What would you have done?

Ricola · October 2012

We went on a trip to Dallas this past weekend and wanted to stop for lunch before going to our destination.

We stopped at In-n-Out burgers and DS needed a fresh diaper before we could order. DH took him to the mens' bathrooms and came back out immediately, saying that it is pretty small and there is no changing table. No big deal, I thought, and took him to the ladies' room. Well, same thing there. So I went to the cashier and asked him if they had a spot where I could change the baby. He just stared at me and said no, there is no changing table or something similar available. I asked his female colleague, who had taken his spot (he ran off to somewhere without saying anything else) what I should do in her opinion and she just shrugged and said "Well, usually diaper bags come with a little pad that you can use". I am not going to put Alex on the floor of a fast food restaurant during lunchtime on a Saturday though, so we left and went to Panera Bread instead.

On the way back we stopped at Jack in the Box to change his diaper and get some drinks for the road and the same situation there. So DH just changed DS on one of the tables (with the pad from the diaper bag underneath him). It was a poopy diaper. There was only one family in the restaurant and they actually got up and complained to the manager while I nursed DS in the bathroom (I saw that they were pissed off before and tried to be considerate). The manager just shrugged it off and said "Well, we don't have changing tables, so what should they do?". I thought that was cool that she took our side.

What do you do when you don't have access to a changing table?

I was irrationally upset at how In-n-Out has handled the situation and was very tempted to just change him right there on the counter next to the cashier. But we decided to just leave instead.

CountingUp · October 2012

I change her in the car.

2nd...if I had to change her in a restaurant with now change table u would put a sacrificial blanket down on the bathroom counter or floor and put the change pad on that and then squat to change the diaper.

I wonder if there is a map/guide to North America's change stations

PandaMom06 · October 2012

If we're somewhere where there is no changing table I change them in the car. I wouldn't have been bothered though if I saw someone changing their baby on a table, though the seat (if it was large enough, like a booth) probably would have been better. That is as long as after the changing was done the table was cleaned. I understand you were upset about the lack of accomodations but it isn't the employees fault, they don't make those decisions.

Chargersgrl33 · October 2012

I wouldn't have made big deal about it. I would Just change him in the car. Or in many cases, ive changed wyatt while he was on my lap. I kind of think you over reacted a touch about it. There are options.

[Deleted User] · October 2012

The user and all related content has been deleted.

SoftSpot · October 2012

I also think you overreacted. We change him in the car a lot. It's not the easiest but it's not impossible. I've also laid a blanket down, then the pad changed him on the ground.

Ricola · October 2012

Well, the car was packed with our stuff, there was no room to change him there. And we usually change him on a blanket outside, but it was only 50 degrees and windy, so I didn't want him to get so cold. A map with changing stations would be awesome! There should be an app for that :-)

capulet · October 2012

I've usually just changed them in the car. On road trips (with which we have a LOT of experience) that's about all I do. Sometimes at restaurants, if I didn't drive there or it's inconvenient to go to the car, I've changed them on a changing pad between the sinks or on the floor. Lots of restaurants don't have changing tables, unfortunately; it sucks but I've come to accept it, and be pleasantly surprised when they're there.

buddrfly421 · October 2012

I would have done the same thing as you guys. Our car is smaller so there isn't much room to change him. We went out for pizza the other night and the place had no changing table so I had to change him at our table...it was a booth so no one saw, but if there is no changing table then i don't feel bad.

Ps are you from Texas? We are moving to El Paso this January. We're excited!

buggywhips · October 2012

I always change him in the car when we are out. Public changing tables gross me out. If there is no room in the back, I change him on the drivers or passengers seat. NBD.

I'm not sure that I would have complained, but I would side eye if I saw someone changing a poopy diaper on a table that's eaten off of. Seems pretty unsanitary.

Happily Overwhelmed · October 2012

...So wait.... You changed your son's diaper in the middle of an eating area? I'm so shocked at this post.

