Direct365 challenged 10 bloggers to go out and test baby changing units in the area. It’s an important campaign that will hopefully encourage businesses to think carefully about the standard of baby changing facilities they have onsite. It’s been a while since mine were in nappies.  But I still remember what was important to me at the time.  More than anything I just wanted somewhere safe and hygienic to change my baby so I am all for raising awareness to improve baby changing facilities.

Changing Rooms Need Serious Improvement

Many changing areas are so dark, dingy and if I am honest pongy it was enough to put me off leaving the house.  But if businesses provided fresh well-thought out facilities mums and dads would come in swarms to use them!  Word would soon get around that a company is doing something right and it’s great for business!

You can read up more about the campaign over on the Direct365 website.  Here you can find affordable baby changing products including changing tables, safety seats and nappy bins, approved to British standards. Yes, there is really no excuse for getting it wrong these days with a range of specialist equipment on offer. Kathryn Skinner, general manager at Direct 365, said: “There is such an advanced range of products available now to places, such as shopping centres and restaurants, everywhere should be able to provide a high standard changing facility”.

Space can be an issue but with changing units wall-mounted that fold away its surprising what can be achieved even in the smallest of areas. Fingers crossed that this campaign will be the driving force that motivates companies to put more thought into the facilities they have available. I think the clever videos made by Direct365 using babies to get the word across is very effective.

Encourage companies to do the right thing

Sadly babies can’t speak up for themselves instead it’s down to us parents to urge businesses to do the right thing. Next time you use any changing facilities see how they could be improved.  If enough parents persuade businesses to raise their standards nappy changing time will be a more pleasant experience for everyone!

Let’s make changing facilities available for everyone.  Not just tucked away in the ladies. I am sure mums like a break from changing nappies and dad’s are very capable. My husband actually got the hang of nappy changes before me.

The room below didn’t smell the best. I wasn’t overly keen on the position of the hand dryer right next to the changing unit either. The changing unit had spaces to store nappy bags and liners but they were all empty.  Although a sign did say you could get wipes to clean the unit from reception. For convenience sake it would be far better to have everything in there ready to use straight away!

I was meant to find a good and bad example of changing facilities, although in the end even the good example could benefit from minor improvements. Neither had proper nappy bins. But the better changing facilities was well stocked with nappies, nappy bags and baby wipes which was wonderful to see. Back in the day I tended to go out with a bulging changing bag with all the essentials I needed. Although I am sure before now a parent has been caught short without something and would have been extremely grateful to use what was available. Going that little extra mile makes all the difference.