Would you change a poop filled diaper in a restaurant?

[nogooddeed]

Do people have no common sense any more?  You have a changing pad with you.  Put it on the floor of the bathroom and change the poop filled diaper there, not where people are eating. 

blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2014/08/14/texas-mom-complains-after-getting-kicked-out-of-eatry-during-diaper-change/

[Peace Of Mind]

That is so gross! 

We recently went to St. Augustine with some friends and after we ate we went to use the ladies room.  There was a mother holding a new born getting all irritated with those of us that wanted to wash our hands after.  She very impatiently said "I'm WAITING to change my babies diaper by the sink!"     There was no other place for her to do it and I felt bad for her.  And I will never set anything on the counter or touch it again when I am in a public restroom.   LOL!

[ArchietheDragon]

IMHO, a 3 month's old diaer is not that gross.  I know others will disagree.  Probably not the best idea to change it on a table in a crowded restaurant.  I would have changed it on a booth's bench seat, though. 

[muttleynfelix]

You have a changing pad with you. Put it on the floor of the bathroom and change the poop filled diaper there

OK that is disgusting. No way would I change a child on the floor of a public bathroom even with a changing pad.    

(For the record, I take my kid out to the car and change him or her there when there is not changing table.  They have both been changed in front seats, on top of luggage in the trunk, and all sorts of places, but never on the floor in the public bathroom.) 

[Wisconsin Beth]

Aug 14, 2014 14:19:39 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

IMHO, a 3 month's old diaer is not that gross.  I know others will disagree.  Probably not the best idea to change it on a table in a crowded restaurant.  I would have changed it on a booth's bench seat, though. 

IT very much depends on the 3 month old's digestive and excretory systems.  From the stories Drama's told - her DD had poop explosions on a regular basis.  I had fewer than a dozen poop explosions with 2 kids. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

In the Texas Mom's situation - I would probably leave the 8 year old in charge of the 4 year old long enough to change the diaper either in the bathroom or at the car.  IF they're eating, it should be ok.  And I'd likely mention it to staff on the way out so they don't think I'm running out on the check.   

And I would strongly encourage the pizzeria to put in a changing station somewhere, esp. if it's a family type place. 

[ArchietheDragon]

Aug 14, 2014 14:23:51 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

Aug 14, 2014 14:19:39 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

IMHO, a 3 month's old diaer is not that gross.  I know others will disagree.  Probably not the best idea to change it on a table in a crowded restaurant.  I would have changed it on a booth's bench seat, though. 

IT very much depends on the 3 month old's digestive and excretory systems.  From the stories Drama's told - her DD had poop explosions on a regular basis.  I had fewer than a dozen poop explosions with 2 kids. 

True.   If the kid had poop going up the back of their onsie, that would would not be a good decision. 

[Artemis Windsong]

When my kids were in diapers, there was no excess money for going to restaurants.

[Ryan]

First choice in a restaurant is doing it in bathroom changing table, 2nd choice is probably doing it in the booth because you can operate more covertly.  

After that, I'm not totally sure what I would do.  I wouldn't do it on the table because that would seem really weird to me, although if you have a pad and it's a small baby I don't really see the big deal.

The problem with the restaurant is that there is really no good place to change a baby without a changing table.  Floor in the bathroom??  No way!!!!


Tell the restaurant to put in a changing table...I thought it was a law or something.

[muttleynfelix]

If the diaper were only wet, Sowers might have gotten away with the change, but according to Donny Lala whose family owns Brother’s Pizza Express, the nappy was dirty and stunk up the restaurant.

Whether she opened up the diaper or not, if it smelled, it smelled. People were going to smell it no matter what.  I highly doubt it was changing the diaper that caused the smell.  

[gooddecisions]

I've used the bathroom floor before. I just make sure to put my changing pad into a plastic bag and wash it when I get home. She said she had a changing pad, so use it in private instead of right in front of everyone. Regardless, I think it's disgusting when people blow their noses at the dinner table (eww!), so I'd probably not like to see a baby being changed at the dinner table either. But, I don't think she should have been kicked out, either.

