Today we took S to the Rogers Centre for Baby's First Blue Jay Game! We scarfed down some pre-game sausages, took lots of pictures, enjoyed an 11-1 home team victory and didn't have to worry about where we were going to feed and change S thanks to You Can Breastfeed Here, a site dedicated to tracking breastfeeding-friendly locations across the United States and Canada. Its entry on the Rogers Centre told us that "There are nursing rooms/family bathrooms near the first aid area with a toilet, sink, and small couch." And indeed, there were!
What a great idea for a site! Although it's certainly legal for breastfeeding mothers to nurse their babies in public anywhere in Canada or the US, it is outside the comfort levels of many women to do so, and some places (unfortunately) do not provide the most supportive environments for breastfeeding. The ability to check out a destination ahead of time and locate a discreet and/or friendly & supportive location to nurse one's child is certainly helpful in these cases! I am personally willing to nurse in public if necessary, but definitely prefer somewhere a little more privat where I (and S, in turn) can fully relax and enjoy the experience.
You Can Breastfeed Here allows you to browse existing locations, submit new locations (including photos) and add comments to existing submissions. It appears that the vast majority of submissions at this point are in the United States, however I'm hoping to see it expand to include more Canadian locations. (I just submitted one myself for Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener, which includes two dedicated nursing areas!)
The site also includes state-specific breastfeeding laws and links to other resources. All in all, a great site for breastfeeding mothers!
That's awesome!! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete