Ideas/thoughts for a breastfeeding zone please????

[EmeldaGrace]

Hi

I would really appreciate all of your valued feedback, on a breastfeeding chill out area that I'm organising.

Over various shows this summer, we were approached numerous times by new mums asking if they could use our display furniture for breastfeeding. This prompted us to do something about it.

The Emelda Grace, Yummy Mummies tent, will launch at Woburn Abbey Garden Show.

In 2019, we will be offering a space for mums, dads and babies to relax, refresh and restock before hitting the show once more.

What would you like to find inside a parent and toddler R and R space?
Would you want your partner or friend to accompany you or is this space only for you and your baby?
What would baby want inside the R and R space?

Any suggestions for daddy names for the area? Ie
Yummy Mummies, Tastic tots, ……Dishy daddies? Rad Dads?
Or something totally different –
Breastfeeding and kids chill out zone? Breastfeeding and family chill out zone?

Currently considering the different options below

A family friendly area with a breastfeeding area to one side – that mums can still see their other children playing
A family friendly area with a separated breastfeeding area – I know everyone
feels differently as to how comfortable they are breastfeeding in front of other dads etc
Nappy change area
Toilet
A childrens entertainer for the toddlers/older children – puppet show or story time
Face painter or balloon artist
Craft table
Neck massages
Healthy snacks
Tea, coffee, prosecco, baby bottle warming facilities

What would be most important for you at an all day event such as this?

Many thanks for any ideas!!!

Zoe
Emelda Grace

You seem really well meaning but please don't designate a breastfeeding area. There is no reason breastfeeding needs to be segregated from anything else. "Can I sit on the display furniture [to bf or whatever]" either yes, it's fine to sit on, or no, it's only display nobody is allowed to sit on it. A family tent is a lovely idea, don't be dictator about who can go in and what they can do where though.

Agree with above, but family chill out zone is a great idea (please don't call it a yummy mummy tent - that term is so patronising!)
Want to give honest advice without peeing on your fireworks. Like I say, family chill out tent would be a godsend for us at events (we are 2 parents, 2 year old and breast fed baby). But agree breastfeeding shouldn't be segregated XX

In terms of content: sofas, floor cushions. Picnic table or two. Bit of a soft play style area plus maybe some books in a reading corner. Tea and coffee, place to warm up bottles or baby food. God we'd never leave!!
But again please no cringe names. No need to separate mums and dads - family zone is fine. Great idea overall.

I can only echo the above posts. A family friendly area for parents to relax and feed the kids is a great idea, but don’t make it all about breastfeeding. Oh and no cheesy references to yummy mummies!
Just family chill zone or something like that.

Nice idea though and will be appreciated I’m sure.

Agree with PP, a family friendly area with comfy places to feed would be best!

Great - many thanks for all of your prompt input - great insights!
Please keep them coming!!!

I was not comfortable bf in public and would have appreciated your second option.

Many thanks (freshprincess) - I know there are many mums out there who are a bit more self conscious

I would agree not to call it yummy mummy anything! A chill out zone for all families would be fab. Not too much noise or entertainment so maybe some toys for little ones and colouring for older ones. Small ball pit? Drinks and somewhere to rest weary legs sounds perfect.

I'm comfortable feeding in public, but many would enjoy the choice of a mum only area (e.g. Muslim women).

And big glasses of water would be appreciated, bf makes me so thirsty.

Totally agree with PPs. ‘Yummy Mummies’ makes me cringe and i would actively avoid an area with that name. I also think having a seperate BF area sends the wrong message. If you have a family zone, it should be a given that you can BF anywhere. By having a seperate area, you are saying that women are expected to BF in a designated area only. It also presents a noisy and disruptive problem when you have an older sibling that might want to be doing fun stuff in the family zone but your stuck in the BF area under the baby.

How big is the event? Sometimes when you need to feed you feed to feed and you don’t have time to trek to a specialist area.

Please don’t do ridiculous names. I can’t imagin and massage would be relaxing in front of loads of people and while you look after your baby.

Maybe do a family area with feeding chairs. Remember formula feed babies need feeding too.

