Odd Question

[hangingbyathrea]

Is it wrong to change a baby in church. I have a 1 year old daughter and after a rosary and mass she had needed a diaper change. It was raining really hard and there was a function going on outside of church (people everywhere). And of course the bathrooms did not have a changing pad or anyplace to change my baby. So the only option that I could think of at that moment was the back pew of the church. While I was changing my baby our priest comes up to me and lectures me about this not being the place and that this isn’t the place to change her. I thought the priest had left by then and didn’t think about hunting him down. Was I wrong here? I understand that church is a sacred place but changing an innocent baby where I had run out of options I thought was harmless. Just wanted to hear some opinions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Annie39]

Is it wrong to change a baby in church. I have a 1 year old daughter and after a rosary and mass she had needed a diaper change. It was raining really hard and there was a function going on outside of church (people everywhere). And of course the bathrooms did not have a changing pad or anyplace to change my baby. So the only option that I could think of at that moment was the back pew of the church. While I was changing my baby our priest comes up to me and lectures me about this not being the place and that this isn’t the place to change her. I thought the priest had left by then and didn’t think about hunting him down. Was I wrong here? I understand that church is a sacred place but changing an innocent baby where I had run out of options I thought was harmless. Just wanted to hear some opinions.

Thanks in advance.

I would have taken the babe to the car.

 

[MJJean]

I don’t think God would be offended, but other people might. Especially if the baby was poopy. Some people cannot handle the sight or scent. Also, some parents aren’t very careful when changing babies and allow the ick to get on surfaces that others will be touching. EWW!

Get a foldable pad and blanket to carry in the diaper bag. You can use the pad with the blanket over it to lay the baby on and change him/her in a private location.

 

[theyoungmonk]

well it seems a bit inappropriate to me. how do other people manage it as I am sure this happens fairly often and there are not lines of mothers in the back pews? If there was no other obvious option the thing to do is to find someone in authority preferably the priest and ask if there is somewhere. You can do it, he may invite you to use a table in the sacristy or somewhere else depending on the place.

 

[dailey]

I don’t think the problem is so much about changing an “innocent baby” as much as it is about sanitary issues. Who knows, I probably would have done the same thing but still I don’t think it is appropriate.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Sounds like an occasion to suggest to the pastor or the parish council or whoever would be best that a changing table be made available in the restrooms or some other appropriate place.

 

[donna369]

i would have done this in the car. but yes, its time to suggest changing tables in the restrooms. it seems odd to me that they don’t have nay at your church.

 

[SonCatcher]

When mine were little, I usually toted a changing cushion around (it was thin enough to fold and keep in the diaper bag). It was reusable, so I would only have to lay a paper changing pad on top of it. If there was not a table in the restroom, I would lay it on the floor and do the changing there. Normally, there was the most room in the handicap stall.

 

[1ke]

I think the priest over reacted. Babies go poop and that is normal and they don’t do it on your schedule. In absence of other options, you did what you needed to do.

It is not “right” or “wrong”. It just “is”.

As a follow up, it is a good idea to suggest a changing table in the restroom.

 

[joshvanrad]

As a follow up, it is a good idea to suggest a changing table in the restroom.

This.

I would talk with the pastor of the church and recommend that they install changing-stations if at all possible.

 

[hangingbyathrea]

If I may add the church was nearly empty. It wasn’t during mass it was afterwards and there was just practice in the way front of the church. I was using a thin changing pad that I have. And it was raining(parking was far). I guess I didn’t think I was in a wrong at that time but I guess I live and learn. This wasn’t our parish so I wasn’t familiar with the priest. Thanks for all your comments.

 

[1ke]

If I may add the church was nearly empty. It wasn’t during mass it was afterwards and there was just practice in the way front of the church. I was using a thin changing pad that I have. And it was raining(parking was far). I guess I didn’t think I was in a wrong at that time but I guess I live and learn. This wasn’t our parish so I wasn’t familiar with the priest. Thanks for all your comments.

It wasn’t wrong to change your baby in the church building.

 

[underacloud]

When mine were little, I usually toted a changing cushion around (it was thin enough to fold and keep in the diaper bag). It was reusable, so I would only have to lay a paper changing pad on top of it. If there was not a table in the restroom, I would lay it on the floor and do the changing there. Normally, there was the most room in the handicap stall.

