New York City Dads Can Now Change Dirty Diapers

New York City Dads Can Now Change Dirty Diapers

As a parent we become pretty great at MacGyvering our way through any situation where we need to make things happen for our children. I remember numerous times where I would walk to a bathroom with the kids and walk into a bunch of stalls with no changing tables. Here come those handy MacGyver skills to use– angrily ripping thousands of paper towels out or placing the extra clothes I had to lay the baby down in order to change them on a dirty floor, stopping him from wiggling onto the dirty floor. Or how about trying to balance the baby on a 10-inch counter space because the floor was to dirty to place him on. I remember that 10-inch counter space incident so clearly like it was yesterday– I was cursing out everyone and everything I saw.

If you think that’s bad, imagine being the one ALWAYS having to change the kids in public because although I’ve struggled with sometimes finding a changing area, there’s never one in the men’s room. So imagine how happy I get when I see a family room, I honor daddy with the ‘duty.’ It’s just not fair having to change every diaper when we go out. What are we teaching our children? Women carry the baby for 9-months and have to deal with all those duties on our own too while daddy sits back eats his sweet potato fries and plays Clash Royale on his phone?

NO! I want that short break too– kind of, not really play Clash Royale though.

Now are you ready for the best news ever?

A bill, introduced by New York City Council member Rafael Espinall, was just passed requiring the restrooms of new developments — including the men’s rooms — to have changing tables. Older developments will have to add them if the property undergoes renovations. A WIN!! A win for New York City only though.

“I don’t think the burden should just be on women. Men should step up and be on diaper duty as well.” (Huffington Post) AMEN! I’m tired of being the one who always has to lug around the diaper bag, hunt for a bathroom, which is usually out of the way, and then dealing with Gunner who usually tries to fight his way to freedom as I profusely sweat all over him. And no, that’s not an exaggeration. Let’s not mention those families that have two dads! Where do they go? This bill is far too lat, but better late than never.

Now with that new bill in place for New York City, there’s still a long way to go since it’s only here in New York. Actor Ashton Kutcher tried changing things in California by launching a Change.org petition in 2015, urging businesses to install changing tables. However, that idea was shot down by California Governor Jerry Brown. Your mom must be proud sir!

Espinal hopes that after his bill takes off, that other cities will follow suit. And that it will help continue to encourage families to divide parenting tasks, when possible. Because didn’t it take two to tango?