Just over a decade ago, there
were fewer than 200,000 infant-care or baby changing stations in
the country’s estimated 6 million public restrooms. Now we find
them in restrooms just about everywhere, and the few companies
that make these systems indicate the market is still enormous
worldwide.
Infant-care facilities are
found not only in large public restrooms, but in much smaller
restrooms such as those in retail stores, restaurants,
supermarkets, and churches. And they’re in both men’s and
ladies’ rooms.
“It’s simply no longer
socially acceptable to let a parent struggle to change a diaper
in a cramped toilet cubicle,” said Mike Nelson, vice-president
of Marketing for Pro-Link, a jansan-focused marketing and buying
group based in Canton, MA. “Not only do parents seek out a space
to attend to their infants, but they want it clean, hygienic,
safe, and comfortable to use.”
According to Nelson, some
public facilities were initially reluctant to install
infant-care stations because of the added cost and the space
required, and, of course, because they would have to be properly
maintained. “However, what they have since discovered is that
baby-changing stations can be a plus for a business,” he says.
“They help encourage parents
to remain in a retail store, for instance, rather than leave to
attend to their children.”
For cleaning professionals,
the introduction of infant-care stations has been greeted with
mixed reactions. For some it is just one more thing that needs
to be cleaned along with the sinks, table, soap, dispensers, and
waste cans often installed with the station. For others, such as
restroom cleaning and hygiene services, it has proven to be a
business opportunity.
“I think they help businesses
and organizations present a caring image to their staff and
customers,” says Nelson.
Good Design
A well-designed infant-care
station comprises three key parts:
• The changing table should be
strong, be comfortable for the baby and parent to work with,
have sealed hinges, and have tamper-proof straps. The unit
should open and close slowly for added safety and be made of a
high-density polyethylene that is easy to clean and resists
odors and bacterial growth. It must also comply with ASTM static
load performance requirements, being able to support a static
load of up to 300 pounds.
• A wall-mounted diaper
dispenser unit should dispense a diaper to fit a 12- to 24-pound
baby, two baby wipes, and, for added convenience, a perfumed
disposal bag.
• Finally, instead of just a
trash can, a well-designed infant-care station will include a
hygienic way of disposing of soiled diapers and other
infant-care items.
For instance, one
disposal system is foot-pedal operated so that the lid and
surface do not need to be touched. Some more advanced disposal
units will have Braille instructions embedded on the lid, and a
wall-mounted hand sanitizer, as well.
Cleaning and Care
Nelson warns that cleaning
professionals must be especially attentive to the possibility of
germs and bacteria when cleaning infant-care stations. Cleaning
workers should always wear gloves for protection, and they
should use a quality disinfectant, properly diluted and allowing
for adequate “dwell time” to clean key components such as the
interior and exterior of the table, straps and latches,
dispensers, as well as the exterior of the disposal unit, and
surrounding wall areas.
“I find it best to treat the
station like its own little room,” says Nelson. “You’ve got to
be organized; start at the top and work down, wiping all surface
areas. This is the only way to make sure everything is clean,
hygienic, and safe for the next baby.”
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