the "nursing mother-friendly bathroom"

[JordanKX]

I'm just curious here... My organization is joining forces with an interactive museum. They are using the upstairs bathroom, which has a foyer to it - door into the foyer, and then another door into the bathroom - for the nursing-friendly mothers. It'll be set with a few chairs and a chaise-lounge. Painted all pretty and nice. It has windows.

I'm not a nursing mom any longer. But my first thought was... what's wrong with the public? Is it So Bad to nurse in public?

Granted, it's a beautiful room. And I commend them for creating a nice space.

I just thought I'd ask.

Is it a New or Great accommodation that such a place would create a haven for nursing mothers? If you are a nursing mother, would you see this as a benefit?

Or do you think it's still a sequestered, not part of the public, idea?

[JordanKX]

I guess I should add that this is a place for kids 6months to 6years. So definitely for the younger kiddos. And not a drop-off situation. Parents have to attend to their kiddos.

[1blueheron]

As someone with a very distraction-prone nursling, yes, I often seek out such places.  I expect it might also be useful for someone with two or more LOs in tow.  

[BarefootScientist]

A room like that would thrill me. If you are concerned with the message it is sending, perhaps there should be a sign on the door saying something like, breastfeeding is welcome anywhere in our facility; however, moms who wish to have a private place to nurse or otherwise attend to their children may use this space. Not sure exactly how to word it. As long as moms aren't being TOLD to go there if they NIP, I think it's a great idea!

[laohaire]

I was happy to use such an area from time to time, though I don't feel nursing needs to be hidden.

But a nursing BATHROOM completely turns me off. Even if there are doors between, just the REFERENCE to the bathroom, ugh. Being connected to it. The space really should be separate. Our itty bitty local museum has no dedicated nursing space, but it does have a little room with tables and chairs so you can eat your bag lunch. What if they made it the foyer to the bathroom? Yuck, right? "Our museum also offers a lovely eating area in the bathroom."

[greenemami]

As long as it is not the only option for nursing moms, I think it is a nice accomodation.  Some women are not comfortable nursing in public or have very squirmy or distractable babes or just enjoy having a quiet spot to rest with the baby.  So as long as the museum is not frowning on nursing in public, I would appreciate the thought and think more highly of the museum even though I probably wouldn't use the room often myself. :)  The only problem would be if the nursing room was considered "mandatory" for nursing moms.  Some training might be in order to teach employees to point out the existence of the room without making moms nursing in public feel like they are being told they have to go there, KWIM?

[tzs]

oh man....i would have loved it!

for me, i had the religion/modesty angle i had to deal with and also just the plain fact that i didn't personally enjoy being around people or friends and family (meaning potentially having to interact with them) while i had someone attached to my nipple. i know it's a personal issue but having MIL have a convo with me while babe was sucking on an area formerly used only as an erogenous zone totally creeped me out. so i would cower in a bathroom stall to nurse....not exactly 100% comfortable...but my choice, i know. 

anywhere with a seat or couch was amazing!

[Mosaic]

I've felt both ways about it in the past, and I had to pick my brain a bit to figure out why. I think that when the room is nice and quiet with comfy chairs and good temperature, a nice changing area, etc., and it's not too busy, I like it. When it's packed to the brim with nursing moms and wiggly kids, I hate 'em and would rather nurse on the floor in the middle of the store than go in there. I guess in my mind, if it's meant to be a nice, peaceful place to nurse without distractions and interruptions, then I enjoy going there and view it as a nice amenity. If it's packed so full with moms and kids that it's actually MORE crowded and distracting and uncomfortable than nursing anywhere else, I definitely feel like we're being pushed aside and hidden from view.

[2lilsweetfoxes]

Not only have chairs for the moms, but a water dispenser with cups so they can get themselves a drink of water...and perhaps some items for older siblings to play with while mom nurses the baby--such as coloring pages and crayons, books about whatever the museum is about -age appropriate, but a variety of ages, not just toddler or preschooler (coming from a mama that was nursing one baby when her older kids were 6 and 8), and maybe a couple quiet toys related to the museum.

[crunchy_mommy]

I think it's a great idea, as long as it's clear that moms are free to nurse anywhere else as well (preferably lots of comfy seating areas throughout the museum, maybe even a sign that says you are welcome to nurse or bottle-feed anywhere).

When DS was born we had a lot of trouble latching and I was still self-conscious, so I spent a lot of time nursing in fitting rooms, ladies' lounges outside bathrooms, BRU nursing room, etc. and I was so glad to have places like that. I nurse everywhere now, partly because I'm more comfortable with it & partly because DS nurses so often it got tiring always finding somewhere to 'hide'... but sometimes I would really enjoy having somewhere quiet to go if more places like that existed.

I like the suggestion of having crayons or quiet toys for older kids, and a door to contain older siblings who otherwise might be tempted to run off... Maybe a baby changing area if the bathroom doesn't have room for a nice one.

