It cannot get any crazier, than changing your baby on the floor of a crusty, nasty bathroom floor because the men's bathroom does not accommodate dads! In recent past dad, Chris Mau, posted on Facebook about having to do the very same thing. It's a huge problem. If it's the law in the United States that men's bathrooms must be equipped with a baby changing table why are locations lagging behind?? Children should not be changed on the floor of a crusty bathroom!
Many men with infant kids have this issue when they travel to local and distant venues away from home. If nursing mothers rooms can become more normalized for pumping moms on the go why can't a changing tables be added to a men's restrooms for dads traveling out and about, and has to manage an infant in place of mom?
The absence of baby changing tables also cause undue pressure on many moms. If they're out for example at a family restaurant and mom is occupied at any given instance and juggling multiple kids, how do they deal if dad can't split the baby changing duties due to a lack of changing tables in the men's restroom?
If you're a dad out and about in eating venues, you either have to hope that there's an all-gender restroom (unisex restroom) that has a baby changing table or find somewhere else that's even less convenient. Restaurants and buildings due need to budget for this need, and the law does require any business with at least 50 employees to have a dedicated mothers room.
In October 2018, Florida father Donte Palmer found himself in this same problematic situation. He shared a photo of himself having traveled out with his little one, then found himself in a men’s restroom struggling to change his son’s diaper without a table. The incident put the need for changing tables in men’s bathrooms to the forefront.
Fast forward about a year later, Donte's story landed him a partnership with Pamers and singer/father John Legend to fill the need. “When I first took the picture, it was something I posted in my own frustrations,” He told People magazine. “I just posted it for my family and friends. I never expected for it to get this big." But big it has gotten and there is no going back.
Palmer founded the grassroots movement Squat for Change with his wife Lakeisha Palmer in order to guarantee that every family member has access to a clean and safe changing table. After seeing this, Pampers asked Palmer to collaborate with them to install 5,000 changing tables in men's restrooms across the United States and Canada by 2021.
Starting with "high-need public locations" including Philadelphia, Dallas, and Detroit, Pampers later unveiled the new effort in a statement from the firm.
John Legend himself also followed up with a supportive Instagram dad post saying, "Most dads have been there: you’re out with your kids & there's no place to change their diaper. In honor of Father’s Day, @PampersUS is providing 5,000 Koala Kare changing tables in public restrooms. Finally, no more diaper duty on your lap!"
The presence of a baby changing table in men's restrooms for dads who travel with mom is definitely a huge step in the right direction to becoming baby-friendly. It shows that both parents share the responsibility of changing diapers. However, for this gesture to be effective, the changing table should be placed in a private stall or corner. It is important for comfort basic decency to have a private area to change a baby's diaper and provide privacy for the child.
Dads should have the option to cordon themselves off from others while changing a diaper. Without this privacy, fathers may feel uncomfortable and discouraged from using the changing table. A private area is essential for the changing table to be truly useful in a men's restroom.
TIME FOR ACTION:
The reality is, we live in an environment and era where single dads, stay at home dads, same sex relationship dads, and others all manage or help to manage a baby in diapers, so why are there not more places with baby changing stations in the men's room? What is a man who is out with his young diaper age child supposed to do? The following scenarios and options could happen:
Many understanding moms would not object (given a proper heads up before entering) to have a dad come into the women’s restroom or nursing room to change a baby at the changing station. Yes there might be a few unexpected glances, but just be prepared to explain the awkward situation, especially if there was no changing table in the men's room and no "family restroom" whatsoever available.
To sideline this challenge Moms Pump Here has been open for the submission of #DadFriendly locations. So if you are a dad out with his children and find a location with a suitable changing table please submit it to our locator.
There is also another proactive action you as dads can take. If you encounter public places lacking appropriate diaper changing spaces for men's rooms, email their corporate office or managment in every store. Let them know the urgent need for changing tables in the men's room. They'll most likely respond in kind to avoid bad public relations that could potentially arise from inaction. They also want to get ahead of bad public relations that happen if others who witness your predicament post it to social media.
As an extra incentive to make corporate owners take immediate action to fix the problem, leave google reviews, tripadvisor reviews, and yelp reviews. You don't have to bash the establishments, but be honest about what's lacking for dads who travel there, and what needs to be fixed asap to accommodate responsible fathers with diaper wearing babies.
Also if you are at a location that doesn't have a dad room or baby changing table, report it to Moms Pump Here through our Facebook or contact page! We have a ratings and review system that allow moms and dads to rate and review locations. Tell other dads where they can and cannot find changing tables.
