Kicked out for diaper change

AprilLVE

https://www.wfmynews2.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/11/mom-kicked-out-restaurant-diaper-change-texas/13890223/

What do you all think of this? 

What do you do when your kid needs a change and there's no changing table?

Court0026

Gross. Go to the car if there is no changing table. Seriously. Gross.

kcisthebombdotcom

Go to the car. I work at a restaurant where there's no changing tables in the bathrooms and I judge parents who change them at their table. Hard.

kcisthebombdotcom

letranger said:

Lol. I forever love you people who say car. Not everyone has a car. Is it best to do on sidewalk? Or parking lot or whatever? In the rain or snow? What's your limits?!

Pretty much anywhere else in the world besides next to people eating.

kcisthebombdotcom

And not to mention don't kids occasionally pee during diaper changes? That mean some poor restaurant employee has to clean up your kids pee when it goes everywhere while people are eating around you. Gross. There is absolutely zero excuse to change a diaper at a restaurant table. None,

jensriot

Yeah, I'm team no changing at the table. Is it really inconvenient when there is no changing table? Sure, but that doesn't mean you open a stinky diaper at the dinner table.

Louie4real

Grooooooooss! Gross Gross, always gross. There is no excuse for changing it at the table at a restaurant, its unsanitary!

I had a mom friend of mine do that when we were out to lunch with our pack. Changed a poopy diaper right on her side of the booth. She said it was inconvenient to go to the restroom...I was all like, WHAT?! AHH! Ick! What the eff is wrong with you?!

That being said...I have changed a full pee diaper in my stroller at the zoo. That to me is nbd.

AprilLVE

I agree she should have dragged all three of her kids to the car to do the diaper change. (I would say she could have left the 8 and 4 year olds in the pizza joint, but then we'd probably be reading about her being arrested for neglect.)

I'm not too keen on the bathroom floor change. I pretty much always have my stroller, so I use that when I'm desperate.

bumpuser8448316

Gross. The bathroom counter or floor works fine. Throw a receiving blanket on the floor so you have plenty of space, fold it up and was it when you get home. Problem solved.

bumpuser8448316

kcisthebombdotcom said:

Go to the car. I work at a restaurant where there's no changing tables in the bathrooms and I judge parents who change them at their table. Hard.

Haven't you said before you work at a loud family friendly chain type place? Like a TGI Fridyas? Seems weird that type of place doesn't have a changing table

kcisthebombdotcom

letranger said:

Also I'm totally pro not changing on a table. But I just hate the go to the car thing. Ruffles my ass you all.

The op did ask where we would change the diaper. It wasn't meant to imply that's where everyone should--that's just what I have done in similar situations.

caybeh

Ditto bathroom floor/counter. If she had her diaper changing pad along like she said she did, I don't see why she couldn't have done it in the bathroom.

zbeesma86

I changed Z on a bench outside of a local sushi place because their bathroom didn't have a changing table or counter space to fit her.

I'd never even think to change her on a table IN the restaurant!!! barf.

Twiggymommy

I'm a little skeeved out by the whole bathroom floor suggestions.. But still don't think it's OK to change the baby on the table...

notkateanymore

That's super gross. Lazy ass go to your car.

KC, where do you work? I thought you worked at an upscale chain?

superToots

This reminds me of when ds2 decided to poop 6 times on our 4 hour flight last month

The only changing table was in the front bathroom which you are not allowed to line up in front of. And we sat in the back of the plane...And legit every time I went up front to change him, some one budged in front of us and the front stewardess told me to go back to my seat. Then I'd change him on my seat and the stewardess in the back would come yell at me for changing my kid on the seat. Not to mention the changing table was big enough for a 6 month old rather than a 16 month old.

kcisthebombdotcom

notkateanymore said:

That's super gross. Lazy ass go to your car.

KC, where do you work? I thought you worked at an upscale chain?

I do. You've honestly never been to a decent restaurant without a changing table in the bathroom??

LoveBeingMama

Unless it's a total dive place with a visibly gross bathroom, I've changed my kids on the floor plenty of times. Not ideal, but my kids survived. They probably picked up more germs just walking around and touching things in bathrooms when they were a little older.

Team Never at the Table
Team Not going to Walk to My Car
Team Not a Germaphobe

notkateanymore

kcisthebombdotcom said:

notkateanymore said:

That's super gross. Lazy ass go to your car.

KC, where do you work? I thought you worked at an upscale chain?

I do. You've honestly never been to a decent restaurant without a changing table in the bathroom??

I wouldn't expect a chain to be without a changing table...

Aussie45

On a similar note, I've seen *presumably* a grandma change a toddler's diaper while waiting in line at customer service. Klassy.