I would want it to feel very separate from the bathroom though... It would be best if it had a separate entrance, but as long as it's a pretty separate space overall (can't see/smell/hear the bathroom) I wouldn't be turned off by having it so close to the restrooms.

Oh and I would also like if it was a 'feeding station' or something -- in other words, bottle-feeding parents should feel welcome as well, IMO... Which not only accommodates all mothers but also sends the message that they aren't 'hiding away' the nursing moms, just making a comfy place for parents to feed their children.

[BarefootScientist]

I've never personally had a problem with the whole nursing space attached to a bathroom thing. Though I know some moms do. So, I agree to make it as homey as possible and as separate from the bathroom as possible, but just the fact that it's attached to a bathroom doesn't bother me. If the idea of a nursing space was a chair IN the bathroom, I wouldn't like that as well.

[tzs]

i might be in the minority but i even like chairs in bathrooms. there's one i can think of where it's in the bathroom but it's two very comfy classy nice puffy chairs in a little nook with a table and a nice lamp and potpourri or whatever. so it doesn't feel grimy or gross at all....just comfy.

but then again...i'm the one who used to hide and hang out on the floor of the handicapped stall at work (full door) and read magazines to get away from it all so maybe i'm the odd one out on this.

[CallMeMommy]

Originally Posted by laohaire 

I was happy to use such an area from time to time, though I don't feel nursing needs to be hidden.

But a nursing BATHROOM completely turns me off. Even if there are doors between, just the REFERENCE to the bathroom, ugh. Being connected to it. The space really should be separate. Our itty bitty local museum has no dedicated nursing space, but it does have a little room with tables and chairs so you can eat your bag lunch. What if they made it the foyer to the bathroom? Yuck, right? "Our museum also offers a lovely eating area in the bathroom."

I agree with all of this.

[flightgoddess]

At the children's museum I go to, there is a nursing room off the baby play area and you can bring toys/books in with you for older kids. Changing station is bonus too! With hand sanitizer hung on the wall of course.

[greenemami]

Wanted to add that while it doesn't bother me that the room is near a bathroom in particular, it might be annoying/distracting to have every woman who needs to use the bathroom walk through the nursing room.  If a mom is truly using the area for privacy, I can see how that might defeat the purpose. 

[JudiAU]

As long as they don't "make" women feel like they need to nurse there, I think it sounds lovely.

[grethel]

I'm of two minds. I've used nursing rooms and enjoyed having a nice, quiet place to nurse without having to worry about anyone else or feel self-conscious. On the other hand, I've also been places (a baby play group in the back room of a store, for instance) where the "private nursing area," while not exactly mandatory, seemed to be ... encouraged. At those times, I resented feeling as if I 'should' hide away and miss conversations, etc. just because DD wanted a snack. I also think that, for those who are offended by public nursing, it gives them a little ammunition. It allows them to say, "Why don't you use the very nice room provided so you can be 'respectful' of others." Which is not to say that there are not perfectly good retorts for those kinds of comments, but I think in some situations it just puts a little more pressure on nursing moms to feel as if etiquette requires them to hide.

It's not a reason not to provide a room, and the room sounds as if it will be very nice. I just think, as others have said above, that it would be great if it were somehow spelled out that nursing in the public areas is really absolutely fine as well.

[MomtoDandJ]

I think this is great. Moms who don't mind BFing in public will do it anywhere, but there are definitely moms who prefer a private space. Plus, for a mom with 2 kids, it's great to have a secure place for the older child to play while the younger child nurses. As a mom of 2, I would love if our musuem had a room like this!

[Lucy Alden]

Personally, I'll nurse just about anywhere.  However, it's nice to have the option to go somewhere out of the way when the baby's tired or easily distracted.  A mall near us has the most awesome feeding room.  In the main area it has several comfy chairs around a built in toddler play station and a changing station, then off the main space it has two dressing room type areas with dimmable lights, a comfy chair and stool and a little tv that pulls out from the wall (I'm assuming to occupy older kids).  I actually seek it out when we go there because its nice to be able to nurse in peace after schleping around the mall.

I think the other bonus is that for moms with more than one having a dedicated space means mom doesn't have to wrangle the older kiddo(s) while the little one nurses.  Chances of a toddler staying near me while I nurse a baby, 0%.

[JordanKX]

Thank you ladies So Much for your advice.

Two things I've definitely gleaned from your responses:

"feeding room" - which makes it more universal to All moms. And not so "must go here if nursing"

And while size is a factor (and I'm not the office manager but I'm definitely on the panel of people with valued opinions), having a changing station/water/older kiddo toys so you can bring your older kids with you... all are wonderful ideas.

Keep em coming, if you have. I really appreciate the insight. From what I can see from their administration (and ours), they're open to ideas. Especially that the whole facility is geared toward the younger kiddo, and we live in a rather progressive area, it could become a very nice & serene space.

Tzs - I have to single you out and say super Thanks for bringing out a cultural perspective (modesty, religion) perhaps not considered. I commend anyone who's OK (whether having to be, or genuinely just OK) with a 'normal' bathroom for nursing.