We don't want to smell your baby's butt!

[LillFilly]

This is a pet peeve of mine.

We have changing tables in our restrooms. In fact, I think every store with a restroom has a changing table in my mall.

I was coming down the hall and....smelled something. I get near a bench and find a woman changing the diaper on a child that seemed a little too old to need a diaper to me. IT SMELLED! Her other child was running around screaming 'EEEEEWWWWWW HIS BUTT SMELLS!' at the top of her lungs. Mom was cooing and laughing at her baby like his dirty diaper was the most adorable thing in the world. As I passed I told her "Ma'am, just so you know for next time, our restrooms are equipped with changing tables." I could feel and evil glare boring into my back as I walked away. After they left the bench I had our cleaners disinfect it and take-out the trash holding the dirty diaper, because the smell had actually traveled through that whole wing of the mall!

Jeeze lady, what do you feed that kid!?

[BamaBabe]

Ew. Some folks seem to be oblivious to the fact that their child actually stinks to high heaven and will change said child in full view of God and everybody. It's inconsiderate and unsanitary. Kudos to you for pointing out the changing tables available in the rest rooms.

[jjc927]

Some people complain about mothers breastfeeding in public, but changing your baby in public is so much worse yet it hardly seems to be complained about much!

[MoonCat]

I would 10,000 times rather see a breastfeeding mother than be around one who's changing a diaper. Yeah, pooping/peeing are natural functions, but the proper place to do it- and to clean it up - is in the restroom, NOT out on a bench - or a restaurant table!!! (yes I've seen this happen)

[Hyndis]

Some people complain about mothers breastfeeding in public, but changing your baby in public is so much worse yet it hardly seems to be complained about much!

Having a meal in public is perfectly acceptable.

Disposing of the meal after the digestion process is never acceptable in public.

[FormerCallingCardRep]

or a restaurant table!!! (yes I've seen this happen)

A couple of weeks ago we saw a mother stand her toddler up beside the table in the restaurant, pull down her pants, take the diaper off, put a new diaper on, pull up her pants then turn around and throw the dirty diaper across the restaurant

[42_42_42]

on a child that seemed a little too old to need a diaper to me.

Potty-training is one of those things that happens over a VERY broad age spectrum, even in toddlers without any developmental delays or other conditions that can result in children older than toddlers still not being potty-trained.

[fireheart]

Potty-training is one of those things that happens over a VERY broad age spectrum, even in toddlers without any developmental delays or other conditions that can result in children older than toddlers still not being potty-trained.

Agreed.

My not-quite-two-year-old-at-the-time little cousin just said "toilet" and they put him on the toilet and he went. But whenever they tried to put a nappy on him, he'd kick up a fuss.

He now turns 2 in a month. And has already begun the terrible twos.

[EricKei]

Host: "We're sorry, ma'am, that table right there IS empty, but we cannot seat you there because the HAZMAT unit has not shown up to properly disinfect it yet..."

[Spork4pedro]

Ok..I know that this will get me a bit of flack but I must defend the mom a bit.

While I agree with most that changing diapers in public places is gross (ESPECIALLY ON FOOD TABLES! BLECH! or in my experience shopping carts or retail shelving) sometimes a quick change on a bench is necessary. I usually plan my outings to avoid needing a diaper change while out and about because my son is a NUT while diapering (always a 2 man job unless you pin his arms and torso with your feet and people tend to frown on that in public) so it's a pain in the ass to change him in a bathroom if just the hubs and I are out. So if the rare times that we're out longer than expected we will find a bench out of the way and change him as quick and cleanly as possible. I always make sure to wipe down the bench after and bag up the diaper. Also, there are times when you try to use the one in the bathroom and it's gross/broken/missing etc.

I don't know whether the woman in the OP was changing her baby there for any of these reasons or just didn't care (chances are it's the latter) but I just wanted to point out that sometimes it is needed. sorry if I gross anyone out!

[MadMike]

OK, people! I had to edit a derogatory name for children in two of the posts in this thread. I'm going to bump the "Nicknames for children" thread in Site News. Some of you need to re-read it.

[LillFilly]

OK, people! I had to edit a derogatory name for children in two of the posts in this thread. I'm going to bump the "Nicknames for children" thread in Site News. Some of you need to re-read it.

Sorry, I was trying to think of a funny name that would get the point across. Guess it's kinda obvious I'm not a fan of children, but I seem to only see them at their worst.

[Rena_Muffin]

I would 10,000 times rather see a breastfeeding mother than be around one who's changing a diaper. Yeah, pooping/peeing are natural functions, but the proper place to do it- and to clean it up - is in the restroom, NOT out on a bench - or a restaurant table!!! (yes I've seen this happen)

Urgh...I've seen the bench thing but on a restaurant table?

[tollbaby]

To play devil's advocate....

A few years ago, I dated a guy with an autistic child. Said child was four years old, still in diapers. He was far too heavy for the changing tables in the mall. Guess who got to take him into the bathroom to try to change him standing up so we wouldn't offend others? Sometimes it's not just because she's lazy/inconsiderate. One time I changed him lying down on the back seat of my car at a fair because it was literally the only place to do it. People complained about the smell, but there wasn't much else I could have done.

[NorthernZel]

To play devil's advocate....

A few years ago, I dated a guy with an autistic child. Said child was four years old, still in diapers. He was far too heavy for the changing tables in the mall. Guess who got to take him into the bathroom to try to change him standing up so we wouldn't offend others? Sometimes it's not just because she's lazy/inconsiderate. One time I changed him lying down on the back seat of my car at a fair because it was literally the only place to do it. People complained about the smell, but there wasn't much else I could have done.

Being a mother of an autistic child myself, I can agree with that. I normally chose to take him to a bathroom designed for disabled people or (if avaiable) a changing room with lots of room so I could change his diaper on the floor. I did make sure to bring a blanket, lots of plastic bags, disinfecting wipes and an allergy-friendly air freshener with me, though.

Luckily he's potty trained now so I don't have to worry about that anymore - though it still feels strange leaving home without a nappy-bag