Donte has perfected the over-the-knee diaper change technique (Picture: Donte Palmer)

I never thought a single picture of me changing my son’s diaper across my knees in a men’s public toilet would grow to a campaign that would get so much notice.

Taken by my older son, the photo was posted with the intention to get a few laughs, likes, and comments from family and friends. But when my son showed the photo to my wife at the dinner table, she told me: ‘I never thought about that. It’s sad how us mothers don’t have to create or come up with innovative ways to change our babies and fathers do’.



She made a very good point.

Days later it had grabbed the attention of news outlets, major companies, celebrities and fellow fathers, and started a serious conversation that made people from around the world weigh in on a topic that’s often overlooked – the lack of changing tables available in men’s toilets.


It’s been an issue that I have faced for many years as a father of three boys, aged 12 and 7, and my youngest at 21 months.

Now, it’s clear to me that parents from across the globe have encountered the same issue of changing their babies with a number of unique techniques.

Parents have been reaching out from Turkey, Spain, Africa, Canada, Argentina and many other countries to express their frustrations when it comes to the lack of changing tables in men’s toilets.

For a long time, fathers have been looked at as being secondary caretakers of our children, with this seen as a job deemed necessary for women.

I find that to disheartening and in many cases very far from the truth.

Fathers are more than babysitters; they are, equally to mothers, the life lines of their children’s care and well-being.

For me, my role and function in my kids’ lives is essential – I serve as a model and example of what they should be as a man in the world, and a father to their future children.

At times, society paints a false narrative of the presence and role of fathers, but in actuality there are many men willing to step up to the plate. We just want to shed those stereotypical gender roles and say ‘let’s do this together’.

Donte, his wife and their three sons (Picture: Donte Palmer)

In my opinion, it is now time to shatter the gender boxes that life and society have put us in.

The aim is to bring awareness around fair and equitable rights for both mums and dads. This is why Squat for Change was created and developed into a campaign with a mission to drive initiatives that result in the installation of appropriate diaper changing stations in all designated men’s public toilets.

We strive to create a world of equality where changing your baby is a dad thing, too.



The one thing we can all agree on is being a good father – that, to me, is pure gold. Fathers come from all different areas of life with different cultures and different backgrounds, and representing pure, positive relationships with our children is the beauty of it all.

The process has been challenging, but it’s an issue that I am willing to fight for until change happens.

Support from legislators and corporations has to happen for us to leverage into a movement that can finally bring some real change to the world when it comes to this issue.

That’s why our campaign is so impactful and has affected so many people, and we are diligently working to uplift and build the platform so that we can keep pushing forward.

The goal of our movement is to create some positive change for both men and women, and I am confident that we will.

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