I Still Can't Believe What I Saw...

[blandino]

Last night we were out to dinner, and in the booth next to us we're two couples, and they had 4 kids between the two of them. On their way our, one of the dads takes the baby and sets her down on a booth bench across from the booth they were at, and changes her diaper ! The bathroom was not more than 6 steps away from where we were sitting.

I was shocked. Especially since they were on their way out, they could have changed her in the car or in the restroom. Good grief !

[Meeko]

Last night we were out to dinner, and in the booth next to us we're two couples, and they had 4 kids between the two of them. On their way our, one of the dads takes the baby and sets her down on a booth bench across from the booth they were at, and changes her diaper ! The bathroom was not more than 6 steps away from where we were sitting.

I was shocked. Especially since they were on their way out, they could have changed her in the car or in the restroom. Good grief !

I would have made a not so quiet comment! Actually, the management should have stopped him. It's a health hazard.

[preschoolteacher]

I agree that it's gross and rude, but I have a question. What about when you are out eat at a place that does not have a changing table or fold-down table in the bathroom? For some reason, this is ridiculously common around here, and it drives me crazy. There is no way I am going to change my baby on the dirty bathroom floor--even if I put something down first. Since we live in Minnesota, changing him in the car in the winter is freezing and awkward. I luckily haven't had to figure out what I'd do in this situation.

[Heidi]

I once saw a lady change her older infant on the bench AT THE TABLE in a restaurant. eww!

[Heidi]

I agree that it's gross and rude, but I have a question. What about when you are out eat at a place that does not have a changing table or fold-down table in the bathroom? For some reason, this is ridiculously common around here, and it drives me crazy. There is no way I am going to change my baby on the dirty bathroom floor--even if I put something down first. Since we live in Minnesota, changing him in the car in the winter is freezing and awkward. I luckily haven't had to figure out what I'd do in this situation.

I can't remember ever being in a restaurant without a changing table, other than the bars around here that also serve food. Wierd...

I would definately complain to the management (nicely), unless it's a bar-type place.

[blandino]

I once saw a lady change her older infant on the bench AT THE TABLE in a restaurant. eww!

This child was definitely around 1 year. Not that it would be acceptable, but maybe a 3/4 month old would seem better to me. I still would have been shocked though

[blandino]

I agree that it's gross and rude, but I have a question. What about when you are out eat at a place that does not have a changing table or fold-down table in the bathroom? For some reason, this is ridiculously common around here, and it drives me crazy. There is no way I am going to change my baby on the dirty bathroom floor--even if I put something down first. Since we live in Minnesota, changing him in the car in the winter is freezing and awkward. I luckily haven't had to figure out what I'd do in this situation.

I thought about that, giving them the benefit of the doubt - but they were on their way out, it could have easily been done in the car.

[Patches]

Ummmm gross. Seriously, I just changed my kid's diaper in the car today. When they were younger, I ran into a couple situations where they needed changed and there were no changing tables in the bathrooms. If they were old enough to stand, theyu get chaged standing up. If not, I have layed them on the sink counterwith a bunch of paper towels layed down or a changing pad if I had one or if they were little enough I sat on the toilet and laid them on my lap (that's only when they were really little)

[Hunni Bee]

Ummmm gross. Seriously, I just changed my kid's diaper in the car today. When they were younger, I ran into a couple situations where they needed changed and there were no changing tables in the bathrooms. If they were old enough to stand, theyu get chaged standing up. If not, I have layed them on the sink counterwith a bunch of paper towels layed down or a changing pad if I had one or if they were little enough I sat on the toilet and laid them on my lap (that's only when they were really little)

I've done all of those. There is absolutely no reason to change a dirty diaper at a restaurant table, except laziness and inconsideration.

[Starburst]

If there are bathrooms without changing tables in a public place it is probably because they are trying to get the message across that they are not kid friendly; which is a growing trend in restaurants. My mom recently worked briefly at a new restaurant in a small town near by and the owner does not want to be kid friendly- which since they are in a small town will probably not last very long if they are not entirely family friendly (though from what I hear there are a lot of things they are doing right that will also lead to their demise).

[Oneluckymom]

I agree that it's gross and rude, but I have a question. What about when you are out eat at a place that does not have a changing table or fold-down table in the bathroom? For some reason, this is ridiculously common around here, and it drives me crazy. There is no way I am going to change my baby on the dirty bathroom floor--even if I put something down first. Since we live in Minnesota, changing him in the car in the winter is freezing and awkward. I luckily haven't had to figure out what I'd do in this situation.

I always carried disposable changing pads. They were large pads I used just for this reason.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Public behavior of parents with children doesn't phase me anymore, unfortunately.
It's what people do in my home that surprises me.

[crazydaycarelady]

Please tell me it was NOT #2!

[littlemissmuffet]

I'll probably get flamed for this... but I don't see the problem, as long as it was done in sanitary way. I would have done the same thing - with a change pad beneath baby - and then I would have wiped the bench down with a cleaning wipe (I clean restaraunt tables/public areas before and after I sit anyways). And I would have used hand sanitizer afterwards.

I have had to change diapers on the city bus, on a park bench, in cars, counter tops, etc. In the billion diapers I've changed I've yet to get poop or pee on anything!

S#!t happens

[AmyKidsCo]

Was it pee or poop? Somehow to me if it was poop that would be worse than the quick off-and-on of a pee diaper. In any case I think they should've taken the child somewhere else to change her - what if there'd been a pedophile watching?