Ashton Kutcher Complains That The World Is Not Designed As One Big Parenting Help Site
The Wrap's Jordan Charlton writes about Kutcher's recent Facebook rant about the lack of baby-changing stations in men's bathrooms:
Ashton Kutcher is a new father to newborn Wyatt Isabelle, and recently faced a challenge with one the harsh realities of early parenting--diaper changing."There are NEVER diaper changing stations in mens public restrooms," Kutcher wrote on Facebook. "The first public men's room that I go into that has one gets a free shout out on my FB page! #BeTheChange"
Sometimes there are changing facilities in women's bathrooms but I don't notice them very often (perhaps because I am not going to "family-friendly" restaurants).
Facilities sometimes don't meet my needs, either, so I prepare to meet my own. What a concept!








Never?? Seriously, Kutcher? I've seen them often enough. Additionally, I've even seen "family" restrooms, which I presume are single seaters with changing station.
Maybe you should change the places you shop?
I R A Darth Aggie at March 11, 2015 6:53 AM
What, no changing station in the men's room at Elaine's? The horror! The scandal! Like IRA, I've seen 'em, and seen 'em used, in lots of places, like Costco.
The guy at the desk next to mine says to look in handicapped stalls. Sometimes changing stations are shoehorned in there.
Old RPM Daddy (OldRPMDaddy at GMail dot com) at March 11, 2015 7:01 AM
I found it amusing that Hooters has a changing table in at least the women's restroom.
Katrina at March 11, 2015 7:18 AM
I don't know where he's going, but I see them in lots of places. Men's rooms in Walmart, KCI airport, dozens of restaurants and fast food places. I would say it's about 30-40% have them. If that's true here in Flyover Country, I would imaging it's even a higher percentage in LA.
JB in KC at March 11, 2015 7:31 AM
you want change?
BE THE F**KING MAN WHO FIGURES STUFF OUT!?!
oi! entitled sushi for brains...
SwissArmyD at March 11, 2015 7:38 AM
People use Twitter to vent about all manner of things. I don't see this as any more entitled than rants about how long it takes to get a fitting room at Norstrom Rack, late buses, or dirty tables at a particular restaurant. Twitter has sort of become the catch-all for making your customer-service woes public.
As for the changing tables, I was out at a restaurant with my (male) friend and his baby. The place had a kids menu (and crayons), but no changing table in the men's room. He asked me to check out the women's room, and, sure enough, there was a changing table. My friend changed his kid on the floor of the stall (luckily had a changing pad in the diaper bag).
So I guess it depends where Ashton is going. Itty bitty bistros that attract a boozey brunch crowd? Those places barely have room for a person in their bathrooms, let alone changing tables. Family restaurants that put changing tables in the women's room, but not in the men's (even though there's plenty of room in both)? I'd Tweet about it and @ the restaurant's account for good measure.
sofar at March 11, 2015 8:13 AM
They aren't everywhere but I've seen changing tables in many mens rooms.
But then again, I don't shop on Rodeo Drive. Maybe it's just the really expendive places that don't.
Joe j at March 11, 2015 9:04 AM
I remember when I had infants and toddler people, I would have liked to see more changing tables as well. The Bay Area had plenty, but without a changing table, it can be pretty awkward for both parents, infants, and public.
I know small businesses sometimes balk at the cost which is said to be about $400. Large business like Starbucks actually dislike having babies and their parents sticking around or being attracted to their business in the first place. But ignore that.
Google tells me Kutcher is worth $140,000,000.
Amazon tells me a Continental 8252-H White Horizontal Baby Changing Station costs $200.00.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005QSEM14
Figure another $200.00 for installation and to go to buying paper liners for the table for the business. Let's say he needs two changing stations a day, that brings us to $800.00 per day, or $280,000 per year.
Divide out, multiply by 100% and that's 0.2% of Kutcher's wealth AND he'll be responsible for 730 new changing tables. 0.4% of his net worth would be two years worth of changing tables, two per day.
It may not help him directly, but he'll be helping out all the other fathers who come after him.
Kutcher himself can relatively easily #BeTheChange he desires in a way that few others are so able to do.
jerry at March 11, 2015 9:05 AM
As everyone else has pointed out, they're in many places — unless by "public" restrooms he means restrooms in parks, etc. rather than restaurants and stores.
And my bechilded acquaintances often complain about the "unsanitary" nature of the changing tables, as if their kids' shit is Purell itself.
Kevin at March 11, 2015 9:46 AM
My husband has only one time found a men's room without a changing table in it since we've had kids when he's needed to use one. He decided to use the counter next to the sinks instead (putting down the changing pad from the diaper bag) and then wiped off the counter when he was done. I'm noticing most of the women's rooms around here are putting the stations in the handicapped stalls now as well. I did have the misfortune of needing to change my infant at a restaurant once. It had a tiny two-stall bathroom, a pedestal sink with no counter, and no changing station. I had to change him on the floor on a changing pad and blanket. This meant I was blocking access to the stalls and getting wacked by the door when people entered. Sometimes you just have to make do.
BunnyGirl at March 11, 2015 11:59 AM
It has been a few years since my youngest was in diapers, but we always found the car's passenger seat to be a handy changing station *before* going into a restaurant.
Dwatney at March 11, 2015 4:18 PM
I'll give you irony. I work in a fire district. There's a changing table in the men's room, but NOT the women's.
So suck it, Ashton.
Daghain at March 11, 2015 9:00 PM
I'm there with Dwatney. I found the trunk of the car to be an excellent changing table. It had sides, it had carpet, it was relatively clean, flat, out of the wind, perfect height, and as a bonus kept the smell and the view of the mess far away from other people.
flbeachmom at March 12, 2015 8:22 AM
I change my kids in the car frequently as well. I prefer it over public places. It's just not always an option, like when your baby craps in the middle of dinner and needs changing ASAP so you don't treat everyone else to the smell.
BunnyGirl at March 12, 2015 5:42 PM
Just use the restaurant table. Amy likes that {ducking}!
""There are NEVER diaper changing stations in mens public restrooms," Kutcher wrote on Facebook. "The first public men's room that I go into that has one gets a free shout out on my FB page! #BeTheChange""
Real men get gas at truck stops. These have such stations. You can get a real Coke™ and a Slim Jim™, too, so I suppose they might as well be the Bates Motel for Hollywood types...
Radwaste at March 14, 2015 6:49 PM
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