Personally I think that's so rude and selfish to ruin others meals because you feel like the public place owes you something. I agree that I'd like public places better if they would have a changing station in both the women's and men's washroom. However I don't think just because you have a baby you are owed anything. I make it a huge point to not make my child other people's issue and I'm pretty disgusted that you would even consider changing a diaper (especially poopy) while others were trying to eat. Feces...urine...baby butts do not belong in public eating areas.

To answer your question...like PP. The vehicle. We live in the midwest...I've changed diapers when it's 110 degrees outside. I've changed diapers when it's -10 degrees outside. I've mastered laying LO on the passenger side seat and hovering over the middle counsel while kneeling in the drivers side seat.

Bottom line...My baby=My problem.

ccip82 · October 2012

I can understand your frustration...I think that the US lags behind other countries in "family friendliness". For example, on our recent trip back to the States, I was looking all over the airport in Atlanta for the family changing/nursing station and I could not find one! In Amsterdam by each male and female restroom, there are family changing/nursing station rooms with an actual chair for me to sit down and nurse- plus a nice large changing area. There was even room for DH to sit down as well.

To get back to your situation I think changing a diaper in the middle of a restaurant is not something that I would normally do, but given the circumstances I might have done the same thing. This might be flameworthy to some on here, but you changed him in a mostly empty fast food restaurant...let's face it-its not 5 star dinning. It's a self service, kid friendly place to eat. If I were to witness this in a fast food restaurant, it probably would not phase me...I have witnessed worse...

kwinkle1980 · October 2012

The US is not kid friendly at all. It seems very odd that a fast food place would not have this amenity, since families frequent these types of places. I probably would have brought DH with me into the ladies room to have him help change...one oerson holds baby up while the other changes him. Sorry you were put in the position to have to make that decision!

twocents6708 · October 2012

I have changed DD in the car a lot. I actually prefer to do that than to use the germy changing station in some facilities.

KeyLime81 · October 2012

I agree with ccip about the US lagging in "family friendliness". I remember a relatively new mall in Spain having a huge family room with comfy nursing chairs, changing stations, toddler toilets, and a tv playing cartoons (But then, there were older train station bathrooms that didn't have soap, toilet paper, or changing stations...)

Thankfully, I've never run into this problem. When I've needed a changing station at a restaurant or in in public, I've been able to find one. The only time I couldn't find one was at country club that hosted my cousin's wedding reception...but that bathroom had a couch, so I changed DS there.

Ricola, had I been in your situation, I probably would have found a way to change DS in the car...even if it meant taking out a suitcase or two...but that's just me. (Here in MI, 50 isn't cold to us...if it were in the 30s or below, I'd find a way to change him without having to open a door and leave the car heater running). If I were at a restaurant and saw parents changing their baby on a table, I wouldn't be upset with the parents, I'd be frustrated with the restaurant for not providing a changing station in the bathroom.

I realize that I'm not "entitled" to anything as a parent, and I don't expect people to cater to my every whim just because I have a baby. I try to not inconvenience anyone simply because I have a little one in tow. Having said that, we have regulations about providing bathrooms in public restaurants...babies have to have their needs met, too. If I were a restaurant owner...especially at a family friendly restaurant...I'd have a changing station in the bathroom. I just Googled it...the basic models are around $200 (the recessed stainless steel fancy ones go for $500+).

I agree that there needs to be a changing station map app! Users could rate restaurants/malls/stores/public places on their family friendliness.

MrsT2008 · October 2012

well I can tell you what I wouldn't have done, and that would be changing her on the table. I assume the seats you both were occupying in the car were free from stuff (or could be)? that's what I would have done. I get annoyed if somewhere doesn't have a changing table, but I don't make a big deal about it and just make do with what I have.

sportsmomma · October 2012

buggywhips:
I always change him in the car when we are out. nbsp;Public changing tables gross me out. nbsp;If there is no room in the back, I change him on the drivers or passengers seat. nbsp;NBD. nbsp;I'm not sure that I would have complained, but I would side eye if I saw someone changing a poopy diaper on a table that's eaten off of. nbsp;Seems pretty unsanitary. nbsp;

This. We always change him in the car. Have never used a public place for changing yet.

wychets · October 2012

I agree with PP's I would change DD in the car. I perfer the car over public restrooms anyhow.

uncharch7 · October 2012

I change him in the bathroom on the floor, we have a receiving blanket that we put in the diaper bag specifically for this. He thinks it's fun to try to flip off of the car seat when I've tried to change him in the car (I don't use the trunk because it's usually full of stuff), so it's our next best option.

