I grew up in the UK and although I was not a mother when I lived there I was always accustomed to seeing ‘Mother and Baby rooms’ in so many public toilets. These rooms would have a great little pull down table that you could place your changing mat on and change your baby - easy and super convenient. Although I have never used one I find myself longing for one of these facilities every time I go into Roseau, Dominica.
Each occasion I am in town I struggle with the quest to find somewhere to conveniently change baby’s bottom. I pray that she doesn’t do a stinker when we are far from home but she usually does and I then I have to get on an immediate quest to find a changing spot. I wonder where do other women change their baby’s? I mean I see numerous women strolling around with baby on their shoulder but I never see any of them get down to business and remove dirty diapers.
Actually that’s not quite true. I have on rare occasions seen a mother changing a baby on her lap and when my baby was newborn I tried this enviable skill myself. I only have a small lap and my girl has always been a wriggler so I found it a challenge and was quite proud when the mission was accomplished. Now at 8 months my girl twists and turns more than a worm being unearthed from the soil and there is no way I can even contemplate the lap trick now.
When I am with anyone with a car, the back seat becomes an impromptu changing area but often times these days I’m traveling by bus and doing my business in Roseau as a solo Mama so that’s not an option. The only way I have found to do the diaper change is to find somewhere with chairs (usually a restaurant) and place two together for a makeshift table. It’s not the best as quite often it’s a hard and uncomfortable surface and baby likes to make multiple attempts to roll off which means holding on to her real tight and wishing I had at least four hands to complete the task. Also I have to make sure the place is super quiet as I am sure most patrons and owners don’t want the fragrance of poopy diapers around as they begin their lunch!
So I want to know Mama’s – where do you change your baby’s bottom when you are out and about? Please give me some insider tips on how it is done and then let’s start some plans to get at least one public facility to offer a Mother and Baby room in Roseau.
I see your dilemma. In the States, there are lots of facilities for that kind of thing but I would take Noah on walks where sometimes we’d have to *rough* it out. I would just carry a blanket and change him on the ground/grass. We potty trained early
and that was that. Make more friends in Roseau and that way, you can just stop at someone’s house :-). Love to Keex. ~Dells
i agree that the lap trick never worked for me either! since i was pregnant though i have become a consistent patron of the dolla coin bathrooms on the bayfront. you know the tourist ones next to the museum? it is soo worth an ec dollar to me ~ the trick is keeping a coin handy (they have let me pass without paying before too).
Thanks Tiana…they have a space for changing in there? I am going to keep a bag of spare change in my pocket from now on!
congratulations on your new baby!
i have a 3 and a half year old and am 5 months pregnant with my second. With aiko our first we never really had this problem because we did something called elimination communication, where you respond to the cues your child gives when they need to wee/poo or just take them when you feel it intuitively). We would just take here when we went to the toilet, or if we were outside, in bushes, by trees or in a container if we had it. I found this approach really easy, gentle and wonderful for bonding with my baby. I will definately do it again with my second. There is lots of info on the web about it and there are also some forums where you can communicate with other “ec-ers”
I chose to do this because I always hated nappy changing (i grew up looking after my baby brother from the age of 11) and dreaded doing it when i had a baby, in the same way I dreaded luggin around a pushchair or hated hospitals. All these things led me to attatchment parenting!
Take care
love
v
Hey Vedina, congrats on your expectant baby…looks like we may be birthing at the same time as I am also 5 months pregnant with the second bambino! It was really interesting to hear of your experience with Elimination Communication. I had read about it but did not know of anyone who practiced it. I feel like my girl poops every time I turn my back so I’m not sure that would work for us but I really admire anyone who takes this approach. What do you do at night time? Thanks for reading the blog - I know you are an all-natural Mama and so I look forward to your further comments and experienced advice for us all as the journey continues. onelove.