View Full Version : Breastfeeding in Parents Rooms
I was just wondering if, when using a parents room, people preferred to breastfeed in the cubicles or in the public area bit.
Personally I prefer the public area (always been a bit of an exhibitionist ;)) because the rooms make me feel claustrophobic.. especially once as you have yourself, your partner and a pram in there.
How about other people?
(and yes, this is a, shamlessly, Nikki is bored, she's done *some* housework, her baby is asleep and she doesn't know what to do thread)
I preferred using the cubicles. I'm definitely not an exhibitionist, but my biggest factor was that Andrew was definitely easily distracted when feeding, and to be in an open room was an invitation to him to dilly-dallly about it. :)
Cobey's the opposite. At home he'll muck around, pop on and off, get milk everywhere, make me look like a right mess.. whereas the few times I've fed him in PUBLIC (like real public.. out with people and stuff) he just latches on and does his thing without worry. I wonder if I'm stressed at those times and it slows the flow or something?
Maybe he's just too young for me to be making judgements over how well he feeds :p LOL
If I even use the parent's room (I usually just bf wherever I am) I sit in the open area.
Funkychicken
22-08-2006, 09:19
I revisited one of these rooms recently, much to my own horror! I needed to change a stinky nappy and figured I'm here now, I may as well feed him. The couch looked very comfy but was being used by a couple of friends of mums so I sat in one of the chairs kind of half in the cubicle (I too think they are claustrophobic) but I found it really difficult to get my arms in the right position. The sides of the chair were too close together and I couldn't get my elbows out properly. It was pretty uncomfortable and reminded me of 1) why I don't like these rooms and 2) why I don't like shopping centres! In fact I think I'll write a letter to the centre management explaining that the chairs are useless for breastfeeding in.
cheezelkat
22-08-2006, 09:20
I usually use a closed cubicle because Liam gets distracted so easily, but I don't mind the open area so I can chat to the other mums
I used to use the closed cubicle... but either way wouldnt bother me ;)
the_queen
22-08-2006, 09:50
I just sit out in the food court :D I DARE someone to come up and make a disparaging comment :laughing:
I do it whereever, but in the parents room I use the cubicle but leave the door open like you I feel trapped + it gets so hot!
Mum&bubs
22-08-2006, 10:41
I preferred using the cubicles. I'm definitely not an exhibitionist, but my biggest factor was that Andrew was definitely easily distracted when feeding, and to be in an open room was an invitation to him to dilly-dallly about it. :)
Yep same with Summer. She cant be around other kids when feeding otherwise shes up & trying to run off to play with them :laughing: So i prefer the cubicles but i accidently voted for the wrong one (oops)
~rambox~
22-08-2006, 10:42
I dont breastfeed but I do use the parents rooms to change my bub and the state that some of them are in There is no way i would feed him in there... I mean honestly do we eat in the toilets? I know I dont so why do people expect our babies to. What ever happened to being able to do things that are natural without ridicule
Wherever, whenever, whoever's around! After 12 mths our breastfeeding times have become an art. I let my boob out, she grabs it and shoves it in her mouth!:D
I don't have a problem with it, and if others do they can always look away.
I've used a few cubicles that have looked really nice, but the chairs are ALWAYS ridiculously difficult to feed in. I'd always end up sitting half on half off sideways, otherwise her legs would be sticking up in the air just so she could fit. Comfortable to sit on if you weren't a breastfeeder though!
Now I only ever use the parents rooms if DD2 needs a change. If we're out and about I'll usually just lay her down in the pram and do it there and then.
Crazy Monkey
22-08-2006, 11:14
When I was breastfeeding I prefered the cubicles, just because DS feed better... He loves looking around and every noise made him pull off... It never bothered me where I feed him as long as he feed and didn't muck around...
blessedmummy
22-08-2006, 11:24
yeah.. i did breastfeed eldest daughter for 8months cause then i got pregnant with second daughter, so yeah.. anyhow.. felt different with second daughter for breastfeeding, long story.. but ended up bottle feeding her for the sanity of me and her.(didnt feel comfortable breastfeeding with second daughter..)
me25
DH25:kiss:
Emily3:smiliedance:
Clare22mnths:smiliedance:
another bub some day! yay!:smiliedance:
I've only fed Mitch in a parent's room once... I started out feeding him in the open, and as soon as a cubicle became free, I went in there. I wish I didn't feel embarrassed to pop my boob out in public, but I do:o and I don't think I'll be able to change :( . I don't have any problem with other mums feeding though.... I'm just a weirdo I spose.....!
the_queen
22-08-2006, 11:31
Sarah - I felt weird the first few times I BF in public but now it's just second-nature to me. Don't stress, I'm sure you'll feel more relaxed sooner or later :yes: :)
Natsmummy
22-08-2006, 19:40
I'm not really fussed - even when I use the cubicles I have to leave the door open because I can't fit my pram in there with me. The parents rooms at my local shopping centre (the ones provided by Centre Management) are actually very nice but I was appalled when I went into the one in our Centre's David Jones the other day. It had scuff marks all over the walls, rips in the furniture and the couch was so saggy in practically swallowed me up. I was sitting there trying to feed with my knees up around my shoulders! Getting up from it with a baby in my arms wasn't the easiest thing either.
subaruforestermum
22-08-2006, 19:49
Whilst I was breast feeding, if I was in the parents room, I would just sit on the couch, in the view of everyone, but otherwise, I would just sit wherever (so to speak) and feed bub with a light cloth draped over so not to make anyone feel uncomfortable, and although I recieved a quiet a few strange looks, it didnt bother me.
