Changing nappies in church

[StormGlass]

We went to a christening today.

After the service had finished, and as people were starting to leave the church (quite slowly, as the family group were loitering around the font so guests could take photos if they wanted), one woman changed her little girl's shitty nappy on the end of one of the pews.

I thought this was very bad behaviour.

Okay, shitty nappies need to be changed before too long or the kid could get nappy rash - but the service had finished. People were leaving the church. I've never been in that church before, so no idea what the toilet facilities were like, but surely the mum could have found somewhere outside the church to change the nappy, if it needed doing urgently. Like the well tended grassy verge outside the church, or their car, for instance.

I didn't mention anything, as the family group didn't seem to notice and I didn't want to spoil their day by making a fuss about it. But I'm sort of wondering if I should have said something.

AIBU to think this was unacceptable behaviour? And pretty grim.

Whoops. I once changed my son's pooey nappy in church. I thought I was in a quiet corner but then everyone went to that corner to use the font. Everyone laughed. Nobody got shirty.

We've had a debate like this before. I think she was being neeasonable. I'm no religious or anything but on a pew?

Yes, on a pew. Right next to the aisle. Where people attending the next service will be sitting down.

Did she wipe it down before and after? I hope she did.

I think if there is a God he won't be as easily offended as you. I'm sure God and everyone else has better things to worry about

I'm sure if the was any leaks on to the pew the mum would have wiped it up.

It is a non issue

well if she wiped it down then fine. i would have just laid a muslin clith or changing mat down.

is it an old church? some of them.dont have toilets/changing facilities.

she didnt do it in the middle of the service, i dont see the issue.

Don't most churches have changing facilities in the toilets?

I don't think god would of been offended by a baby being changed in church.

it wouldn't offend me but I wouldn't think it was very nice! Wouldn't do it myself! I always find somewhere quiet for DD's nappy changes!

In my church the pew would be by far the easiest place to change a nappy, the only other option would be one of the vestries but both are in use after the service

Meh

YABU, not a problem afaic.

My church doesn't have a toilet or changing facilities so I change DS at the back out of sight or on the vestry. Nobody minds as we use a changing mat. If it needs to be done, it needs to be done. I've done it plenty of times during the service and it's always been fine. Tbh, I don't think God minds.

Like the sound of a muslin clith

She might not have had a car or the baby could be allergic to pollen etc

Yabu

YANBU, I wouldn't have said anything but I think that's pretty disrespectful. I'm a regular churchgoer and wouldn't dream of doing that, although the church I attend with my family has fantastic facilities for looking after babies. In her position I'd have either used the loos if the church had any or gone to my car.

And what it the Church doesn't have toilets and the person has walked to church?

It depends. I have done that in Church but only when I had no option - I often take all my 5 kids to church without another adult (DH works Sundays) and sometimes if I'm not happy to leave the other children or pull them out of wheat they are doing, I will discretely change one of them.

People changing pooed-in nappies in public, non-outdoor, non-toilet places give me the absolute RAGE.

It is just completely indefensible.

Aaarrrggghhhh.

Pmsl at "the baby could be allergic to pollen etc"

Family Christening? I think most people would have come by car.

I think YABU, unless she left the nappy behind or didn't clean up after herself. You said yourself you didn't know if there were nappy changing facilities at the church. A woman used to do this every Sunday in our church and then used to leave the nappy at the back of the church to be thrown away by the cleaner. That was grim.

There is carol

I don't think it has anything to do with being a church. It is pretty weird to change a baby's nappy in a crowded place. Most people would try to find a quiet corner, if no specific facilities were available.

She might have had reasons that no one knows about.