Changing babies in public bathrooms...?

Question

I have a 4 month old and I refuse to change my daugther in the public washrooms, I just find them to be a big germ magnet. My fiance prefers I use the washrooms to change her instead of out in public in front of everyone, but I don't like the washrooms and I just change her where ever I am. Any opinions on this?

Ok to be clear on this, I don't change her in the middle of a busy mall, or in a restaurant booth. If I am in the mall, I go to a quiet area and change her, or the car. I dispose of the diaper in the garbage, and I wash my hands with antibacterial wash. Im not that stupid to change my child infront of someone eating in a restaurant. I never use public washrooms, and I feel my child shouldn't be exposed to such germs either.

Answer 1

You can change the infant in your car. Just lay her sideways in the front seat (with her butt facing the door), kneel down and change her. I've done that. Then the baby still has some privacy because you are in front of her plus the car door is behind you, even if it is open.

Answer 2

You don't think you get germs other places? Better wash your hands everytime you handle money. Money is the nastiest thing on this planet. Take a vinyl type changing pad and place it on the changing station. Use antibacterial wipes afterward and wipe down each side of the pad. You can't protect your child from all germs and some germs help him to build up his immunity. I mean, you are out in public anyway. THere are germs everywhere. You are assuming everyone washes their hands after using the bathroom and using something to open the door with and never touching anything else. Germs are everywhere! Doors, light switches, money, restaurant tables and chairs, come one! Get real!!

If you simply use a blanket, how are you going to sanitize it? How will you know which side touched the changing table? next time you go to change him, you might put the down side up and he'll touch the God forsaken germs!!

Answer 3

What's in public washrooms that's so different from what's already in her diaper? I'm sure he doesn't mean that you should sit her in a puddle of filth while changing her. Many washrooms have changing tables that the facility's staff knows to keep clean. If such a table isn't available, wipe down a counter with a baby wipe and dry it with a paper towel. Even better: carry a changing mat in her diaper bag.

If you're changing her at a restaurant table or on the floor in an airport, you're doing the very thing that grosses you out about public washrooms.

Answer 4

I changed all 3 of my children in public washrooms.. i got diaper bags with build in collapsible changing pads so there was always a clean place to lay the baby down...

Contrary to popular belief public restrooms that are cleaned regularly are pretty germ free. During a college biology course we were assigned the task of taking bacterial swab samples from all over the college then culturing the bacteria to see what was the most bacteria laden.. All swabs taken in the restrooms grew far less bacteria then swabs taken from places such as a button on the elevator, a tray in the cafeteria, a stairway banister and a door handle...

The chemicals and cleaning products used in the cleaning of public restrooms and the cleaning schedules make then pretty clean and germ bacteria free..

With a small precaution such as a portable, collapsible changing pad (there is not always a changing station available) changing baby in the restroom (a visibly tidy one) is no more dangerous or germ ridden than allowing baby to touch the resturant table, or other public objects..

Answer 5

If you have one of those big strollers that lay flat, what you're doing is no big deal if you angle the stroller in the proper direction. As for public restrooms, some of them are filthy, but most of them are reasonably clean. My son is 11 months old and is very healthy. We change him in restrooms all the time. I always have a changing pad with me, so that he never comes into direct contact with the surfaces, and we use hand sanitizer afterwards.

Most germs can't live for more than a few minutes on hard surfaces like the plastic changing tables anyway, unless there is a puddle of water on it.

Since she's so little, I would say that it's fine now, but soon she'll start to outgrow her stroller, and you won't be able to change her there anymore. And anyway, what will you do when you are potty training? Carry your own potty from home around with you? You'll have to venture into the public restrooms then, and if you aren't over your germ fear yet, you child will be old enough to pick up on it and will have accidents in public.

Answer 6

Lol, I'd just say it's never too young to start teaching kids things, it seems goofy, but I'd think that if you change her in the bathroom she'll learn that going potty in private is good. My friend has a real phobia of public restrooms and her kids will squat and go whenever they need to, whereever they are, which is quite embarrassing for her :) Besides, you can avoid germs by carrying your own changing pad and alcohol gel. The germs on a bathroom changing table are far less than the ones on the floor, because people step in all sorts of crap but don't walk on a table or counter :) Have a good night!

Answer 7

I suggest you bring a changing pad with you at all times to set your baby on in a public restroom changing table. When my daughter was a baby, I had two of those pads so there was always a clean one available. Otherwise, change your baby in the car.

I'll admit that I would change a wet diaper out in public once in a while, and was discreet about it. However, I would never change a poopy diaper in public - it is rude and gross for other people to have to see (and smell!) it.

Answer 8

I change my babies in public restrooms all the time. I always carry a baby blanket with me so I can put the blanket down so my baby doesn't touch anything. I always remember when I get home to wash the blanket and put it back into the diaper bag so I have it next time I need to change them in a store or restaurant.
I don't think it is wise to change a baby out in front of everyone.
People are going to look at you and at your baby's private parts. There are all kinds of perverts out there now a days. Think about the privacy you should be giving to your baby.

Answer 9

I know what you mean about public washrooms, they're disgusting! Unfortunately, if there is not a "family room" in a store there really isn't anywhere else to change our little one's. What I do when I have to change my little one in a public washroom on the changing table (which never seems to be very clean) is I use the huggies disposable change pads. They're handy and you just throw them away after each use.

Answer 10

I change my child (now 3) in public restrooms all the time. I use a canging pad I have with me. He's been sick maybe 5 times his entire life. Considering most kids get 6-8 colds a year--that's pretty good.

It's only a big deal if you make itone, and there is no reason to make it one.

Answer 11

well it could be offensive to some people for you to change a baby's diaper in certain public places. you are right those places are big germ magnets so why not take along antibacterial wipes and clean off the changing table before you put your travel changing pad on it? that's what i always did.

or you could just change her in the car before you go into resturants, stores, etc.