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Men changing babies.

(86 Posts)
tanith Thu 04-Oct-18 07:36:33

Just watched a piece on the news about a man who needed to change his baby having to do it on his lap, and the video of this has gone viral with men complaining that there are no nappy changing facilities in men’s loos and want this rectified.
Whilst I agree it’s not easy but please I very often changed my babies on my lap as there were no facilities in those days it’s not rocket science and who’d want to take their baby in the men’s loo anyway.

Thoughts ladies?

PhiPhisnana Tue 04-Dec-18 21:00:55

There aren’t any changing facilities in women’s toilets any more either. It’s not sexist and he is doing it for attention seeking.
Changing tables are in the disabled/accessible toilets.
There’s not need for the fuss he is making.

Cherrytree59 Tue 04-Dec-18 23:18:15

I can't remember ever changing a baby in a toilet area.

I have on few occasions accompanied my DD to Mothercare in order change to DGC's nappy in their baby changing facility.

If I have needed to change a DGC nappy whilst out and about,
I have done so in the car
using a travel changing mat with a nappybag close to hand.

Years ago mothers were expected to breastfeed out of sight in the ladies toilets!
I remember a newspaper or magazine article headline....
'Would you be happy to have your meal served in a public toilet??'shock

absent Wed 05-Dec-18 01:07:13

I think this topic has come up before and I suspect I mentioned the parents' room in our local shopping mall. It has seats, including a couple in cubicles for breastfeeding mothers who want privacy, a nappy changing area, a microwave for heating bottles and a kind of playpen with a television to keep slightly older children safe while the babies are being seen to. There are facilities for washing hands but I think the loos are next door.

TerriBull Wed 05-Dec-18 06:44:44

I think my local John Lewis has a baby changing area outside the women's toilet area. I agree with others, if there is enough space, a gender neutral area would be ideal. It's feasible that the father may be the only parent, or the one that does the majority of child care, or simply be out with the baby for the day.

Davidhs Wed 05-Dec-18 07:45:03

I did change a baby once and only once. My wife and daughters almost always sit on a chair with baby on a mat on the floor where it can't wriggle off or wee on it and do what is needed. As for breast feeding its common almost fashionable to see in cafes, feeding baby and chatting to friends or reading a book, anywhere you can sit down and relax.

BlueBelle Wed 05-Dec-18 08:00:56

Cherrytree how easy is that if you dont have a car?
Gabrielle can we change bladders I think mine has been in nearly every toilet in England ?

glammanana Wed 05-Dec-18 10:38:14

My son has care of his daughter a couple of days a week whilst his wife has a day with her friends or goes to the gym,he thinks nothing of changing little one in the female changing area he has been praised by ladies who see him as a very good hands on dad,his baby's comfort is more important to him than what people think.

Witzend Thu 06-Dec-18 09:55:56

I do think things are changing - I notice a lot of separate unisex changing facilities now, or mens' with facilities.

My son in law is very hands-on, in fact he was the first to change Gdd's nappy when she was very new - dd was unsure of what to do!
A far cry from a bloke we used to know (our age) who positively boasted that he'd never once changed a nappy - and he had 3 children.

Not necessarily typical, though - I certainly remember my father (born 1916) routinely changing younger siblings' nappies.

Luckygirl Thu 06-Dec-18 10:12:55

Disabled loo with changing table is the way to go for everyone changing babies and also for Dads needing to take DD to loo. As a poster upthread said, this is becoming more common.

Having said that, like others, I have changed nappies on my lap in trains, pubs, shops etc. and the world is still turning.

gillybob Thu 06-Dec-18 10:23:57

My DH has looked after all of the DGC several times on his own when they were babies and had/has no problem at all doing nappies. Mind you if am around he wouldn’t volunteer smile