How do you manage changing older children nappies when you’re out ?

[keiley7899]

Just wondering how other people manage changing older children’s nappies when they’re out or can offer me any advice ? my daughter is 3 and still in nappies unfortunately (suffers from bowel issues) I find that a lot of baby changes are too small for her and today had to change her on the seats of the train as there was no way of changing her in the toilets but I do find it awkward at times changing her in public. Any advice on managing this would be much appreciated.

Do it while they’re standing up. Not in train carriage (especially if it’s a poo!!). It’s easy to do when they’re standing especially if they’re in taped nappies. Never understood how the pull up style are better - you have to take off their trousers?? How is that more convenient??

I'd go for pull up nappies, rather than those with side tabs.

She can step in and step out of them at that age. Heavily soiled nappies you can rip the sides so she doesn't have to step out and over poo.

Bend over for bottom wiping, so this can also be done standing up. No need for change tables and can change in a confined space such as a toilet cubicle.

My eldest was still in nappies at 3 (and beyond - SN), and was a very tall and chunky child. Most baby changes should be ok - the weight limit is ok, and it might be a bit awkward, but with knees bent up etc it works, just about. Alternatively get used to changing standing up, and use pull ups (nappies also possible), or use the disabled toilet and take a waterproof mat large enough to protect your child, and change on the floor.

Pull ups and change standing up.

Are you getting help and support for the bowel issues? I’ve been there.

Thank you everyone for your advice so far, unfortunately I’ve tried pull ups before and have found normal nappies to be easier to change and a better fit. Also I find it easier to change her when she’s laid down.

She’s ok for some baby changes but a lot are too small.

If she has bowel issues, are you entitled to a radar key? It might make life a little bit easier if you have access to more accessible spaces.

@KeyLimeFly

If she has bowel issues, are you entitled to a radar key? It might make life a little bit easier if you have access to more accessible spaces.

Unfortunately not yet, Also even in the trains disabled toilet and soft play it’s not always adequate to change her nappy there so I’ve had to do it on the seats before.

You just need to learn to do it standing up and never, ever do it again on a train! That's grim!

Yes, sorry, but you need to do it standing up so you can do it in any toilet cubicle. I've had to change a child that way many a time after potty training accidents. You seriously cannot just do it on train seats.

My son is 5 and still in nappies (SEN) he will not be changed standing up so we use a disposable change mat with a blanket over the top and change him on the floor of disabled toilets if no Changing Places toilets available.

Please do not change your daughter on a train or soft play seat. It is not only grim but an invasion of her privacy. She has the right to dignity and to be changed without random people seeing her in a vulnerable position.

That was a last resort and they gave permission.

If you don’t want to do it standing up, I’d just carry on using the floor in the normal loo, and take a mat. Just do the same as you’d do in the places that don’t have baby changes. Most places round here don’t have one so changing in a loo cubicle was the default option for me, also lots of changing nappies outside on the grass, in the woods on piles of leaves, that kind of thing - akin to taking them off for a wild wee!

I’ve done it as a last resort and always use a changing mat, many baby changes don’t even have full privacy. I was at Center Parcs last week and saw lots of kids being changed by the poolside, in fact they even used to have changing mats here.

You self certify for Radar keys, they cost £5.50 including postage. Continence issues is in the list of options. I know that won't help in every situation, but at least there's more space for changing.

www.radarkey.org/order

(Or you can buy from other places. I got mine from eBay.)

Can you change over your knee?

I have an older toddler still in nappies and he still gets changed across my lap regularly.

DD was in nappies at a very tall 3.5. I carried a folding changing mat and did her on the floor. A small picnic blanket like the ones from the pound shop are a good size.

Thank you, where abouts do you do it on the mat ? I’ve got a large portable mat I carry too only problem is when I’m on trains and places where the toilet floor is too dirty/small to lay her down.

Unfortunately I can’t really change her on my knee and is hard in public toilets.

You need to use the disabled spaces or change standing up, which in working with teens still in nappies, is what we have to do.

I find people changing nappies in public quite grim. Ds was in nappies until 10. Standing up change is great especially with pull ups. Rip the sides and remove them, pull clean one up like knickers, sorted. We now have a radar key and a card that lets us use any toilet in shops/cafes etc which is really handy.

@keiley7899

Unfortunately I can’t really change her on my knee and is hard in public toilets.

I appreciate it takes a bit of getting used to but it's worth trying. I can still manage over the knee changes at 3+ yrs.

Eww. On a train, on the seat. Presumably there were no other passengers. But still. Ew.

My dd was in nappies till 4 and still fit fine on the baby changing area

@TurnUpTurnip

My dd was in nappies till 4 and still fit fine on the baby changing area

I've found the facilities vary enormously, in some I'm sure I could change a 4yo on the table yet others don't look like they couldn't take the weight of an 18mth old.