After a photo of Dante Palmer changing his son’s diaper in a men’s restroom went viral, the dad is implementing real, needed change. Now, 5,000 changing tables will be installed in men’s restrooms across the U.S. and Canada by 2021.
Last year, Palmer shared a photo of himself squatting on a the floor to change his son, lamenting the fact that men’s restrooms rarely offer changing tables. “What’s the deal with not having changing tables in men’s bathroom as if we don’t exist!!” he captioned his post. “Clearly, we do this often because look how comfortable my son is. It’s routine to him!!!! Let’s fix this problem!” The sentiment resonated with parents across the globe, proving how widespread of an issue this really is.
Today, CBS 47 reports that Palmer has partnered with Pampers and Koala Kare to 5,000 changing tables in men’s public restrooms across the U.S. and Canada by 2021. Pampers has pledged $1 million to the effort, which has already begun. This week, Palmer helped install a changing table at a barbershop in his hometown of Jacksonville, FL. “For this to be like the first in Jacksonville at a barbershop where dads come, it means a lot,” Palmer said. “It’s really exciting.”
“To have my boys and my wife look at me and knowing that I’m doing something for the world, it means a lot,” he added. “It’s an honor.” After Jacksonville, the initiative will move on to Detroit, Philadelphia and Chicago, and other cities. The first 500 locations for installation have been identified and construction will be complete in the next few weeks.
This is the viral picture that shows Palmer squatting in a men’s restroom in Jacksonville to change his son’s diaper because there wasn’t a changing table. The picture resonated with parents across the world. pic.twitter.com/NtO1efQh8G
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) July 24, 2019
