No Changing Areas

I either use the stroller - in full recline; the front seat of the car; the trunk of the car - inside and out!; a sidewalk; my lap; my jacket.

When I change diapers, I always open the new one and place it under the used one before I remove the used one. That way baby's butt never touches anything but diaper.

M.

The car. If you have a suv the back is awesome. If not the backseat works too. Carry a changing pad too.

I used to carry a large receiving blanket that was printed on one side. I would lay it on the nasty floor with the print side up. After changing the diaper, I would fold it up so the plain (dirty) sides touched and store it in a gallon size ziploc bag. If I had to re-use it before I could wash it, I always knew the print side was clean.

Another mom saw me struggling with a dirty bathroom and passed along a *great* tip. Keep sheets of newspaper folded up in your diaper bag. They're large, and free. You can lay them down on any gross surface and put the changing pad on top. When you're done, it's so easy to throw them away. You can keep a lot of them folded up in a typical diaper bag.

Hi D.,

A pediatric nurse gave my "new moms group" one of the best tips of all: buy a package of "chucks" (those disposable, rectangular liners that hospitals use a lot on the beds). They are in the "incontinence" section of the drug store. I believe they come in two sizes--I recommend the bigger size.

I always had one folded up in a pocket of my diaper bag; then, no matter how yucky the surface available, I could lay my kiddo down on the chuck and change them. (It also protects the surface, if you are changing them on, say, a carpeted area.)

Cheers,
J.

I go out to the car and change my baby there. One time I did change him on the bench seat of a restaurant booth, but there wasn't anyone else around. You could also be sure to keep one of those waterproof pads that you put on your changing table at home in your diaper bag and you can lay that on the sink and use the sink if there is enough space.

I have used the counter in the bathroom, but if I know there is no changing station and the car is relatively close I change in the car.

I also use the car - the trunk is easiest for me because it's flat and I can stand at my daughter's side; the seats are a bit harder because they are slightly sloped and I have to stand either at her feet or her head. I also keep a receiving blanket and a little waterproof pad in the diaper bag (the pad actually came with the diaper bag). When the car is not an option for some reason, I spread the blanket on the ground or counter, then put the waterproof pad on top. The pad by itself is too small (her head, hands, and feet would touch the ground/counter), but it's nice to use because it wipes clean easily if something gets on it.

The stroller, a bench or grassy area. Have also changed diapers using the floor in the car.

Is your baby old enough to stand well? I do like the other mom's say but if it's only a pee diaper, I just have my girl and boys stand while I change them. I do this even if there is a diaper changing station.

OOOh, big pet peeve of mine! I especially get mad when a restaurant that has a KIDS MENU doesn't have a changing station in the bathroom!!!!!!
San Francisco is especially unfriendly to kids. At one restaurant in North Beach I complained to my waitress and she ( God bless her!) drug a little table into the bathroom and covered it with a towel for me to change my son - his diaper had failed completely and he needed a total wardrobe change.
I have also used my stroller - the seat goes completely flat - I put the changing pad down over the buckles etc.
I like the newspaper idea - but it could be a bit bulky so why not carry a "leaf & garden" size trash bag - they come folded up flat & small and are waterproof too since a lot of bathroom floors & counters are wet from hand washing....
If you are a paying customer somewhere you can ask staff to suggest where you can change a diaper. I worked in the retail furniture industry for years and often had a mommy use a clearance sofa with a towel over it since we didn't have a changing station.

I usually go out to the car if we are in a restaraunt or smaller store (especially if I don't have a stroller with me.) If I have a stroller and am in the mall or a large park/amusement park, or wherever, I just find an out of the way corner and change him in the middle of the mall, etc.

I have changed some pretty nasty diapers in some pretty nasty places. I always have an extra blanket (receiving blankets are thin enough to fold small) that can be used as a changing pad. If a bathroom doesn't have a changing table, I'll use whatever counter space is available. I do get some dirty looks from people, but they can complain to management if they don't like it! It's getting easier with the girl standing on her own, now we're practicing changing diapers standing up!

I never use changing areas even when they have them. They are just as gross as the rest of the bathroom to me. I am a little bit phobic... I always use my car, or my big stroller if I have it with me.

I used the stroller.

