In a great step forward for the modern world, outgoing President Obama signed a new bill passed into law on the 7th October stating that baby changing tables across the USA are to be mandatory in all male and female restrooms in federal buildings.
This is a huge move in the right direction for parents and families alike – more so now than ever before, millennial families are more likely to split childcare jobs and tasks equally down the middle and with more mothers returning to work or indeed being the household breadwinner, more and more male figures are caring for children on a daily basis. Not to mention the wider community of males that care for children, such as grandparents and single-sex couples.
Aptly named the Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation (BABIES) Act, the bill states that: “male and female restrooms in a public building (are) to be equipped with baby changing facilities that the General Services Administration determines are physically safe, sanitary, and appropriate.”
This news has received a lot of public praise, with Rep. Cicilline posting on Facebook that, ‘Federal building are paid for by taxpayers and it’s important to ensure that they are as open, as accessible, and as family-friendly as possible.’
Back in 2014, Ashton Kutcher started a Change.org petition to get Costco and Target to install changing tables and facilities into all of their stores, attracting widespread popularity and getting over 104,000 signatures in the process.
It is strongly hoped that this new bill will encourage other states and possibly companies in the future to allow fathers the facilities required to ensure they can change their children in safe and sanitary environments.
At Vectair Systems, we use the latest technology to find safe and secure ways of improving approaches to infant care whilst ensuring maximum hygiene – our strong, durable and secure Babyminder® baby changing tables are ideal for all restroom areas.
