How to Keep Baby Changing Stations Safe, Clean and Compliant 

Posted on Feb 04, 2025

Why Safety and Cleanliness Matter for Baby Changing Stations

Maintaining safe baby changing areas isn’t just important, it’s crucial for all businesses which have these washroom facilities to ensure they are fit for use. Think about it; a parent takes their baby into your washroom facilities only to find the nappy waste bins are all full, releasing bad odours, and the stock levels for your baby changing kits are low. This will leave a lasting, damaging impression on your business, whether you run a supermarket, motorway service station or restaurant, meaning they are less likely to return, causing loss of profit and reputation.

On top of leaving a bad impression, if you’re not properly and regularly cleaning baby changing stations, bacteria will build and pose significant threat to babies and toddlers who have less developed immune systems.

Common Issues with Baby Changing Stations

Before we dive into the best baby changing station hygiene tips, let’s explore the common mistakes businesses make which can turn fully functioning, stocked and safe facilities into a space that deters and disgusts.

Lack of Regular Cleaning

Without a cleaning schedule for your baby changing stations, as well as all other washroom facilities, you’ve already set yourself up for failure. Many business establishments have in-house employees taking on the cleaning role at the start and end of the day, especially in industries like fast food, meaning the right level of cleaning is often underperformed. This will spread germs, leave unpleasant smells lingering and potentially leave your business with legal ramifications.

Inadequate Waste Disposal Facilities

Depending on the foot-traffic your business and facilities face, your baby changing stations can face frequent usage, which means the right waste disposal facilities installed is imperative. One sanitary waste bin might not be enough, with it filling up quickly leaving parents angered with no sufficient space to discard nappy waste and baby wipes. With waste not being properly contained before collection and disposal, parents are more likely to just leave soiled products wherever they can, either on the floor next to the full waste bin or even on the changing table.

Ignoring Maintenance and Repairs

Lack of maintenance for changing stations is extremely common in many businesses. Without proactive and planned preventative maintenance (PPM), frequent issues like wobbly changing tables, poor ventilation and degraded signage will regularly occur. These issues will mean your business is breaking baby changing station compliance regulations and pose significant risks and potential of injury.

Steps to Keep Baby Changing Stations Safe and Hygienic

With these common issues addressed, let’s explore the top baby changing station hygiene tips to get you on the right track.

Use Antibacterial Cleaners Regularly and Keep Products Stocked

• Implement a set-in-stone cleaning schedule where all surfaces are wiped with antibacterial cleaning products multiple times per day.
• Your cleaning schedule should state a specific day where more substantial cleans are conducted, with crevices and hard-to-reach areas deep cleaned.
• Ensure your baby changing stations are stocked with wet wipes, sanitary liners, hand sanitiser and other baby changing products.

Provide Dedicated Nappy Disposal Bins

• Assess how many people use your baby changing facilities and how quickly your waste bins fill up.
• As part of your cleaning schedule, empty nappy disposal bins frequently to avoid bad odours, overflow and the spread of bacteria.

Train Staff to Monitor and Clean Baby Changing Areas

• Members of staff, including team leaders, should be trained to inspect and clean baby changing areas.
• If you don’t have in-house, dedicated cleaners, appointed members of staff should be versed in the proper techniques of cleaning baby changing stations and how equipment should function safely.

Professional Hygiene for Baby Changing Stations

Maintaining safe baby changing areas is a must for all businesses and commercial spaces which feature these facilities. It can be easy to fall behind on maintenance and cleaning, but with the right baby changing station hygiene tips, you can stay on top of things and keep a safe, healthy and accessible environment.

There is also another way of staying on top of cleaning with the help of Trust Hygiene’s washroom services. From waste bin collection and disposal to installing energy efficient hand dryers and deep cleans, Trust Hygiene is the one stop professional company, with DBS-checked employees, to handle your needs, all on a flexible, tailored schedule. Call us today on 0370 3500 988 to discuss how we can maintain your baby changing stations.