It happens to the best of us. You’re out in the world enjoying a beautiful day with your little one. Sun is shining, birds are chirping. The tyke has been bathed, combed, and dressed like a Chappell Roan back up dancer. “Maybe I’ve got the hang of this fatherhood thing after all,” you think to yourself. Suddenly, you catch something on the wind, an unsettling scent. “It.. it couldn’t be,” you stutter. “We’ve been sticking to a schedule…” you protest. Eyes wide with panic, you look down at your kid’s shorts and it can no longer be denied: you’ve officially entered Blowout City. Acting fast, you airlift your baby to the men’s room only to find you’ve been bested again: no changing table in sight. Fear not, gaddies. It’s a common crisis in a world that doesn’t always consider the plight of the gay dad. That’s why we’ve compiled some advice on how to approach on the fly diaper duty from gaddies who have been there, changed that:
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Team up with staff: Whether you’re at brunch, the park, or (god forbid) Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the staff is a great resource to help you navigate bathroom dilemmas. First, ask if there’s a family room on site. These tend to be clean, spacious, and designed for your exact situation. If the women’s room is the only option, ask an employee to escort you in or guard the door while you get the job done. Remember, diaper duty is a team sport.
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Floor it: Before you make any drastic decisions, assess the cleanliness of the floor. If it’s not too bad, give it a nice wipe down and get to work. (Not to be attempted in dive bars.)
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Sink it: If the bathroom boasts a sprawling countertop, you’ve got our permission to do a quick change there. Again, wipe it down, do the deed, then wipe it again afterwards as a courtesy.
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Get creative: Put that BFA to work and really improvise! Try expanding your search to the great outdoors. A park bench or a healthy patch of grass can be the perfect place for a scenic change. The parking lot is also full of opportunity–use the backseat, tailgate, or hood of the car, assuming it’s not too hot out.
Blowouts happen, but you got this. Drop your favorite tips or strange baby-changing locations in the comments below, and check out our list of diaper bag essentials for gaddies on-the-go:
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Foldable Changing Mat: This portable, easy-to-clean mat is hands down our most helpful tool in the spontaneous diaper changing process. Just make sure yours is waterproof!
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Doggy Pee Pads: These are game changers for when you don’t have a proper changing mat. They're affordable, lightweight, and a lifesaver during a desperate floor change. You can also place them on top of your changing mat to save yourself from yet another thing to clean.
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Disinfecting Wipes & Sprays: You'll want these to clean any questionable surface before and after the change. And if you’re far from soap, sprays will help keep you and kiddo clean until a proper wash up is available.
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A Backup Outfit (or two): Keep a full head to toe backup outfit in the diaper bag for worst case scenarios. You can use old clothes that are out of the daily rotation.
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Diaper Disposal Bags: There’s peace of mind knowing you always have a place to dispose of dirty diapers and wipes no matter where you are. If you can’t find a trash can, knot the bag and toss it in the trunk, just don’t forget to throw it out when you get home.
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