NYGirl02 · October 2012

I would have tried to change on the bathroom counter between the sinks with a pad underneath. My second option would have been to use the car. I hesitate to change out in the open publicly, even if food is not involved, because I don't want to gross people out.

A previous poster mentioned wondering if there was a map guide for changing stations. There is an app called sit or squat by Charmin that has reviews of bathrooms that are near you. Lol.

sportsmomma · October 2012

RedheadBaker:
You changed your baby at the table where people eat? Gross! And probably a violation of health department codes.nbsp;You now how new breastfeeding laws prohibit employers from forcing women to pump in bathrooms? That's because fecal particles can become airborne. So, you spread your son's fecal matter in the dining area.nbsp;Damn, I feel like I'm going to vomit now. nbsp;

I can't stop thinking about it, but I'm sort of a germaphobe anyway. I like to pretend public places are way cleaner than they are. I will definitely be thinking about it today while I'm on the road for work when I stop to eat. It's not even just that table, because they'll wipe it down with a rag that is then probably used on other tables, in the kitchen, etc. Not trying to pick on you Ricola, I'm sure far grosser things happen at restaurants; this just served as my reminder.

michelle142 · October 2012

I would have changed him in the car, which I normally do anyway when we're out.

Changing a baby where people eat is disgusting.Would you change your baby's poopy diaper on your kitchen counter or dining room table?

getnmarried910 · October 2012

Ricola:
Well, the car was packed with our stuff, there was no room to change him there. And we usually change him on a blanket outside, but it was only 50 degrees and windy, so I didn't want him to get so cold. A map with changing stations would be awesome! There should be an app for that :-)

Why couldn't you lay him on a seat in the car? Even packed, there has to be places for you to sit. I would have been someone complaining. Changing diapers on a table is just plain gross. The other option would have been a changing pad on the sink in the bathroom.

Chargersgrl33 · October 2012

Ricola:
Well, the car was packed with our stuff, there was no room to change him there. And we usually change him on a blanket outside, but it was only 50 degrees and windy, so I didn't want him to get so cold. A map with changing stations would be awesome! There should be an app for that :-)

Why cant you use the front seats? Thats what ive had to do.

moosebaby2011 · October 2012

MrsT2008:
well I can tell you what I wouldn't have done, and that would be changing her on the table. I assume the seats you both were occupying in the car were free from stuff (or could be)? that's what I would have done. I get annoyed if somewhere doesn't have a changing table, but I don't make a big deal about it and just make do with what I have.

This, exactly

Kelly1109 · October 2012

Like others I prefer to change in the car vs a gross changing table in a bathroom.

And now when you eat out are you going to wonder if someone else has changed their kids poopy diaper ON your table? Pretty icky.

And honestly it's not the young employees fault there is no changing table. It's not their decision to put one in and I know you we're frustrated but you really shouldn't have taken it out on them. If you wanted to make a change, email the company. My husbands company ended up installing changing tables in both men's and women's restrooms after someone sent an email complaining about the lack of changing tables.

GoldenPeaches · October 2012

At 50? I would change in the car. If it was below freezing, I probably would have found a corner or something and laid blankets down on the floor.

Ricola · October 2012

Kelly1109:
Like others I prefer to change in the car vs a gross changing table in a bathroom.
And now when you eat out are you going to wonder if someone else has changed their kids poopy diaper ON your table? Pretty icky.
And honestly it's not the young employees fault there is no changing table. It's not their decision to put one in and I know you we're frustrated but you really shouldn't have taken it out on them. If you wanted to make a change, email the company. My husbands company ended up installing changing tables in both men's and women's restrooms after someone sent an email complaining about the lack of changing tables.