Mariposa
22-08-2006, 19:54
i like to hide:o lols im in the lil booths with the curtain drawn. the other day we went out to dinner with my dad, (i dont even like feeding in front of "male" family members") and i had a sheet covering the whole front of me and the baby, just so nobody could see. my dad said that the baby wouldnt be able to breath pft!
there was no where for me to hide at the restaurant:eek:
I prefered the booth, only because dd would get very distracted. Having said that, It didn't bother me sitting out in the open.
aardvark
22-08-2006, 21:45
From my experience, the cubicles are generally grottier, and have less comfortable seating.
Also IF (and that is a very big IF) I am feeding in a parents room, I like to be able to see the door, and who is coming and going. They are often in out of the way places in shopping complexes, and one must consider one's personal security.
I usually feed baby wherever and whenever, and heaven help anyone who tries to usher me to some form of closetted space to feed. Often I will get myself a drink and sit in a food court. Gloria Jeans have comfy chairs, and are one of my preferred booby destinations when I am out shopping.
munchkin05
22-08-2006, 21:59
when ben wants boob he gets boob
i dont mind were i feed but its not very often i use the parents room cause alot of them stink
and i wouldnt eat my lunch with the smell of poo around so why should i make ben do it
Reidymac
22-08-2006, 22:42
The chairs in the cubicles are always so inappropriate for feeding a child who has legs of any description and a will to use them to push against anything they can reach. With baby #1 I was shy and used the cubicles but with me sitting on the crappy lil coffee table and DH in the comfy chair. Now I use the public area couch or just feed in the café/ food court with DS under a muslin wrap (or not).
SilverStarfish
22-08-2006, 23:08
I don't mind feeding DD anywhere, just so long as there is a comfortable place for me to sit. I will use the cubicles though then I'm out with DH as it makes him feel more comfortable. He says that as it is usually 99%women in there, he feels out of place. He also worries about what other women will think of him being in there - given the strange (and sometimes really awful) looks men get sometimes when they are alone with small children :thumbsdown:
Bearskin
22-08-2006, 23:20
I b/f DD in a parents room once, when she was about 3 weeks old. There was one rickety old chair and people kept coming in to change pooey nappies; it was disgusting.
After that, I just got over it and feed DD anywhere. I got some nasty looks one day in a food court and DH gave them right back to the couple - he is lovely :)
I b/f DD at the Commonwealth Games this year, in my seat watching the Women's 4 x 400m final - and too bloody bad if anyone didn't like it! We weren't going to miss the action! I couldn't find a parents room at the MCG anyway - had to change DD nappy in the disabled toilets.
nemosmum
23-08-2006, 09:35
ok sorry i havent read the whole thread as im rushing to catch up on all the threads im missing while away:o just thought i'd have my two cents:D
I hate the cubicles, they are small, uncomfortable and the chairs are always so awkward to feed bubs in!
I love the lovely leather lounges in my local parents room and thats were I would bfeed! way more comfoy and not so cramped!
Sxx
I prefer the closed cubicle only due to the fact that my almost 1 year old has such a hard time concentrating! :banghead:
When i was on my own i would always sit in the public area, DS took around an hour to feed, and i used to get so bored. i prefered to watch tv or people watch.
Once he hit about 6 months though i had to start using the cubicle. He would be distracted at everything and try to turn his head while still attached! ouch!:eek:
I prefer closed because then I can relax, get my gear off and no one can see. :thumbsup: I hate trying to be discreet. I can do it, but its hard sometimes.
Love,
Nan. xx
Generally, I prefer to breastfeed in public. And by that I mean in a place like a coffee shop or quieter spot. When DS wants it he gets it:D . Also, as I have a toddler, getting her into a boring parent's room is harder. If we sit at a coffee shop or the like, I can sit her down with some food too. But, my DS is in his distracted stage, so I may occasionally retreat to a cubicle in a parent's room.
When I first started breastfeeding when my DD was a baby I almost always retreated to the parent's room. But with my second child, hiding away is thing of the past. I just plug him in wherever and whenever. :D
Well, SO FAR...
If I am out on my own I feed anywhere Baden squawks for it, including walking around in a shop, (but discreetly in a quiet part of the shop facing away from people) and in a food court, (but also discreetly), and if people want to make something of it then I couldn't give a sh*t. Baden is more important than them seeing the top of my engorged veiny boob if that's what they want to look at.
If I am out with DP we go into the parents room and hide in the cubicle. (he has iss-ewes with people seeing my boob so I just go along with it).
If I am out with DP we go into the parents room and hide in the cubicle. (he has iss-ewes with people seeing my boob so I just go along with it).
Chris has iss-ewes too! With him I still will sit in the public area but he'll actually try to cover us with a wrap, or sit, blocking the view of any prying eyes. :rolleyes:
I got a ring sling in the mail today! :smiliedance: My next mission is to master breastfeeding in that so then I can be more comfortable feeding him at cafe's and stuff :)
I have a ring sling as well and that's one of my projects as well. How good would it be to get really good at it and just shop and feed without missing a beat?? LOL
I usually BF where ever and when ever Em demands it. She is still very small so I find it very easy to BF and walk at the same time. I just drape a muslin wrap over my shoulder. Recently I mastered the art of feeding in the huh-a-bub....very useful!!!!
If I do use the parents rooms, I sit out in the public area. I get so bored sitting in the cubicles by myself.
I just sit out in the food court :D I DARE someone to come up and make a disparaging comment :laughing:
HAHA i was exactly like that!
I have a ring sling as well and that's one of my projects as well. How good would it be to get really good at it and just shop and feed without missing a beat?? LOL
I can't even work out how to put the bloody thing on, or how to put him IN it! (thank god he's a good sleepy bub, stays asleep while I juggle him in and out.. i tried with a teddy bear but they're not long/heavy enough)
I think I need a video LOL
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