I don’t know about you, but after the past couple of days, I could use some good news when it comes to politics, and especially when it comes to gender equality. So when I heard the news that President Obama just signed a bill into law requiring that all federal buildings have changing stations in them — including men’s rooms — I started pumping my fists and grinning ear to ear.
President Obama, a self-proclaimed feminist dad, signed the BABIES act into law on Friday. The act ensures that all publicly accessible federal buildings — which includes court houses, post offices, and Social Security offices — have at least one safe, sanitary baby changing station on each floor, as well as signs pointing to where that station is located.
The act was championed by Congressmen David N. Cicilline, who made a statement on his website about the importance of the act. “Government needs to do more to ensure that public buildings are family-friendly,” says Cicilline. “No mom or dad should ever have to worry about finding a safe, sanitary place to change their baby.”
All I can say is: It’s about time. I mean, it’s 2016 — is there anyone left on earth who thinks that women are the only ones who change diapers?
Congressman Cicilline’s website stresses the idea of “equal access to baby changing stations,” which means that this act isn’t just about increasing the number of changing stations, but also ensuring that they are available in both men and women’s bathrooms.
Besides the fact that the number of stay-at-home dads is rising — many of whom will actually leave their homes alone with their babies, and in all likelihood will have to change a stinky diaper — there are many times that a male human might need access to a baby changing table.
In fact, when my babies were little, my husband was often the designated diaper changer (I was the boob machine, so he got to clean up what came out the other end). I remember being on road trips with our babies, or just hanging out at the mall, and bemoaning the fact that there were very few changing tables in sight — and almost never any in the men’s rooms.
According to Congressmen Cicilline’s website, up to 80 percent of __parents with kids 6 and under use baby changing stations, and 34 percent do so at least once a month. And by my calculations, babies need to be changed about 20 zillion times a day, especially when they’re little, so having more changing stations around isn’t just a nice idea, it’s an absolute necessity.
It’s not that I adore using a public restroom to change a baby, but the alternative isn’t exactly delightful, either.
“The lack of adequate baby-changing facilities in publicly-accessible federal buildings has forced some __parents to change their children on the floor or on the countertop of a public restroom,” explains Cicilline. “Not only does this put the health and safety of the baby at risk, it also puts the health of other restroom patrons at risk. Equal access to baby changing stations in federal buildings in both men’s and women’s bathrooms across the country is essential to protecting the health and safety of children and encouraging a family friendly environment.”
YES. Congressman Cicilline gets it. He is my new hero.
It’s about keeping things sanitary for the baby, for sure, but also for everyone else. I don’t know about you, but I don’t exactly want to wash my hands in the same spot that a baby was just changed five minutes ago.
While it’s true that the BABIES act only covers federal buildings, which certainly limits the effects of the mandate, it’s a start. And it sets a precedent for all public establishments to hopefully (one day) follow.
In fact, since the act passed, some have taken to Twitter asking other businesses to follow suit.
Hey @AskTarget, when will all of your stores have changing tables for dads? https://t.co/FhRAMzvSRy
— Josh Watson (@josh_watson) October 9, 2016
And others have revealed that this is an issue they are already working on in their cities (go NYC!):
Good job @POTUS! I'm working w/ @DanGarodnick & @CMMathieuEugene to do the same for all restrooms in #NYC @NYMag https://t.co/qX0s6S5Ias
— Rafael L Espinal Jr. (@RLEspinal) October 8, 2016
Besides the important practicalities of having changing stations in all restrooms, just having them there for all to see sends a message to all of us. Imagine young boys and men seeing changing stations right there every time they enter a public restroom. Wouldn’t it be nice if it become ingrained boy’s minds from early ages that changing babies is just something men do, no big deal?
Yes, we all know that men are supposed to step up to the plate when it comes to childcare, but most of us moms know that it often requires a certain amount of nagging on our part for them to comply. I’m looking forward to a time when dads are so used to the idea of contributing equally with childcare that it just becomes second nature to them.
And this act is absolutely a step in that direction.