A Brief History of the Baby Changing Station
Before World War II, the ideal family structure of a single breadwinner going to work while the other stayed home and raised the child was indeed a popular view,
though mostly unattainable in average households. The majority of homes could not get by on a single income, as few jobs paid a good enough wage to support a whole family. After the war, however, an economic boom rang throughout the U.S., and national prosperity allowed for the "ideal" home in popular culture. Families in the 1950's and 60's saw fathers going off to work while the mothers stayed home to raise the children. This became the norm for the time.
However, this ideal setup did not last for long. Starting in the late 1970's, the average family structure began to change. Divorce rates rose, single mothers were on the rise, and both parents saw need and want for two incomes as the economy weakened and pay rates for women rose. 'Family time' became a precious term as for only a few hours in the evening and the weekends, the family could spend time together. Parents' schedules began to tighten while both tried to balance a work life with home life, not only earning enough to take care of their children, but making sure they found enough time to spend with them. The "absent fathers" of the 1950's and 60's were changing to be a far more active role in the raising of the child.
Due to this change in family time and tightened schedules, small children began to appear in public more and more. People not only had jobs to fit into their days, but the same tasks as before had to be finished, and the balancing act was becoming difficult. Parents had errands to run, groceries to shop for, and items to buy at the shopping malls, and they were less inclined to leave their children at home. Not only was it getting harder for parents to leave the children while they finished tasks, but they wanted to use this opportunity to spend time with their kids. Parents also still wanted to go to movies and out to dinner, and finding a babysitter wasn't always an option.
As it became in the grocery store and shopping mall, society shifted to be more accepting at seeing small children in restaurants and entertainment venues. However challenges arose as it came time to change an infant, and countertops in public restrooms were far from fitting for swapping a diaper, either being too small or unsanitary. And thus, the public baby changing station was born.
In 1986, four Minnesota businessmen put together a company called JBJ Industries(now Koala Corporation) and designed a baby changing table that attached to a wall in a public restroom. It was a standalone product that could fold down from the wall for use. Parents were now able to change their babies safely and privately, and fold the table back up when done. The changing stations were easy to install, use, and maintain.
It was a simple addition and parents were impressed. Businesses began to take notice. Baby changing stations started to pop up everywhere, mainly in restaurants at first, but expanded to theaters, grocery stores, amusements parks, and shopping centers. Child-friendly facilities became a positive and even impacted parents' decisions on where they spent more time and money. Businesses realized family convenience was now a major factor in visitors and sales, and equipped themselves with the tables. This then gave a rise in child seating products, such as the booster seat, and play products.
The initial design (created by Koala Corp.) of the public baby changing station has not changed much over the years: molded polyethylene and steel, rounded edges for safety, and compact - ideal for even small restrooms. A study in 1998 by the Howell Research Group reported nearly seven out of ten parents shop with their children either all of the time or most of the time, and as of today, these changing stations are now an expected convenience in many establishments. Large retailers around the world are equipping these stations in both men's and women's restrooms, as, like handicapped stalls, a baby station is a sign that the business cares about its customer.
However, this ideal setup did not last for long. Starting in the late 1970's, the average family structure began to change. Divorce rates rose, single mothers were on the rise, and both parents saw need and want for two incomes as the economy weakened and pay rates for women rose. 'Family time' became a precious term as for only a few hours in the evening and the weekends, the family could spend time together. Parents' schedules began to tighten while both tried to balance a work life with home life, not only earning enough to take care of their children, but making sure they found enough time to spend with them. The "absent fathers" of the 1950's and 60's were changing to be a far more active role in the raising of the child.
Due to this change in family time and tightened schedules, small children began to appear in public more and more. People not only had jobs to fit into their days, but the same tasks as before had to be finished, and the balancing act was becoming difficult. Parents had errands to run, groceries to shop for, and items to buy at the shopping malls, and they were less inclined to leave their children at home. Not only was it getting harder for parents to leave the children while they finished tasks, but they wanted to use this opportunity to spend time with their kids. Parents also still wanted to go to movies and out to dinner, and finding a babysitter wasn't always an option.
As it became in the grocery store and shopping mall, society shifted to be more accepting at seeing small children in restaurants and entertainment venues. However challenges arose as it came time to change an infant, and countertops in public restrooms were far from fitting for swapping a diaper, either being too small or unsanitary. And thus, the public baby changing station was born. In 1986, four Minnesota businessmen put together a company called JBJ Industries(now Koala Corporation) and designed a baby changing table that attached to a wall in a public restroom. It was a standalone product that could fold down from the wall for use. Parents were now able to change their babies safely and privately, and fold the table back up when done. The changing stations were easy to install, use, and maintain.
It was a simple addition and parents were impressed. Businesses began to take notice. Baby changing stations started to pop up everywhere, mainly in restaurants at first, but expanded to theaters, grocery stores, amusements parks, and shopping centers. Child-friendly facilities became a positive and even impacted parents' decisions on where they spent more time and money. Businesses realized family convenience was now a major factor in visitors and sales, and equipped themselves with the tables. This then gave a rise in child seating products, such as the booster seat, and play products.
The initial design (created by Koala Corp.) of the public baby changing station has not changed much over the years: molded polyethylene and steel, rounded edges for safety, and compact - ideal for even small restrooms. A study in 1998 by the Howell Research Group reported nearly seven out of ten parents shop with their children either all of the time or most of the time, and as of today, these changing stations are now an expected convenience in many establishments. Large retailers around the world are equipping these stations in both men's and women's restrooms, as, like handicapped stalls, a baby station is a sign that the business cares about its customer.
