Please don't change the baby on the picnic tables at the playground!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where else to change the baby? On the bench of the picnic table. I've done that many times.

So, the bench is okay, but not the table top? Don't you put your hands on the bench just as much as on the table top?

Didn't anyone see that episode of Rachel Ray's talk show where she checked the bacteria on that one lady's purse - it was through the roof! There was so much crap growing on/in her purse, and she was one of those 'super-hygeine' moms with the anti-bacterial crap everywhere.

Really, there's just as much bacteria on doorknobs, and who knows if the guy at Starbucks washed his hands before giving you your latte? Could be bacteria on your latte cup, or even on the lid - you maybe sipping bacteria laced coffee everyday. The horror.

[Anonymous]

Do the birds put down a mat before they drop one on the tables?

[Anonymous]

I am far far far from being a bacteria-phobe, but a tushie naked on a table? You carry a diaper bag without a pad?

How many of you can honestly say that you've never ever once inadvertently gotten a bit of pee or poop on your changing table? Why would you think the picnic table's any different?

Yes, a park won't be as clean as my kitchen table (which I just washed), but I think it is fair to expect that the tables there be free of excrement.

[Anonymous]

There are two issues here. One is the use of a pad--that one's easy; I think we can all agree that a pad MUST be used on the picnic table, etc. The other issue is simply whether or not to change the baby on the picnic table at all, even with a pad. And on that issue, I think fair-minded people can just agree to disagree; arguments both for and against seem reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are two issues here. One is the use of a pad--that one's easy; I think we can all agree that a pad MUST be used on the picnic table, etc. The other issue is simply whether or not to change the baby on the picnic table at all, even with a pad. And on that issue, I think fair-minded people can just agree to disagree; arguments both for and against seem reasonable.

That's a good point. If a pad was there, I wouldn't be AS bothered seeing it. But I would just never even consider changing a baby on a tabletop. I would absolutely do it on the ground first, or if the ground looked rocky, the bench. I don't know why people are so appalled about the idea of changing the baby on the ground... he/she is crawling all over it anyway! And if it's inside and I'm at a friend's house without a changing table, I use the floor...

[Anonymous]

You all need to think about this: when you go out to eat in a restaurant do you know what is happening in the kitchen??? Get a life!! you eat gross things and you really do not care at all because you think you are paying so it must be clean, ohhh what a mistake!!!

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine not carrying a changing pad if there's any chance I'm going to need to change my baby while I'm out. And in that case, I would choose to change her/him either on the ground or go to the car and do it. I would not do a picnic table top either. Though I think I can top that: My step-sister (who lives in CA) would change her daughter on her lap anywhere instead of finding a restroom and changing table - including while eating in a restaurant. When I was pregnant we were all in Hawaii together on a family vacation and I'll never forget being in a fairly nice restaurant in the middle of dinner more than once that week while she decided to change her infant daughter's DIRTY diaper on her lap. It was disgusting. Some people just don't think about things like that, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all need to think about this: when you go out to eat in a restaurant do you know what is happening in the kitchen??? Get a life!! you eat gross things and you really do not care at all because you think you are paying so it must be clean, ohhh what a mistake!!!

Out of sight, out of mind. Sure I eat out and in the back of my mind, I know my food was probably mishandled. But if I don't see it happening, I can pretend to think it didn't happen. But, if I happen to see the chef sneeze in my food while he is preparing it, of course I'm not going to eat it.

[Anonymous]

Of course there is tons of bacteria around, and of course sometimes we all get sick from it.


11:04 - if I follow your logic, that there's lots of dirt around, so what's a bit of poop on my plate, it would seem I shouldn't bother to wash my hands after I use the toilet myself. Why bother? Or as I enter the hospital to visit sick patients, or before I hold your newborn....

Of course there's dirt around. That doesn't change the fact that washing hands is important, and that doing our best to keep excrement away from food sources is a good idea.

Furthermore, I have a life. A nice one. I go to restaurants and I travel. I've had dysentery as part of this life of mine, and wouldn't wish it on anyone.