YES! Baby Changing Tables in Men’s Public Restrooms #FeelingFriday
Source: Koala Kare
It’s amazing how a moment can instantly take you back in time, make you realize how much progress we’ve made, and bring an instant smile to your face. Even in times like we are in when that might seem improbable and impossible.
It happened to me this week, in the most unlikely of places. The men’s room. Stay with me.
I was connecting through the Dallas airport this week and needed to stop into the restroom (connecting flights, you know how it goes). The first sight I saw was a dad changing his rather wiggly baby on a wall-mounted changing table. He looked like a young dad, but he clearly knew what he was doing. As he held the baby with one hand, he disinfected the table with wipes with the other. When the baby got a little fussy, he pulled a toy out of his pocket to distract. He was both assured and ambidextrous at the same time. It was impressive. It was like it did it ten times a day, likely because he does it ten times a day.
I softly said to him, “way to go, dad” to which he responded, “thanks, bro, I appreciate the support.”
I appreciate the support. Wow.
Brought me right back to when my kids were that age. I was a single, gay dad and there was no support. None. There was no one around going through what I was going through, no mentors to signal that I was doing ok, and no changing tables in the men’s room.
In fact years later when I wrote my book “Out and About Dad” about my journey as a father, I became rather active with the dad groups City Dads, Gays with Kids, and Dad 2.0 and learned that Pampers was supporting the brand Koala Kare in installing 5,000 changing tables in men’s restrooms across the U.S. with the advocacy of these dad groups.
5,000 changing tables in men’s restrooms! In airports, highway rest stops … all sorts of public restrooms because there were none before!
Because these brands and groups were horrified by the thoughts and images of dads having to “squat” on the floor to change their baby’s diapers … this image below being one of the most shared on social media at the time:
So yes, I was thrilled to see that young dad not only so calmly caring for his baby like a skilled expert, but also having the resources at his arm’s length to make it a little easier … with so many other men walking past him like it’s an every day sight, because guess what it is!
Thankfully … thanks to Pampers, Koala Kare, and these dad groups who are still active today. Thankfully.
Way to go, dad. Thank you, bro, for putting a smile on my face.
What’s your experience? JIM