Working Moms Who Travel
On my recent unexpected layover at that armpit of an airport, Dulles International, I had time for a pit stop. When I entered the restroom I was puzzled by a sound that seemed out of place but yet strangely familiar. Then, I recalled the noise from my distant past and realized some poor soul was using a breast pump a few stalls to my right. As I practiced the time-honored hover, my heart wept for that mom, relegated to the disgusting environment of a public, much-traveled and infrequently cleaned bathroom stall to keep nursing her baby while traveling.
With all the indignities we willingly suffer while traveling, the barefoot stroll through security, the random pat-down, the older folks with artifical hips and other bionic parts pulled over for a full search, the lack of attention to the traveling nursing mom is a mistake. What about the mothers forced to travel without bottled or stored breast milk after liquids were banned as carry-on safe. And don’t forget the moms who had to sample their own breast milk in the security queue to prove it wasn’t some toxic substance.
You know, we have separate facilities for smokers in airports, we have the high-falutin’ “clubs” for the high-rent travelers, why is it so difficult to have a small, clean room for nursing mothers in every terminal. It could be the size of a broom closet — I don’t think anyone would care, and it certainly wouldn’t be costly. Come on Ameda, Evenflo and Playtex! Buck up and start sponsoring these rooms in airports. Why not? Think of the advertising potential. Thousands of traveling moms and future moms exposed to your care of traveling mothers.
Who will get there first?
August 14th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Amen, sister! We give an awful lot of lip service in the U.S. to “breast is best,” but we don’t really do much to help women breastfeed anywhere near the recommended one year. Westfield Malls have done a wonderful job with their “family restrooms” - they are clean, large playroom-type areas with curtained “booths” with comfy chairs for breastfeeding moms, smartly designed diaper changing areas, and toys and TVs running cartoons for the older kids to enjoy while mom is caring for the baby. They even have a little potty and sink in the restroom itself right next to the adult size versions - my four-year-old loves it! I know a lot of moms, myself included, who deliberately go to Westfield Malls specifically because of these facilities. Surely a smart company like the ones you’ve listed - or maybe Medela (the best-breast-pump-ever people) - will step up and help us out in airports and other public areas.
C’mon, corporate America - you’re missing a great PR opportunity here!
August 14th, 2007 at 8:18 am
The TSA did just lift it’s rules about carrying breast milk on board a plane… so that is some good news, I guess. But we have a long way to go. Actually, Boston Logan airport (at least the United terminal) did have a nursery room. But it’s the only airport I’ve seen that…
August 14th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
That is a brilliant idea!
August 19th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Hey Marijean, guess what!! I just arrived in Akron-Canton’s airport for a couple night stay here. As I was walking through an emptyish (9pm) airport, I came upon the largest, funnest looking airport kiddie area I’ve ever seen and what was right next to it??? A breast-feeding area! So, I wanted to tell you right away, of course, and also offer a way-da-go Akron-Canton! Proof of a family-friendly part of America! Ya know, if Westfield can have such great places in their malls, how come Walt Disney World doesn’t have nice breastfeeding stations (nice, clean and airconditioned, would be good) throughout the parks?? (if they do and I missed them, sorry to Disney…)
August 20th, 2007 at 6:58 am
Fantastic! I’m thrilled to learn that — a local mom posted just days after I did about having to travel and pump and worrying about it — it’s good to know that at least one airport has this!
And really, if Disney doesn’t, shame on them! I will be going to BlogOrlando at the end of September (maybe you’ll be there?) and may have to check that out (you know, for the readers, not for me!)