[hurley1980]

I'm sorry guys, I have to agree with the restaurant here! No one wants to see or smell shit while they are eating. That's just gross, and its totally unacceptable to inconvenience an entire restaurant of paying customers for one lady to change her baby's diaper. If I worked at this restaurant, I would have had a hostess or someone sit with the other two children and keep an eye on them while the mom changed the diaper in the car. 

The owners were right to not piss off all of the other customers just so this lady could use her child as an excuse to do as she damn well pleased.  Not everyone has children, and not everyone thinks your little ones poop smells like roses. 

[imawino]

I cannot even comprehend anyone thinking it's okay to have shit out on the table in a restaurant. I would no sooner put a baby's shit on the table than my own. People are eating around you! How could that ever be okay?

The sheer volume of people who firmly believe that their own convenience trumps the comfort of every person around them continues to amaze me.

[whoisjohngalt]

Aug 14, 2014 14:16:34 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

That is so gross! 

We recently went to St. Augustine with some friends and after we ate we went to use the ladies room.  There was a mother holding a new born getting all irritated with those of us that wanted to wash our hands after.  She very impatiently said "I'm WAITING to change my babies diaper by the sink!"     There was no other place for her to do it and I felt bad for her.  And I will never set anything on the counter or touch it again when I am in a public restroom.   LOL!

Ummm.....she could have done it in her car.

[nutty]

Kids today are strange, I am going to admit my DD did this and I told her it was freaking disgusting and not to do it again !!! They said the restaurant didn't have a changing table and DD said she wasn't changing Scarlett on the floor, I said FGS you have a little changing pad. I took Scar into the bathroom and changed her on the sink, which is probably not any better. I think Scar was changed on the booth and I don't remember if it was poopy either I wasn't there but it was the same restaurant.

I was so pissed at DD. I said at the freaking least change her in the car. How uncouth to change her at the table I don't know where my DD gets some of her ideas from sometimes.

Edit to add Scar is 8 months and either I am very good or lazy but I change pee diapers with her on my lap.

Edit to add add I do not think it is okay to change a diaper in a restaurant (apart from the restroom). In no way shape or form is that ok with me. It's terribly uncouth thing to do.

[Shooby]

I was in the waiting room at the auto place waiting for my car to be fixed. And, some grandma was there with her grandkid. The kid loaded his diaper and she just plopped him on the FABRIC couch, changed his diaper and simply tossed it in the trash in the waiting room! She didn't even then get up to wash her hands. I just got up and left and went and waited outside. What a PIG.

[Peace Of Mind]

Aug 14, 2014 15:15:26 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Aug 14, 2014 14:16:34 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

That is so gross! 

We recently went to St. Augustine with some friends and after we ate we went to use the ladies room.  There was a mother holding a new born getting all irritated with those of us that wanted to wash our hands after.  She very impatiently said "I'm WAITING to change my babies diaper by the sink!"     There was no other place for her to do it and I felt bad for her.  And I will never set anything on the counter or touch it again when I am in a public restroom.   LOL!

Ummm.....she could have done it in her car.

That is normally true but St. Augustine is a huge tourist area where you have to park many blocks away and in a parking garage stories high.  I'm guessing she didn't want her baby in a crappy/wet diaper in over 90 degree weather for that long.  Wouldn't that cause or exacerbate diaper rash? 

[muttleynfelix]

No one wants to see or smell shit while they are eating.

 - They probably could smell it before she changed the diaper. 


One night after DD was sleeping, she did #2 in her diaper. I peeked in on her and noticed the smell. I said well, I don't really want to wake her and I left her and left the door open a little bit. An hour later I could smell her poop ACROSS the house!  I decided then that her diaper needed to be changed despite having to wake her up.   Now she was over 1 at the time, so poops are stinkier than straight formula or breastmilk poops that a 4 month old would have.  But still.  The whole smell thing is just funny to me. Like a diaper contains smell so well.   

