To think baby change facilities should just be for that?

[rustyflame]

Just returned from a supermarket, baby needed changing so I popped to the baby change, it was locked, so I waited… and waited for around 15 minutes.

I just assumed someone may be feeding their baby or something so I just patiently waited until the door opened and out walked a middle aged man who had absolutely stunk the place out so I gagged as I walked in and had to change baby in the stench he’d left behind.
I couldn’t go anywhere else and I really had to change the baby.
The baby change is situated next to the gents but he obviously wanted the privacy of the baby change which he occupied for at least 15 minutes and however long before I arrived.

Was it specifically marked as the Baby Change facility? I know often the Baby Change and Disabled Toilet are a combined facility.

People with bowel issues often need to use the disabled toilet, which often is where the baby changing facilities are located.

I can’t get worked up about people needing to use the loo. I would have just used my car or found another changing facility.

No there is also a disabled toilet, this was specifically a baby change.

That’s fine he could have used the disabled toilet or the gents. I couldn’t.

Why did it stink, was there a toilet in there?

I think as I'd waited 15 minutes I would've waited a little longer for the smell to clear, or changed the baby in buggy or car.

I feel more sorry for disabled users who constantly have to wait for parents to finish changing their babies, or breastfeeding while they're in desperate need of the toilet.

ETA: Cross posted.

Again then they can use the disabled toilet.

I guess it depends on space. Our tesco has combined baby change/disabled toilet.

A baby change with just a table, wash basin and a bin would work and be in much less demand.

I usually just changed my kids in the pushchair by reclining it. DH came up with a clever way to swiftly and cleanly change the nappy on the fly by using a clean nappy as the changing mat. My main issue was how filthy other parents used to leave the changing mats in baby changers. There were literal chunks of poo left on one, and frequently smears. 🤢

It would, but it's tricky if you have a baby with you and also need to go to the toilet.

Yes obviously someone who could have used another option (the men’s, or the disabled toilet if applicable) would be polite to do that, as someone changing a baby who needs changing can only use the bay change.

Perhaps it was occupied when he got there and he couldn’t wait, but needed the space in the disabled / baby change?

I think it’s unreasonable to choose to use a baby change when there are other options, but you don’t know for sure that was the case here.

I don’t think it’s worth dwelling on. Maybe the men’s cubicles were all in use and he had to go urgently, maybe they were out of order, maybe he has stomach issues and needed the privacy and washbasin to hand for cleaning but is worried about not “looking disabled” for the disabled toilet, maybe he just wasn’t thinking. Who knows. Life is full of minor inconveniences, and the store would probably see it as having changing facilities available, not having changing facilities exclusive.

How it smelled after was irrelevant really. If there was a toilet in there then any other parent before you could also have used the toilet and left it smelly. It’s just how shit is.

It's possible the accessible toilet was busy when he needed it.

That's true actually.

Whilst obviously unpleasant, the smell is irrelevant.

The Buildings regs has only required facilities that are fully accessible for changing since 2021 and only for new buildings or those undergoing major refurbishment.
It’s not technically for baby changing though. It’s for disabled people who need one or more people to help them change.

So Technically there’s no actual requirement for baby changing facilities

If a building is older than 2021 and providing the facility they don’t have to
so the inclusion of baby changing spaces is very much a case of squeezing one in where they can.

I think it’s a case of be thankful there’s something. I used to change ours in the car if I was out and about

In situations like this, If I have the car I just change the baby on the back seat or in the boot (people carrier). If not I’d just change it in the pram probably. Life’s too short to stand for 15 mins for a job that I can do in 2 mins. You have no idea why the man needed that toilet, maybe the disabled was occupied when he got there and he was in urgent need. Maybe he doesn’t like using the main toilets because people get judgy about the smell or he just needs peace in a vulnerable position.

I will die on the hill of a baby changing room NOT having a toilet in it! I'm with you!
They're a rare find, but always a joy 😄

YANBU

If they don’t have a toilet though, you can’t get the pram into a regular cubicle in the ladies’.

I think the pp means a dedicated room just for baby changing ie no toilet
Bluewater shopping centre ( southeast) used to have them.
No idea if they still do

But what if the disabled toilet is in use? Sometimes people really can’t wait. Do you really begrudge someone having a poo if they can’t hold it in?

Yeah I know, I was saying if there’s no toilet in the baby change, there’s generally not another toilet available that you can take the pram into.

Maybe he needed the disabled due to health issues but it was busy. You’ll never know what’s going on with a stranger so I wouldn’t judge.

I can’t get over the fact that you waited 15 minutes then still used it though! I would have used the changing mat on the floor of the ladies or in the pram. A baby change table is a nice to have but by no means a necessity.

And I do think it makes sense to have a toilet in the baby change for when you need it yourself, or if you’ve got a potty training toddler as well as the baby not to mention that in most places the baby change and the disabled are one of the same so I don’t know how you’d totally avoid the issue. Just one of those things. When the facilities are available great, use them, when they’re not because they’re busy or don’t exist then you get the changing mat out wherever then get on with your day.

Accessible toilets are for that

ie anyone who needs additional space or facilities

I didn’t say he was disabled. I’m saying he could have used the gents but IF he was disabled there was adequate facilities without holding up and stinking out the only toilet to change a baby.