Being a new parent can be extremely scary and difficult. Navigating the world of parenthood, especially as a new parent, can be a lot. That's why we're always thankful when other people share useful and important information with the rest of us.
Facebook User Issues Warning To Parents Over 'Black Marks' On Baby Changing Tables
One thing that all new parents do for sure, is change their babies in public.
Unsplash | Annika Gordon
Thankfully, many restrooms have changing tables or stations that parents can use to change their babies in private.
However, not all parents know about the red flags to look out for when using these tables.
Unsplash | Possessed Photography
While some changing tables seem just dirty or "used" by other parents, there are actually marks on changing tables that can be alarming.
Recently one woman shared some useful information on Facebook.
Unsplash | Sinitta Leunen
One Facebook user shared the important details about the changing tables in public restrooms on Facebook, alerting other parents who may not know.
Facebook user Jessica Wayman told parents to look out for "black marks" on changing tables.
Unsplash | Hedgehog Digital
"PSA: Before putting your babies anywhere near these things, ALWAYS wipe them down first. Even if you are in a hurry, even if you have a blanket to lay down," she said.
She said the black marks are left behind by people who use "spoons" to take drugs.
"See the black marks? Those are from burnt spoons," she wrote.
Unknowing parents might have just assumed the marks were from dirt or normal wear and tear, but Jessica said that's not the case.
The residue can be harmful for babies and children.
Unsplash | Ksenia Makagonova
"There could be residue from heroin/meth/whatever, and other harmful bodily fluids," she continued to say in the post.
The reason she shared the information is actually quite interesting.
Unsplash | Myriam Zilles
"I am a recovering addict myself, which is why I made this post in the first place — to warn all the unsuspecting parents who would never think something like this when looking at a changing table," she continued.
She shared that the changing tables are also used to "crush up drugs" too.
Unsplash | Natracare
"Along with people using them as tables while they shoot up, they are also OFTEN used by addicts to bust drugs out and crush them up upon. So again, be cautious," she wrote.
Many parents on Facebook were shocked and did not realize this.
Dozens of commenters said they would never consider or think of this. Many parents online thanked Jessica for sharing the information and said that it's so important.
Since this was new information to many parents, some users predicted that Jessica's post would go viral.
And sure enough, it did. Thousands of parents have shared or commented on the post, thanking Jessica for alerting them to this unknown danger.
Jessica actively encouraged people to share it as much as possible.
Unsplash | Glenn Carstens-Peters
To date, her post has generated 176,000 shares on Facebook and 21, 000 reactions.
Jessica said she shared the post initially because she knew most parents weren't aware of the black marks.
Unsplash | Claudio Schwarz
"It just hit me when I saw it, that the only people would know about this are addicts/recovering addicts, and that I should do my part to warn other parents of the danger," she said.
Jessica wants this information to be known so that no children are harmed.
Unsplash | Omar Lopez
"But I hope it reaches as many parents/guardians/babysitters as possible. It could be the difference between life and death for some," she said.
It's been two years since Jessica's post first went viral.
Years later, it's still getting new shares and comments. Some parents have even commented a year after first seeing it just to say thanks and that they always look out for black marks now.
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