Baltimore diaper-changing legislation praised by dads as a 'right' for babies (Baltimore Sun)
Tuesday May 1st, 2018
Hailed by dads who say safe, clean changing facilities for babies should be “a right,” a Baltimore councilman Monday introduced legislation that would require more establishments to install baby-changing stations.
Councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer — holding his 15-month-old daughter, Bobbi Bella — said that when restaurants and shops don’t have stations in restrooms, people use tabletops, counters and floors to change their babies’ dirty diapers. That’s not hygienic, he said, and once a baby starts crawling, it is also not safe. He said both moms and dads should have access to the stations, usually a fold-down table with straps to stabilize wriggly toddlers.
“The last time that Eli came to City Hall was at my official swearing-in ceremony,” said Wen, holding her 8-month-old son. “I remember this because I was holding him in one hand facing the mayor and repeating my oath to serve the residents of Baltimore. While I was doing that, Eli produced a dirty diaper. Not the best timing, but he’s a baby. I looked around City Hall and I couldn’t find a place to change him. I walked from room to room.”