The reality of babies and young toddlers it that they’re gonna go when they’re gonna go, and parents will need to change their diapers. But what if a business like Starbucks doesn’t have a changing table in the restroom — is it okay for a parent to take care of diaper duty in the public seating area? One woman did, and Starbucks employees ended up calling the cops.

Here’s how it all went down, according to 9News.com in Denver: A mom had to change her one-year-old son’s diaper while she was on a coffee run at Starbucks Friday night, but realized there was no changing table in the store’s restroom. So she simply changed him in the seating area.

“As a mother, you have to do what you have to do. Wherever you have to do it,” she said. “I just kind of wiped him off, cleaned him off as quickly as I could.”

While it’s unclear what kind of mess needed cleaning, her husband says a Starbucks employee was rude to his wife nonetheless, and tossed a rag to her while speaking in what he claims was a “demeaning tone.”

“He said make sure to wipe the seat when you’re done,” he said. “They started talking amongst themselves and laughing about it.”

He got so mad, he says, he dumped his venti coffee on the floor, saying, “Make sure you clean that.”

Strong words and hand gestures were exchanged, he says, and the store called the police to report a disturbance. No one was arrested, but a Starbucks spokesperson said the company is “concerned,” has “apologized to the [redacted] family,” and wants all customers treated with “dignity and respect.”

The woman says if Starbucks had provided a changing table in a restroom, she never would’ve had to do it in public. Which begs the question:

*Thanks for the tip, Jack!

Diaper change in Starbucks seating area ends with store calling Denver police [9News.com]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.