Today’s Hint: How Toilet Seat Covers Can Help With On-the-Go Diaper Changes

I’m not crazy when it comes to germs.

I follow the five-second (and quick-wipe) rule when it comes to pacifiers and puffs falling on the floor, and I sometimes forget to wash my daughter’s hands before she eats.

But one place I’m a bit of a germaphobe: Changing stations in public restrooms, especially those on airplanes and at airports. I don’t even like to use our portable changing pad there.

Instead, I’ve figured out a better and more disposable way to cover public diaper changing stations before I place my little one on them, a strategy that is today’s hint. Rather than buying special disposable changing table covers, I cover the station with a few toilet seat covers, which seem to be available in most women’s public restrooms now.

What do I do when there aren’t any toilet seat covers to be found? A bunch of paper towels works well too. (I’ve yet to see a changing pad liner in one of those dispensers – always empty in the experience of at least one other mom (blogger The Waiting) too – you can often find near public changing stations).

To be sure, this trick isn’t as environmentally friendly as using a portable pad and just wiping it off after each change. But I figure, if I’m already throwing out a bunch of wipes and diapers, what’s so wrong with throwing out a few extra toilet seat covers or paper towels.

And of course, toilet seat covers and paper towels probably aren’t as comfortable for my little one as her portable changing pad. But she hates diaper changes in general (even at home) so I doubt the thinner covers are adding to her anger.

If you don’t like my approach, there are other tricks you can try. Moms over at Baby Center suggest wiping down the station first with sanitizing wipes, using a disposable diaper as a changing pad or changing your little one outside of the bathroom, while moms over at What to Expect suggest putting a receiving blanket over a portable changing pad and doing diaper changes in the car.

A stroller in the reclined position also can double as a changing station, as pointed out by Everyday Family, and some strollers (like the BabyDeck model) even come with diaper changing mats. Meanwhile, the Parent Hacks community has some clever ideas for keeping older kids clean in public restrooms.

What are your tricks for dealing with public changing station germs?

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