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AIBU?

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Original poster

Disabled nappy changes

60 replies

Helplessandheartbroke · 15/04/2024 13:34

Hello lovely mumsnetters!

I'm looking for some assistance please. My amazing ds is 4 and is SEN. He's non verbal and is currently still in nappies. I'm finding it harder and harden to change his nappy in public place. Ie themeparks, restaurants, the zoo etc. This is due to the size of the changing facilities being made for babies. I appreciate most 4 year olds are out of nappies however, a lot aren't. I'm not even sure how to go about this but I want to campaign to bring awareness to this issue that I and many mums are facing. Before I email my local mp and the British toilet association, I just wanted some advice from my fellow mumsnetters.

Is this problem as big as I think? Aibu to raise this issue? Thanks

OP posts:
evilharpy · 15/04/2024 18:33

There isn't a single changing places facility within this town (about 7000 people). In the neighbouring city of c. 200k people, there is one (in a leisure centre, well outside the city centre). It's a disgrace. One of our local councillors was lobbying the council for one but it doesn't seem to have progressed.

It's an issue for children but must be an even bigger issue for adults.

CrocusSnowdrop · 15/04/2024 18:33

It's definitely an issue for many disabled people - I think emailing Changing Places for support is a good idea. Btw, there are various apps and websites that show you access information that you might find useful as your DS grows, including bathroom info. e.g. Euan's Guide, Sociability, and AccessAble

Wafflefudge · 15/04/2024 18:30

My son uses a toilet now so I'm trying to remember how big an issue this was but I can't remember. I think potentially we tended to go out as much as possible in the afternoon so he'd already been and I could change wet ones while he was stood up. So I think probably that means that facilities were completely inadequate.

DisforDarkChocolate · 15/04/2024 18:23

I see more Changing Places now I look for them (disable nephew). But probably only in about 5% of the places I go to the loo in. It's bloody depressing.

Gbishywoo · 15/04/2024 18:19

as a sen parent we 100% need more disabled changing places!

Laiste · 15/04/2024 13:50

Once again MN posters have shown me something I'm ignorant of. I've never considered this issue!

This must be so difficult.
Flowers to all coping with this.

x2boys · 15/04/2024 13:45

My disabled child is out of nappies now but he was in them untill he. was around nine ,as others have said there are not enough changing places.

Original poster
Helplessandheartbroke · 15/04/2024 13:41

Thanks both. I've just emailed changing places for some advice :)

OP posts:
MsAsparagus · 15/04/2024 13:38

It’s a big problem for families. I used to take a large thin roll up mat with me to change DD on. Luckily she wasn’t very tall and she toilet trained well before high school.
Have you looked at https://www.changing-places.org/ ?

Changing Places Toilets

https://www.changing-places.org/

Headfirstintothewild · 15/04/2024 13:36

It is a problem for a subsection of disabled people. Changing Places toilets are becoming more common, but there still isn’t anywhere near enough.