Thoughts and Opinions please mummies!

[Emily0505]

Hello my lovelies!

I'm doing a bit if research and need some valued opinions please.

I work in an animal rescue centre rehoming dogs and cats.

We are very family friendly in as much as we will home animals to families with children however our actual centre is not very kiddy welcoming.

We are currently revamping our reception area and I was wondering if there was anything you would/ do like to see when you frequent somewhere with children in tow.

So far we have:

A toy box - jigsaw puzzles, toy cars, colouring books, stacking cups etc.
A small kiddies table.
2 small kiddies chairs on order too.

We don't have any changing facilities, so when I've gone in with Cam, I've had to change him on the floor in the disabled loo which isn't nice! I'm going to discuss with my manager getting one of the proper changing tables that fold down from the wall.

The other thing I was thinking was to put up a breastfeeding welcome here sticker.

Mummies who bf and if you saw a sticker like that would you expect a specific private area in which to bf or not? We have private rooms off our reception where a lady could feed in private if she needed but nothing we could set up specifically as a bf area.

If we are bf friendly then we should be bottle feeding friendly too, so how about offering bottle warming too?

In 10 years I've been there I've never seen anyone by or been asked to warm a bottle but it's a nice touch to be able to.offer/ support these things.

So, anything else you ladies can think of?

XX

 

[Emily0505]

A potty/ toilet seat attachment thingy? Or is that a ewww?

XX

 

[Staceylou27]

I think if you had all of those things you are doing alot more than most re homing places!

I personally wouldn't expect to find these things in an animal rehoming centre so I think people would be pleased to find what you're offering.

I think the most important for me would be a changing facility. If it's not possible to get a fold out changing table could you get a regular changing mat and maybe some disposable changing mats/paper towel type mats (you often get them in shopping centres) that people could use. Maybe some wipes to clean it before you use it?

A pub we went to recently for food only offered a changing mat on the floor in disabled toilet- it wasn't the best toilet anyway and the mat wasn't in good condition so used our own mat, if it had been in better condition I would have used it. And a bin for disposing nappies!

As for a breastfeeding sign you could put something up saying if you need somewhere to feed either bottle or breast in private then please ask staff. I was once in a car show room and a female sales person approached me and offered me an office to use if I needed to feed my lo which was a nice touch although I wasn't feeding at the time

 

[Emily0505]

Yeah I def want to sort something out for baby changing.

I found it gross doing it on the floor of the toilet and I work there!!

XX

 

[Goat]

Sounds lovely, on the breastfeeding front if I saw a sticker like that I would just be happy you were welcoming of it and wouldn't expect a private room. xx

 

[LaceyKeo]

Personally I think you're going above and beyond.

I would hope there'd be some kind of hygienic baby-change area (as you've mentioned), and call it good, so to find a little play area set up would be a lovely surprise.

If offering bottle-warming, be aware that regulations could prevent microwave heating.
The ideal thing for you as a business and mums using it, would be to get one of those Tommee Tippee bottle warming flasks.
All you do then is fill it with boiling water and give it to mum (or dad/guardian/etc for the sake of inclusivity). They take it away, pour the water into the flask cover and sit the bottle in it for however long.
These absolves you of any liability as they've actually heated their own bottle, and the flask has the "hot contents" warning on it.
Although, as a parent out with a baby that needs their bottle warmed, I'd probably already have the stuff with me. Even being able to provide hot water would be above what I'd expect.

Sounds like you're really thinking about this, though. It's lovely to see xx

 

[Emily0505]

I was just conscious of the fact that we would be supporting bf with the sticker but nothing for the ff mummies.

I was thinking for bottle warming to get one of the plug in ones. Then we could just bring it to the parents to use rather than us warm the bottle for them.

Do electric bottle warmers fit all bottles?

XX

 

[LaceyKeo]

You may want to check liability for supplying an electric warmer.

I'm sure there are some that are more or less universal, but honestly, I'd be more than happy with a flask.

Maybe make a sign to put with your BF sticker saying "Bottle warming available", or whatever? Xx

 

[MrsS143]

Any restaurants etc I've seen they've had a measuring jug with boiling water and parents just put the bottle in as long as needed x

 

[Emily0505]

Yeah it would need testing- PAT testing or something.

Maybe a flask would be the best way to go.

XX

 

[willow76]

I would be very happy if I came to your centre with all the resources you have suggested. xx

 

[hayes]

Wow sounds like u have thought of loads hun, I'm sure most people would just b grateful for the toys n somewhere to change lo.

Michelle.x

 

[CARNAT22]

I agree with everyone else hun. Sounds like you are already doing a lot more than most other rehoming centres.

Maybe you don't need a sticker but can mention (if applicable) that you can heat bottles / have a private room as and when someone comes in with a baby? Not sure how often you have babies in?

I guess it all comes down to cost - sadly - do you have enough nappy age children come in to warrant the cost of a proper changing table? Could you just keep a mat somewhere?

X

 

[Emily0505]

Yeah cost is a big thing as we are a charity so it will all depend on the budget!

I'll mention my ideas to my boss and she can then decide which ones to go with.

Def need some sort of baby changing, even if it is just a proper mat.

Thanks for your opinions ladies!



XX

 

[Jajis]

I think a breastfeeding welcome sticker is a good idea. I generally don't feel the need to have somewhere private to feed, but there are women who do so it would be good to have somewhere - doesn't need to be anything special, as long as it's not in the same place as the nappy changing - that drives me mad I don't know whether you've heard of it (as it might not be running in your area) but there's a 'Breastfeeding Welcome' scheme: http://www.breastfeedingwelcomescheme.org.uk/go_bfw/. Even if you're not in one of the areas they have a checklist and stuff you could look at

I don't think you need worry about a bottle warmer etc., when I was expressing and needed to give a bottle I used to just ask for some hot water to stand it in for a minute and it was never a problem.