely would have enlisted my friend to come and help, or let my kid have a really yummy cookie or something as a distractionary technique. 

I have changed diapers on front bucket seats of my car before.  Not ideal, but will work in a pinch. 

If the bathroom was beyond disgusting and there were no other options I would have found a corner of the floor as far away from people eating as possible and changed there.  I would not change a stinky diaper on the couch next to a friend even if there weren't people eating around. 

[HollyBearsMom]

Honestly I can not imagine that the floor on the side of couch (or the couch itself, not sure which it was) in a FEC was any cleaner than the bathroom floor. Chances are that in the space of a day the bathroom floor would actually be cleaned more often then the play area.

Where you really lost me was the "reeking of poo" comment. I know it seems like splitting hair but a messy diaper is one thing but a reeking diaper?   I could barely deal with smell of my own child's poopy diaper, never mind someone else, while I was EATING.

My initial reaction is that I would seek out one of the employees and explain the situation.  I can't imagine you were the first mom that this has happened to but that might be a more a hindsight reaction. If you didn't know there were employees around it might not have been front of mind.

1) risk the changing table, enlisting my friend, or buying a treat at the little cafe to keep the child occupied

2) used the bathroom floor unless noticeably disgusting (urine, feces,etc), possibly spreading out my own jacket if the changing pad wasn't big enough.  

3) left and made some room in the car (move the car seat, shift stuff around in the trunk, etc)

[Drummer's Wife]

I've changed many toddler - and older, even - diapers in the front seat of the car, so I think there is room in the car to do so - even if it's the driver or passenger seat.  It's not the most comfy place, but it's better than an eating area or a filthy floor.  I've also changed diapers on the grass outside of establishments (out of direct view), and I am really good at changing with the kid standing up - so the dirty floor doesn't really matter. 

[rachelsmama]

I got in the habit of changing diapers with the kid standing up as soon as I could...it makes the dirty bathroom floor less of an issue.

[babymommy2]

In this case I would have chosen and have done all fo the below

1st the change table with distraction

2nd, the floor of the bathroom in the handicapped stall near the edge

3rd, the front seat of the car

4th my stroller. You can change a toddler in a small umbrella stroller. Not easy, but I have had to do it more than once.

If it is just pee, I have changed diapers with a toddler standing up. Hard to do with a big mess though!

[number572]

Please no flames toward me for posting this b'c I've never done this myself!  But, My sister uses a small spray bottle filled with bleach/water solution (I imagine you could use tea tree if you prefer) to spray the floor then toss a few paper towels down and wipe the floor with her foot.  Then she'd put her plastic floor changing pad down & change my niece.  She didn't like those bathroom tables either and I've seen her also use the counter when its big enough.  I think those plastic table seem flimsy, I don't think I'll use them either.

[pammysue]

I have changed many diapers in a stroller with the back down flat. I have also changed in the driver's seat. It is not easy and can be messy, but it is doable. And in the grass too (as long as it is not too cold). 

[tzs]

i would also say that changing a toddler poo in an eating area....or even just a seating area where there were other patrons...is a no-no in my book. 

in my case if changing table wasn't an option i'd do bathroom floor (yeah, might be invisibly gross but so are toddlers ;)...plus, a dirty diaper is 100% visibly gross)

if not then i'd find a quiet corner.....never thought of the car but now i'll have to keep it in mind.

all this is assuming that i'm not just going to pretend i didn't smell it though 

[swede]

I agree - changing a poop diaper (especially a bigger kid) in an eating area is not appropriate.  Once time we were at a restaurant that didn't have changing tables in the bathroom and when I asked the manager about it, he said we were welcome to use his office.  I also have used my coat as a giant changing pad - it can be washed.

[jessica_s]

Originally Posted by rachelsmama 

I got in the habit of changing diapers with the kid standing up as soon as I could...it makes the dirty bathroom floor less of an issue.

[lifeguard]

I always had my sling or a extra large receiving blanket with us so I could lay that down on any surface to change ds on. We never had issues with him being overly squirmy so I've never felt that a change table was unsafe - but we did diaper changes at home exclusively on a change table (I know many do not) & didn't tolerate squirming so it was just normal habit for us.

[Peony]

At 20 months, I'd change in a corner of the bathroom with the child standing up. I had to do it yesterday! I prefer doing it in my car, in the driver's seat if need be, and will certainly head outside if that is an option but if I have too many children with me to dash outside then I head to the bathroom. I never use a changing table. 

[marispel]

I learned how to change my DS standing up and to be honest - I love it - it is sooooo much easier.  No more squirming, no more begging him to lay down and I can do it anywhere.    The hardest part is putting on the new diaper - otherwise, it's super easy.    I just tossed my changing pad on the dresser a few weeks ago - every change is done standing up - even the messy ones.  

[crunchy_mommy]

Wow lol... we stopped using changing tables around 9mos old!! And that's also about the time we stopped changing DS in public, because he didn't like it (don't ask me why, maybe he felt exposed or maybe he just didn't like the stimulation of so many people around? )

But anyway, we just change him standing up in the bathroom stall. I ask him to hold his shirt up, which helps a ton but also gives him a 'job' to occupy him while I'm cleaning him up. We follow that with a chance to pee in the potty (which he takes great pride in!) I can't imagine changing a diaper anywhere BUT the bathroom (and no way is he lying on the floor... or on a changing table, for that matter -- they gross me out and he would likely fall off).

[Zimbah]

I think number572's idea about spraying the floor down first (in the bathroom) is a great idea.  I'm not surprised someone complained, there's no way I want to see or smell a 20 month old's pooey nappy when I'm eating - or to be honest even if I'm not (e.g. at a soft play place where no food's allowed) as it's bad enough when its your own child!  If the floor was really disgusting how about explaining to an employee and asking if they would be able to clean it quickly.  If it's just general public bathroom floor dirty, then I've spread out paper towels before and then put my own little change mat on top of them, but I think the suggestion of giving it a quick spray first is better.

[Everrgreen]

I would not change my toddler's diaper in a public area even if it was just a pee, definitely not a poo!  I either use the change table or the stroller (reclined).  If I was near the car I would use that too.  How old is your toddler?  My son can calm his squirminess on the change table when I remind he could fall and be hurt.  Distractions are good too ("here hold this random item from my purse"), or "can you help mama by holding your legs up high?"  (he loves being able to 'help').

I'm curious how all of you change a toddler poop standing up??  I've tried this before but it is impossible to clean the poop off of him.

[chel]

I agree, never change a poop diaper in an eating area, ever.

I have a tiny old Honda civic and often change my 1 yr old on the frontseat.

[emilysmama]

This wouldn't work for an SUV, but we have a tiny Camry.  I have been known to lay my child on the hood of the car (after checking to make sure that the engine and/or hood is cool), and change the diaper right there.