SandyinMonterey
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2013
My daughter is way past the diaper stage, but it never, ever crossed my mind to change her diaper any other place than a restroom.
Yikes! That's Gross.I’ve read of people changing diapers on table tops at FTBBQ. Now that’s disgusting !!
Bare bench, bare bottom, no hand sanitizer that I noticedFor me .. it depends .. was it on the BARE bench? We always carry a changing pad in our diaper bag for our little one .. and ESPECIALLY use it on changing tables in airports/restaurants, etc.
If the baby didn't drop "a bomb", I don't see any issue with freshening the diaper up in a public place WITH the use of some changing pad so bare bottoms don't touch a surface (for both the babies' and publics sake). Dump the diaper and wash with germ gel as needed. Sometimes you need to take advantage of the time you have.
If a bomb was dropped, ya .. get out of line .. it's going to be messy and stink. Not really good for a public place.
Using your own personal stroller this way is fine. Using a public bench in a room full of people is not & I agree, I’m not into the exposing of the bare bottomed kids either.The bathrooms at Disney have one changing station. Not to mention, changing stations are extremely germy and getting to the baby care center isn't always practical.
We have been to Disney many times and I stopped using the restrooms to change diapers after waiting over 15 minutes (I timed it) for a grandma to change a diaper at HS two years ago. She was going as slow as possible and making sure to make a huge scene about how she was the one who got to change the diaper. I'm sure she was an excited grandma who was reliving motherhood, but her complete lack of awareness (or care) about the line of people waiting to use the one changing station was ridiculous. She even made a phone call with baby laying on the changing table while several of us waited in line to use the changing station! Several people made comments and she just didn't care. The self absorption of some Disney guests is far more bothersome than someone changing a wet diaper on a bench.
After that, I solely use our stroller for diaper changes. I find a secluded spot, pull the stroller awning all the way down, lay the seat back, and change the diaper. Easy and quick. My children are much less exposed this way (the changing stations are in full view of anyone walking in the public restroom). When finished, we go wash hands.
Personally I wouldn't use a bench (I don't want my children exposed like that) but as others have said, if someone uses a changing pad it doesn't bother me.
I do my business in the bathroom and don't want strangers seeing me naked. I afford that same level of privacy to my kids as much as I can, whether they are old enough to understand and want privacy or not. I do wish changing tables wouldn't be so out in the open in restrooms, but I'd much rather change a baby/toddler there than in the middle of a theme park full of people.
The only other places I have ever and would ever change a baby (outside a restroom or house) have been in my van with a changing mat when there was not a restroom nearby and my body is blocking him from being seen by passersby (though I'm still parked away from passersby anyway). I've also done the stroller thing a couple of times at a craft show or carnival that only had port a potties, as changing an infant in a port a potty is both and dang near impossible to pull off. I still find a secluded spot somewhere, put the sunshade up, etc. I always carry hand sanitizer, so that's never an issue.
If a bathroom is not available, at least find a spot away from people and try to be as inconspicuous as possible. I understand that facilities aren't always available, but there's still no excuse in my book for changing a diaper so publicly. With all the people taking photos of everyone and everything in the parks these days, why would anyone want to risk their child ending up naked in a stranger's photo?
My brother's graduation was a couple months ago at a local park. There was a bathroom pretty close, but a distant relative still thought it appropriate to change 2 toddlers' diapers on the seat of the picinic table in the middle of the pavilion-- at the same table that people were eating at and about 5 feet away from the tables of food. . The table quickly emptied out and I didn't see anyone eating after that.
This was always my plan of attack. I am a mom to twins so going to the washroom involved balancing two babies. The stroller was so quick and easy. It was clean because it was ours. But maybe I offended many people.The bathrooms at Disney have one changing station. Not to mention, changing stations are extremely germy and getting to the baby care center isn't always practical.
We have been to Disney many times and I stopped using the restrooms to change diapers after waiting over 15 minutes (I timed it) for a grandma to change a diaper at HS two years ago. She was going as slow as possible and making sure to make a huge scene about how she was the one who got to change the diaper. I'm sure she was an excited grandma who was reliving motherhood, but her complete lack of awareness (or care) about the line of people waiting to use the one changing station was ridiculous. She even made a phone call with baby laying on the changing table while several of us waited in line to use the changing station! Several people made comments and she just didn't care. The self absorption of some Disney guests is far more bothersome than someone changing a wet diaper on a bench.
After that, I solely use our stroller for diaper changes. I find a secluded spot, pull the stroller awning all the way down, lay the seat back, and change the diaper. Easy and quick. My children are much less exposed this way (the changing stations are in full view of anyone walking in the public restroom). When finished, we go wash hands.
