to be annoyed that my local mothercare are closing their feeding room down?

[fiveisanawfullybignumber]

They are shutting the feeding and changing facilities in my local Mothercare shop, so they can bring in 'new and exciting changes including ELC.'
Basically closing down the ELC shop across the precinct and shoving stock into the area that was so vital for mums & babies.
I loved the fact that I could go and BF in a quiet room away from prying eyes in the food court etc. I can honestly say I've never been alone in there either, always another BF mum to chat to so well used.
Mothercare used to be concerned about these things, obviously now it's all about profit per sq foot!

Cambridge. It's not the most salubrious of changing rooms, but does the job, feeding room is a little room at the back of changing room. Debenhams have a feeding/changing room, but it's basically a room with change mat, smelly bin and 1 chair.
John Lewis one is lovely but on the other side of town (10-15m walk), they have a little feeding alcove away from the smelly nappy bins. I often take my elderly mum into town, and go this side as it's an enclosed precinct, warmer for her etc.

Sorry, often go to Mothercare side not John lewis side.

I used to buy a few bits in there because I'd gone in to use the facilities - I never would have even gone in otherwise.

It's a shame they are getting rid of the feeding rooms but I wouldn't be sad to see the one in my local Mothercare go- it's tiny, it stinks and doubles as baby changing and toilets.

Last time I used it (or was going to) to change DD's very wet nappy it smelt so awful I turned round and walked back out.

i'm a bit far from you - Sittingbourne!

No they are not getting rid of the GC feeding room? I loved it in there with the rocking chairs and water cooler.

YANBU.

You know what else is a shame?

Closing all the ELC stores and the people losing their jobs.

We had a toilet and changing room in our store but closed it off due to numerous nappy down the toilet blockages, Piles of crap in the opposite corner to the toilet and even attempted arson. Ive heard stories from other stores about finding drug users in theirs aswell. It's a shame that due to crappy people we are forced to close them for such reasons. Dont like the fact that they close them to make room for ELC when there are perfectly good stand alone ELC stores.

My local Mothercare has an upstairs but no lift. They are not parent friendly!

My local MC has upstairs but no lift wonder if it's the same one?

ABF- South Wales?

neh im in the midlands.

I was too squeamish about BFing in public and there is such a lack of facilities up here. Most of the time I would end up feeding dd perched on a toilet seat...for 5 months.

Anything for a bit of privacy but I could have cried most of the time.

The one time I found a nice feeding room/changing facility in an upmarket shopping precinct I was constantly interrupted by a gang of horrendous teenage girls who kept charging in to steal the complimentary babywipes so that they could wipe off the fake tans that they had been testing somewhere.

The whole debacle really has put me off BFing for life.

Bethjeff that's really sad. This is why there is a need for good facilities.

When i was pg i went shopping to my local mothercare in norfolk. It had completely disappeared! I asked around & found out it had been moved to the outskirts of town. Which was no good for me, as i dont drive. It made me feel like crying as i was obssessing about scratch mitts at the time.

ABF- so that's TWO branches with an upstairs and no lift.I wrote to them twice- no reply.

Nesta fiesta- do you mean in town in the capital? The do have a lift.

No. I live in a small town in South wales, its my local branch, not the capital.

I can't think of any of the branches that have an upstairs for customers except that one.

I walked past a Mothercare a couple of weeks ago and said "I am so glad I never have to go to one of those wretched places, again."

Sorry, I realize that post wasn't helpful. I'm just really, really happy that I don't need to go in there any more.

Mothercare have taken over ELC. See link here business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article1722877.ece
That's why they are closing the mother & baby rooms down, to make room for ELC stock. Not good from a customer service point of view though!

My local mothercare has a small room at the back for feeding and changing, I used to use it when ds was newborn as I felt self conscious breastfeeding in public. I don't care who sees me breastfeeding these days though and I'm glad I don't need to use that room anymore - it stinks of shit!

A slight tangent, but I've often thought there should be a thread on here somewhere where posters list by town the best feeding facilities....

ABF- Totally agree. The ELC local to me was brilliant- until it moved to the local Mothercare store. Now they have hardly any stock and it's a nightmare to get round with a buggy. Not that I've tried but did help a lady who's pram got well and truly stuck!

The Elc staff (who also lost their jobs) were so much friendlier than the Mothercare lot too.

five - I'm from Cambridge too and when DS was newborn I used that room regulary, so it's a real shame to see it go. It's not that I don't like feeding in public (at 11m we feed anywhere he needs to and I fed walking round John Lewis when he was 4 days old!!) but it was VERY handy when he got to that distractable phase and wouldn't stay latched on if there were people milling around...

I also would pick up bits and bobs on the way through, so they made money out of me from it.

It's not exactly big either, about 1.5 x 2m and at the end of the changing facilities so I really don't see how getting rid of that is going to give them much usable space (unless they get rid of baby changing too) iyswim.