Changing a Baby in Public

Ditto Riley's answer... with peepee diapers i got good enough at changing that there really wasn't any reason to bother washing hands afterwards since i didn't touch anything that was "contaminated" - might have used wet wipes to clean my hands afterwards, but it all went into a doggy poop bag to trash later.

and yes poopy diapers... just messy... very very rarely is there anything easy about one of those, lol!

If I can't easily get back to my car, I will find a place away from anybody (and food) and change her. I have changed her on counters in bathrooms or even on my lap when she was smaller. I always choose a bathroom, whenever possible. I realize it's an annoyance, but I think it's more respectful to others to take her somewhere else.

If I'm outside, I'll change either a poopy or pee diaper (the zoo, at the park, etc.) If I'm inside, unless I know there is not a changing table in the bathroom, I always go someplace to change the little one. UNLESS I have all 3 kids with me and no one to watch the boys, then I have been known to change a diaper quick so avoid taking 2 boys into the bathroom to change their baby sister.

J.

I have no problems with Mama's changing any kind of diapers in public outside of a restaurant. Last time I was at Babies R US I change my son on the floor in the clothing part because the bathroom was so nasty. Funny thing is that there was a Dad changing his son too. We joked about how nasty the bathrooms were. This is a place where they expect you to bring your child and it was nasty. So NO I wouldn't be offended in any way shape for form.

The ONLY place I didn't change wet diapers in public were restaurants or people's homes who preferred I use their bathroom/another room ("Mind if I change him here?" was the mantra whenever I was in anyone else's home). And 9x out of 10... if it was a poopy diaper I just changed kiddo on the trunk or back seat of my car.

I think it really depend on the location. I would NEVER change a diaper if there was food present (restaurant, someone's home...) but have been known to drop back the headrest of the stroller and change him in there at the park or if we're someplace without a public bathroom. In stores, I usually used the stroller in the bathroom.

Most of our friends have kids, so when my son was little and needed a fresh diaper every hour or two, I had no issue changing him in their living room if we were hanging out. Same with my parents' house or my in-laws, although with all the little ones running around the bed was usually safer.

It doesn't gross me out to see others changing their children in public, but it totally freaks my husband out- seriously has issues with it b/c they don't wash their hands right after. He also freaks-out if people sit their children on counters where food is served. He has some "mild" germ issues, so take that with a grain of proverbial salt!

I think it's a respect issue. For others and for your baby. And for yourself. Go the restroom to change her when you are out & about, if possible.

well gosh, everyone is talking about how bathrooms are nasty... but it is much easier to sanitize (simply, with a santizing wipe) a bathroom changing table than it is a carpet of a store... I don't even want my kids touching the floor with their hands... and it is incredibly low-class to do it in public. Outside is fine-still, away from others. I've either done it outside, in my car or in a bathroom.

May I add that I once had four girls 5 years old and under? My youngest is still two, and I go to a lot of events for my older children- so I am constantly faced with the issue of changing... thankfully, she'll be potty trained soon.

I just take it as a matter of decency. Honestly, when I see a mom that changes her kid anywhere, I can't help but think how improper of a decision i think that is. I also discourage my children from watching me change their sister's diapers- I say, "she needs her privacy, too".

I did it. My son would play at the play area of the mall & I had to change a quick #1 diaper for my daughter. I laid down a blanket & changed her on the bench. I always wondered if others thought it was gross...but it would be so inconvenient to stop play, get everyone into the bathroom & change the diaper there...esp. if it's a quick pee diaper change. We can do those pretty quickly! I think most moms would understand & not think twice about it, unless it's a big gross poopy diaper...that would obviously be very unhygenic to change anywhere but a bathroom. People w/out kids would probably think a quick pee diaper change is gross...but honestly, if one doesn't have kids they cannot relate & cannot judge.

Before I had kids, I thought it was disgusting, so I remember that and change in the restroom or the vehicle out of courtesy.

I see it as laziness now; you gotta go to the bathroom anyway to wash your hands, I always carry a pad/mat or extra receiving blanket for laying my little guys on so I don't have to worry about the unsanitary conditions.

Think about how you feel about that nasty bathroom, you could be making someone else feel that way by changing your child's diaper in public.

Think of it the other way. You may be inconvienced, but what if everyone changed their kids wherever they wanted? Then germs would be everywhere instead of in the bathroom where they belong. Kids aren't in diapers forever. You knew what you would be in for when you had them. Get over it and me responsible. Changing them in public is rude, and inconsiderate of everyone else. If I saw someone doing that, I would say something. What kind of example would you be setting for your children in they see you don't have to go to the restroom. Just relieve yourself or do whatever you want regardless of others and common decency.

The only time I've changed in public is when we are outside - at a park or outside event. I'll go to an area away from the people though. I usually change right before we go off on our adventure - in the trunk of the car haha!

To me, it isn't about others checking out the baby's private parts or anything, I just think it is the considerate thing to do. People who do not have kids are totally grossed out about stuff like that, even if it is just a pee diaper LOL!

That said, if I were alone with my kids who were bowling and 1 needed a diaper change I would, as discreetly as possible, change them right there. No need to stop the whole game, gather up the gang to go to the bathroom for a diaper change!