Another vote for a trip out to the car.

Aussie45

letranger said:

Lol. I forever love you people who say car. Not everyone has a car. Is it best to do on sidewalk? Or parking lot or whatever? In the rain or snow? What's your limits?!

We've only had one car before. If that's the case, then use a blanket on a counter, the bathroom floor, anything really. You don't do it at the table, period. People are eating around you and no one wants to see someone else's waste.

ETA: I don't judge changing on seat planes or a park bench or anything. With people around me eating though? That's just a no-no. And in the case of OP's new story, a case of the lazies. I've got tons of lazies, but even I wouldn't do that

AprilLVE

notkateanymore said:

kcisthebombdotcom said:

notkateanymore said:

That's super gross. Lazy ass go to your car.

KC, where do you work? I thought you worked at an upscale chain?

I do. You've honestly never been to a decent restaurant without a changing table in the bathroom??

I wouldn't expect a chain to be without a changing table...

I would too. Like part of the franchise standard requirements.

kcisthebombdotcom

amy052006 said:

notkateanymore said:

kcisthebombdotcom said:

notkateanymore said:

That's super gross. Lazy ass go to your car.

KC, where do you work? I thought you worked at an upscale chain?

I do. You've honestly never been to a decent restaurant without a changing table in the bathroom??

I wouldn't expect a chain to be without a changing table...

I would too. Like part of the franchise standard requirements.

I'm pretty sure even the effing Palm has a changing table. I get not having one if it is a totally inappropriate place for kids, but I'm hard pressed to think of any chain that is "no kids ever no matter what". And yeah, no changing table, I would totally be an asshole about it to management and put it back on them and make them tell me where to change my kid.

Dude, the restaurant manager didn't design the bathrooms. Some idiot well over his head did. Even in a smaller restaurant blaming the manager is a dick move since the chances he's the owner are slim.

divinemsbee

kcisthebombdotcom said:

amy052006 said:

notkateanymore said:

kcisthebombdotcom said:

notkateanymore said:

That's super gross. Lazy ass go to your car.

KC, where do you work? I thought you worked at an upscale chain?

I do. You've honestly never been to a decent restaurant without a changing table in the bathroom??

I wouldn't expect a chain to be without a changing table...

I would too. Like part of the franchise standard requirements.

I'm pretty sure even the effing Palm has a changing table. I get not having one if it is a totally inappropriate place for kids, but I'm hard pressed to think of any chain that is "no kids ever no matter what". And yeah, no changing table, I would totally be an asshole about it to management and put it back on them and make them tell me where to change my kid.

Dude, the restaurant manager didn't design the bathrooms. Some idiot well over his head did. Even in a smaller restaurant blaming the manager is a dick move since the chances he's the owner are slim.

I don't really go here, but I agree with this, especially for a chain. I used to work at Starbucks, and ours (at the time, and I'm trying to think if I've seen them in others) didn't have a changing table in the bathroom. Weird, yes, but did I, the counter help have any control over that? Nope. Even when I was the supervisor on duty all I could tell you was that you were welcome to call our customer service number and lodge a complaint or encourage them to put one in. It had been brought up to my district manager by several of us, but that's as far as we could get. If you got snippy with me about it (happened more than once) I was mildly sympathetic, but the gist of it is, what, exactly, do you expect me to do? Go to Home Depot (or wherever sells one) buy one with my own money and install it? Call corporate, cause it's outside my control. Getting in my face and being an asshole about it is not helpful to anyone. And a great way to get asked to leave if you take it far enough.

We did have a lady who got into my face about it, and then decided to change her kid on the table while we had a full cafe. Nothing under the kid either, just straight on the table, which probably wasn't much more clean than the bathroom floor at that point. She was told to clean up the kid and GTFO (nicely, corporately, but GTFO). We actually had to remove the table completely to the back and bleach it down. It's not acceptable.

The one good thing I will say is that the bathrooms there are a one person deal, so putting down a blanket or a changing pad could easily be done. Yes, there should have been a changing table, but if there isn't then you need to have a back up plan that doesn't entail poop on the table.

notkateanymore

kcisthebombdotcom said:

amy052006 said:

notkateanymore said:

kcisthebombdotcom said:

notkateanymore said:

That's super gross. Lazy ass go to your car.

KC, where do you work? I thought you worked at an upscale chain?

I do. You've honestly never been to a decent restaurant without a changing table in the bathroom??

I wouldn't expect a chain to be without a changing table...

I would too. Like part of the franchise standard requirements.

I'm pretty sure even the effing Palm has a changing table. I get not having one if it is a totally inappropriate place for kids, but I'm hard pressed to think of any chain that is "no kids ever no matter what". And yeah, no changing table, I would totally be an asshole about it to management and put it back on them and make them tell me where to change my kid.

