Lack of baby Changing facilities at the Olympic Park

[annmencap]

Hi Folks
I'm a grandma who visited the Olympic PArk Yesterday with my family including a 20 month old granddughter. We found the baby changing facilities near the Basket Ball arena shops disgusting. There was nothing to change her on in either of the so called baby changing toilets so we had to change her on the sandy floor on a plastic poncho. There was no clinical waste bin in either facility either so had to put a shitty nappy in a waste bin. We then asked a volunteer at the staff entrance nearby to get someone from facilities management to talk to us, Someone from security spoke to us but couldn't tell us who was in charge of this and didn't know there was no changing tables or bins and was equally disgusted, and said he would pass on our complaint. We also checked the baby changing facilities at Orbit circus and found the same lack of facilities. They should be ashamed of this lack of basic facilities and need to correct this immediately.
I was also disgusted that there was no easy way to raise such issues on the park. LOCOG should have comments/complaints leaflets around the park and at least one desk where people can complain easily.
In addition I work for Mencap and out of interest also checked the so-called disabled toilets. They were not Changing Places standard toilets, there was no adjustable changing tables nor hoists, so anyone who had personal care needs would not have been able to be changed either.This discriminates against disabled people. I am surprised that given they will be hosting the PAralympic games they have not taken this into account either. I told Locog Iwill be forwarding this email on to Royal Mencap and the Changing Places campaign and Mumsnet so suggested they get their act together now.
I have emailed them at [email protected]. other parents and grandparents should beware when visiting the park-don't know about other venues and let them know this is not good enough.

Vile loos at huge events are par for the course imo. I have yet to go to a festival or show where the loos are nice so it is no suprise the Olympics are the same.

We had a very different experience at the beach volleyball. It was lovely. I do think you have to accept that you will have to queue. Why didn't you have a changing mat with you- surely you need one even with a table?

I would allow a disabled person to use the toilet before me as I could change my child on my knee, on the grass, etc.

I think changing facilities are a bonus, I just can't be as angry as you, sorry. Not sure there is much they can do now but a less aggressive tone may get a better response.

You seem to be easily 'disgusted'!

Why on earth would you take a baby to the Olympics?

Some people just love to complain. LOCOG has done an amazing job delivering a global event. The world doesn't revolve around your GD nappy changes! You need to get some perspective, it won't have done her any harm!

With regards to a hoist etc, I would imagine that financially this would not be worthwhile for general use. I would however expect this to be addressed on a case by case basis, and am sure someone on here will let us know what is being done.

I always take a rolled up changing mat with me wherever I go, and nappy bags in case there isn't a nappy bin. Was expecting to do that on my visit to the Olympic Park. Proper facilities would be nice but after a while as a parent you just get used to it and come prepared so you can get on with your day
did you have a nice day otherwise?

That's strange - we were at the basketball arena and there was a clearly labelled baby changing station with fold out table and bin. It was very clean. I wouldn't have taken a baby of that age personally but it seemed to me that they were reasonably well catered for.

Just to add the bins in changing facilities aren't clinical waste anyway. They go to landfill same as a normal waste bin.

Have you ever been in any public place where there is a hoist or adjustable changing table? I don't think I have

Are you really suggesting the disabled loos for visitors to the park should have full hoist and changing facilities in them? I've never seen such a thing in my life.

The disabled facilities for the athletes are another matter entirely and are well equipped, IMO.

dowagers and daisy
List of public toilets with hoists/full size changing tables here:
www.changing-places.org/Findatoilet/Locationmap/tabid/70/Default.aspx

We are in the 21st Century now - and being disabled does not equal being housebound/institutionalised. There should indeed be 'Changing Places' facilities at the Olympic Venues - such facilities are available for hire as a mobile unit - so no excuse - especially as the venues are being used for the Paralympics afterwards.

I agree though ' tis easy to change a small child anywhere as long as you have something to put down on the floor.

I am sure your GD will be okay after her experience.

