Before we leave the house, we go through the never ending checklist of items we need for the baby. Diapers, toys, hat, extra clothes, and food. Even if we have everything we need, there’s always the challenge of changing or feeding a child on the go. Kudoes to Union Station in Kansas City for adding a mommy room where you can comfortably breastfeed or change a child. It’s far too difficult to do both of those things at most businesses.
Venturing out with a baby is the best medicine when you’ve been couped up inside for days at a time. However, it’s difficult with an infant. You don’t know what to expect especially if you have a fussy baby or one that doesn’t sleep. Not knowing what to expect from your child is only half the issue. The other half — planning ahead for feedings and diaper changes. You can’t always run back to your house every 2-3 hours. So you depend on businesses to have the tools you need.
Restaurants are some of the worst places to change a baby’s diaper. There is rarely a changing table. Most restaurant bathrooms, especially the ones with great food, typically have tiny bathrooms. Dining space obviously makes them the money, so there’s no incentive to invest in a bathroom large enough for a changing table. Moms get creative in these situations. I change my daughter in the stroller and in the back of our car when all else fails.
Ashton Kutcher made headlines for writing on Facebook that there are rarely changing tables in men’s restrooms. He inspired #BeTheChange to prompt businesses to add these stations. Hey Ashton — thanks for bringing attention to the matter but it’s not just men — women have a tough time finding these stations. Granted there are more changing tables in women’s bathrooms, but they are still not as widely available as they probably should be. Even at family friendly events, you can’t expect to find a changing table.
Other moms frustrated by this are now working on products like the Baby Change-N-Go. It’s still a Kickstarter campaign for the hammock like product that hangs over the bathroom door, but I think in the future we will be seeing similar products on Shark Tank or lining store shelves. There’s another one that’s a little cot. So, the ideas are out there. It looks like this may be the next big baby must have baby registry item.
While fewer people talk about the need for baby changing stations and clean ones which is a whole other topic, there is a lot of momentum lately for breastfeeding stations. Airports are adding nursing or pumping spaces. If you’re a working mom, you have to plan your day around pumping. Finding a place to pump on the go is tough.
In Kansas City, Union Station recently added a mom’s room which will allow you to change or feed your baby in comfort and in a larger space than a closet. More places need to take the lead and design spaces around moms. If you offer a welcoming environment for moms, they’ll likely spend more time at your business which means more money for you.
