Dads Campaign For Baby Changing Facilities In Male Toilets Using Viral Hashtag #SquatForChange

In a bid to banish archaic parenting standards, one dad has embarked on a mission to get baby changing facilities installed in all male public toilets worldwide - rather than in just women's loos.

Changing facilities are almost always in the female section of public toilets in restaurants, shopping centres and cinemas, with the symbol showing a woman tending to the baby - rather than its dad.

Dad Donte Palmer kick-started the campaign earlier this year, and it has resulted in hundreds of fathers getting involved.

Donte, who runs Instagram page Three Boys One Goal, first shared an image of himself squatting on the floor with his son spread across his lap as he attempted to change the tot's nappy.

Not only is it uncomfortable and runs the risk of getting very messy, it reinforces the point that dads are responsible for their kids too and society should be meeting that.

Hashtagging his post #SquatForChange, Donte wrote on Instagram: "This is a serious post!!! What's the deal with not having changing tables in men's bathroom as if we don't exist!!

"Clearly we do this often because look how comfortable my son is. It's routine to him!!!! Let's fix this problem!"

The post, which was shared at the end of September, prompted an influx of images of dads having to create makeshift changing tables from their laps, all adding the same hashtag to call for change.

And it seems like the squat campaign has got people listening as a quick Twitter search of the hashtag shows a number of venues showing off their new changing tables installed in male bathrooms - all thanks to Donte and everyone else getting involved.

"I believe that fathers should be facilitated equally to mothers. Ultimately fathers need changing tables so babies can be changed in sanitary conditions," Donte told Metro.

"With the movement being in full force I do believe change will happen not only in the country but around the world."

Here's hoping the UK will catch on soon. You can follow the full campaign here.

Topics: Life News, You, Dad, Real, Parenting

Rachel Andrews

Rachel Andrews is an NCTJ trained Journalist at PRETTY52. She specialises in Fashion and Beauty Journalism, and has experience at a range of online and print publications and joined the team in 2017. Contact her - [email protected]

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