www.incontinentsupport.org

Hi

I have started to find it difficult to change when out many disability toilets really don't have the space I often go out with my parents. When I was much younger I used to go out for days out and up till the age of about 13 I was still being changed.
I never used to leaked those days but now days I tend to leak has anyone got any tips or advice???

Nic

Nic

I have found motorway service stations are great as have shower facilities aimed at truck drivers but are great to clean up and have space needed for changing. If you are on the coast many harbours provide shower facilities for the floating community and I have found these to be great also some ask for a fee but it is worth it. Most department stores and supermarkets have great mother/father baby changing facilities. With budget difficulties local council public facilities are becoming difficult to find so the back seat of the car is an option of last resort.

Hope this helps

Greenbank

Thank you very much it's not been easy adapting to this way of life it seemed to be better to cope when I was younger for some reason thanks for the advice

Nic

This is a constantly recurring problem. I had many, many bad experiences with public restrooms. Some years ago, I took a disastrous Amtrak trip from Chicago to California. The train lost power in early January outside a very small town. Hundreds of stranded passengers were forced to share a single pair of restrooms. We were stuck for almost six hours.

I used to keep a mental list of publicly-accessible bathrooms (bus stations, hotels, restaurants, etc), because of the need for frequent bathroom breaks. Some cities have abundant public restrooms. I grew up in such a city and always took this for granted. There were bookstores, libraries, restaurants, the university, the bus station -- lots of options. But in many cities -- Boston, for example -- these amenities are relatively rare. Or they are too disgusting to take seriously as viable options. It all comes down to the local culture. Private businesses in some cities provide these accommodations and in other cities they do not. Some cities take care of their bathrooms and some do not. You never know until you start looking around, and you don't look around until you have to.

Noe,

Agreed re changing taped diapers in a public restroom not being "subtle." However, perhaps the only saving grace for good breathable diapers (other than being breathable) is that they are much quieter to change. To remove the old diaper it is quieter if you use a small pair of scissors or a knife rather than trying to untape it.

--John

Nic,

Toilet mapping is a necessary skill for many of us. Knowing the location of each and every suitable, clean and accessible handicapped toilet on my usual haunts, and keeping track of my location and the ETA to the nearest one at all times begins as a chore, then becomes a skill, and, after enough times, becomes second nature. You just do it as a matter of course necessary to get through the day. I hope that you live in an area where this is possible. A well-stocked gym/diaper bag is also a necessity on these occasions.

Can't they call it indecent exposure if you change yourself in your car? You'd be bound to get caught eventually......

_________________
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

Marcus Aurelius

Hi Nic

Sorry you are having issues, changing in the smaller stalls is always a chanange but can be done.

First and formost is you need to find a premium diaper like Abenas level 4 or dry 24/7's (my choice) that fit you properly this should help on the leaks.

When changing in a small stall just use the wall to help support your new diaper while taping, keep a pair of blunt pointed sissors in your Back pack to cut the old diapers tapes this will help keep the noise level down while changing. Just be careful not to cut the padded section of the diaper as its a real mess when that happens

The more you change in public The easier it gets and eventually you will get to the point it becomes second nature to change in the smallest busiest places.

Changing in public restroom's is a challenge, What I use is a back pack that I have set up each packet as a station to change my diaper. Most of the stalls the hooks are broken or they don't hold my back pack right so I made a hook to hold it. I wears tranquility ATN diapers 24/7, far as the tape noise, I'm at the point I don't care if they do hear the tape being removed, it is about comfort and not having a leak for me. I have only had one gentleman ask me what happened, but that was because he seen me throwing my diaper away. Always wear the best diaper for you when you go out, and have all your equipment with you just in case you need to change. You will get use to it.

I have changing in a very tight area down to quite a art form and can change a diaper and put a fresh one on in under 5 mins. Also don't worry about the tapes too much, trust me no one cares and if they do stuff em. My personal preference to put one on is lying down so I can get the tightest fit possible but obviously not really possibly while out and about. Also use a bag with two pockets as I have a bag with a large internal pocket which I can temporarily put used diapers in if no bin is avalible immediately, just don't do what I did and leave it in there by mistake for a few hours, that doesn't go down well! Anyway best of luck

Cycling_guy