Changing diapers in a public bathroom with no table.... WTF question

Third&goal

Lets say you are at a public place and you need to do a diaper change on your baby.  Lets say an age of about 6 months old.  There is no wall mounted or other changing table.  

Do you: 

- Try to change baby on the counter/in the sink? 

- Change baby on floor of public bathroom with a mat or blanket? 

- Trek out to the car or leave the public building? (think mall or restaurant) 

- Find a public place that works like a bench or booth seat? 

dogperson11

Think I would probably try to find a bench or I'd trek out to the car and do it there. No way I'm putting my child on the floor of a public anything, let alone public bathroom. I also wouldn't use the sink/counter out of respect for others using the space.

bcbuzzafsu

I've changed DS on the sinkboard before.  He has a mat that goes down though so no poop on the sink.  If there is no space in the bathroom we go out to the car.  Once recently the 'splosion was so bad we just went home.

tamarar5

I have in the past, used the floor if it looked clean enough — our Outback didn't have a changing station for a short time when somehow it had been ripped off the wall, but their restroom is always spotless and I carry a changing mat in my bag.

I have also gone to places and taken one look at their restroom and turned straight around. I've changed on my car floor as well. Pretty much the only place I can't and won't bring myself to change a diaper is at a dining table/both. You'll be surprised how ingenious you can get. I have even used my stroller as a changing table before!

shevaCC

If there's counter space by the sink, then I'd use that with a changing mat. If not, I'd look for a bench outside the bathroom and use the changing mat there. If that failed, I'd retreat to the car. I wouldn't put a baby on a public bathroom floor, even on a changing mat.

workmm01

I'm more worried about using dirty bathrooms and potty training! I try to touch as little as possible and I just cringe thinking about a toddler trying to go. Even washing hands seems like it's going to be tough.

Third&goal

I was just shocked that at a public place I saw TWO mothers putting their baby down on the floor to change.  The parking lot wasn't that far away to walk out to.  And the bathroom was far from spotless... 

workmm01 said:

I'm more worried about using dirty bathrooms and potty training! I try to touch as little as possible and I just cringe thinking about a toddler trying to go. Even washing hands seems like it's going to be tough.

Yea, potty training isn't fun.  Luckily she REALLY likes washing her hands so at least thats not a huge struggle.  

discohiker

If you are really paranoid about public bathrooms, then bring a small trashbag to lay down.... they are compact and you could stuff a couple in your bag easy. 
As someone who uses cloth diapers, I found it valuable to lay down my changing mat on the countertops and wet the wipes with the water from the sink if the changing table isn't nearby.  I have changed on the floor with the changing pad only if the facilities are clean and I pick a corner that doesn't get much bathroom traffic. 
Best place we have ever changed a diaper: picnic table outside at McDonalds.... I walk out of the bathroom on a road trip to see my husband using the changing pad and there is my baby's butt in the air for all too see.  He said "there wasn't a changing table in the men's restroom, so I innovated".

missmiss307

I've pretty much done all of the above.

MC03

workmm01 said:

I'm more worried about using dirty bathrooms and potty training! I try to touch as little as possible and I just cringe thinking about a toddler trying to go. Even washing hands seems like it's going to be tough.

Going through this right now and it sucks.  She's also afraid of the loud flushes so it makes it harder for her to go.  And I have to crouch down to hold her on the seat so she doesn't fall in, and me and crouching don't get along so well right now.  It's tough.

In response to the original question, if there was no changing tray (which 99% of places have had them) I look for either a bench (in a mall situation) or we will go to the car.  The bathroom floor never even occurred to me.  Ewww...

Raclla

I've used the sink counter with a mat.
Also the backseat and trunk of the car.
You just figure it out depending on the situation.

MandMLeona

There have only been a few places without changing tables.  Those are mostly small doctors offices.  So they generally have less traffic and tend to be much cleaner than your average public restroom.  They also tend to be too small to have an actual counter.  In those cases, I have put down a nice large changing pad and changed them on the floor.

shevaCC

Third&goal said:

workmm01 said:

I'm more worried about using dirty bathrooms and potty training! I try to touch as little as possible and I just cringe thinking about a toddler trying to go. Even washing hands seems like it's going to be tough.

Yea, potty training isn't fun.  Luckily she REALLY likes washing her hands so at least thats not a huge struggle.  

Haha, this!

caybeh

I've used the floor with a changing pad. I usually always put the clean diaper under the old diaper, so it isn't like his butt ever touched anything. Even if it did, that's why the changing pad is there.

caballablanca

missmiss307 said:

I've pretty much done all of the above.

Me too. When you travel and the car is full sometimes you gotta suck it up and change on the floor. Changing mats will wash.

Venus04

My friend says she just uses a changing mat or double folds a receiving blanket and changes her son on the floor. No biggie. It may sound gross, but babies love gross. If something is gross, it's going straight into their mouth via their own two baby hands.  

ungraceful13

I have done them all. I usually go back to the car or in a booth. You do what you have to do.

MAtoMEbride

Trek out to the car and do it there!

kcm3

I would do car or someplace else like a booth seat. I've also changed successfully in the stroller (if it reclines). The floor for me is a no go.

violajack

Recline the stroller, change there.

PecanSam

I normally carry a mat in the diaper bag. I have changed her on a mat, on the floor of a bathroom. I have changed her on my lap while I sat on the toilet (I was not using the toilet)

I like changing in the car.

WhitEm14

Either trek to the car or find a bench if there is one close by.

schnookee

Probably go to the car or if I had the stroller with me use that. Honestly I never once used a public changing table with DD#1. It was either the car or the stroller. Edited: spellcheck

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