SO: what would an ideal church nursing area look like

[Charmie981]

Along with developing a nursing policy, the church is wanting to make the nursing area more friendly to moms who aren't comfortable nursing elsewhere. They fell really short of that goal, IMO (the 12 foot black curtain and the screens between the rockers make it feel more like a voting booth than a homey nursing area! :hopmat) and I've been asked to help make it better. I have some ideas, but given that I'm unlikely to bother using it, I'd like some other input...how can you make it homey and inviting and still provide the "privacy" that some moms want?

[cappuccinosmom]

For me I think the ideal would be a nicely decorated, comfortably furnished room at the back of the santuary, with a large one-way glass window and piped in sound--that way I could watch the service and still feel part of it, but know still have the privacy of that glass. It would also be much more convenient than wandering around the church hallways to get to the far-away nursing room. Chairs could be turned towards the corner if a mom wanted a little more privacy, or maybe there could be one small partition for for the same purpose.

In all the other churches except our current one, the setup has been something similar. I suppose it's partly because our current church is so huge, but it's been frustrating that I feel like I have to walk half a mile to deal with a fussy or hungry baby. It would be so much nicer just to be able to walk to the back of the sanctuary, and not miss half the service.

[JamieCatheryn]

Originally Posted by cappuccinosmom

For me I think the ideal would be a nicely decorated, comfortably furnished room at the back of the santuary, with a large one-way glass window and piped in sound

Yes, this is what we have and it's quite good. Specifically, it's fairly sound proof in case of crying/babbling babes, has the sound from up front on a speaker, and you can see out into the sanctuary through a one way glass/mirror. There are several rocking chairs, no curtains - nursing moms should be comfy enough to see one another and it's good to have each other's company and not feel left out. There's a well appointed changing table and there are some quiet baby and toddler toys. There's a fan and a low light too. I feel like it's mainly to be able to do what you need to take care of a baby and let them make sounds without distracting everybody, not just privacy/discretion of breastfeeding.

[KittyKat]

Our church's setup isn't necessarily "Ideal" to my preferences (I'd LOVE the soundproof, one way glass, with speakers please) but it's worked fine. There are several comfy rockers, and little "cribs" in case a baby falls asleep and the mom prefers to leave the baby with the nursery workers. A sink and changing area, with cabinets full of clean linens, blankets, and shoulder cloths. It does have speakers, they can be turned down to avoid disturbing a sleeping baby, or turned up.

In the building addition we are currently wokring on, there will be more rocking chairs, in an area closed off from the main "nursery" area for those with easily distracted babies.

We've had moms who were more "private" go use a classroom down the hall to nurse, or use a cover. Others figure we're all women/moms in there, and we all have 'em, no need to be too shy. That would include me. I don't cover up in there to nurse.

I hope your church is able to make nursing moms feel welcomed while also meeting the needs of those who desire more privacy than usual.

[~Megan~]

IME, the sound being piped in a room is often hard to hear as it has to be turned up so much it can be disturbing to the babies. An ear piece would be really nice! Soft chairs with step stools for food support and nursing pillows would make it more like home. It it could be like the "cry rooms" at the movie theater that would be nice too as you can still watch the movie from there.

[elizaMM]

Originally Posted by ~Megan~

An ear piece would be really nice! Soft chairs with step stools for food support and nursing pillows would make it more like home.

:

I think it would be a good idea to include an informative sign of some sort explaining that the church does not require you to use that room, nor must you use whatever in-room privacy accommodations. "...Breastfeeding is a learned skill and all can benefit from exposure..."

I'm reading Our Babies Ourselves: How Biology & Culture shape the way we Parent. It talks about how a gorilla mama raised in captivity didn't even know how to hold her baby right. Then they had a bunch of human mamas breastfeed in front of her (outside her enclosure) and she caught on a lot better. ...I guess that's a little OT because we have plenty of evidence that humans have to learn it but... interesting nonetheless...and affirming.

[birdie22]

Our church has a lounge overlooking the sanctuary, with a speaker system. I like that it's a "lounge" and not specifically a "breastfeeding area."

It's outfitted with comfy sofas, and it gets used for many other meetings and classes during the week. I don't know that it's better to go whole hog making it a place for nursing mothers; it sends a mixed message, as has often been discussed in this forum.

In our church, the emphasis is on providing a place for squirmy toddlers and crying babies, where mom and dad can still hear the service. I always bf in the sanctuary and nobody seems to mind.

[OkiMom]

The chapel we had services in back in the states had a nice setup. It was a room down the hallway from the main chapel so you can't see the services but they had a speaker system that was adjustable so you could listen to it. There were several oversized, ultra comfortable rocking recliners and several regular rocking chairs. There were also several foot strolls to put your feet up on. There was a sink and a changing area. People were always dropping off diapers that their kids had outgrown and they kept it stocked with wipes which was nice if you didn't pack enough (they were disposible but still nice if you didn't pack enough).
The place we are going to now has a nursing room that has a lot to be desired but at least its someplace. They are also really outgoing about telling nursing mothers that its there but there is no reason to go there if you are comfortable nursing in the main chapal area. The first Sunday I was there I asked if there was a place set aside for nursing and I got a weird look and told that usually the seats or pews were the most comfortable places (they didn't get the idea of having a seperate location but have since made a room for mothers)

[SpiderMum]

Comfy chairs, footstools, definitely a changing table, and a water cooler. I haven't been to church since I got pregnant, so I'm not sure what sort of nursing area they have, if any.

[pdxmomazon]

Slightly OT...Our church is too small/poor to have a nursing/cry room, but I'm glad. Babbling and crying babies are part of the service and welcome.(that's one of the first things our pastor's wife told us when our first daughter was born- no leaving the sermon b/c the babe is fussy!) I have been nursing my daughter in the pews since she was 8 days old and I think it has helped another new mom feel more comfortable nursing her daughter. She recently got rid of the cover-up blanket! I love my church.

I love the idea of a water cooler though!

[momo7]

We have a "cry room" in our church. It's crappy. It's so noisy and mothers let their kids go in there to play. I would love to have a nursing room. quiet, comfortable, no crying toddlers, no playing children...just a quiet place to nurse our babis where we could actually hear the sermon and participate in the service. That would be ideal.

[josh&davesmomme]

Originally Posted by cappuccinosmom

For me I think the ideal would be a nicely decorated, comfortably furnished room at the back of the santuary, with a large one-way glass window and piped in sound--that way I could watch the service and still feel part of it, but know still have the privacy of that glass. It would also be much more convenient than wandering around the church hallways to get to the far-away nursing room. Chairs could be turned towards the corner if a mom wanted a little more privacy, or maybe there could be one small partition for for the same purpose.

In all the other churches except our current one, the setup has been something similar. I suppose it's partly because our current church is so huge, but it's been frustrating that I feel like I have to walk half a mile to deal with a fussy or hungry baby. It would be so much nicer just to be able to walk to the back of the sanctuary, and not miss half the service.

That would be soooo ideal! Our church has a supervised nursery where parents can leave their chilfren and there are several gliders and a sofa where moms can come in and sit and nurse the service is broadcast over the speaker- but with all the toddlers laughing and playing it's quite difficult to hear.

[akwifeandmomma]

Ours is a nice quiet and dark room with several glider rockers and footstools, a few boppy pillows, a table with cups and a water cooler.

There's a monitor with sound so that you can still watch the service remotely, and a pack 'n play. It's an actual room with a door back in the nursery area, so there is a changing station and handwash area nearby.