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Important Facts |
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Learn
more about BabyDeck™ |
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Problems
faced by today's parents
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Public baby changing tables help millions of traveling
families by providing the convenience of a flat, private
surface on which to change dirty diapers. When parents
do not properly clean the table after use, it becomes
evident that the “convenience” is being
taken for granted.
Babies are extremely susceptible to infection and
disease. Improper cleaning of baby changing tables
assists in the spread of common colds as well as
infectious diseases.
These issues are discussed and debated on online forums for parents including www.daddytypes.com and
www.babynet.com. Some parents resort to carry their own
portable changing mat, which, it may not the best
solution.
According to
Catharine Shaner,
a pediatrician with
the American Safety and Health Institute, a parent
should “Never put (his) child's bare
bottom on a public diaper changing area unless (he
is) able to disinfect the area.” Children
under two years of age could be exposed to the
Streptococcus faecalis bacteria, which causes
urinary tract infections, E coli, or rotavirus, a
leading cause of childhood diarrhea and
hospitalization. She added
"It is wise to
avoid using your own changing mat on public diaper
decks, where it can become contaminated with surface
bacteria and viruses. Putting it back into the
diaper bag can spread germs to other items, such as
toys, bottles, and pacifiers. Instead, purchase
soft, disposable, cloth-like pads to put under the
youngster's bottom to avoid any skin/surface contact
in public changing areas, and dispose of the pad
after use." USA Today (Society for the
Advancement of Education),
August,
2002
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Fecal Coliform Bacteria viewed under a microscope. Fecal coliform, like other
bacteria, can usually be killed by boiling water
or by treating with chlorine. |
 Changing station
in public restroom may contaminated with bacteria.
Some
interesting facts:
- For a newborn, a
diaper must be changed every 2
hours, amounting to approximately 8-12
diapers per day
- for a
newborn and 6-8 diapers for older
babies.
- Nearly 90 percent of parents bring their
children with them most or all of the time when
they shop or visit public places, including
casual restaurants.”
- When in public, people naturally gravitates
toward the restroom when baby needs a diaper
change. Unfortunately, in the United States, an
estimated 40% of restrooms are not equipped
with
changing tables.
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BabyDeck™
stroller solves the following problems of today's parents |
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Scenario 1
The long lines associated with public ladies’ rooms
is nothing new. The situation is exacerbated for new
mothers who desperately need to change their babies
and are forced to wait in line.
Parents in despair in
long line for restroom
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A common scene,
long wait in line at public restroom
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Scenario 2
In even so-called
“family-friendly” restaurants, some restrooms do not
come equipped with diaper changing tables which
forces parents to search for a place to change their
babies’ diapers sometimes causing them to choose the
floor or the dining table.
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Mother changing diaper on the
floor at a crowded place.
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Mother changing
diaper on a park bench
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Scenario
3
On vacation, many tourist spots sadly lack restroom facilities, much less
baby changing tables. Young couples are forced to find any suitable flat
surface upon which to change their babies.
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Scenario
4
In a men’s restroom, some new fathers are
embarrassed to change their baby girls’ dirty
diapers in a room full of strange men. They may
resort to placing the baby on their laps while
“sitting on the toilet” or performing a
“standing diaper change” in a stall.
In a twist on what some call gender bias,
fathers become frustrated to learn many male
restrooms are
not equipped with diaper changing tables in
places where women’s restrooms are equipped with
them. This apparent inequality between men’s and
women’s restrooms is a specific source of
contention for many stay-at-home fathers’
discussion boards online such as
www.mdah.org.
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Dirty changing station at one public restroom in
California. |
Scenario 5
Parents were frustrated to learn the changing
table in a public restroom was abused by its
previous customer to such a degree that it was
too filthy to put their baby down for changing.
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Scenario
6
When parents could not locate adequate restroom
facilities in an outdoor park, they resort to
changing baby’s diaper on the ground or any
suitable flat surface upon which to change their
babies.
Some parents rely on using their vehicles to change baby’s diaper.
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In a park lacking appropriate facilities, parents change baby on the
lawn with the use of a portable changing
pad.
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Scenario
7
A commercial changing mat, when placed on public
diaper decks, may become contaminated with
surface bacteria and viruses. Putting it back
into the diaper bag can spread germs to other
items, such as toys, bottles, and pacifiers.
This is confirmed to by the research
conducted by Catharine Shaner, a pediatrician
with the American Safety and Health Institute.
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Scenario
8
In many American shopping malls, one is required
to traverse a significant distance to find the
nearest facility. In general, mall
restrooms are strategically located
down long hallways in less trafficked areas
so they do not distract from the mall’s overall
design and mood. In addition, restrooms
may have long lines or are
unequipped for families.
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A
shopping mall is usually a place where traveling
to restroom requires a long walk.
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