To expect M&S to have toilets in their baby changing rooms??

[freyamalaya]

I don't know if it's different in other areas but in Cambridge and Scarborough (randomly) there are no toilets in M&S baby changing rooms. So this means after you've changed DC you then have to queue up for the toilet which you can't fit your pram into aarrgh!! Also find their toilets very poor in general, not good enough M&S...

I agree, we have buggy toilets here, not as big as disabled loos but bigger than an average toilet. There is no baby change in our disabled toilets.
A radar key is recognised throughout England. You have to buy one for about £3 and need proof of disability.
You know I change my 10yo nappy in the disabled toilets and it's not nice. You need to lie him on a blanket on a cold tiled floor, thats often been wet on, as there is no changing facility the older, the bigger and the heavier you get. So tbh although the disabled loos look a godsend. For some of the disabled who are using them they are just as horrendous as keeping the door slightly ajar while watching a buggy,something I used to do but didn't relish, however would never of dreamed using a disabled loo.
I also think disabled kids using disabled loos get as much hatred due to the amount of people abusing the loo.

No you don't need proof of disability. Anyone can buy them, if you have proof of disability you get VAT free.

That's interesting, where do you get one? Not sure my friend (elderly neighbour with mobility issues, blue badge holder) has one. Although she might, I will ask! Thank you.

I have to ask, someone said it was bleurgh to have a toilet in a baby change room. Why? I get it if it's a feeding room, but a changing room?

My local Asda has a brilliant changing room, it's huge! There's the changing station with free nappies! Sink, 2 seats, and 2 cubicles. 1 cubicle with a chair in for feeding and the other cubicle with a toilet in. All changing rooms should be like that one.

Agree, Muser. What's the objection to including a loo in the baby-change cubicle? I think this should be compulsory. Much better than BoysAreLikeDogs suggestion that people should "wee in the ladies with the door open and baby in the buggy in front of you". It's normal to want privacy.

Most of the disabled toilets in my area now have 'Disabled/Family' on the door.

I think this is a much better idea as it seems pointless to have a toilet that's hardly ever used, when people with buggies need to use them.

The signs do however say "Priority given to disabled customers"

It's normal to want privacy but not at the expense of someone who needs to use the accessible toilet, surely?

Unless you are comfortable with idea of making someone wait, of course

Fluteyboots
If you need a radar key you go to council with proof of disability I have one for DS cost about £3.

I generally park buggy outside door and wee quickly... perhaps even with door a bit open. The disabled toilets have a special key so can't use them. Not sure what they expect people with buggies to do.

In lots of cases isn't the only baby change option the disabled loo anyway? Like in Costa coffee for example. If I knew a disabled person was waiting I would let them go first, obviously, but if that's the only baby change place you haven't got much choice. And since the loo is in there, you may as well use it at the same time!

Again, you don't need proof of disability to get a Radar key!

Shop Mobility usually have them, you fill in a form stating your name and address, there is a section to sign if you are disabled so that they can wave VAT.

"RADAR is obliged by law to add VAT to these charges. In order to receive a key free of VAT an individual must provide their name and address or that of the person who will use the key and make the following declaration in the comments box on checkout:

"I declare that I/the individual name above is chronically sick or has a disabling condition and is eligible to claim VAT relief for disabled people. The key for accessible toilets being ordered is for my/their domestic and personal use only"."

I'm wondering if there is a hierarchy of accessibility need. Should I be embarrassed if I hold up the toilet when someone in a wheelchair needs it? Or a parent of a 10 year who needs to change their nappy? I mean, I'm only on crutches so my need isn't as great as theirs, is it? Would you be cross if I came out?

How about if you waited 2 hours to use the toilet (like I did) then asked if it was locked to find that someone was semi-conscious on the loo?

Generally accessible toilets aren't that heavily used, I could count the amount of times I've had to wait for them and I don't complain that someone has been in to use the baby change facilities or even ask them if that's why they've been in there to make sure it wasn't so they could fit in.

I can see how it is annoying for disabled people to have to wait to use the disabled toilet, but sometimes it is literally the only option when out on my own with DD, as many normal toilets are impossible to get the buggy into due to tight spaces and double doors to get into them, and even if you leave the buggy outside and take baby in with you, its pretty difficult to go to the toilet while holding a baby who is too young to stand on their own while you do your business.

Saw the thread title and it it reminded me (as I had thankfully forgotten!) of how minging the baby changing room at my local M&S is.The addition of a toliet would only make it worse. YABU.

I thought of MN the other day when I was out with a friend who uses a wheelchair and I needed to change my baby's nappy. I asked her if the cafe we were in had a disabled loo, as of course usually that's where the baby change facilities are. She said no, but that there was one in the library round the corner. Only after did I think she might have been cross at me wanting to use the disabled loo to change a nappy, but she wasn't at all.