Changing diapers in public is impossible.?

Question

ever since my son was a newborn (he's 6 months old now) hes been terrified of public toilets flushing... he's not scared when I flush the one at home but if I take him in a public bathroom to change his diaper if someone flushes the toilet he screams bloody murder... he then starts kicking and it becomes very hard to change his diaper, then people stare at me like I'm hurting him. Does anyone elses child ever do this? Most of the time I aviod changing his diaper in public bathrooms but what should I do if it has to be done? It scares him so bad.

Answer 1

Oh my! My daughter is terrified of public restroom toilets! We were at a mall once and someone flushed the toilet and she screamed and screamed until I picked her up.

Usually when we are out, and the car is near by, I will just go to the car and change her diaper there.

Answer 2

sounds he has a sensory problem. my son went crazy for ANY loud noise. he's 8 and it still bothers him.

I would check for fluid in his ears.  

Answer 3

they have potty training seats that make a flushing sound.( io realize he is too young but getting it early might help) if you get him to see that flushes are ok and he can flush his on potty maybe he will be less afraid. also try going to a public bathroom when no one is in it and let him flush the toilet. it may take a while but when he sees that nothing will happen to him it will get better. good luck.  

Answer 4

My boys have always been like that too.  It made potty-training horrible because they were to scared to use the public restrooms for a long time.  They have gotten better but still cover their ears before it flushes.  As babies it was hard but it had to be done so I had to move as fast as I could and tried to limit it to when i could use the family restroom so there wouldn't be toilets flushing or just hoped the bathroom would be empty when i went in

Answer 5

Either go do it in the car, or wheel your stroller into the corner near the bathroom and do it in the stroller, if possible. Usually bathrooms are down a corridor, so you could do it there.  

Answer 6

my daughter screams in public bathrooms too. Honestly, those toilets are really loud. Sometimes, I'll just change her in the car before we go in the store or restaurant.

Answer 7

Ok, maybe this is extreme but it depends on your comfort level.  I've been known to change my son on the grass outside because of his fear of washroom (unrelated to the noise, it has something to do with the size of some of them).  Personally I don't care if anyone is offended by seeing his p***s.  Now I wouldn't change him on a table that people eat off of.

However if you are uncomfortable you could buy a hooter hider and use that to cover him while you change him.  Just make sure you have a good thick change pad so you can lay him down on the ground.  

Also don't forget dressing room.  People sneak in there to nurse, really changing your kid on the floor is no biggie -shoes are way dirtier.

Answer 8

Best thing to do is just to use the car when he needs a diaper change, its hard on the back if you got the car seat in the way but this way you know that he wont scream because there is no toilets around :)