Proposal puts changing tables in any new building in Tampa

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The baby needs a diaper change and dad is on duty. However, with some men's restrooms throughout the city of Tampa lacking baby changing stations, a serious issue arises. 

“A lot of men with children are not able to use changing stations for their kids in the restrooms, and so they have to take other means which are very burdensome and troublesome,” said Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera.

For Viera, it's a personal concern. As a father, he's seen the problem firsthand, and now he's hoping to fix the issue permanently.

“What we're looking at doing is making sure all future restrooms that are built in the city of Tampa, under the City of Tampa Government, have changing stations for both men and women," said Viera.

The ordinance would also push for changing stations in all current city bathrooms as well.

The proposal closely follows the Squat for Change Movement where fathers took to social media showing how difficult it can be to change their baby's diaper while out and about.

It's a problem James Sheppard remembers all too well. While his son is now 5-years-old, he said it seems like the diaper days were just yesterday.   

"What needed to be done, needed to be done. If I had to change him in the back seat of my vehicle, I had to change him in the back seat of my vehicle.," said Sheppard. "If I had to put his blanket over the stroller and change him that way, I had to change him that way." 

For Viera, he said he believes that while times have changed, men's bathrooms have failed to change with them.

“Men should be involved in their children’s lives and something as small and simple as not having a changing station in the restroom, sends a terrible message about fatherhood," said Viera.

As a father, Sheppard agreed. The new proposal a change that he said he could get behind.   

"What the city is trying to do right now is amazing," said Sheppard. "I think it will benefit a lot of dads when the daddies are on duty."

Councilman Viera estimated that renovating current, city-owned bathrooms will cost around $64,000; a small price to pay for a much-needed change, he says.