Teesside dad calls for 'dad-friendly' baby changing facilities
Middlesbrough dad Michael Fisher says he's had to change his baby daughter on his knee or in the car because there aren't any dad-friendly changing areas.
A Middlesbrough dad says more needs to be done to make baby changing facilities around Teesside accessible for dads and grandads.
Michael Fisher has two young daughters and says it can be a struggle to find changing facilities suitable for men to use.
The 31-year-old has even contemplated going into women's toilets when there aren't any disabled or unisex facilities.
He said: "It's natural that we think that's what women should do, because it's in the women's toilets.
"That's not the right attitude.
"I'm a father and I often have my daughters with me.
"There's countless times that I feel socially awkward, I think it would definitely benefit if there were more readily available changing areas.
"Fathers often don't know where the best places to go to find baby changing facilities are."
It's as a new website, launched by The Dad's Network, has been designed to help dads find the nearest 'dad-friendly' facilities to them.
In Teesside, there's currently only ONE suggest, despite dozens being shown in places like London.
Mary Lambert, of Villiers Street, Hartlepool is the only venue which has been recommended by local dads as being male-friendly.
Al Ferguson, founder of The Dad Network and dad to 3 said: “Society is going through a cultural shift seeing more and more dads take active, hands on roles in parenting and public facilities need to reflect this.”
“We feel that in order for real change to hit the UK, we need to be highlighting both the dad friendly and unfriendly facilities in the hope that businesses will recognize the importance of this issue.”
You can access the website HERE.