Can we talk about "mother rooms"?

[Victorian]

I have been thinking a lot lately about mother rooms or nursing rooms in public places. When my dd was born, I knew about the one at Babies R Us and, of course, Nordstroms. Now it seems like they are everywhere. The new childrens area at OMSI (our science musuem) has a big room with quiet lighting, a rocking chair, nursing stool, LLL books and NMC brochures. It has a door for privacy and even a toy for an older child. It is next to the family restrooms but a completely separate room. It really is nice and well thought out. Then at Clackamas Town Center (a mall) they have one that is a sparse brightly lit room with a rocking chair and a changing table. It just screams "IF YOU HAVE TO NURSE, WE DON"T WANT TO SEE IT".

I don't "mind" the rooms, but I get the idea that places are WANTING us to use them and not nurse in the "open" and that bothers me. That they are not putting them there for our convience, but to keep nursing hidden.

If I had a newborn, I might use the one at OMSI. But, when nursing my toddler, I just find a spot and start nursing. Anyone else have thoughts or feelings about this.

V.

[shishkeberry]

nak

personally, i never use them--they look like closets to me, and i hate hiding.
i think some of them are creepy.

[Jane]

When I was taking other people's kids out, I really appreciated those rooms for a place to sit where I didn't have to pay for anything. It's the only spot in the mall where I could put out a blanket and relax a little. I wasn't nursing, so that didn't play into my decision at all, but if I were, I DO think I'd feel a little shuffled away.

[AllyRae]

I use the one at BRU in the rare occasions that I'm there and I kind of appreciate it... Not only is there nowhere in the store to sit and nurse, but I have an easily distracted little guy, so the privacy of the room really worked for us. It was easier to slip in, nurse, and slip out than have to worry about him popping off every 2 seconds to stare at people...LOL!

[marisa724]

I actually appreciate there being *somewhere* separate for us to go, since it's been an acrobatic feat to NIP ever since DS was about 5 months old. He simply will not sit still to nurse, even if he's hungry. Too distracted.

So I've nursed in those closet-like rooms, and frankly, if they have a glider or comfy armchair, it could be the broom closet for all I care. Blank walls are great for Distracto-Boy. And it beats the heck out of having to go out to the car to block out the stimuli of the mall.

OTOH, I *wish* I could nurse wherever, whenever, and I will when he gets older and I can talk to him about 'focusing'.

Your museum's nursing room sounds great. I'd go there just to nurse.

The bottom line is that it should never be like, "Um, we have a *nursing room* for that sort of thing..." -- especially when they're not even that nice. As long as they're not compulsory, right?

[Artisan]

I get what you're saying...that it seems like they want you to go somewhere else to nurse, and they hide behind the "convenience" guise.

I can see the other side too, though. I have a highly distractible baby and those rooms are a lifesaver for just somewhere to sit and decompress and nurse, where it's quiet and comfy.

[Gidget]

I think they are good for mothers who are not quite yet comfortable with nip and for diaper changing. Those wall changing tables in bathrooms are too narrow and the floor too hard. But it shouldnt be a place where a business tries to hide nursing mothers. I don't mind if someone asks me if I would be more comfortable there, because maybe they think I don;t know it is there. BUt if they insist I use it, there's gonna be trouble.

[eleven]

I've never been shy about NIP, but I love nursing rooms! I think they should be everywhere! It's great to be able to spread out, take coats off, sit on a couch and get comfy away from home. I definitely prefer them to, say, the middle of the food court (yep, that was me ).

That said, I don't believe they should be compulsory and moms should never feel pressured to use them.

[atomicmama]

When both of mine were too young to care what was going on around them, I would nurse them anywhere and everywhere! But, as dd got older, she would be too distracted by the goings on to actually nurse...so, we used dressing rooms, and the like. (NOT bathrooms!)
Now, ds is the same! So, no more NIP!
We have to do it in private simply so he will nurse and not look around, while exposing my boob :LOL

[Geofizz]

I've used the nursing room at OMSI. It was fantastic. My feet were tired, my 4 month old was over stimilated, distractable and exhausted. It was a welcome sight to see that there was some place set up where I could get away from all the activity for a while, nurse, put my feet up and close my eyes. When DD was asleep, I popped her in the sling and had a great afternoon.

Personally, I like nursing rooms that show so much support for a nursing mom that I end up feeling totally comfortable nursing anywhere -- in public or in the nursing room.

[Gidget]

Where are the nursing rooms you all have used? I have been to a few places that have them, but they always seem to be in a remote corner.

[eleven]

Originally Posted by Gidget

Where are the nursing rooms you all have used? I have been to a few places that have them, but they always seem to be in a remote corner.

I've only seen the one in BRU, unfortunately. I'm interested to hear where others are!

[Victorian]

do you mean where are they as in what type of building, or where are they within the building itself?

Reader: this is exactly what I mean. I feel that for so long we have said we won't nurse in the bathroom because it is gross that they are giving us a sanitary place to hide. Maybe they don't get that some of us NIP whereever we are and don't care even for a sanitary place.

That said, I have used the one at BRU and at Nordstroms because they were better when I had to nurse and supplement and wince in pain. I didn't want to scare anyone that happened to be watching about *my* nursing reality vs. the usually reality.

I forgot about the easily distracted baby issue (mine would nurse in a hurricane!)

[Jane]

Nordstrom's, by the ladies room on the upper floor in most malls. I head there because it's the biggest in the mall and always very clean. I don't usually go to the ones by the bathroom because they are often dirty or seem dirty.

[sweetest]

When dd was small I used the one at BRU all the time. It is halfway between school and home and there is a Jamba Juice next to the BRU.

I loved the rocker in there and it was the only time I got to sit and talk to other nursing mothers! I actually got a reference to the LC I saw from a mom I met in the nursing room.

ITA that if I was NIP and I was told "we have a room for that" and it was some icky place Id refuse to be relagated to it.

I wish more places had them (a few months ago I tried to nurse my toddler on those litttle stools at the Picture People )

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Yea, I think it just really comes down to motivation. If the museum or shop is simply trying to welcome BFing mothers and make the both her and the child comfortable ~ great. If they’re trying to suggest that this is the ‘preferred’ place for BFing ~ most definitely not great.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Actually, a sign in the BFing room that explains the motivation (if they’re good) would be a really nice idea.

Something like:

We provide this space for your family’s comfort, however, you are more than welcome to nurse your child anywhere in our establishment.

[Belle]

I used them kind of as a transition to NIP. It took me baby steps until I felt comfortable NIP. I have used the room at Clackamas towm center. It is truly awful. It looks exactly like one of the spartan interegation rooms on the police shows on tv. After using that room, I was bound and determined to NIP. I've never been to the one at OMSI, but at the mall closest to my house (Vancouver mall) there is a really nice one. It is large and doesn't feel clausterphobic, It's painted in cheerful colors. It's got two glider rockers, lots of toys for older kids and a tv with DVD player.

[mamadawg]

I see your point, Victorian. But I really like IdentityCrisisMama's idea. That's a really good one. I'd love to see pro-NIP "propaganda" in those rooms.

I use those rooms quite a bit because, I'm ashamed to admit, I've never quite felt comfortable NIP. I think it stems from the fact that we had such a rough start nursing and then I used to nurse my twins together quite a bit. I just never felt comfortable having both boobs out in public. I so admire women that do that, though. And I quite like the privacy of those rooms--if they're clean and comfortable, that is.

[Evergreen]

All the ones I have been in smell like shitty diapers (only seen them at BRU). Sorry, I'm not nursing in there! The glider displays work fine for us.