[Deleted]

I changed my kids on the floor of the bathroom before.  I have a changing pad and burp blankets to put down.  It's not a huge deal.  Most places now have the baby changing stations, (not that I haven't come across a few disgustingly dirty ones of them! ).  And certainly changed in the car/truck/van a lot.  Never in a restaurant. 

[nutty]

I would change Scar on the bathroom floor with a pad and a blanket down, no biggie to me. It has to be done, I don't think she will die from it.

[siralynn]

I wouldn't have changed it at the table (probably would have gone out to the car, but I only have one kid), but I have been very annoyed at how surprisingly many places do NOT have changing tables in the restrooms. The damn things cost like $200 to bolt to the wall (I know because I Googled it after getting really annoyed once). No excuse not to have one.

Also no excuse not to have one in the men's room too. Frequently DH goes to change our daughter's diaper and has to come back and hand her to me instead because the restaurant only has a changing table in the women's room.

[movingforward]

They were talking about this on the radio yesterday morning.  It is utterly disgusting, and I am REALLY sick and tired of every tom, dick and harry thinking they were "wronged" for being asked to leave an establishment when what they are doing is bothersome to 90% of the people around them.   

ETA: I do agree the restaurant should have a changing table but that isn't an excuse to make your problem a problem for everyone else as well

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Almost all Ladies' Rooms here have the drop-down changing table attached to the wall. Family restaurants, grocery stores, dept. stores, public sporting arenas, etc - even some gas stations.

About the only places you might not see one available is at places like a fine-dining restaurant - that doesn't really cater to children or children's menus anyway.

If I saw someone changing a baby's diaper on top of the table in a restaurant, it would sure gross me out.

[muttleynfelix]

Aug 14, 2014 15:26:48 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

Almost all Ladies' Rooms here have the drop-down changing table attached to the wall. Family restaurants, grocery stores, dept. stores, public sporting arenas, etc - even some gas stations.

About the only places you might not see one available is at places like a fine-dining restaurant - that doesn't really cater to children or children's menus anyway.

If I saw someone changing a baby's diaper on top of the table in a restaurant, it would sure gross me out.

No they don't.  I have been across this country with my kids (ages 4.5 and 1.5) from NY to Florida to Missouri to Minnesota.   The only place that I am 99% guarenteed to find a changing station is McDonalds and I didn't find one the last time we stopped (turns out they had a family restroom in the play area that I didn't see when we walked in).  Gas stations are hit and miss (maybe 50%, even big truck stops).  It is really a crap shoot as to if you are going to find a changing table or not unless it is McDonalds. Other fast food restaurants are a crap shoot too.  

[steph08]

I would not change my dd on a bathroom floor in a restaurant. First, where are you going to do it? In the stall? There isn't enough room to turn around. There is pee all over the toilet seats - I can't imagine the floor being any cleaner. Out near the sinks? So she and I can get stepped on?

I wouldn't do it on top of a table either though.

[Angel!]

Aug 14, 2014 15:32:31 GMT -5 muttleynfelix said:

Aug 14, 2014 15:26:48 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

Almost all Ladies' Rooms here have the drop-down changing table attached to the wall. Family restaurants, grocery stores, dept. stores, public sporting arenas, etc - even some gas stations.

About the only places you might not see one available is at places like a fine-dining restaurant - that doesn't really cater to children or children's menus anyway.

If I saw someone changing a baby's diaper on top of the table in a restaurant, it would sure gross me out.

No they don't.  I have been across this country with my kids (ages 4.5 and 1.5) from NY to Florida to Missouri to Minnesota.   The only place that I am 99% guarenteed to find a changing station is McDonalds and I didn't find one the last time we stopped (turns out they had a family restroom in the play area that I didn't see when we walked in).  Gas stations are hit and miss (maybe 50%, even big truck stops).  It is really a crap shoot as to if you are going to find a changing table or not unless it is McDonalds. Other fast food restaurants are a crap shoot too.  

Wow!  The only time I remember having a problem was an elementary school of all places. They didn't even have counters & the sinks were the kind that were kind of huge troughes.  DS was old enough to sort of stand up, so I stood him in the sink & changed him.

