Florida dad's plea to 'fix' changing table problem in men’s restrooms goes viral

Donte Palmer, a father of three, took to Instagram in September after he once again was forced to change his young son across his lap.

(Donte Palmer)

Donte Palmer is fed up with the lack of changing tables in men’s restrooms.

The Florida father of three took to Instagram last month after he was forced — yet again — to change his 1-year-old son, Liam, across his lap. Not unlike many other public spaces, Palmer said the restaurant he and his family were eating at lacked a changing table in the men’s bathroom.

“This is a serious post!!! What’s the deal with not having changing tables in men’s bathroom as if we don’t exist!!” Palmer, 31, of St. Augustine, wrote in a post which has since garnered more nearly 6,000 likes.

“Clearly we do this often because look how comfortable my son is. It’s routine to him!” he added.

Palmer said his 12-year-old son followed him to the restroom to help with the changing process. The young boy began to snap pictures of his dad changing the 1-year-old in a squatting position, though Palmer wasn’t aware of this at the time. After viewing the images, Palmer decided to take to social media to plead for a "fix" to this problem.

“I’m fighting for all fathers,” Palmer told Fox News on Tuesday. “It’s one of those times where society portrays these gender roles, women are supposed to cook and clean and take care of the babies — but if I truly love my wife, let me serve her and help her.”

“Dads are more than protectors and providers,” he added, noting he created the hashtag #SquatforChange to create awareness.

Palmer isn’t the first father to express frustration on the matter.

One dad took to Facebook this summer, writing in a viral post he was forced to change his baby’s diaper on the bathroom floor because the restroom didn’t have a changing table.

Celebrities, too, have voiced concerns. Actor Ashton Kutcher in 2015 created a Change.org petition calling on large retail chains such as Target and Costco to add changing tables to men’s restrooms.

Palmer said the reaction to his post has been “overwhelming,” adding various fathers from across the country have reached out to express similar concerns.

“We want to be served equally as parents,” Palmer added.

Original article and pictures take https://foxnews.com/lifestyle/florida-dads-viral-changing-table-instagram-post-inspires site