Breastfeeding Friendly: Look for the Symbol

Thanks to Mothering magazine for coming up with a great, international symbol for breastfeeding.  When we first came across it in December, we hatched the idea of getting some and distributing them around town to any retail establishment that would agree to post it in their window.  'Cause surely there are some proud breastfeeding friendly establishments who would be willing to offer a friendly beacon to hungry babes and their milky mamas.  Well, we're about to find out!

Yeah, we ordered a bunch and have plans to blanket the city's commercial strips.  Wanna help?  We're starting on Saturday, 4.26.08 on SE Hawthorne.  Our thinking is to start here - we'll have 3-4 kids in tow so it'll be a s-l-o-w sticker distribution parade - and go forth and conquer the  rest of commercial Portland  later that day or some other day  when we're up for it again. 

Join us!  If Hawthorne is your neck of the woods, meet us at 9:30 AM at Common Grounds @ 4321 SE Hawthorne.  If it's pouring rain, fuggedaboutit.  We'll reschedule.  I'm devoted but there's a limit.  If Hawthorne's not your neck of the woods but you're into this, let us know what commercial strip you're ready to conquer and we'll hook you up with some stickers.  Or, if you know of the perfect, single establishment that absolutely wants and will post a sticker, that can be arranged.  Once they're up, we'll post a list on urbanMamas.

The BF Place in Town? No, I don't still swear with a 5-year old in my midst.  By BF I mean Breastfeeding Friendliest.  In your humble opinion, what restaurant, store, ladies lounge, wherever spot is the single best public place you have found to breastfeed in Portland?  While I'm one week post-weaning (yes, very bittersweet), I recall the joy at locating a supportive place to rest and nurse when I was out and about and can imagine that there are lots of unexpected and mostly undiscovered BF places to be shared.  So do tell.  Milky mamas all over Portland will rejoice in the new knowledge.

Comments

[elizabeth]

very cool- thanks activistas. I know it is old school but when I was nursing I liked running into the nordstroms womens lounge. They had a room with couches so there was plenty of space for the stroller and for me to be comfy. I am not sure if this is still the case but I remember they had changing tables too which was nice.

[Melissa MM]

The first place I thought of was the Nordstrom lounge as well.

any Handicap changing room works great too! Plenty of room and equipped with a bench.

[Andy]

So funny, I was going to come over here and say Norstroms as well. Whenever I was out and near one it was my preferred spot to BF.

[Andrea]

The place I wish I was nursing right now was Barefoot Sage, with them rubbing my feet! But although I have nursed there, in all seriousness, one of my favorite places to nurse is Urban Grind NE because it generally means that I've got a coffee in my hand and my other two kids are off playing in the toy room.

[Beverly]

I'll second Urban Grind and add Old Wives' Tales and Tri-Met (I tried to bf a baby in a car seat once - only once).
On a Sunday morning, if I am allowed to mention it, Imago Dei Community is the most bf friendly place of worship I've been. I have seen mama's nursing in service, in the hall, in the family spaces and most often in the mama's room which is full of toys, water, snacks, diapering supplies and comfy couches or rockers with pillows and blankets.

[Zinemama]

The very first time I ventured farther than around the block with my infant I went downtown and - of course - needed to nurse him. It was cold and windy and when the older mother I was with steered me to the Nordstrom lounge, I felt like I had found a little slice of heaven.

[allison]

OMSI's got a dedicated nursing room upstairs in their Science Playground area.

[Nic]

Nordys is great, hadn't spent much time there in years until I had kids. Now I'm sooo much more likely to head to the mall. The older kids like the ice skaters and babes get to eat in a decent room. But please - can they turn off the overhead page in the nursing room? At Lloyd Center the paging is really loud and every single person trying to go into the bathroom stumbles into the nursing room then is mortified and apologetic and totally interrupts my nursling. I've always had great luck at the Kennedy School (extra kudos to establishments with changing tables in the mens rooms and Mommy Matinees). We can't miss Milagros here - the ultimate in breastfeeding/diaper changing friendly. HATE to say it but Babies R Us has a nice spot if you happen to be at Home Depot next door and need a fresh diaper and a nursing session. Places like Target, hospitals, grocery stores - no luck for me. It's not an issue of being shy but needing a little peace and quiet for the easily distracted babes. So libraries are pretty good spots - not private but quiet enough. I love these stickers. I stuck one up at the "pump room" at work. I hope they inspire business owners to have this discussion with their staff that breastfeeding is welcome and I hope it inspires business owners to ramp up their BF friendly factor. Great idea.

[catmom]

Music Together classes seem to support breastfeeding moms of newborns and toddlers. I know they tend to use rented space - maybe somebody could give them a digital sticker for their website.

[Marsina]

As long as I have a sling or my Ergo and a blanket, it doesn't really matter where I am. We actually have better luck nursing in public if I'm not sitting down. So for me it's a lot of wandering the aisles at the store during nursing. I've never had a problem anywhere and I think I've bf all over town.

[Mama G]

I've never noticed a BF symbol/sticker at Nordstrom but they are very supportive of nursing mamas - there have ben many days when I've planned my shopping around a nordstrom because I can always depend on a comforatble couch, and a clean room and a place for my 4 y-o to wiggle without worrying. The changing station is also always clean - even on busy weekends. Nordstrom is the best... and, as another mama wrote, I too have always felt supported in music together classes. Cheers to OMSI too for providing a room for babies who are easily distracted or for mamas who need a little privacy!

[LTF]

My mother-in-law is visiting and noticed that the new downtown Macy's has a lounge on the 3rd (?) floor with changing table, etc... I've not been so don't know how comfy it is. Has anyone else checked that out?

[angie]

I had positive BF experiences (= easy let down!) at these spots:
* Thinker Toys, on SW Capitol Hwy. in Multnomah Village
* The coffee shop inside Powell's
* REI in The Pearl
* East Portland Community Center
* BiPartisan Cafe, on SE 78th & Stark
* a designated lounge at the Woodburn Outlets

[Sharon]

For me it has been hit or miss wherever I am it just depends on who is working. I am the type that usually doesn't want to drop everything and go into a special room especially since my girl is sometimes just snacking. So maybe that would be another good project- to formally request that individual businesses have meetings to educate employees of the law and there own customer service policy about it. They could be encouraged to put a sticker in the back room with a note to remind them to smile and provide the same great service others get and to not make a big deal about it. Hmm.. I just need a better writer to put it more eloquently...

[Liz]

I have to say that the ladies at the Lucy store in Washington Square are awesome- they have even brought me water when I was breastfeeding in the changing room (which I have done many times there!)

I pretty much nurse whenever and wherever (with a hooter hider or ergo) and have found Portland to be very breast feeding friendly. I even have had a small beer in front of me and NO glares!

[Kristi]

After three nursing babes in Portland, I have never had any problems breastfeeding anywhere - restaurants, stores, church. I can't think of a time that I even received a negative look (although I may excuse myself if the baby is being an especially noisy eater). Most of the time it just looks like the baby is asleep. Yay Portland! I'm so thankful to live in a place that supports nursing.

[Aelinn]

My baby's brand new, and we're still sticking close to home, but we'd really appreciate it if someone would rock NW 23rd with those stickers! When we start venturing out, that's where we'll be going.

[Laura E]

When I lived near NW 23rd, I nursed my baby at the Starbucks on the corner of 23rd and Overton. There were comfy chairs (some in discreet corners if you're feeling shy), and a changing table in the bathroom. Nobody ever gave me a dirty look and I could stay as long as I liked.

[LTF]

Aelinn: Good idea for NW 23rd, it's easy to hit a lot of businesses quickly (before the kids poop out) b/c it's so compact. If anyone is up for that, let us know and we'll pick a Saturday morning (or you can!) to grab coffee and start knockin'.

[Jenny]

Ikea has a "family bathroom" with a chair for nursing. It's a nice idea, and worked for us during the week. However, weekends make the bathroom really popular.

[Suzame]

PSU - Smith building has a large women's lounge with a nursing area. I think it's on the 2nd or 3rd floor. Very handy when you're down at the farmers market.

[kat]

I just have to give kudo's out to kennedy school, I love the mommy matinees. Being able to be out in public, rest comfortably, watch a movie, and nurse a baby is the best.

[Shadeau]

I own a small coffee shop on se division and 30th, Tandem Coffeehouse. We are very family friendly and would love to have a sticker for our shop. What a great idea!

[LTF]

Shadeau: I have been meaning to stop in, I'll bring you a sticker when I do! Hopefully this weekend. Then you can be the envy of all your neighbors! Thanks, Lisa

[Leah]

Mio Sushi, Pollywog, Stumptown on Belmont and Hawthorne are BF friendly.

[Cam]

Nordys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I used that Mama's lounge at Lloyd Center and Washington Square. The Tin Shed, Urban Grind NE, New Season's, IKEA, Starbucks on Fremont and 46 to name a few.

[Mary]

I just want to say "GREAT IDEA!" and LONG overdue. I am bf'ing my third and I am so happy to hear about the stickers. I will certainly look for them around town...
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! (I would be happy to stick one on one of my windows at my home---for anyone that happens to be walking by and needs to bf (we live near a park)....you would be welcome.) All the local spots mentioned, been there and they are all great.

[LindsayThey]

I BF at REI in the Pearl in the middle of their big sale. The girls manning the dressing rooms were a little surprised when I asked to use one, but were very nice despite the line behind me. They didn't bat an eye when my sister came in to switch one of my twins out.

[Melissa F-B]

My church, Portland Mennonite 1312 SE 35th is pretty great about BF. There's a nursing room right off the main sanctuary with great chairs and sofas. There's a huge window so you can still be part of the action. It's also the first place I ever breastfed in public.

There are 23 children under 2 in our congregation of only 150 so it's a great place for families in general. Right now our associate pastor is pregnant and our youth ministers are a husband and wife who co-share the job so they can spend more time with their 3 kids.

[Melissa F-B]

My church, Portland Mennonite 1312 SE 35th is pretty great about BF. There's a nursing room right off the main sanctuary with great chairs and sofas. There's a huge window so you can still be part of the action. It's also the first place I ever breastfed in public.

There are 23 children under 2 in our congregation of only 150 so it's a great place for families in general. Right now our associate pastor is pregnant and our youth ministers are a husband and wife who co-share the job so they can spend more time with their 3 kids.

[H's Mom]

Don't know if someone already mentioned this, but PGE park has a dedicated suite (yes, suite!) for infants and toddlers. Comfy sofa and chair for BF and a clean changing station. No trash which is sort of weird, but there is a bathroom with a trash can right outside the door. They also feature clean toys and a great view of the game...I mean, it's a suite, of course a great view of the game! Makes me want to go to games more often.

[cd]

kitchen kaboodle in orenco station, hillsboro. mamas, please support them when you're furniture hunting

[AG]

A hooter-hider is great for discreet bf just about anywhere. One of the most comfortable places I've nursed is at Segal's in a floor model glider rocker...plus they have a great changing table/station with supplies in the bathroom. Also, love the nursing room at Baby Gap at Tanasbourne.

[Padded nursing bras]

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[Ameda Ultra]

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