Oh, I didn't take it out on anyone there. I have worked in customer service long enough to know better. I just tried to get an answer from them as to what other people do. But that the guy just walked off and left me standing there and then the girl giving me a snippy attitude certainly wasn't what I expected.

Changing on the passenger seat could probably have worked, I'll keep that in mind for the next time. ;-)

To all of you that think that this is the worst that has been on your table at a fast food restaurant, more power to you. And after all it was just the changing pad that touched the table. Just think about what might all be on the door handle that you use to enter the restaurant. ;-)

I will be searching for an app with changing station reviews this afternoon! :-)

Leap08 · October 2012

This has happened to me so many times over the past 3 years. I still can't believe the number of fast food restaurants that don't have changing tables. When it happens, I change her in the car. Sometimes I change her on the front seat (if the back is full) or I change her in the back cargo area (with have an Outback) on a changing pad. Sometimes if the place seems kind of dirty, I'll opt for the car over the bathroom changing table. I would never change my child's diaper on a table that people eat on. Yuck. I'm not surprised someone complained.

I don't understand why you were so irrationally upset about the lack of changing table. While changing tables are nice to have and a nice way to promote a family friendly restaurant, places are not required to have them.

Ricola · October 2012

Leap08:
This has happened to me so many times over the past 3 years. I still can't believe the number of fast food restaurants that don't have changing tables. When it happens, I change her in the car. Sometimes I change her on the front seat (if the back is full) or I change her in the back cargo area (with have an Outback) on a changing pad. Sometimes if the place seems kind of dirty, I'll opt for the car over the bathroom changing table. I would never change my child's diaper on a table that people eat on. Yuck. I'm not surprised someone complained.
I don't understand why you were so irrationally upset about the lack of changing table. While changing tables are nice to have and a nice way to promote a family friendly restaurant, places are not required to have them.

I think I was irrationally upset about the lack of changing tables because I simply did not expect to not have one in either bathroom. I must be super spoiled by this awesome city I live in, because we never ran into this problem before. It often happens that there is no changing table in the mens' bathroom, but there has always been one in the ladies' room for me to use. This was also after 3 1/2 hours in the car with a fussy baby and an almost accident that shook me up quite a bit. So I guess my nerves were just not the best anymore. At least I recognize that I was irrational, right? ;-)

The sink space was not large enough to put down a wiggly baby, by the way, I would have definitely preferred that over a table.

MrsT2008 · October 2012

Ricola:
Oh, I didn't take it out on anyone there. I have worked in customer service long enough to know better. I just tried to get an answer from them as to what other people do. But that the guy just walked off and left me standing there and then the girl giving me a snippy attitude certainly wasn't what I expected.
Changing on the passenger seat could probably have worked, I'll keep that in mind for the next time. ;-)
To all of you that think that this is the worst that has been on your table at a fast food restaurant, more power to you. And after all it was just the changing pad that touched the table. Just think about what might all be on the door handle that you use to enter the restaurant. ;-)
I will be searching for an app with changing station reviews this afternoon! :-)

this has nothing to do with your use of a changing pad, nor what's on the door handle of the restaurant. Neither are excuses for changing any diaper ON the table from which people eat. You could have at least used a bench in a booth.

Ricola · October 2012

MrsT2008:

this has nothing to do with your use of a changing pad, nor what's on the door handle of the restaurant. Neither are excuses for changing any diaper ON the table from which people eat. You could have at least used a bench in a booth.

No booth, just tables with chairs.

Kelly1109 · October 2012

Well at least you got this board hopping again

probably not the responses you expected but oh well. I'm sure next time you will find an alternative solution and we should all make sure to wipe down our tables before eating!!

