Changing babies in public bathrooms...?

Question

I have a 4 month old and I refuse to change my daugther in the public washrooms, I just find them to be a big germ magnet. My fiance prefers I use the washrooms to change her instead of out in public in front of everyone, but I don't like the washrooms and I just change her where ever I am. Any opinions on this?

Answer 1

You can change the infant in your car. Just lay her sideways in the front seat (with her butt facing the door), kneel down and change her. I've done that. Then the baby still has some privacy because you are in front of her plus the car door is behind you, even if it is open.

Answer 2

You don't think you get germs other places? Better wash your hands everytime you handle money. Money is the nastiest thing on this planet. Take a vinyl type changing pad and place it on the changing station. Use antibacterial wipes afterward and wipe down each side of the pad. You can't protect your child from all germs and some germs help him to build up his immunity. I mean, you are out in public anyway. THere are germs everywhere. You are assuming everyone washes their hands after using the bathroom and using something to open the door with and never touching anything else. Germs are everywhere! Doors, light switches, money, restaurant tables and chairs, come one! Get real!!



If you simply use a blanket, how are you going to sanitize it? How will you know which side touched the changing table? next time you go to change him, you might put the down side up and he'll touch the God forsaken germs!!

Answer 3

What's in public washrooms that's so different from what's already in her diaper? I'm sure he doesn't mean that you should sit her in a puddle of filth while changing her. Many washrooms have changing tables that the facility's staff knows to keep clean. If such a table isn't available, wipe down a counter with a baby wipe and dry it with a paper towel. Even better: carry a changing mat in her diaper bag.



If you're changing her at a restaurant table or on the floor in an airport, you're doing the very thing that grosses you out about public washrooms.

Answer 4

I changed all 3 of my children in public washrooms.. i got diaper bags with build in collapsible changing pads so there was always a clean place to lay the baby down...



Contrary to popular belief public restrooms that are cleaned regularly are pretty germ free. During a college biology course we were assigned the task of taking bacterial swab samples from all over the college then culturing the bacteria to see what was the most bacteria laden.. All swabs taken in the restrooms grew far less bacteria then swabs taken from places such as a button on the elevator, a tray in the cafeteria, a stairway banister and a door handle...



The chemicals and cleaning products used in the cleaning of public restrooms and the cleaning schedules make then pretty clean and germ bacteria free..



With a small precaution such as a portable, collapsible changing pad (there is not always a changing station available) changing baby in the restroom (a visibly tidy one) is no more dangerous or germ ridden than allowing baby to touch the resturant table, or other public objects..

Answer 5

If you have one of those big strollers that lay flat, what you're doing is no big deal if you angle the stroller in the proper direction. As for public restrooms, some of them are filthy, but most of them are reasonably clean. My son is 11 months old and is very healthy. We change him in restrooms all the time. I always have a changing pad with me, so that he never comes into direct contact with the surfaces, and we use hand sanitizer afterwards.



Most germs can't live for more than a few minutes on hard surfaces like the plastic changing tables anyway, unless there is a puddle of water on it.



Since she's so little, I would say that it's fine now, but soon she'll start to outgrow her stroller, and you won't be able to change her there anymore. And anyway, what will you do when you are potty training? Carry your own potty from home around with you? You'll have to venture into the public restrooms then, and if you aren't over your germ fear yet, you child will be old enough to pick up on it and will have accidents in public.

Answer 6

Lol, I'd just say it's never too young to start teaching kids things, it seems goofy, but I'd think that if you change her in the bathroom she'll learn that going potty in private is good. My friend has a real phobia of public restrooms and her kids will squat and go whenever they need to, whereever they are, which is quite embarrassing for her :) Besides, you can avoid germs by carrying your own changing pad and alcohol gel. The germs on a bathroom changing table are far less than the ones on the floor, because people step in all sorts of crap but don't walk on a table or counter :) Have a good night!

Answer 7

I suggest you bring a changing pad with you at all times to set your baby on in a public restroom changing table. When my daughter was a baby, I had two of those pads so there was always a clean one available. Otherwise, change your baby in the car.



I'll admit that I would change a wet diaper out in public once in a while, and was discreet about it. However, I would never change a poopy diaper in public - it is rude and gross for other people to have to see (and smell!) it.

Answer 8

I change my babies in public restrooms all the time. I always carry a baby blanket with me so I can put the blanket down so my baby doesn't touch anything. I always remember when I get home to wash the blanket and put it back into the diaper bag so I have it next time I need to change them in a store or restaurant.

I don't think it is wise to change a baby out in front of everyone.

People are going to look at you and at your baby's private parts. There are all kinds of perverts out there now a days. Think about the privacy you should be giving to your baby.

Answer 9

I know what you mean about public washrooms, they're disgusting! Unfortunately, if there is not a "family room" in a store there really isn't anywhere else to change our little one's. What I do when I have to change my little one in a public washroom on the changing table (which never seems to be very clean) is I use the huggies disposable change pads. They're handy and you just throw them away after each use.

Answer 10

I change my child (now 3) in public restrooms all the time. I use a canging pad I have with me. He's been sick maybe 5 times his entire life. Considering most kids get 6-8 colds a year--that's pretty good.



It's only a big deal if you make itone, and there is no reason to make it one.

Answer 11

well it could be offensive to some people for you to change a baby's diaper in certain public places. you are right those places are big germ magnets so why not take along antibacterial wipes and clean off the changing table before you put your travel changing pad on it? that's what i always did.



or you could just change her in the car before you go into resturants, stores, etc.

Answer 12

I dont want to call you an idiot so ill restrain myself. But did you know that germs build an immunity? SO by not allowing your baby to be near germs you are actually preventing good health? I dont mean to go crazy and put your baby in dirty environments like say the bathroom floor but you are going way overboard and eventually your baby will be a sickly little thing because his immunity is shot.

Answer 13

I think it's more appropriate to change her in the bathroom instead out in plain sight.You can always pack something to lay her on that is throw away and get get some antibacterial wipes to wipe the table down first.

Answer 14

I agree with you. Public restrooms are too nasty. I used my daughters stroller. Just find a secluded place, put the seat back, put a changing pad under her and take off the tray. She'll be more comfortable plus you already have a bit of privacy. You'll be able to change her anywhere instead of looking for a restroom.

Answer 15

I certainly hope you're joking. If there is a changing station available - use it. Carry antibacterial wipes with you or a blanket to put down if you're that concerned. How sanitary do you think a restaurant booth is?

If I were in a restaurant and you started changing a messy diaper right beside me, I would be offended, and rightly so. Ugh.

Answer 16

bring a blanket to put on the changing table. Plus you will be able to dispose of the diaper and wash your hands, because you will be in the bathroom.

Answer 17

You know that there are these things that come with the diaper bag that is folded in thirds that when you unfold it is where your child lies while changing? If you don't like that go to the dollar store buy some trash bags and lay one down and when you are done with the changing throw the germy mess away.

Answer 18

I usually tried to find a "mother's room" meant for baby changing and breastfeeding. Most large department stores and malls have them. Other than that, I just changed diapers when they needed changed wherever we happened to be. Just don't make a big production about it. People sitting next to us on the bench couldn't even tell what I was doing.

Answer 19

Take along anti-bacterial wipes with you in the diaper bag and wipe the surface where you will be changing her before you place her there.

Don't subject the public at large to seeing/smelling a baby being changed, please?

Answer 20

You just change her where ever you are ????

How gross!



Your fiancee sounds correct! I always would change a child on a changing station in the bathroom. I could wash my hands afterwards. Dispose of the dirty diaper right away.

Answer 21

have a changing pad in the diaper bag and carry a bottle of sanitizer. wipe it down first with a baby wipe then put the santizer down after that and the changing pad on top of that.. when you get home sanitize the changing pad down. there is no shame in being clean

Answer 22

Get over it. If you use your own changing pad from your diaper bag, and/or wipe down the changer with a baby wipe or Lysol wipe, it will be about as clean an environment as you can find away from home.

Answer 23

if you're that worried buy some changing pads and bring some with you some you can just toss them out afterwards. i always have at least one changing pad on me, so when he needs to be changed all you have to do is put the changing pad on the changing table in the bathroom and than change him. easy as 1,2,3.

Answer 24

I hate those change stations also...but you can use a disposable changing pad...or change her before you go into a store in teh car. Or yuo can take the stroller into the bathroom and change her in the stroller. If I couldn't find a bathroom I would be discreet and change my son where I could...usually the stroller in a quiet area.

Answer 25

I am so with you on this!!! Germ city!!! I know that there are little protective disposable papers you can place down there first, but who wants to do that???

I usually just find a quiet place with very little people in it and try to be fast. Or, I take him out to my van and get it done there.

Those changing tables could get your baby really sick!!

Also I hate public high chairs AND the seat belts in shoping carts! Public period is just nasty for our babies!!

Answer 26

I'm a mom myself and I get pissed when I see someone changing their child out in public. That's what washrooms are for. Would you like to see my wipe my ***? I didn't think so.

Answer 27

I'm with your fiance on this one. The washroom is the right place for you to do this! Not only to they often have air freshener, but they have a sink for you to wash your hands afterwards!!! What do you do when you change her in the car, just use a "wet wipe" on your own hands? I was taught you WASH them and that requires a sink, soap and water!!!! Duh!!!!



Plus, if you throw away that disgusting dirty disposable diaper anywhere but the public washroom or your own home, you're likely to offend someone with the odor. I've smelled dirty diapers in the trash cans at the Mall or at the park or other public places and I don't appreciate you thoughtless parents inflicting your child's cr@ppy diapers on the rest of us.



So the washroom is a big germ magnet? Well, duh! Carry your own wipeys and changing mat, etc. and, if that's not good enough, hire a sitter and leave your baby home where there are no germs! You don't think the trash can where parents throw disposable diapers in the park, in the Mall or whever are germ magnets? Yeah, they BECOME germ colonies thanks to people who dump soiled diapers in there. Gross, gross, gross!! Have some consideration for Pete's sake!!!!

Answer 28

i think that you should buy a portiple changing mat and in some public restrooms in the handycap ones their are some tables

Answer 29

LISTEN IF YOU HAVE A STROLLER THAT LAYS BACK JUST TAKE IT TO THE BATH ROOM LAY THE BABY IN IT AND CHANGE IT THERE ITS A LOT MORE CLEAN THAN THOSE GERMY TABLES

Answer 30

It's been said before but I agree, the only PUBLIC place you can change that kid is the washroom. Otherwise, use your car and then dispose of the dirty diaper in the washroom or keep it in your car till you can take it home and dispose of it there. I've seen dirty diapers lying in the Mall parking lot because lazy parents just threw them down or they plopped them down in a trashcan that was already too full and the disgusting things flew out when the wind picked up. Gross!



As for the person who said she's changed the kid on a bench or other discrete place and people didn't notice, she's deluding herself. Of course we notice!! We're just pretending not to notice because we're trying not to puke. We're being polite, which is more than I can say for the parents who insist on changing their kid in public.



Make sure you dispose of the diapers in a sanitary manner.

Answer 31

i would never change her in one of those bath rooms either.

i would change her in the car tho not in front of other people

i am assuming you are talking about being out somewhere no at home..........

Answer 32

The "socially acceptable" public place to change a dirty kid is in the public bathroom. OK, so if that's not good enough for you, go ahead and change her in your car but NOT ANYWHERE ELSE IN PUBLIC.



You see, you may consider it a quiet "out of the way" public place but, as a person who has stumbled across such scenes of that kind of parental bliss, I don't appreciate the smell or bacteria.



So either pick a truly private place, like your car where you have the right to do whatever you want, or use the socially accepted place of the bathroom but please, please, please DO NOT CHOOSE OTHER PUBLIC PLACES NO MATTER HOW SECLUDED!



There are reasons your fiance prefers you use the public bathroom. Consider it a courtesy to the public!!!!

Answer 33

How disgusting! Use the bathrooms, for Pete's sake, and spare the rest of the us odor and germs.



Don't like public bathrooms? Then leave the kid HOME!!!!



Geez, have some consideration! Most of us do NOT want to see a kid being changed nor do we want to get a whiff of any smells associated with this unpleasant task.

Answer 34

As you can tell from the tone of the various answers, this issue strikes a nerve with a lot of people and makes them more opinionated on this topic than on other questions that they have answered.



In fact, one of my pals who has already answered emailed me the question and sent copies of it to various of our friends, at least 2 of which I see already answered. I think it's obvious that many of us would prefer not to deal with baby changing (or it's aftermath - - - e.g. dirty diapers) in public. Listen to your fiance.