Public Restrooms

[ICNDonna]

I actually prefer the blow dryers; the only thing is that there's no paper towel to use to open the door when I leave.

Donna

[SrMaggie]

This is a good thread. We had a student do a Science Fair project on germs in the bathrooms and she found the most germs on the door handle leading out of the bathroom. I am not a germ freak at all. I do wash my hands, and clean off the seat if I see any moisture or if there is a lot of mess, I find another one. I try to train the children at school to be clean about our restrooms. I can't count the number of heart to hearts we've had about cleaning up after themselves. (Actually, though, my conversations with the boys are more interesting.) I was in a restroom the other day and two young mothers were in there with their children and I heard each of them tell their children not to touch ANYTHING. They were adamant.
I know there are germs out there, but I was the kid that when we played mothers and fathers, I made mud pies and made EVERYBODY eat their dinner. Didn't matter that the 'father' didn't like the mud pie. My grandmother said we had to eat a peck of dirt before we died!
So, knock on wood, I'm 55 and have survived with no major infections from restrooms - and I know where they all are! (restrooms, that is, in almost every franchise)

[babykahuna1]

Public Restrooms

I carry clorox spray with me. You can get it at wal-mart for $1.50. Some bathrooms i've been in smell like nursing homes and it is just gross. I found the spray so i bought it so i can clean the seats. You just never know whats on those seats.
Babykahuna1

[July]

I've also wondered about moms/dads changing diapers in public restrooms. I'm not sure I could use those baby changing stationsfor my baby.

Also, how do you help little kids use public restrooms. I don't think they could hover.:woohoo:

[GriffsMommy]

July, I think it just depends on the parent, if Griffin's diaper needs to be changed, I change it. I used to have these little paper thingies that I could put on the public changing tables when I would change him. Honestly though after changing a million diapers it's not hard at all to open the new diaper and get it ready so you can pull of the old one and slip the new one under them while their butt is still up in the air. To be honest there have been a couple of times where the bathroom didn't have a changing table and I had to change him on the floor or he wasn't getting changed at all, or I've done it in the back seat of the car. I know that I've read somewhere that the reason that kids have so many more allergies these days is because we are all so germ crazy and they don't get exsposed to enough germs to build up a tolerance to anything. As a friend of mine said, God made dirt and dirt don't hurt, lol

[Berkshire Road]

Oh, of course people change diapers in there -- and anywhere else they happen to be; if it needs to be changed, you don't have much of a choice!

It used to drive my husband insane that men's rooms didn't have the diaper changing stations. Our "baby" is 12 years old now, and I understand that some men's rooms do have them now, or a separate 'baby changing' room. But if Jack was in the mall with Susannah, he had a choice of taking her out to the car to change, or just plunking her down on a bench in the middle of everything and doing it there. Usually he went with the bench option. Why do these designers of malls think that fathers never go out with their children?

When the baby is old enough to use the toilet, the most popular system is just to hold him or her up over the seat. Stand kid on floor to wipe.

Anyway, Christine is right that some exposure to germs is necessary to help the immune system develop.

[Roxie2007]

HI! I'm with Christine, I'm not a germ crazy person. I use lots of bathrooms at lots of store.....if I need to go....I find a bathroom and go. Our Walmart had the dirtiest ones of all the stores we go to.......sad huh??
There was a specialist on Oprah a few years back that said those blow driers in bathrooms actually blow the germs around and it's actually better to use a paper towel that you can toss away. Roxie

[mary124]

Sharon: you are right, the Wal-Marts have 2 restrooms, and the back ones are usually cleaner. So If i really have to go, then i will use the back ones.

Donna: As to the doors, I will grab a paper towel and use that to open it with, however, some of the newer shops don't have doors anymore, they have the long walkways -- so no touching anything!!

[sami4]

How Clean?

Speaking of diapers; the number of people who sit their diapered babies on tables in restuarants is legion. Perhaps they love their little dears rears, but it sure isnt one of a better idea? Sort of like putting your dinner plate in the seat of a shopping cart and eating.
As for the toilet seats; depends on the maid service. I have seen maids clean the seat with the toilet brush.
Sammi