New Rule That All Mens Toilets Should Have Change Tables.

New York is leading the way when it comes to modern parenting – this definitely needs to happen here!

New York state dads will no longer face the struggle of finding a clean bench, patch of grass or bathroom floor to change their baby’s nappy. It’s hard to believe but, despite the rise of the stay at home dad, society is still catching up when it comes to catering for men who dare to leave the house with their children.

Gender Neutral Parenting

All new buildings, or those being renovated, will be required under New York state law to install “safe and compliant changing tables that are available to both men and women” in any public bathrooms. As a result, most will be required to put a changing table in both mens and womens bathrooms. Not only that, but they must be easily accessible and well signposted, meaning that mums and dads won’t have to search high and low for a safe place to sort out their baby without the unwelcome stares and general judgement of resorting to a public space. Best of all, it’s catching on. Other states are implementing the changes not only to get ahead of building codes but to get up to date with the world of modern parenting. Frankly, we can’t believe it has taken them this long!

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Sharing the Load

The absence of accessible changing tables for dads presents two issues. On the one hand, it highlights that parenting can be really difficult for men, perhaps more than we realise, especially when everything outside the home caters for women as the primary caregivers. Perhaps more interestingly, we should think about what having changing tables in women’s bathrooms only represents. It places the burden and expectation entirely on women, which is completely at odds with the nature of parenting in the 21st century.

While the installation of these changing tables will no doubt make life a lot easier for men, they are also a representation of greater equality and a more inclusive society for all.

Do you think the same law should apply to buildings in Australia? Let us know in the comments!

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28 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 18 Jan 2023
    12:32 pm
makes total sense to me

- - rachel1970 said
  - 23 Jan 2019
    11:10 am
Change tables should be available to everyone not just the mothers.

- - Mum2archer said
  - 17 Jan 2019
    11:20 pm
I think this is a great idea and absolutely should be a thing!

- - MuthaNita said
  - 17 Jan 2019
    12:16 pm
I’ve been waiting for this to be rolled out in Australia. It’s a bit of commonsense really, women aren’t the only gender to have kids.

- - sunflower said
  - 17 Jan 2019
    11:58 am
Yes of course.
I dont think its anything to do with being ‘gender neutral’ though. Just more inclusive

- - rovermum said
  - 16 Jan 2019
    11:07 am
Great idea. Let’s make it easier for Dads to fulfil their role of parenting with their own change tables. Ripper idea.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 15 Jan 2019
    5:13 pm
Good on them – we need it here!

- - ella12 said
  - 15 Jan 2019
    11:31 am
I have mostly been able to access a Parents Room without much trouble.

- - mom101628 said
  - 14 Jan 2019
    11:11 pm
Thank you to New York – so often a Parent’s Room is not a place for a male to go to.

- - tessie said
  - 14 Jan 2019
    10:39 am
Everywhere I’ve gone you have a parent’s change room these days. Just need to make some of them a bit bigger and all will be well.

- - BellaB said
  - 13 Jan 2019
    6:45 pm
We’ve almost always been able to find a “parents room”, open to everyone. They’re the best solution.

- - mom160421 said
  - 13 Jan 2019
    1:45 pm
Many places have a parents room which is for both parents.
- mom93821 replied
  
  14 Jan 2019 , 4:33 am
  Let’s hope they increase too – parents need all options.
- - rachel1970 said
  - 13 Jan 2019
    8:59 am
Change tables should be there for everyone not just mothers.

- - mom93821 said
  - 13 Jan 2019
    7:08 am
Change tables should be accessible for everyone!

- - Ellen said
  - 13 Jan 2019
    3:56 am
Finally !
Many shopping centers here in Oz have a changing table in the disabled toilet, which is unisex.

- - nealsq said
  - 12 Jan 2019
    9:36 pm
luckily where I live they parent’s room is for both men and women

- - LuckyMum said
  - 12 Jan 2019
    1:45 pm
A parents room should be for men and women. Sometimes men feel they can’t use it .

- - mom90758 said
  - 12 Jan 2019
    1:12 pm
It seems great. Finally. I think every country should do this.

- - youngoldlady said
  - 12 Jan 2019
    3:19 am
I think this is an ideal suggestion. Not all places have a parent room and then some men are made to feel like they should not be there anyway. A fold out one should not take up so much room.

- - mom265671 said
  - 12 Jan 2019
    12:13 am
I agree, not all places have a parents room