Personally I wouldn't use a bench (I don't want my children exposed like that) but as others have said, if someone uses a changing pad it doesn't bother me.
Personal stroller is fine, I'm sure many others have done it when not bathrooms were around. I know I have. But I did it in as much privacy as possible, and not openly on a bench other people would be using after me.This was always my plan of attack. I am a mom to twins so going to the washroom involved balancing two babies. The stroller was so quick and easy. It was clean because it was ours. But maybe I offended many people.
Personal stroller is fine, I'm sure many others have done it when not bathrooms were around. I know I have. But I did it in as much privacy as possible, and not openly on a bench other people would be using after me.
As Disney parks evolve, maybe it is time for them to consider larger baby care centers strategically placed through the parks to accommodate the needs of their diapered guests.We used our stroller numerous times for diaper changes. Not stinky diapers though and we tried to wheel the stroller to an out of the way location. The restroom baby changing stations completely gross me out. I avoided them at all costs. When we were able to use the baby care centers though we did, as they were much nicer. Lots more room, no rushing, kept immaculately clean.
In line at a ride? That's a bit much.
As Disney parks evolve, maybe it is time for them to consider larger baby care centers strategically placed through the parks to accommodate the needs of their diapered guests.
The Disney of today is not the Disney of 1971,1982,1989 or 1998 & families need more accessible, more spacious places to change their kids.
I totally agree with a previous poster saying 1 changing station & a very long line does not work.
I don’t think that long lines are common, though. I took a diapered child last year for 5 days and I think I only waited to change him twice, and both times was behind one other person. Some of the larger restrooms have more than one changing station. If the line were seriously 15 minutes, I’d go to a different bathroom or hand the kid to my husband. There’s no way I’d wait 15 minutes to change a diaper.
I never did figure out how to change my kid in the stroller. Oh well.
OH, I Love this Idea, hand baby off to DAD to use the Change station in the men's room with no lineup!!!I don’t think that long lines are common, though. I took a diapered child last year for 5 days and I think I only waited to change him twice, and both times was behind one other person. Some of the larger restrooms have more than one changing station. If the line were seriously 15 minutes, I’d go to a different bathroom or hand the kid to my husband. There’s no way I’d wait 15 minutes to change a diaper.
I never did figure out how to change my kid in the stroller. Oh well.
OH, I Love this Idea, hand baby off to DAD to use the Change station in the men's room with no lineup!!!
IDK either-there is literally a bathroom right there outside of Country Bears & there was 15+ minutes until showtime.We do this pretty regularly. So much easier We've also changed diapers in the rear of my SUV, in the stroller, and on a blanket behind a tree at a park. I wouldn't say I'd never do it in line or waiting for show, because there may be a situation where it might be necessary, however we always have a pad, blanket, and sanitizer or sanitizing wipes. I'd also try to avoid that situation.
However, I don't know that parent's story of why they changed right there and then, so I would try not to be quick to judge. I, personally, would probably not do that, but who knows, there may have been something going on that we don't know about.
The bathrooms at Disney have one changing station. Not to mention, changing stations are extremely germy and getting to the baby care center isn't always practical.
We have been to Disney many times and I stopped using the restrooms to change diapers after waiting over 15 minutes (I timed it) for a grandma to change a diaper at HS two years ago. She was going as slow as possible and making sure to make a huge scene about how she was the one who got to change the diaper. I'm sure she was an excited grandma who was reliving motherhood, but her complete lack of awareness (or care) about the line of people waiting to use the one changing station was ridiculous. She even made a phone call with baby laying on the changing table while several of us waited in line to use the changing station! Several people made comments and she just didn't care. The self absorption of some Disney guests is far more bothersome than someone changing a wet diaper on a bench.
After that, I solely use our stroller for diaper changes. I find a secluded spot, pull the stroller awning all the way down, lay the seat back, and change the diaper. Easy and quick. My children are much less exposed this way (the changing stations are in full view of anyone walking in the public restroom). When finished, we go wash hands.
Personally I wouldn't use a bench (I don't want my children exposed like that) but as others have said, if someone uses a changing pad it doesn't bother me.
I don’t think that long lines are common, though. I took a diapered child last year for 5 days and I think I only waited to change him twice, and both times was behind one other person. Some of the larger restrooms have more than one changing station. If the line were seriously 15 minutes, I’d go to a different bathroom or hand the kid to my husband. There’s no way I’d wait 15 minutes to change a diaper.
I never did figure out how to change my kid in the stroller. Oh well.