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Private breastfeeding room created at family-friendly shopping centre’s popular Eco Hub
| Published: 4th October 2019 09:36 |
The Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole has opened a new private room for mothers to use when breastfeeding their babies.
The breastfeeding room is a welcoming and safe area that mothers who would prefer to feed their children in private can use for breastfeeding. The new space is fitted out with rocking chairs and blankets to ensure it is comfortable. Mothers are free to breastfeed anywhere in the centre, but the breastfeeding room provides privacy and dedicated seating for those that need or want it.
The breastfeeding room was initially suggested by customer Lucie Blanch, whose son was born in January. She highlighted the need for a dedicated area where mothers can breastfeed their babies. While the centre has lots of seating, she said, these can sometimes be in use by other customers, and may not be suitable for people that prefer to breastfeed in private.
Deb Woodward of Families and Babies, who was instrumental in designing the breastfeeding room, said:
"It's great to see the Dolphin Shopping Centre taking the lead on creating safe and comfortable rooms for breastfeeding mums. Although mums are free to feed anywhere in the centre if they choose to, often the public benches and coffee shops can become very busy. Too often, mothers who would like some privacy are left with no choice other than using the toilets or baby changing rooms, which are often not fit for purpose. The centre's new breastfeeding room is clean, comfortable, and private - all the things that mums tell me that they want."
John Grinnell, centre manager at the Dolphin Shopping Centre, commented: "We're always looking for ways to improve the Eco Hub for our customers, so I am especially pleased that we can make shopping at the centre a better experience for mums who are breastfeeding.
"We want to make the centre as family-friendly as possible, and the new breastfeeding room is just the latest improvement towards this aim."
Alongside the opening of the breastfeeding room, Families and Babies will be in the Eco Hub throughout October and November. They will lead activities such as fundraising and donations of nearly new baby clothes alongside giving support to breastfeeding mums.
Families and Babies will be at the Eco Hub for parents and families to drop-in without an appointment from 9am - 2.30pm on the following days:
• 1st October
• 9th October
• 24th October
• 4th November
• 12th November
• 21st November
Samantha Prewett Photography will also be holding a Poole Expectant & New Parent event at the Eco Hub on Saturday 6th October from 10am - 2pm. This free event will include a variety of talks, taster classes and demonstrations for some of the best local maternity and baby businesses. For more information about the event, please visit the Samantha Prewett Photography Facebook page.
The Eco Hub is open during the centre's regular opening hours and is free to use for customers, charities and other organisations and businesses. Email info@dolphinshoppingcentre.co.uk for further information or to book the space.
For more information about the Dolphin Shopping Centre, visit www.dolphinshoppingcentre.co.uk
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