Breast Feeding locations and iPhone App

[GeordieGit]

Hi,

I'm considering creating a new iPhone app and would appreciate your feedback.

The idea is to have an app that would allow users to search for suitable places in their location that are breast feeding friendly.

Also, it will allow users to add places and give ratings etc.

Any comments for or against would be appreciated.

Regards

Graham

Wouldn't that be everywhere?

How would you define breastfeeding friendly? There are already accreditation schemes out there - will you use the same criteria? Would you emphasise the fact it is a woman's right to breastfeed her baby anywhere and that she does not need a "breastfeeding friendly" location to do it?

Have a look at this scheme

I agree that it should be anywhere and everywhere!

However, there are a large number of short sighted bigots, who seem to have forgotten that the primary use of a breast is to feed... :-(

The idea I had was to enable women to exercise their rights in a 'known' breast feeding location. One where they would be able to feed their baby, within a welcoming and inclusive place.

In an ideal world, this would be wherever the baby needed feeding, but we don't live in such a society.

Dunno, I wonder if it might make mums feel like they had to find one of these locations and couldn't feed anywhere else.

I have always fed mine on the nearest bench and never had any comments, maybe I'm just lucky though.

Wouldn't use it. I've fed in all sorts of places and had no worries.
I'm afraid this sort of thing makes breastfeeding seem like an extraordinary thing to do. It's not.
Near Starbucks, sit down in Starbucks, near BHS, sit down in BHS, near Costa, sit down in Costa (coffee and cake theme there you'll note )

If somewhere isn't breastfeeding friendly, then we should be notified of it so we can go and challenge some idiotic mindsets.

Yes, 'breastfeeding friendly' should be the norm, not the exception.
Never occured ot me to seek out special places-the whole point is that it is just a natural everyday thing.

Sentimnet is noble but perpetuates myth of it being weird secret private thing.

Please don't persue this, GeordieGit.

It perpetuates the notion that women ought to 'search for suitable places in their location' as you put it....instead of just bf where they and their baby happen to be.

Not a good idea, sorry.

OP, We had a thread on this subject recently here

The consus was whilst some people thought breastfriendly schemes were great, others (including me) felt they did more harm than good.

One very good suggestion fron Youngvisitor was to have an 'support breastfeeding everywhere' scheme, which I think puts a different slant on the issue.

I like the idea BUT instead of describing it as "suitable for breastfeeding" (as EVERYWHERE should be) How about "ideal for breastfeeding" because it is:
comfy (has sofas, etc)
nice spot for views
quiet if your baby is easily distracted
has cafe facilities if you need drink/food
Has baby facilities if you need to change a nappy for instance after you feed
Has a feeding room that just isn't a gloried loo and is clean

I have breastfed everywhere but have found myself plonked in uncomfortable spots and no where to change the baby properly afterwards.

Also if your baby is easily distracted your nearest startbucks/costa/pret whatever can be a nightmare during peak times. And when it is raining a park bench just won't do! I have been there and thankfully I knew of a M&P's shop nearby I used.

And lastly for people who are NOT comfortable with bf in public in the early days or they are at the hour long each feed stage somewhere cosy and quiet may suit them.

Again I would reiterate not calling it suitable for breastfeeding but maybe "ideal" or "best" or whatever.

I agree with the general comments on here.

How about an app which rated places with nice, clean changing rooms. Changing facilities that weren't just in the ladies loos (i.e. Dad's can do the nappy when out), are good about warming up food/bottles, etc. It could then include things like places which had private feeding rooms for those who are looking for that (e.g. some dept stores), comfy sofas for feeding, etc.

Or does an app like that exist?

Thanks for the feedback.

I think that more emphasis on the quality of the place, instead of just 'suitable' would be better.

The idea was to include points for hygiene, convenience, service etc.

Given the comments, I think perhaps aiming the iPhone app at finding quality BF establishments, rather then just any place to park yourself, would be more beneficial.

The app could be seen as an enabler for women to have a wider choice and for establishments to add in their place.

If there were a rating against each place, what would you look for?

Thanks

Graham

I would steer the emphasis away from 'places to breastfeed' and more 'places with changing facilities' as this is the main thing I look for when out and about. I've bf in many places with no issue, but finding somewhere decent to change nappies is more difficult (in my experience). That is definitely an app I'd download.

Hi GeordieGit, I think its a great idea, I would use it
I've been trying to come up with an app idea myself, but gosh, there are so many out there, its hard!

I agree, if it was about nice places with a cafe, good chairs and changing facilities then I'd use it - Also places where there is a loo YOU can use if out on your own with a buggy. eg. disabled loos that don't need a special lock or places with special large cubicles - now that I'd use!

I bf in public but it's always nicer to do it with a cup of tea and a chance for pee afterwards!

I wouldn't use it but I would use a baby change app particularly if it told of nice clean facilities maybe like a rated system. Probably exisits already....off to have a look....

Agreed it should be places with nice toilets, changing area etc.

Otherwise your app could just say "end of your boobs"

Ooooh info on places with nice toilets for pregnant ladies would be great. I got really fussy about my bogs when I was pregnant, which is daft I know because I spent a lot of time needing the toilet! I stopped going to the M&S cafe because I didn't like the toilets.

I agree with the majority of comments on here and would abandon the whole breastfeeding app bit. But the nice toilets bit sounds good.

It should be possible for people to breastfeed anywhere but there are places where you get disdainful looks. One thing that would be useful is the quality of places and also those that have feeding rooms and good changing facilties - I recently experienced a well known stores new family room in the toilets and it was great as was their feeding room. One problem I usually encounter is that specific baby changing rooms do not have a toilet in for mum's and then you can't get baby + all stuff into women's toilets often located next door....

A slant towards 'ideal' places would be useful. I too will breastfeed literally anywhere (park bench: check; stuffy golf club bar: check; cafes, bars, restaurants, art galleries, motorway service stations, serious old man's pubs: all check) and have never had a funny look or comment and wouln't really care if I had, but somewhere with a nice cheap coffee and cake option or entertainment (eg free papers) and essentially a loo I can get the pram into so I can have a wee is where I'd make a bee-line for. Plus my bubs is at the point where if he's in the wrong sort of mood he simply won't eat if it's noisy, so i do occasionally have to seek out actual feeding rooms which I swore I'd never do.

I'm sure you could get locations by people making suggestions without having to do the research yourself. A couple of my faves in London for e.g. Are WestfIeld shopping centre - incredible parent rooms with really well thought out loos (but also no isues feeding in restaurants etc there) and the Southbank centre where there are often free lunchtime concerts - I am never the only bf-ing mum taking advantage of the music while sitting on a sofa eating cake (and there are great loos/changing facilities) - you can even take your own packed lunch!!

Suggesting ideal places certainly doesn't need to be about suggesting places to hide away.

Sorry, but I'm not sure this is a great idea either. Yes, changing your search from 'suitable' to 'ideal' is better - but basically, isn't that just a cafe? And do we really need an app to find a cafe, when out and about? Many/most now have changing tables (however manky) and since conditions change all the time, I'm not sure how you'd update it to reflect current conditions.

And I do still think that many women would read this as 'breastfeeding allowed in these places' - it really wouldn't help the public mindset.

For the record, I've breastfed pretty much everywhere I needed/wanted to, for two years, and have never, ever had a negative reaction or comment.

What a silly idea.