MrsT2008 · October 2012

Ricola:
MrsT2008:

this has nothing to do with your use of a changing pad, nor what's on the door handle of the restaurant. Neither are excuses for changing any diaper ON the table from which people eat. You could have at least used a bench in a booth.
No booth, just tables with chairs.

thanks for clarifying, but that's not really the point. I don't care what other germs are in any establishment, the thought never would have even crossed my mind to change her on the table.

kwinkle1980 · October 2012

MrsT2008:
Ricola:

Oh, I didn't take it out on anyone there. I have worked in customer service long enough to know better. I just tried to get an answer from them as to what other people do. But that the guy just walked off and left me standing there and then the girl giving me a snippy attitude certainly wasn't what I expected.

Changing on the passenger seat could probably have worked, I'll keep that in mind for the next time. ;-)

To all of you that think that this is the worst that has been on your table at a fast food restaurant, more power to you. And after all it was just the changing pad that touched the table. Just think about what might all be on the door handle that you use to enter the restaurant. ;-)

I will be searching for an app with changing station reviews this afternoon! :-)

this has nothing to do with your use of a changing pad, nor what's on the door handle of the restaurant. Neither are excuses for changing any diaper ON the table from which people eat. You could have at least used a bench in a booth.

I think she realizes that now.

I used to work at a fancy four-star B&B and the owner used to change her son right there on the table in the commercial kitchen. It was lovely. Their pet also died of old age one winter, and they wanted badly to bury it ourside their home, so they stored the it in the freezer until the ground thawed. It was utterly horrifying. All of us employees got together and wrote them a letter begging them to move it, and fortunately they did.

Ricola · October 2012

MrsT2008:
Ricola:
MrsT2008:

this has nothing to do with your use of a changing pad, nor what's on the door handle of the restaurant. Neither are excuses for changing any diaper ON the table from which people eat. You could have at least used a bench in a booth.
No booth, just tables with chairs.
thanks for clarifying, but that's not really the point. I don't care what other germs are in any establishment, the thought never would have even crossed my mind to change her on the table.

Good! At least one of us here is a sane and reasonable person at all times. :-)

Ricola · October 2012

Kelly1109:
Well at least you got this board hopping again probably not the responses you expected but oh well. I'm sure next time you will find an alternative solution and we should all make sure to wipe down our tables before eating!!

Actually, this is exactly what I expected to happen when I posted this thread. It's good to see so many people that haven't posted in a while :-)

MrsT2008 · October 2012

Ricola:
MrsT2008:
Ricola:
MrsT2008:

this has nothing to do with your use of a changing pad, nor what's on the door handle of the restaurant. Neither are excuses for changing any diaper ON the table from which people eat. You could have at least used a bench in a booth.
No booth, just tables with chairs.
thanks for clarifying, but that's not really the point. I don't care what other germs are in any establishment, the thought never would have even crossed my mind to change her on the table.
Good! At least one of us here is a sane and reasonable person at all times. :-)

I'm not sure what sanity or reason has to do with it unless you were doing it to prove a point, which makes this whole thing even more disgusting.

ccip82 · October 2012

Kelly1109:
Well at least you got this board hopping again probably not the responses you expected but oh well. I'm sure next time you will find an alternative solution and we should all make sure to wipe down our tables before eating!!

LOL Kelly, this had me laughing so hard I might have woken E from her nap

kwinkle1980 · October 2012

ccip82:

Kelly1109:
Well at least you got this board hopping again probably not the responses you expected but oh well. I'm sure next time you will find an alternative solution and we should all make sure to wipe down our tables before eating!!

LOL Kelly, this had me laughing so hard I might have woken E from her nap

Ricola has been on TB long enough to know EXACTLY the kind of responses she'd get. LOL!

MrsT, I am sure Ricola and her family are going to go stage a change-in at all the restaurants without changing fascilities.

Ricola · October 2012

kwinkle1980:

Ricola has been on TB long enough to know EXACTLY the kind of responses she'd get. LOL!

MrsT, I am sure Ricola and her family are going to go stage a change-in at all the restaurants without changing fascilities.

OMG, that would be amazing! LMAO!

Want a personalized experience?

What would you have done?

Re: What would you have done?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards