Facilities you'd need in a 'breast feeding friendly' establishment?

[thelady]

OK, a request for practical suggestions here please.

I run a small hotel. I would like to provide for breastfeeding mums. I can't provide a separate room for feeding - it's simply not practical - although there is a ground floor room (used to be a small dining room) which isn't heavily used at the mo.

On the basis that there's very little child-friendly in our town, and as I'm expecting my first in Dec, I'm hoping to at least show willing.

At a minimum, what would you need in the way of facilities in a place that aimed to be breast-feeding friendly?

In addition, what facilities would be on your dream wish-list? I know I won't be able to provide everything (expense, space, etc) but it would be nice to know.

[beansprout]

Aw, you're great! I would just say comfy chairs with good back support and low level tables so you can put anything you are likely to need in reach. Also, maybe use one of the more discrete corners of the room so anyone who is self conscious feels as comfortable as possible.

That's all I can think of for now.

[SanetJvv]

Water and herbal teas

[3Ddonut]

How about a mobile curtain? You know like hospital ones, but nicer? If not, a quiet corner and the offer of a glass of water is always nice! If I saw somewhere advertising 'breast feeding friendly' to be perfectly honest, I wouldn't expect anything more than tolerance. Good on you!!!!!

[BabiesEverywhere]

To be frank, just displaying a breastfeeding sign in the window and ensuring all staff are aware that you are a breastfeeding friendly site, would be the biggest help.

As many beastfeeding mums would prefer to stay with their familt/friends in the main hotal areas to feed their baby but would love a nice hotel who will not try and stop them feeding...bliss.

A private room for those mums who want it is a great idea. IKEA have these optional feeding rooms and I love the fact that they are optional and that I can sit with my family and NOT use them unless I want to ;)

Mothercare have the nicest feeding rooms if you want to have a look at one in the flesh as such...Three Comfy rocker chairs with foot rests. Table and magazines to read. Nice pictures on the walls to look at. Calm and peaceful with nice relaxing music played really low. If you have loads of money a water cooler with plastic cups would be great, as you get so thirsty whilst feeding.

But at the budget end I would say clean dry well lit room with comfy chair and a fresh jug of water, would be just fine.

[Tommy]

agree that comfy chair (or at least one with a back) and plenty of water along with a "breastfeeding welcome" sign will be very helpful and welcome!

I tedn to feed anywhere and anytime but it was nice to see one of those signs the other day (although to be fair, it was on a children's ward at the hospital so now more than you would expect )

[Twiglett]

a chair

[Twiglett]

I don't get the equipment question really .. the point is you need nothing to breastfeed apart from your breast surely?

How about just putting up a really nice 'we support breastfeeding' sign in a prominent place

[Cappuccino]

fit young man with nice arse to bring drinks

pref wearing one of those long aprons that tie at the waist (I don't know why but they really do it for me)

portable telly on a stand

[KITTENSOCKS]

How about a sign on the door saying Baby Dining Room, so that people won't barge in unnecessarily. I think a few screens would be a good idea, like the victorian dressing screens, especially shielding the door from the hall way.
What a brilliant idea. Wish there were more lovely people like you!

[beansprout]

I think the OP is just asking what would make it more comfortable and welcoming. I have fed ds while sitting on a dining chair (don't ask) for yonks now but boy are those armchairs with footstools comfy!!!

[Cappuccino]

I have to stick my oar in here and say I hate the idea of screens

just free water offered to women with a nork out

and nice chairs

the idea that I should be offered a screen to sit behind is bizarre and a bit insulting tbh

[terramum]

A quiet separate room with good comfy furniture of a variety of styles (some chairs with arm rests, some without, foot stools, water on tap, maybe a few nice wooden toys to distract toddlers, magazines or good bfing books like "Bestfeeding" or "The Woman Art of Breastfeeding" to distract the mums!) is nice for nervous new mums or mums of older more distractable babies and children...but it needs to be clear that you don't expect all bfing mums to use it....

The most important thing imo is for everyone (guests & staff) to be aware that bfing is fine in all areas of the hotel...so if some busy body does complain either to the mum or a staff member...the mum will have proper backing & the confidence to continue.

Definitely make sure you have good changing facilities in the toilets as well (not in the feeding room please nothing more gross than having to sit in the same room as a bin full of stinky nappies!)....preferably in both the mens & womens...or possibly in the disabled loos for unisex access......even if its just one of those fold down plastic things.....nothing worse than a place that says they are happy to accept babies & children & find they haven't even got a changing table available & you have to use the floor

[Twiglett]

agree with cap .. the concept of screens is rather insulting

you don't need water to bf

maybe just free cream cake with every breastfeed? you'd be inundated with lactating women

[potoroo]

I was always thirsrty! So I would appreciate water.

Maybe some toys for older children (you can't go running after them quite as easily with baby stuck to boob).

[KITTENSOCKS]

To clarify, if some one chooses to bf in a separate room, presumably she doesn't want to feed in public. She can choose to sit behind a screen or not, I was not implying that the room should be divided into cubicles. The issue is the choice available, feeding in public areas is OK. Feeding in private is OK. And I'm sure thelady will consider all our posts carefully and make her own choices too.

[thelady]

OK. Thanks for all that.

Basics:
sign in window (NCT does one, don't they?)
water on request (well, anyone who's eating gets a jug of iced water anyway, and we don't charge for tap water)
somewhere to sit
changing facilities - would have to be in the ladies as that's the only place with a clinical waste bin (changing tables are v. expensive at £200 for the cheapest I can find!)
staff training (will work on that!)

Upgrade:
Different seating options (unlikely here until we have lots more money, so basic dining chairs at the mo)
Privacy if requested (tricky unless you can set aside a room as strictly for feeding only)
Toys (I know I can't do that, as H&S got v. shirty about me wanting to provide balls etc. for kids in the beer garden, and suggested I'd be open to litigation if anyone got hurt/ill)


Hmm. Will do some more thinking.

I'm actually not aware of a single place with even baby changing facilities locally - but at the price for tables I really can understand why.

[NotADragonOfSoup]

A comfortable chair!

[chonky]

Space for parking buggies? I know that's not b/f specific (!), but it gets right on my norks when I get filthy stares for wheeling a buggy in somewhere.

[peanutbear]

changing tables can be bought for 150 or less for the ones that screw in the wall CNMonline do one I think

[MrsJohnCusack]

oh what really, H&S stop you having toys? How nonsensical

one thing I notice here (in NZ) is that nearly every shop/cafe/restaurant has a selection of toys and books to keep children entertained - makes such a difference. Possibly H&S isn't so prevalent here.

all I require is a comfy chair if at all possible and some nice mags to read. oh yes and space for the pram & water and a footstool is nice. plus a table

[curlywurlycremeegg]

I would deff appreciate a small footstool, I have a long body and short limbs (freaky me ) so often find breastfeeding room chairs a bit uncomfortable as I am perched on my tip toes

[moondog]

A sign would suffice.
Being breastfeeding friendly is about attitude rather than equipmnet.I don't thin ka breastfeeding woman needs anything mor or less than anyone else.

Comfy chairs? Er,I'm not pregnant and funnily enough I like these too.

[Trinityrhino]

just a chair would be fine although not a neccessity.

[moondog]

[filthymindedvixen]

A pile of large broadsheet newspapers - for anyone who seems uncomfortable with breastfeeding to bury their heads in!