I also haven't traveled too much, so that is likely why I haven't had too many problems.


ETA - I just now remembered changing DD on the floor in a very clean bank restroom.  I would be less likely to do it on the floor of many other restrooms.

[Sum Dum Gai]

The damn things cost like $200 to bolt to the wall (I know because I Googled it after getting really annoyed once). No excuse not to have one.

You going to pay for it?  Just because somebody opens a business doesn't mean they have to cater to every whim of every customer they might ever have walk through the door.  

I own a toy store and we don't have a changing station in our bathroom.  We're a small store so we're not even legally required to have a public bathroom.  If we do choose to have our bathroom accessible to the public, I'm required to put in certain signage and whatnot to make it accessible to handicap folks.  That's it.  There's no requirement to spend money making life easier for people who choose to shop or eat with babies.

It's true that a changing station is pretty cheap.  It's also one more thing for me to clean, and some people will make a god awful mess on the thing and leave it for me to clean up, without saying anything of course, so I won't even find it until I go to clean up before closing.  If kids go in there and horse around on it, climb on it, etc, loosening the bolts, I'll be the one who gets sued when somebody is using it and it comes off the wall.  If somebody is using the table and walks over to throw the diaper in the trash while their kid falls off the changing table, I'm the one who gets sued.

What's the upside for me?  If somebody is in here shopping and their kid craps in their diaper they can change it here and leave a smelly diaper in the bathroom trash instead of walking out and changing the kid in their car and possibly not coming back in?  Yay... sign me up.

[ArchietheDragon]

Aug 14, 2014 15:49:32 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

The damn things cost like $200 to bolt to the wall (I know because I Googled it after getting really annoyed once). No excuse not to have one.

You going to pay for it?  Just because somebody opens a business doesn't mean they have to cater to every whim of every customer they might ever have walk through the door.  

I own a toy store and we don't have a changing station in our bathroom.  We're a small store so we're not even legally required to have a public bathroom.  If we do choose to have our bathroom accessible to the public, I'm required to put in certain signage and whatnot to make it accessible to handicap folks.  That's it.  There's no requirement to spend money making life easier for people who choose to shop or eat with babies.

It's true that a changing station is pretty cheap.  It's also one more thing for me to clean, and some people will make a god awful mess on the thing and leave it for me to clean up, without saying anything of course, so I won't even find it until I go to clean up before closing.  If kids go in there and horse around on it, climb on it, etc, loosening the bolts, I'll be the one who gets sued when somebody is using it and it comes off the wall.  If somebody is using the table and walks over to throw the diaper in the trash while their kid falls off the changing table, I'm the one who gets sued.

What's the upside for me?  If somebody is in here shopping and their kid craps in their diaper they can change it here and leave a smelly diaper in the bathroom trash instead of walking out and changing the kid in their car and possibly not coming back in?  Yay... sign me up.

ROFL.   Business owners are greedy bastards. 

[muttleynfelix]

It isn't too big of deal because we just take the kids back to the car for a diaper change, but I've been in a lot of different gas stations and fast food restaurants on road trips and I can tell you that the places I have stopped it is under 50% of them having changing tables. 

My favorite diaper change was when DS was 10 months old and we were at Burger King in western NY.  It was November and starting to spit rain and we were in my Grandma's car.  He had a horribly dirty diaper and we had to change it on the top of our luggage in the trunk of the car while it was misting and about 45 degrees.  That was pleasant! 

[Sum Dum Gai]

I'm just sayin', imagine a sign in my bathroom that said the following:

"If you use the changing table, please throw the diaper in the trash can, then tie off the trash bag and throw it in the dumpster out back.  When you come back in ask the funologist at the register for the simple green and the paper towels to wipe down the changing station, they'll also give you a new bag for the bathroom trash can.  Thank you for your understanding, since our other customers don't want to smell or see the mess your child left behind."

Parents would be pissed and trash me on Yelp.  But, somehow them coming in and throwing smelly diapers in my store, and leaving a mess on the changing table for me to clean up is expected?  What the hell?