Sorry but I think YABU. When my kids were in nappies, I would take a changing mat with me when out. I'd never expect to have a mat provided (and Would probably have been reluctant to use a 'public' mat anyway.

It's also not going to hurt you or the baby, changing it on the floor. In fact I always changed our babies on their mat on the floor at home; we never bought a changing table as I figured the floor is safer, no risk of a wriggly baby rolling off.

I am confused by your accusations anyway as clearly some people at the Olympics had a different experience anyway.

I'd have changed mine on my knee or a mat on the floor if there was no baby change - no doubt someone would start an aibu about me straight after!

Hi
we had a great day in spite of the rain and the toilets Thanks. I was surprised the baby changing facilities were so poor at a world class venue. The problem wasn't the loo queues- there were none and the toilets generally are clean (I'm volunteering up there at the moment) I'm just shocked that there wasn't a changing table, and there was actually no bin inside either of the toilets.
I take my granddaughter out a lot, and this is the first time I've not seen a table except in quite small cafes etc. As to why you would take a baby/toddler to the Olympic Park for a day out why wouldn't you? We've also got a ticket for her for the women's football and even if she doesn't quite get it all, she'll be able to say she went to the Olympics. There were loads of families up there with babies and kids.

But there was a folding changing table in the ladies at the basketball arena. Next to the L entrance. I saw someone changing a baby on it. Sorry but I think maybe you just went in one of the smaller loos that perhaps didn't have all facilities?

We went to Eton Dorney and they were great. They had helpers targeting those with young kids and explaining about there being free suncream and that we could use the couches in the first aid tent to change our 17m old. Tbh I didn't as I am happy to change her anywhere discreet (a grassy bank on my coat in this case). I also think facilities are a bonus and have my own mat in my change bag so I can change her anywhere.

I've never understood why people get so wound up over baby changing. Discreet corner, quick change in pram or on knee.

Nappies don't generally go in clinical waste.

A desk to complain? I can just imagine all the cat bum faces waiting in line!

The disabled facilities are a different issue.

So the loos were clean and there were no queues - what are you getting so irate about? A changing mat and nappy bags should be a basic part of kit when you're out with a baby anyway. It just sounds like you wanted to find something to bitch about and it happened to be this.

Also meant to add I always took a stash of nappy bags with me, and would expect to bag the dirty nappy and bring it home. A suitable bin to dispose of it in while out was a bonus, not something I would assume. I always thought this was the point of having different compartments in a changing bad anyway- I always used the outer pocket for used nappies.

I think it's very odd to assume every facility will have a table, a mat and clinical waste disposal.

Yes there should be proper Changing Places for visitors who need them, so yanbu.

But yabu a bit about the baby changing facilities, it's not ideal but manageable.

Thanks for heads up about it though as taking a baby and toddler this week.

As for those who've queried taking a baby at all, why on earth not? I'm breastfeeding the baby so that would mean me missing out too.

Really pleased to hear that brambly. We were there on Saturday and were eventually directed to one of the accessible toilets as the changing and feeding space. It was labelled 'accessible toilet' and the door didn't lock so people apparently looking for a loo were wandering in while I was sitting there expressing (plenty of other accessible loos, no queues).

When I first asked the info vols didn't know about changing and feeding facilities and one said 'I think they forgot to drop them off'. Sounds like that was true and they've now addressed it by using the first aid tent.

We changed dd on he grass too, as it was sunny. Would be bit if different in the rain. There was no bin in the 'changing' loo and a dirty nappy on the floor(!) but we have nappy bags so, while surprising, not a problem.

I think you are being a bit UR sorry - babies can be changed on a mat which you fold up and carry with you - nappy sacks stop the smell of dirty ones and bins are bins.

I have also never seen a hoist in a standard disabled toilet

I am surprised by this, the changing fac

I am surprised by this, the changing facIities at the Stadium were great when I went to the athletics test event. Drop down table, plenty of space.

If you are round a friend's house without 'baby changing facilities' what do you do then? Complain?

YABU. I would give anything to be able to get a Park ticket, let alone an Orbit ticket.