Dude, the restaurant manager didn't design the bathrooms. Some idiot well over his head did. Even in a smaller restaurant blaming the manager is a dick move since the chances he's the owner are slim.

If a restaurant manager is smart enough to manage, he's smart enough to realize he needs a changing table. 

notkateanymore

amy052006 said:

Let's not pretend a person making a frap is the same as the manager and let's not pretend a primarily take out coffee shop is the same as a sit down restaurant. Wouldn't asking be ten times better than just assuming and changing your kid wherever?

This.

divinemsbee

amy052006 said:

Let's not pretend a person making a frap is the same as the manager and let's not pretend a primarily take out coffee shop is the same as a sit down restaurant. Wouldn't asking be ten times better than just assuming and changing your kid wherever?

But what are you asking? Asking the service person where they think you should change your kid and expecting a serious and not smart-ass answer? Or wanting a fight? Because it seems like you'd just be picking a fight, which is fine if that's your thing, but it's not going to help you in the moment of a dirty diaper.
"Why don't you have a changing table?"
"I don't know ma'am, I wish we did. All decisions like that are made by corporate. Would you like the corporate number to voice your opinion?"
"Well, that doesn't help me right now."
"I know ma'am, but I don't really have any way to take care of that right now, but I'm happy to give you the customer line."
"Where should I change my baby then?"
"...... not on the tables where people eat because that's disgusting?" *but I can't really say that because then you'll complain I'm being 'smart' so I stand there kind of awkwardly.
or
"There's a gas station/grocery store across the street, they might have a family bathroom." Then you'd get really pissed at me.

I mean, what are they expected to say, "Yes, I will build one for you right now to solve your problem." There is literally no good answer to that line of questioning other than 'we are working on getting one, and you calling corporate to tell them that we should have one would be helpful to that cause.'

Do you think there's a changing table in the back and they're hiding it from people?

There's no good answer to 'Where should I change my baby if there's not a changing table?' when you're asked that as a customer service person. You either sound like a smart ass or you stand there with no answer. Do I think restaurants and places that kids frequent should have them? Yes. You would have gotten the same answer from my manager that you would have gotten from me, and a lot of times I was the manager on duty. In places that are corporately owned, i.e. not franchises, everything goes through corporate. Putting in a changing table without permission could mean getting fired or at least a pay cut. They want everything to look the same, including the bathrooms, and really only customer feedback and profits guide them. So, while it's no help at the time, the best thing to do is not get in employees faces and call the customer number and tell them that you want changing tables and encourage other people you know to do so as well. Or, if you're nice, you might get a direct line to the district person, who has a little more pull.

penguingrrl

Changing a diaper on a restaurant table is nasty, end of story. People eat there. Food and diapers should never ever go together. I mean, would you change a diaper on your dining table at home (and please don't answer if you're going to say yes)?

I learned each and every decent place to change a diaper when living in NYC and going around without a car 99% of the time. I somehow found a way to go out with my kids all the time all over the city without ever changing a nasty diaper on a dining table or in a car. It's not difficult. You carry a few extra blankets to lay down on the floor of the bathroom in a pinch then put a changing pad on top of that and wash the blanket when you get home.

penguingrrl

letranger said:

I'm bent because you all can't see past yourselves sometimes and the judgemental overtones kill me. Changing on a floor doesn't work everyone too. Maybe someone has a bad back for example and can't bend down.

I can see why the floor would be hard, especially with a bad back. But I still can't find a reason that changing a diaper on a surface people eat on is okay. I just can't. I've also pushed the stroller into a reclining position and changed on the seat while I sat on a park bench (in fact, that was our go to unless it was too cold out). I can see how it would be difficult with your bike (I assume you don't bring a stroller in the bike), but I just don't see how on a dining table is an option at all. I feel like you basically do anything to avoid that. And in this particular story the car was right outside and therefore was an option.

kcisthebombdotcom

notkateanymore said:

kcisthebombdotcom said:

amy052006 said:

notkateanymore said:

kcisthebombdotcom said:

notkateanymore said:

That's super gross. Lazy ass go to your car.

KC, where do you work? I thought you worked at an upscale chain?

I do. You've honestly never been to a decent restaurant without a changing table in the bathroom??

I wouldn't expect a chain to be without a changing table...

I would too. Like part of the franchise standard requirements.

I'm pretty sure even the effing Palm has a changing table. I get not having one if it is a totally inappropriate place for kids, but I'm hard pressed to think of any chain that is "no kids ever no matter what". And yeah, no changing table, I would totally be an asshole about it to management and put it back on them and make them tell me where to change my kid.

