Public nappy/diaper change

[Jack1234]

I hope this is in the right place on the forum. If not, can it be moved?

I was out with my girlfriend and baby nephew recently at a theme park. My nephew is 18 months old.

It was a hot day and extremely busy. We realised my nephew needed changing a few hours in as he had poo-ed.

I had never been to that theme park before and asked the nearest staff member, a young lad, where the nearest baby changing facilities were but he and a colleague said they did not know. They pointed out the nearest loos, quite a walk away.

We went to the loos, my nephew beginning to smell. I had to wait for the baby change but took one look inside and it was filthy. The bins were overflowing, the table looked like it had never been cleaned and I was worried my nephew would get ill if I took him in there.

So, although my girlfriend disagreed, we took him to a relatively quiet spot at a large grassed area and started to change him there.

Some lads (I would say late teens/17 - 22 yrs) started looking and frowning at us. I had barely got the dirty nappy (diaper) off came off when they came over and started being mouthy and saying 'I can't do that' and stuff. I cleaned my nephew up and put a fresh nappy on him regardless and they soon moved away, still shouting, when I folded the dirty nappy up and went past them to bin it.

I am only 20-years-old myself and, as a young, streetwise lad, hate nappy changing at the best of times. I have only changed him outside in 'public' once before but that was in a quiet park and it was a wee.

Did I do the right thing? How should have I gone about it? Risk it in a filthy baby change? Help much appreciated for next time

Take your own portable changing mat next time to put on the fold down table so the baby isn't directly on it, you can even buy disposable single use ones if you would prefer that. You shouldn't really be changing pooey nappies outside of changing facilities or toilets, it's a bit minging and many people won't appreciate having to see it.

Do 20 year old, young streetwise lads usually read mumsnet? Hmmm

This is my first post and joined as it has been playing on my mind and my partner's.

Thanks, VinylScratch. I have to admit I was unsure. But I have, in the past, seen parents change babies in parks and beaches etc...

Well if its any consolation i changed my daughter nappy on a display bed in debenhams this week!!! Shes almost 3 and it was just a wet one.

I only did that because the one family changing room debenhams had had been engaged for 20 mins and had a queue outside it.

Hello Jack1234, well you sure chose a good place to ask your question.

Nappy changes in outdoor public places are absolutely fine so long as you are not right next to other people.

I find it so funny that this group of teenagers chose to come over and hassle you. How bizarre!! Whereabouts in the US was this ... feel free to name and shame .

It's actually really important to change a poop diaper promptly and I rarely let my kids walk far with a poopy diaper. The poop just eats at my kids skin even though I use a barrier cream.

I have done changes in public before because the bathrooms didn't have a changing table/surface. No one has dared comment!

Totally fine outdoors as far as I'm concerned. Wasn't overly impressed with the woman who changed her kid at the table in a pub last week though!

don't worry my brother, in heaven there will be no need for clothing. Humans are beautiful.

I seem to remember my sister telling me about Pamper's portable changing mats so I will remember to take some of those in future.

I am glad to read such similar stories, like the Debenhams one. It is reassuring.

I live in the UK, not US, and it was at Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire two weekends ago. It was a large group of youths, some older and all old enough to know better.

FuckitFay, it is good to hear your story as Drayton Manor is just like Legoland and will probably take my nephew there someday :) I also moved out the way as best as I could to a quiet area and was discreet initially (ie back to the group)

This group were the closest people to us, not eating may I add, just sat chatting, some were kicking a ball about etc. They were within earshot away, about 15 yards away. They could probably see a nappy and some wipes and, yes, assumed a young lad changing a baby.

It did upset me but I am reassured by these comments. Thank you.

DS had a bit of a tummy upset one holiday. The supermarket in the town's toilets we usually use were closed so we changed him standing up in the trolley bay. The nearest toilets were at "The Clock" which I didn't like the sound of - never checked them out.. I just imagined...

I think I'd have thrown the nappy at them. Well done you, if they need changing, they need changing. Others don't have to look, do they?

Totally agree with Fuckitfay. I have changed my baby on a portable mat on a bench in a booth in the beer garden of my local pub because they have no baby changing facilities and there isn't enough room to change him on the floor of the toilets. Outside on the grass is totally fine, and I definitely think those lads were just having a go because you're a young man changing a nappy. They're perfect examples of desperately fragile masculinity, and I bet every woman watching thought they must have dicks the size of tic tacs.
Portable changing mats are great, mind. I keep one rolled up in the nappy bag all the time.

Thank you for your supportive comments. It is very reassuring. Yes, come to think of it, I rarely see men changing nappies - let alone young lads in their 20s so I would hope they just thought it was odd... I would definitely do the same again though in the same situation, judging by the comments and experiences of others. It was just outside, on some grass, not right in their faces!