I often find myself changing a nappy during mass and the restroom floor is definitely the best place for this.

I don’t think change tables are neccessary. To be frank, I think churches have better things to spend money on. I don’t know that I’ve ever been to a church that has a change table and I just don’t see it as a priority.

As other posters have said, changing the baby at the back of the church is not “wrong” as such, but like others I just feel there are better places to do it.

 

[hangingbyathrea]

I often find myself changing a nappy during mass and the restroom floor is definitely the best place for this.

I don’t think change tables are neccessary. To be frank, I think churches have better things to spend money on. I don’t know that I’ve ever been to a church that has a change table and I just don’t see it as a priority.

As other posters have said, changing the baby at the back of the church is not “wrong” as such, but like others I just feel there are better places to do it.

The restroom floor at our parish is not sanitary at all. That is defiantly not an option in my case.

 

[Allegra]

I think the priest over-reacted in this situation. I’ve seen lots of moms and dads do this after Mass. However, if the priest asks you not to do it, you should stop doing it.

 

[maryjk]

I often find myself changing a nappy during mass and the restroom floor is definitely the best place for this.

I cannot imagine ever changing a baby on the bathroom floor.

The restroom floor at our parish is not sanitary at all. That is defiantly not an option in my case.

Me, either. And our parish keeps our building very clean. But after 200 people have walk in and out of the bathroom, it isn’t clean for long.

Yuck.

 

[rayne89]

When mine were little, I usually toted a changing cushion around (it was thin enough to fold and keep in the diaper bag). It was reusable, so I would only have to lay a paper changing pad on top of it. If there was not a table in the restroom, I would lay it on the floor and do the changing there. Normally, there was the most room in the handicap stall.

I would not change a baby on the bathroom floor -yuk. Besides putting a changing pad on the floor which now has to go somewhere when I’m done. And baby could roll/reach beyond it. How does one do this? Sit, kneel on the floor? I can not picture how to do this without sitting on the bathroom floor, which is just plain gross and difficult to get up from with baby.

 

[rayne89]

I would ask the priest where is the best place since there is no changing table in the bathroom.

 

[mafh]

Is it wrong to change a baby in church. I have a 1 year old daughter and after a rosary and mass she had needed a diaper change. It was raining really hard and there was a function going on outside of church (people everywhere). And of course the bathrooms did not have a changing pad or anyplace to change my baby. So the only option that I could think of at that moment was the back pew of the church. While I was changing my baby our priest comes up to me and lectures me about this not being the place and that this isn’t the place to change her. I thought the priest had left by then and didn’t think about hunting him down. Was I wrong here? I understand that church is a sacred place but changing an innocent baby where I had run out of options I thought was harmless. Just wanted to hear some opinions.

Thanks in advance.

Oh, please, please don’t change a baby in public like that. Please use the bathroom or your car or something. I really can’t stand it to see a baby being changed in public… it often makes me feel very queasy to the point of being sick. The bathroom is the appropriate place for that.

 

[ThyKingdomCome]

It sounds like the back pew was the most appropriate location of your options. It is often difficult to change a baby in a car, because the seats are not flat. It will do if there are no other options (ie, during Mass), but I am much more likely to make a mess there than on a flat pew. Outside temperatures (very cold or very hot) can make it difficult as well. Personally, I would not be able to change a baby on the floor, because my knees would not allow it. Not to mention how gross that is, at least in a public bathroom. A pew can easily be swiped with a wipe, but with simple changing pads that fold into diaper bags, there is not likely to be any contamination. I think your priest was over-reacting, and should have considered that he is probably not aware of how difficult baby care can be in situations that are not well suited to it. Of course, knowing that he disapproves, the respectful thing to do is not to do it anymore, but I’d be annoyed. If you don’t want people to change diapers in the back pew, then you need to provide a reasonable alternative. If I am in someone’s home with a baby, I will ask where they’d like me to change the diaper. They might show me a bathroom counter, or a changing table, or a bed. Or they might say that the couch is fine. But a minimally reasonable host would never suggest you leave their house and change your baby in the car. Why would a church, or any other place that families are meant to be, be any different. I would try to find a respectful way to say that.