Dude, the restaurant manager didn't design the bathrooms. Some idiot well over his head did. Even in a smaller restaurant blaming the manager is a dick move since the chances he's the owner are slim.

If a restaurant manager is smart enough to manage, he's smart enough to realize he needs a changing table. 

Yes, he may realize that and bring it up. He does not have the unilateral ability to budget and hire personnel to correct the issue regardless if it is corporate owned or independently owned. Depending on the layout of the bathroom it's not always as easy as throwing one on the wall. In my restaurant there isn't the space so they'd have to remodel the whole area and corporate just doesn't give a fuck about customers with infants. Not only that the head manager only works 45 hours out of the 94 hours the restaurant is open so more than half the time the person you're bitching at about the bathroom is an assistant manager making $13/hr who has about a million people over their head.

spring_time

A table is never an appropriate place to change a baby. If you (general) do not like/have the options of changing in the car, on the floor, on a bench, in the stroller, standing up, etc there is always the final option of taking the food to go. The only thing that is not an option is on the table where people eat.

MomIn2013

If DS needed a diaper change at a restaurant and all of the following applied:

- There was no change table in the restroom

- I had no car to go out to

- The restroom counter was too small

and

- My back was in such rough shape that I couldn't bend to do it on the floor

I would just have everyone finish up their meals quickly and/or get the food packed up if necessary, leave, and go to the closest place with a diaper change table/restroom counter/other decent non-food-serving surface. I know a poopy diaper is urgent, but I think it could wait long enough for that. A diaper change on a restaurant table is never o.k., period.

kcisthebombdotcom

letranger said:

I'm bent because you all can't see past yourselves sometimes and the judgemental overtones kill me. Changing on a floor doesn't work everyone too. Maybe someone has a bad back for example and can't bend down.

As a parent it's your responsibility to be prepared to change your baby. Going out to eat is a privilege, not a right. Is it nice when establishments provide facilities to change? Sure. They are not required to though and it's the parents responsibility to figure it out without choosing to create unsanitary conditions in a place where people are eating. I also doubt I've seen anyone change a baby at a table in the middle of a snowstorm where they had no car or stroller and a bad back to boot...

kcisthebombdotcom

amy052006 said:

So, KC.  If you are working and someone said to you  "Hey, I saw there was no changing table in the rest room.  Where would be best for me to change a diaper?" what would you suggest at your restaurant?

Of course a table is never right.  I'm just not so sure a bench or off to the side in corner is wrong, especially if the restaurant isn't exactly being accomdating.

I direct them to a restaurant and retail store a short walk away. I also am not judging people asking where to change or people going outside to a bench to change. I don't agree with being an asshole to the manager who lacks the ability to change it or changing the diaper at the table no matter the circumstances.

vlagrl29

I don't know if this changes anyones mind but she didn't change the baby on the table top, it was on the booth where you sit.  That was reported on our news last night.  I've actually done that before maybe once, but it wasn't a poopy diaper, it was just pee.  Hers was a poopy diaper.

bumpuser924057

vlagrl29 said:

I don't know if this changes anyones mind but she didn't change the baby on the table top, it was on the booth where you sit.  That was reported on our news last night.  I've actually done that before maybe once, but it wasn't a poopy diaper, it was just pee.  Hers was a poopy diaper.

I did that once, at Chipotle. I was beyond annoyed to discover that they didn't have a changing table in the restroom, and the car was parked in the huge mall structure a block away. I used the seat of the booth nearest the bathroom, with my changing pad under him. It never in a million years would have occurred to me to get on my hands and knees on the floor of a nasty-ass bathroom and lay my child down to change a diaper.

vlagrl29

thecheshirekat said:

vlagrl29 said:

I don't know if this changes anyones mind but she didn't change the baby on the table top, it was on the booth where you sit.  That was reported on our news last night.  I've actually done that before maybe once, but it wasn't a poopy diaper, it was just pee.  Hers was a poopy diaper.

I did that once, at Chipotle. I was beyond annoyed to discover that they didn't have a changing table in the restroom, and the car was parked in the huge mall structure a block away. I used the seat of the booth nearest the bathroom, with my changing pad under him. It never in a million years would have occurred to me to get on my hands and knees on the floor of a nasty-ass bathroom and lay my child down to change a diaper.

for sure!

kcisthebombdotcom

amy052006 said:

feffany said:

Poop or pee, table or booth, that is disgusting. Why do parents think only their kid's excrement deserves exception?

Honest question -- if a blanket can protect you kid from a gross ass bathroom floor, doesn't that also mean it protects a booth from a kid?

Um, if my kid pisses mid diaper change and some pee gets on the bathroom floor that's a lot less gross than inches away from where people are eating.