Dear D.,
My dad bought be a portable changing table. I wish I could remember the name of it. It was basically a light weight tote, but it opened up into a padded bottom with for sides to help with rolling. I used the disposable potty pads to go under it to keep it from being directly on the ground. There were places such as fairs and parades that didn't accomodate changing or going all the way back to the car. Amazingly, this tote made things quite discreet. When your kids get old enough to stand up, you can go into a stall and change them standing up even if they are really yucky and put the diaper back on them in the standing position. I always took the opportunity to sit them on the potty and hold them while I wiped their tushies and flushed the wipes/toilet paper away and had them stand for another diaper. Surprisingly enough, you can become quite adept at changing when circumstances aren't perfect for doing so. I've done the lap thing too. It just takes some practice.

when we go out and there is no place to change my son I take him to the car and change him in the back seat or, if I don't want to go to the car get a bunch of paper towels and put him on the counter in the bathroom. In a pinch you can use the floor, just put down tons of towels or even a blanket with you. One of my diaper bags had a little portable changing pad with it that I used sometimes too.

I am a huge fan of changing in the backseat of a car or backseat of an SUV. I've also changed her laying down in her stroller or, if outside, grass is better than a public changing table. I refuse to use public changing tables, unless I absolutely have to, like at a baseball game, and even then I use a huge disposable changing pad under my padded changing pad so nothing touches my baby.

I would usually go out to my car if it wasn't too far. Or if that was out of the question I would do it outside in the stroller with the seat reclined...the few times I absolutely had to do it in a gross bathroom, I always keep a couple large cotton prefold diapers in my diaper bag, so I would lay that on the bathroom counter (or floor...I know, gross!) and change him on that and wash the diaper when I got home.

We would always use the back of our SUV. =0) If it was too cold outside, I would sit in the backseat and lay the front seat all the way down flat.

your car! I cannot count how many times I changed my son's diaper (#1 & #2) in my car!

My exact problem...I try to change the baby before I leave the car.

I have used every thinkable surface in our car, the stroller, the ground (my jacket under her), benches and now that she's a toddler I have changed diapers standing up (even BM). I have even changed her on the lid of a toilet seat on the plane that did not have a single changing table (never fly United with a baby!).
You do what you have to.... I have no shame when it comes to making sure my child is happy and clean.

I feel like there are fewer and fewer places with changing tables and this sucks. Some things I have done:
-used a bench
-carpeted cozy corner in the establishment
-used a counter that is close to fitting
-large chair
-dressing room
-trunk o' my car

My favorite coffee shop didn't have a changing table and I mentioned it in an otherwise glowing Yelp review. They installed one within a week!

I change him in my lap. It's the cleanest place. Whenever possible I change him in the backseat of the car or the trunk as I have a low car and nothing in the trunk. Just be sure to always have a hand on them so don't squirm off. At people's homes, I use the matt from my diaper bag on the floor. It's the safest place.

It depends on where you are. If you can find a private out of the way place, put down a blanket & change away! If push comes to shove we head back to the car and change there. Good luck!

When my daughter was in diapers and I was driving my car to the store or where-ever, I always kept wipes for her, sanitary wipes for me, extra diapers and a plastic bag in the trunk of the car. The trunk of the car, when it's empty that is, is a great place to change a diaper. It's mostly private for the baby (although I know they don't care, I did) but people do give you funny looks. I couldn't tell if they'd never thought of it or thought it was dangerous somehow or just unexpected. Except for having to bend over in a public place, if you're fast at it, then it's over and done with in a fairly sanitary way. Or, if I was in a BART station or somewhere w/o my car, I would have a blankie to spread out to put her on and use wipes I'd brought with me. I would worry about dropping the baby if I tried to change her in my lap.

I too have changed diapers in odd places, including on an airline seat or my lap or the car seat(regular, not the baby's LOL)

I have protested in a store where there was no changing space in the bathroom and been allowed into their employee room to change on their employee lunch tables. (Best way to get them aware of the need for a changing space in the regular bathroom!)

it's nice that those plastic fold downs (like the Koala Baby Care Centers) are making it easy for anyone nearly anywhere to install one. No needing a separate, specially designated counter anymore.

By the way, if you go into a store restroom and ask them to install one, include helpful suggestions on where to locate one (ie, near a trashcan & sink, away from traffic, etc. Oftentimes they just dont know!)

yup, I sit on the pot and change her on my lap if no where else to put her. What else can a mommy do!?

Hi Momma-
Alot of diaper bags have fold out changing pads. The eddie Bauer one is pretty good. You can also get disposable changing pads. They aren't very thick, but they keep the baby off the floor. Just fold and go. I suggest taking a small yoga mat or even a "carpet" non slip pad with you, rolled up. Just keep it in the car. You may have to kneel on the floor, or use the back seat of your car, but it will protect your child even though it is not as soft as home.
Does that help?
-E. M.