CINCINNATI — Pampers has begun the process of installing hundreds of baby changing tables in restrooms across the country to address what the company calls ‘changing table inequality.’
According to Pampers research, nine out of 10 dads said they’ve gone into public restrooms that do not have changing tables available.
Pampers, in partnership with Koala Kare, committed this week to installing 5,000 changing tables in North America by 2021, according to a news release. It will identify “high-need public locations” in cities like Cincinnati and many others.
The first 500 locations have been selected and installation is expected to be complete in the next few weeks.
“We know that dads want to be able to bond with their children by taking them out and about, and that means the inevitable diaper-duty no matter where they are,” said Andre Schulten, vice president and general manager of Baby Care North America at Procter & Gamble. “In many instances today, instead of it being an easy, straightforward task it’s a moment that causes angst because the facilities needed are not always available.”
The effort is part of Pampers’ “Love the Change” campaign.
This movement was fueled, the release said, by a 2018 image of Florida father, Donte Palmer, squatting with his child in a restroom because there was no changing table. Palmer founded #SquatForChange — an organization to help dads get the changing table resources they need.
Palmer and musician and activist John Legend will help spread the message of the campaign.
“I love being a hands-on dad, and it is so important that we acknowledge the active role dads are playing in their babies’ lives,” Legend said.
Pampers will install the changing tables in places like parks, recreation centers, community centers and libraries.
