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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to refuse to stop putting nappies in this bin?

156 replies

spottymog · 08/05/2014 12:37

My elder dd goes to dance lessons on a Saturday morning. They also hold baby ballet classes that morning, which begin at age 2 so obviously many of the class are still in nappies. There's a waiting room/cafe attached to the dance studio where parents and siblings wait.

A few weeks ago I changed my toddlers nappy and put it in the bin in the bathroom. The following week there was a sign above the bin saying: 'do not put nappies in this bin, take them home.' When I was leaving the bathroom a member of staff went in and approached me a couple of minutes later saying could I remove the nappy in the bin and take it home. I hadn't changed dd so said the nappy wasn't mine, she looked disbelieving so I asked the reason for the no nappy rule.

She said the bin is small so nappies get squashed and it isn't pleasant for staff to empty. I said surely the answer is to buy a bigger bin as many paying customers of theirs are nappy-wearers. She said the rules stands and walked off. Thee following week there was a more aggressive sign with capitals and underlining and to be honest, I feel like just ignoring it. We usually go out for the day straight from dancing and, particularly in the summer, it's not great to have a dirty nappy in the car. There are no other bins nearby and, like I said, I feel if your service caters for toddlers then you should also cater your facilities to them.

Aibu to ignore whatever sign she's dreamed up this week and use the bin anyway?

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 08/05/2014 12:40

Yes yabu - take your stinking nappies home with you.

Not everyone has babies so why should they be confronted with the smell?

hazeyjane · 08/05/2014 12:40

yabu, if the bin isn't a proper nappy bin it is a bit rank. Just take it with you and dispose of it later.

rpitchfo · 08/05/2014 12:40

Yanbu... But I'd tackle the issue by seeking out the management and voicing your concern. Get some of the other parents together and show them that it is a facility you want.

Gemma222 · 08/05/2014 12:42

Double bag them and take them home

jacks365 · 08/05/2014 12:43

Yabu bag them and take them home.

queenmools · 08/05/2014 12:43

Put the nappy in a nappy bag and take it home with you. A bin full of nappies is unpleasant for the staff and other customers. If you are out for the day I'm sure you'll find a suitable bin.

ColdTeaAgain · 08/05/2014 12:43

YANBU, you are a paying customer, they should be providing appropriate facilities for toddlers if their clases are for age 2 upwards.

HauntedNoddyCar · 08/05/2014 12:44

I understood that if it contains human waste then they have to handle it as such and therefore they have a perfect right not to provide a bin.

Our local toddler group tells you to take nappies home.

Yabu

Plonkysaurus · 08/05/2014 12:44

YABU - some of us use cloth nappies and have no choice but to carry them around. I use a wetbag to store dirty nappies when we're out, so I don't see why you couldn't do the same. The wetbag keeps all odours at bay.

But, they ABU too. I mean really, it's 2014. How hard is it for them to have a nappy bin and get it collected?

ouryve · 08/05/2014 12:45

You need to take them home, in this situation, but if it's a busy public building they really need a proper, serviced, sanitary bin. What are women supposed to do with used sanitary protection, for example?

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 08/05/2014 12:46

Double bag it and put it in the boot. FFS, if there is no proper bin provided you shouldn't just leave shit (actual, literal shit) in a bin, especially where there is a sign asking you not to.

DoJo · 08/05/2014 12:47

YABU - if you insist on leaving dirty nappies there, they could just stop offering the toddler class and that would be a great shame. The disposal of human waste is entirely different to emptying bins with standard waste and I can understand why they do not want nappies sitting in a bin all day. Our doctor's surgery doesn't allow us to dispose of nappies there, even when you have to take them off for weighing with the HV, and it has never been a problem. Is it really such an onerous task to take it with you?

Pleasejustgo · 08/05/2014 12:47

Next they'll be asking you to take sanitary pads home. Yuk.
YNBU

Plonkysaurus · 08/05/2014 12:47

A toddler group insisting you take nappies home is different. There is no money in running toddler groups.

This, however, is a business run for profit. Their customers are mainly young families - just because they provide classes for kids age two and up doesn't mean there won't be younger kids still in nappies going to that cafe. It's common courtesy to make those families feel welcome. If they provide a changing station I don't see what's so difficult about providing a proper bin.

thatwhichwecallarose · 08/05/2014 12:48

YABU.

I doubt the rule is there for the size of the bin tbh. Nappies = clinical waste so very expensive to empty. Plus they probably don't have many so either have to pay over the odds or leave them there a while.

Either follow the rules or don't go, your choice.

spottymog · 08/05/2014 12:48

plonky you choose to use cloth nappies though, so that is your choice!

I agree ouryve that there should be a proper bin. Many of the classes are for teenagers, should they take their used sanitary protection home too?

OP posts:
Pleasejustgo · 08/05/2014 12:48

Cross post with ouryve

CuntBiscuit · 08/05/2014 12:50

TAKE THEM HOME. Don't leave your kiddies shit around in bins not designed for it, for other people (not cleaning professionals) to clean up! Ask them for a nappy bin, but this kind of waste has to be professionally dealt with (like sanitary bins), be aware that having the facility will create a cost to the organisation.

TheFutureSupremeRulersMum · 08/05/2014 12:51

YANBU. The cafe obviously benefits from having the dance classes next door. They should provide a proper bin.

spottymog · 08/05/2014 12:51

thatwhich the toddler classes cost £6 per week and there's 25 in a class, 3 classes per week. I think that's enough money coming in to warrant providing a proper bin.

OP posts:
Bowlersarm · 08/05/2014 12:53

YABU. Why would it be so hard to pop it in a bag and take it home?

Waltonswatcher1 · 08/05/2014 12:53

Is this a wind up ? You seriously think its ok to leave nappies in a cafe toilet ?
Nappy bins stink . Why should everyone else clean up your mess ?
If the correct type of container isn't privided( and it isn't usually for smaller shops) , I always take mine home .
2 year olds can be potty trained ! If they are old enough for ballet , they are old enough for potties!

CoffeeTea103 · 08/05/2014 12:53

Please be considerate to the people who have to clean this, they put a sign up for a reason. Respect it.

ThisIsLID · 08/05/2014 12:53

On the fence on that one.

If the reason is only that they can't be bothered to empty the bin more often and it's 'not nice to do' the YANBU.

If the reason is that actually they should provide a special bin and it has a cost they can't meet (such as with the toddler group), then YABU and should take your nappy back home (not such as hardship anyway)

I'm guessing that this has been going on for a while anyway and that other parents are still using the bin for nappies despite the sign.
I would say a nicer sign would probably help, a nice examination from the staff to customers too.
I am wondering what has made then starting to say 'take your nappies back home with you'?

EverythingsDozy · 08/05/2014 12:53

Our local toddler group don't even make you take your nappies home, they just provide nappy bags and request that you use them.
This is a cafe? Do they have a sanitary bin? If so, put your nappy in there. Surely it's essentially the same? If not, where do they expect you to put sanitary products?