So, I guess it is situational for me, but under most circumstances I will use the bathroom or my car.

No, I think if I was in one of those public places I would either go in the bathroom, or to a private corner. I would not just change her on my lap. I don't want to run the risk of someone seeing her private parts, and sometimes babies will pee or poo as you are changing them which could be messy!
plus people could be eating in your vicinity, and I certainly wouldn't want to be chugging down ice tea and see a little bum waving in the air

I've never seen anyone do this, and I have never done this either, but it certainly would not gross me out as long as it was just a wet diaper. I don't get why some would be grossed out by seeing a babies bum. Now if it were a poopy diaper, that's a different story.

I don't do it, simply because it really bothers me when others do.

Ugh! I totally hear what you are saying. To then drag my 3 yo to the bathroom to change the other is a pain (also to drag baby when 3 yo has to go potty). And depending on place, the bathroom is gross. I do a lot of changes out of the back of SUV. I've changed in public when necessary for pee, never in restaurant though. Something about food and "toilets".... Keep separated.

I would change them anywhere if it weren't for other people's reactions! If it is a quick pee change, I have done it while they're standing. I just try to go to an inconspicuous place. I will frequently change a diaper in the car on the passenger seat or cargo area. I'm with you, there are some bathrooms that are disgusting and I will not lay my baby down in those! If you take a stroller in, just fully recline it and change her in there!

I wasn't worried about pervs scoping out my daughter's tiny privates, I just didn't think that everyone around me ought to have to smell a dirty diaper when I opened it up, so I took her into the restroom, or if the restroom was too nasty, to a level surface away from other people.

I don't like changing my daughter in public, not even on a park. In cases where I can't find a restroom I would change her in the back seat of my car or in a changing room in a store. It's not so much about it being "gross" it has more to do with people seeing her private parts.

As long as was not a poopy diaper, I had no problem changing my kids in my lap, with the exception of restaurants.

I think when people see a mom changing a diaper they automatically think it's a poopy diaper and begin to get grossed out.
My baby was never good at laying on those changing tables, so I just changed her in my car. In fact, I rarely ever carried a diaper bag anywhere with me...it sat in my trunk forever.
I honestly never thought of changing her on my lap...I guess because I go in private I just figured she should too? I don't know, I have strange reasons for things, lol.

i know i'm a late responder but i wanted to put my two cents in too. I typically do not change my daughter in public, when she was an infant or now. but, several places i went did not have a place for me to change my daughter. the bathroom floor was disgusting and i did not have a car to go change her in. so what am i expected to do in those situations? when that happened i would change her in public. also in some public restrooms that do have the changing table (two restaurants in particular in my city) i cannot reach to change my child on. i'm only 4'10 and the changing tables were at my shoulders or higher. when given situations like that, i honestly don't know what else to do, but to change my daughter in public. now that she's two and we're working on potty training i will change her diaper standing up, but its so much easier when she lays down.

It does not gross me out at all. (Mom of a 21 month yr old girl).

Each situation is different. I have done it in a park just laying the kid down on a blanket. In the back of my car. In a mall I use the facilities they offer. At a place where the bathrooms are not clean like a bowling alley, I may go in a corner and change them. I guess it would depend on who I am with and where I am.

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If the bathroom is truely nasty and it's a pee diaper, I would find a private spot away from all the action out of respect for others. I'd go to my car in nice weather, if it was close enough, for poo diaper.

I use the trunk of my car if it's warm. If not, I try to use a corner of the room out of the way. I use the stroller to help block the view. I agree that public restrooms are so nasty and I have no desire to plop my kid on one of those never cleaned changing tables that sometimes have gross stuff smeared on them. I wouldn't do it in my lap in front of other people, though. I try to spare others as much as I can. I would not, however, change a poopy diaper in a public place.

I really don't like changing my DD in public. For me, it's more out of consideration of others. While I personally could care less if someone changed their pee diaper next to me, lot of people get very uncomfortable seeing children's privates in public... and I don't feel they should have to. Not to mention the fact that in public, you never know who is watching. Have you ever looked online to see how many pedofiles live in the area? And that's only the ones who got caught and registered!!! I usually base what I will do with my baby in public on what I do. I don't eat in private, so my baby shouldn't have to (OK to breast feed in public) I don't use the restroom in public, so my baby shouldn't either. To me, it's no more inconveinient than it will be when she's out of diapers and has to be taken to the restroom to pee in the toilet itself.

As far as cleanliness goes, I have this nifty little kit that holds my diapers, wipes, and has a nice sanitary changing pad. I also carry sanitizer cloths to wipe down the table, before putting my pad on it. It's also a lot easier for me to change her there than on my lap. Plus there is always a garbage can in the bathroom, so I don't have to hunt one down.

If its a pee-pee diaper, I have no problem just changing them on my lap wherever we are. But if its poop, I tend to go to the bathroom or the backseat of the car to change. That gets messy and takes a little longer. I don't think anything of it when I see others change their kids in public. At a restaurant-yes, it would be inappropriate- but at gym class, I think its just fine!

M