MN Zoo Breastfeeding area in the RESTROOM?? WHAT?!!!!

[polykow]

I had not been to the MInnesota Zoo in a couple of years and today,, while I was there with another friend and breastfeeding mother, she comes out of a restroom and tells me about them having their breastfeeding area in there.
I was really in shock. MInnesota Breastfeeding Laws are some of the best in the country and the Zoo is supposed to be a family place.
This is the ONLY breastfeeding area in the Zoo. They have plenty of room to even make a private corner of a beautiful sitting room just a few feet away from this restroom.
In one of their information brochures they have it listed like this:


Nursing Area
. Medtronic Minnesota Trail Restroom

I really need some help with sending a letter to the Zoo.

Maybe their intentions are good but what the heck!
All the signs about making sure you wash your hands because of the animals and they have a feeding room in a bathroom?

Any good writers willing to help with a letter ?

Thanks a bunch!

Alex

Here is the Zoo Contact information:
General Zoo information, comments, and questions: [e-mail]

Minnesota Zoo
13000 Zoo Boulevard
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Phone: [phone]
24-hour information line: 952.431.9500
Minnesota Relay Service phone number: 1.800.627.3529
Fax: [phone]

[PotreroHill]

So zoogoers can watch other mammals nurse their young, but humans have to nurse in the bathroom?That makes no sense

[CallMeMommy]

Wait, what?! I was just there last month and never noticed that - oh hell yeah I'll write a letter, and I'll let them know I won't be back until it's changed, seeing as I'm due in August and sure as hell don't think it's appropriate to nurse a baby in the bathroom.

ETA: What brochure is it in? I want to see if I can find it online...

[woodchick]

Originally Posted by PotreroHill

So zoogoers can watch other mammals nurse their young, but humans have to nurse in the bathroom?That makes no sense

I definitely think that OP should write a letter encouraging a nursing area somewhere other than a bathroom. But nowhere does she say that anyone at the zoo forces nursing pairs into the bathroom. I'm sure they can nurse anywhere at the zoo, but they're letting people know that they also have a nursing station if you want it.

[CallMeMommy]

I did find the wording on their website, it's on the Plan Your Day page. Here's the letter I wrote:

I am a lifetime resident of Minnesota and a long-time visitor of the Minnesota Zoo. I am also the mother of 2, soon to be 3, children who enjoy the zoo very much. It recently came to my attention that on your "Plan Your Day" page you have the one and only nursing area in the zoo listed as located in the Minnesota Trail restroom. As a nursing mother, this is completely unacceptable. While I applaud the Minnesota Zoo for creating a private space where mothers can nurse their children if they are uncomfortable doing so in public, to create it in the restroom of all places is disgusting. Nobody eats their meals in the restroom, babies should be no exception. It is also unacceptable that you simply state "MN Trail Restroom" as the nursing location, which implies that this is the *only* acceptable place to nurse on the grounds. Minnesota state law states that a mother may nurse her child in any location, public or proviate, where she is otherwise authorized to be. A better wording would be something like "Nursing is permitted anywhere on MN Zoo grounds, but a private location is also located in *somewhere other than a restroom*"

I implore you to change the wording of your website and create a non-restroom nursing area as soon as possible. Until these two things are accomplished, I'm sad to say I won't feel comfortable bringing my children back to the zoo.

I thought about saying we'd go to Como instead, but I thought that might be a low blow

[polykow]

"I definitely think that OP should write a letter encouraging a nursing area somewhere other than a bathroom. But nowhere does she say that anyone at the zoo forces nursing pairs into the bathroom. I'm sure they can nurse anywhere at the zoo, but they're letting people know that they also have a nursing station if you want it. "
__________________

That is exactly what my post asks. To help write a letter about it. I am sure the intentions are good and its not that I think they want to make nursing mothers only nurse in the restroom.
Its that they need to provide the nursing area for mom that wish to do it privately ( I have no problem nursing in public) in a place other than a restroom.
CallMeMommy's letter is pretty good. I amy work on it based on that.
Please let me know if you get an answer.
I want to follow up on it.
Alex

[JennTheMomma]

We were planning on going to the MN Zoo this summer and our newborn is BF'ing, not going to do it in the bathroom even if it does have a "nursing area". I would rather just find a quiet area instead.

[Anna Phor]

Last time I was at our zoo, we nursed in the small mammal house.

[annettemarie]

Could someone quote the wording and/or link to the page? They could have the nursing room on top of the aviary if they wanted to, and I really wouldn't care unless they were trying to force moms to go there.

[annethcz]

The nursing area in the bathroom has been there FOREVER. Seriously. This is not a new thing. I went to the zoo all of the time when I was growing up and I worked there for about 5 years. I'm also a former LLL leader. Just to give you an idea of my prejudices.

I understand why it's annoying, but it's there to give nursing mothers options. I've nursed my kids everywhere at that zoo (with the exception of the nursing area ). I've seen other moms nursing their babies just about everywhere in the zoo. No one is going to suggest that nursing mothers exclusively use the nursing area. It's there for moms who prefer to have a private space to nurse their babies.

