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Activity #50: Go on a reconnaissance mission
When the baby is in a good mood (or better, sleeping!), scope out the “safe places” at your local shopping destinations where you can feed and change your baby. This will allow you to get out of the house every day and know that you don’t have to race against the clock to get back home. I like the children’s area of any bookstore. Find a quiet corner and a tiny chair, and pull out your boob or bottle.
Whitney-and-Heather-approved safe places in the Bay Area:
- Nordstrom Women’s Lounge in SF, Walnut Creek and Palo Alto have places especially for feeding and changing. Plus lots of nice old ladies who can watch your stuff or even your baby while you use the bathroom.
- 4th street: This Little Piggy has a chair where you can nurse (for the true newbie; you may not believe us now, but in another month, you’ll be out on the street where there are tons of public nursers. Once you’re comfy, you can join the party) The ladies in Benefit will probably let you use one of the waxing beds as a changing table. They may wear a ton of makeup, but they are actually mostly moms themselves.
- Bay Street: My friend Sunny says she spent a large part of her maternity leave at California Pizza Kitchen. It is not crowded during the week and you can get a big booth where all your stuff can fit. Bay Street also has Barnes & Noble with a cafe area and a kids section.
- Upper Shattuck: Waddle and Swaddle, a baby store, has an entire room for moms to nurse, drink water or tea (complimentary) and change their babies. You can stay as long as you like. The woman who runs it is a doula and can answer lots of questions for you. Elephant Pharmacy has chairs in the reading area.
By the end of month two, you’ll probably have your own favorite places. Come back and tell us what they are.
by Whitney in Bay Area, Month 1 |
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July 24th, 2008 at 9:34 am
In Nashville I love Cheekwood Botanic Gardens because there is a lot to see, but some private benches that are good for nursing.
July 25th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Crossroads mall in St. Cloud, MN has nursings rooms and special changing areas complete with sinks to wash your hands near the rest rooms.
I have also heard of some moms using dressing rooms for privacy while nursing. You will just have to find a store that has a large enough room.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:24 am
hi whitney!!!
it was great meeting you at blogher!
i thought i’d see you again to talk longer,
but the whole weekend was a blur of activity.
congratulations on your book + best wishes.
did you hear about the new cafe for mom’s in san jose’s willow glen district? i think it’s called baby buzz + it has an amazing array of activities for mom’s + babies
July 25th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
When my little guy was small, I always had the best luck going into Motherhood Maternity stores. If I didn’t feel like going into a restroom to nurse, or there were to many distractions for my son at other locations, Motherhood staff would always let me hang out in their dressing rooms to nurse and change him. It was comfy, quiet and private.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
The Westfield Shopping Centre in San Francisco has a family lounge near the restrooms on the food court level. There is a private bathroom, some toys, a couple of changing tables, and three privaye dressing room type nursing areas. There is also a rather loud tv which I don’t understand. Also in San Francisco is Day One and Natural Resources which have gliders for nursing and changing tables. They also have a scale to weigh your baby. Great to stop in when your running errands. Finally I just sit in a dressing room if I’m out shopping to nurse. I usually bring in some clothes to try on so it is legit, but if they’re not busy most stores will let you just hang out in one. Anthropologie has large, comfy dressing rooms.