Look on the Disneyworld website about their 'Baby Care Centres' in each park and what they offer. We've just come back and they were great, most included:

• several nappy changing beds
• microwaves
• bottle warmers
• quiet rooms with low lighting and rocking chairs
• sofas to sit on
• water machines with hot and cold water
• TVs playing Disney films
• Highchairs
• Items for sale such as nappies, wipes, formula, single use bottles, baby food

I think having the option of a quiet separate area is good but it needs to made clear that mums can feed anywhere.

They do this at the Westmorland County Show in Cumbria

From memory I think it's just called the baby change area but it's basically a small marquee with a baby changing area and relevant equipment, seating for adults and a few tables of toddler activities.

Although it was called baby change It was clearly being used throughout the day by women for somewhere reasonably private to sit and breastfeed too.

A massive bonus was that they had their own portaloo designated to the baby change meaning that women with babies in slings etc could pop in and use it and it was just a bit cleaner and less 'pressured' to use than the main public portaloos

It might be worth checking that the shows you are going to don't already offer something similar.

I agree ditch the dreadful yummy mummy stuff and just have a family zone for looking after small children.

A communal family area with some more private seating incorporated would be ideal I think. I'll breastfeed anywhere tbh, but if privacy is available I'll take it

tryinganewname
This alone makes me want to go to Disneyland!!

All babies need feeding however they're fed- and it's nice to be able to have a quiet space to sit down especially at a big event whether breasffeeding or bottle feeding. A quiet space, and in a secure area would be handy so you can relax a bit without thinking toddler is going to bolt off. Maybe a bit of soft play equopment, few mats with a mini slide and seesaw.

jackshouse for this initial event at the Woburn Abbey Garden Show - its around 5000 visitors but for some of the bigger events that we cover - it would be 30,000. But yes - good point - feeding may need to happen more immediately but its more the idea that if you wanted to sit and relax and have somewhere you can plan your day accordingly - i know babies don't keep to schedules but still :). Some people come for a 8 hour day.

thecumbrian We are attending 18 different shows similar to the Westmorland county show but currently thats not on our radar. But yes you're right - must check that this isn't happening already at some of the events.

Many thanks for all of your feedback - it definitely seems that the cheesy name needs to be dropped! Had thought this initially and consulted a few friends and one liked it whereas i wasn't so keen myself. Must go with my gut instinct next time ;) Also, there are strong opinions on the breastfeeding segregation but it really was an option rather than a demand. As we supply the furniture - we can make this a viable option but obviously need to word it carefully. We will be providing our sofas, dining room tables and chairs and possibly even sun loungers - for those who are keen to hang out a bit longer :) I'd remembered to include the formula fed babies on my initial proposal -(baby bottle warming facilities) I just felt that they wouldn't necessarily want a segregated area to feed. (I mix fed my child so feel I can appreciate both sides - but from my point of view i guess :)

HOW ABOUT THE BELOW

We celebrate breastfeeding and welcome any mums to use our furniture to do so. We certainly don’t want to hide anyone, however, we are aware some mums would prefer a bit of privacy. Please feed wherever you feel happy - in the general family area or in the separated breastfeeding zone - mums and children only please.

Many thanks ladies - your constructive ideas are very welcome - just trying to get it right for the majority :)

Don't 'celebrate' breastfeeding feeding, "Baby Care Tent" is fine. Sorry, is the tent separate to your usual display/stand, or incorporated with it? Are you going to charge? Also, definitely double check that there isn't already a facility like this- at all of the events near me the nct have a baby care tent.

I don’t feel like you need to say anything though. Just have your families zone and there could be a quiet area that has the feel of being more private where you might personally choose to go if you wanted privacy. As soon as you draw attention to there being a designated BF area, people automatically feel as if that’s where they’re expected to go.

YY to ‘celebrating BF.’ There’s nothing to celebrate when your child’s trying to rip your nipples off.

You don't need to say anything really. A family zone with chairs, baby change etc is fairly obvious in its usage and will probably encourage more parents of both sexes to use it.