Nursing rooms?

[LeighB]

I see you all talk about these, but I'm convinced they don't exist!
I've never seen one before. What stores offer them?

[KSLaura]

Chapel hills mall has one in Colorado Springs. Its near the bathrooms and has a rocking chair and a locking door. I've never used it though. I ususally just find the nearest dressing room or nurse as we're walking...

[Squirrel]

Great Northern Mall in the western suburbs of Cleveland has one that they refer to as a "Family Room". I'm really not a fan of them, personally - too many people take it to mean that that's the ONLY place you "should" be breastfeeding. Especially annoying when it's a good 30min walk from most of the places in the mall, and somehow it seems like they think that's the only place you "should" be changing a diaper also *sigh*.

Personally I would much rather nurse on one of the comfy chairs scattered around the main hallways of the mall - I would feel too isolated in a "nursing room" and worried about being pestered there.

Babies R Us stores also usually have a nursing room near the bathrooms, with a diaper changing station but no toilet. Usually at least one glider rocker in there and often another chair and/or loveseat.

Nordstrom stores usually have a sitting room adjacent to their women's restroom with couches and chairs that a lot of moms like using for nursing when they want privacy. Since 99% of the time I'm out shopping with my husband and he's not allowed in there (the ones I've been in, you walk through the "ladies' lounge" to get into the toilet area), I've never made use of them because it would mean having to be away from my husband for 20-30min. Don't see the point.

Some hospitals have them as well as some corporations. I know of at least one on the grounds of Case Western Reserve University - on the first floor of the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing (which also has a CNM program).

Generally I notice them, think that's nice, and then promptly ignore them and nurse the baby in his sling wherever I happen to be when he starts showing hunger cues. Separate is never equal, KWIM? If a bottlefed baby is welcome somewhere, then so should a breastfed baby be.

[MommytoTwo]

Nordstroms has the best.

I use nursing rooms because I have a very distractible baby and two other kids. It is easier for me to sit and relax with the baby while the big kids play hide and seek behind the chair or whatever.

[Pernwebgoddess]

The only one I've ever seen is PArisians. They have actual separate areas for those who want to nurse in privacy. It's in the lounge, around a corner so that you can't be accidentally spied on by passerby. Usually only other nursing moms who poke their head around the corner to see if someone's using it see anything.

Other than that, I've never seen any. I do not live in a breastfeeding-friendly town.

[Robbins0614]

The only nursing rooms I've seen here are at the mall in the family bathroom. I didn't use them when DS was tiny because he never got distracted when eating, but now everything distracts him so I find that the nursing rooms are really nice since there is very little to catch his attention. And it's nice to have a comfy chair and a break from all the people at the mall. (I'm an introvert and being around that many people wears me out!)

[Tine]

I've never seen a room specifically devoted to nursing in a store/mall here in Minneapolis. Of course, I hate shopping...and I don't use nursing rooms either (prefer to just NIP wherever)...so I'm not really looking for them. The only one I've come across is at the local children's museum.

[grniys]

Our mall here has one, and while I like that, I hate that people come in just to use the bathroom because they don't want to wait in the regular line. It's quite annoying.

Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago has one in their bathroom by the cafe. It's just this little room with seating and a place to change baby. I like that it's available, but I really think they should keep it up better. It looks kind of junky.

Other than those two places I've never seen one.

[mamadelbosque]

The beldin village mall (tisnt that anymore... don't know what it is now, USED to be belden village though!!) has a "family room" - I think I've changed DS in their one or twice, but I've never nursed in it I just nurse wherever we are, which usually means finding a comfy chair or walking an nursin'... Other than that... I think babies r us has one too, but I've never even been in it, so.. ;P

[didkisa]

Originally Posted by MommytoTwo

Nordstroms has the best.

I use nursing rooms because I have a very distractable baby...

: Me, too. I just wish the changing station wasn't in the same area. It's annoying when a clan of people come in along with their SUV strollers, just to change one baby's diaper. DD gets distracted, and you can pretty much forget about nursing until they're all gone.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Von Maur has a "mother's room" with chaning table, sink, but no toilet. It's nice and not usually very crowded. They do have a separate "family potty" with a big and little potties

[RoadBuddy]

Nordstrom and Macy's have nice lounges outside the restrooms. Our mall has a nursing area as well. The zoo has nursing rooms as does the little kid area of the science musuem.

[velveeta]

I never saw the need until my second child. He is so distractable that we require a quiet place to nurse. Nordstrom is my favorite!

I wish that Trader Joe's had at least a bench or something. My baby and I had to go in the bathroom last time, which violates my personal no nursing in the bathroom policy. It was just so crowded, it would have been dangerous to sit on the floor.

[ShannonT]

Ther's a really nice one at Beachwood Place in one of Cleveland's eastern suburbs. Great for a distractable baby. It has a nice, comfy rocking chair, changing station, and sink.

There are also some great couches nearby. And there's the cute little toilet and sink -- so adorable!

[aaronsmom]

I've never seen one, either.

[muppet729]

Disclaimer: Sorry if these have already been posted- I wasn't able to read the whole thread Also want to mention that I've met some really great people in different nursing rooms

St Louis Science Center- has a room under teh stairs that is specifically for nursing. However, you have to alert a staff member because it's locked othewise. It's nice except no windows so a little claustrophobic- I went in there once just to check it out. I was also assured by the staff that I was welcome to nurse anywhere, but if I wanted to, there was a room available

Branson, MO- Silver Dollar City- has three rooms at good locations around the park. The newest one is a "house" that has three chairs and is very comfortable. Once again, I was assured by the staff that I was welcome to nurse anywhere, but if I wanted to, there was a room available. I mostly use the big one to cool down or warm up with my kiddos or to take a break from carrying them in the slings

Mills Mall- St Charles, MO- Nursing room with cushy chairs. Not bad but kind of out of the way if you don't know where it is...

[cdmommie]

I have seen them at Fry's Electronics and Babies R Us. I don't usually use them though. I just nurse as I walk.

[Penuche]

If you haven't already, please consider submitting these places to the blog in my signature. It's a repository of nursing rooms across the US and a few in Canada as well.

[cj'smommy]

Originally Posted by grniys

Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago has one in their bathroom by the cafe. It's just this little room with seating and a place to change baby. I like that it's available, but I really think they should keep it up better. It looks kind of junky.

The Shedd Aquarium has one too, but it sounds the same.

Ikea has them and I LOVE Nordstrom's.