I definitely agree that it would've been great if they had picked another area for a nursing area when they've done various remodelling projects- I personally think a corner of the old zoolab would be a GREAT spot (and I've seen tons of moms nursing there while their older kids blow off steam).

[polykow]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Could someone quote the wording and/or link to the page? They could have the nursing room on top of the aviary if they wanted to, and I really wouldn't care unless they were trying to force moms to go there.

In My original post I quoted the wording in bold letters.

Like I said, I DO NOT think they are trying to make anyone nurse in the bathroom.
I do think they had GOOD intentions but a nursing area in a restroom is unacceptable and we need to politely let them know.
Again please help write informative letters to the Zoo.
Their info is posted above.
Thanks!

[annettemarie]

Oh. I didn't realize that was it.

Our mall has a nursing area near the restrooms. You go in the ladies' room and then it's its own little room with a rocking chair and a locking door. Have you seen the nursing room?

[JL83]

Personally I like having a nursing area in the bathroom...

Both my children have had issues with breastfeeding at various points. With my first we had latch issues. I have very strong letdown, so my babies don't have to latch well to get milk. But, bad latches will make me very sore.

So sometimes I have to have PRIVACY to get a good latch. I have no problem with normal breastfeeding in mixed company. But, if I'm going to be pulling out my whole boob to hold it properly and get a good latch from my baby, I want it to be in a woman's only area.

I have no problem with short nursing sessions in public. But, if we've been out all day, then at some point I have to find a private place so that my baby can have a nice long nurse.

[JL83]

Originally Posted by polykow

In My original post I quoted the wording in bold letters.

Like I said, I DO NOT think they are trying to make anyone nurse in the bathroom.
I do think they had GOOD intentions but a nursing area in a restroom is unacceptable and we need to politely let them know.
Again please help write informative letters to the Zoo.
Their info is posted above.
Thanks!

Why is a nursing area in a restroom "unacceptable"???

That makes no sense to me. I've seen plenty of them. There are normally a couple of comfy recliners or a couch, a change table and sometimes a sink. Sometimes they are sort of attached to a larger restroom, and other times there's 1 toilet stall in them.

It's not like you have to sit on a toilet to nurse your baby.

Is it the mere presence of toilet stalls in the vicinity what offends you?

[mama2toomany]

I have always just found a comfy spot near a shady tree when I nursed there. I never felt the need to use the rest area.

[vbactivist]

Originally Posted by polykow

"I definitely think that OP should write a letter encouraging a nursing area somewhere other than a bathroom. But nowhere does she say that anyone at the zoo forces nursing pairs into the bathroom. I'm sure they can nurse anywhere at the zoo, but they're letting people know that they also have a nursing station if you want it. "
__________________

That is exactly what my post asks. To help write a letter about it. I am sure the intentions are good and its not that I think they want to make nursing mothers only nurse in the restroom.
Its that they need to provide the nursing area for mom that wish to do it privately ( I have no problem nursing in public) in a place other than a restroom.
CallMeMommy's letter is pretty good. I amy work on it based on that.
Please let me know if you get an answer.
I want to follow up on it.
Alex

I respectfully disagree. I don't think businesses are obligated to supply a nursing area. All I ask is that we are allowed to nurse wherever we like. I think providing any area, is nice, but certainly not neccessary.

[Shellie]

Just because they provide a sitting area for nursing within the rest room, that doesn't mean no one is allowed to nurse elsewhere. I am inclined to think this is done for the comfort of women who would not want to breastfeed in public.

I'm older than many here (almost 37) but I remember when the ladies' room was the "womens' or ladies' lounge." There was often a huge sitting area where women would feed babies, relax, etc. A local Babies R Us has a "Mothers' Room" and so does Disneyland (last I checked). Both places I happily nursed all over the park, undisturbed. If I'd cared about being seen, I could have nursed in the comfort of a nice glider in the Mothers' Room.

[Happeesupermom]

I completely agree with OP on this one!

I think the main reason a Nursing Area IN the Restroom is unacceptable is because, not only is this a place where people primarily pee and poop(!), but it is also FULL OF NASTY GERMS!

I would never go sit in the restroom and pull a sandwich & juice out of my bag for myself or any of my kids... why would I choose to feed my infant there?!

I understand some places may offer a nursing lounge NEAR a restroom.... but not IN it! That's just gross! Regardless of whether no one is "forcing" moms to nurse their infants there or not.

[JL83]

I don't generally go around rubbing my breasts on surfaces before I nurse...

Does anyone know where the nursing area is in relationship to the stalls? Is it around the corner? Directly across? Does it alternate stall then easy chair, then another stall?

[Happeesupermom]

Not all germs sit patiently on surfaces waiting for you to touch them. Some are airborne. And lots of funky smells float around public restrooms. Unless, of course, you carry around your own personal air, this may be a deterrent for most people.

It is just not an appropriate place to EAT. For an adult OR an infant.