I cannot believe the really awful feeding facilities out there...

[EdieMcredie]

Thought Boots would be really good but no, they just have a changing room with grotty chair. Am I being really fussy to not want to breastfeed my child next to a bin full of dirty nappies? And it's not just breastfeeding I wouldn't want to do in these rooms-I would feel equally unhappy about giving a bottle.

We don't eat in the loo so why expect our babies to?

Mothercare is better but a room with two chairs in? Come on, 5 or 6 would be more realistic.

Im going to write a letter. After all, I have spent well over £200 in Boots since my DD was born.

Motherfunk-You have a very nasty air to your posts. If you don't agree with me then fine, but you don't have to be nasty. I also know what it is like to care for a disabled person but that is another thread.

Ill keep my mouth shut in future.

Motherfunk - doesn't matter what I was doing there, or my proximity to the bin, I wouldn't want to do any activity that takes more than half a minute within the smell of those bins. It's stomach churning.

I don't know what the rules are, but I'm guessing that department stores aren't obliged to provide toilets, but they invariably do. And if they were filthy and stinking people would rightly complain. Same with baby rooms. If they're going to provide them, make them fit for purpose and maintain a level of cleanliness.

Message withdrawn

I'd just avoid feeding rooms and feed in cafes/ Cos then you can have coffee and a bun too.
There weren't any when my older 3 were babies and me and all my BF friends fed anywhere
Only time it was a big deal was with my mum who thinks breastfeeding is 'unnatural'. I just ignored her.

my rant wasn't meant to hijack the thread or cause dissent but part of 'changing facilities are crap' type thing. And they are. But babies should be fed anywhere thats good for people to eat hence cafes. Nearly all dept stores/supermarkets have a cafe.
And Mothercare is a hideous over-priced soft-focus place that makes me want to heave

Apology accepted. I understand what you mean, and normally I would agree with you. Im the sort of mother who can't understand all the accesories that people buy for their LO's, as they are unecessary.

However, like others have said, it's a bit poor to have rooms that are that foul! I do and can and will feed in cafes, but acknowledge that some find this extremely difficult and do know someone that doesn't breastfeed simply because she Couldn't stand to do it in public. What a shame, don't you think MF?

The feeding rooms at the Trafford Centre are separate from the changing areas; they're quite nice IMO. I fed my DS there when he was 3 weeks old and I was far to clumsy and amateur to feed him 'in the open'

If a place was really family-friendly you shouldn't need to hide away to feed your baby! On the odd occasion I've needed to use one I've found them uncomfortable, small and smelly (thanks to the changing facilities). I have only ever used them when there isn't anywhere else to go - ie no cafe or other seating area.

when i was breastfeeding ds i couldn't afford to keep going to cafes to feed him so i would feed him on a bench or a wall. it was more difficult if it started to rain though so i always kept a sling i could feed him in in my bag so i could feed him pretending to browse around a shop so we could both be warm and dry.

That's a good point, neither can I!

Still going to write my letter

Edie, are you able to feed in a sling? They can support baby's head quite well, if you adjust them properly and save you from having to develop Schwarzenegger arms! I do think Starbucks is great but the couches in our local one are nearly always taken.

There was a good thread on here a few months back from a family run hotel asking what we did want from a parents room.

Perhaps you would have more joy writing a letter outlining what improvements you feel are needed, but it has been a long time since I used those rooms for anything other than changing for the same reason.

Lakeside have a great feeding room.