Guide to Nursing Mother’s Rooms in Columbia

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    GUIDE TO NURSING MOTHER'S ROOMS IN cOLUMBIA

    I’ve read a lot of articles lately about how mothers should hibernate for a few weeks to a few months (depending on which article you read) immediately following a child’s birth. While I understand the reasoning for this philosophy, in my case, I think I hibernated too much in the three months after my son was born. The reason I hardly left home? I was afraid no matter how much my son ate prior to our departure he would need to eat while we were out. And while I’m a proponent of nursing in public, it was something he and I never mastered.

    A few weekends ago, upon our first visit to the Richland Library Downtown (but not our first visit to a library, I assure you), I noticed that they had a nursing lounge. I remarked to my husband that I wished I knew that twelve months ago when I was desperate to get out of the house. In fact, most of the places with nursing lounges I didn’t discover until my time for needing them had ended. Thus, this post is born, in hopes that it will help those of you looking for outings with your little one — because breastfeeding shouldn’t feel like house arrest.

    Attractions

    Richland Library Downtown

    With a private nursing lounge that requires an employee to enter a code to unlock the door, this is one place where you won’t be disturbed by a stranger or curious toddler! But the best part is the comfortable chairs for mom fully equipped with nursing pillow (similar to a Boppy). As if this weren’t a big enough gift, there is even extra seating with books and puzzles if you have other children with you. There is also a sink to wash your hands and changing table if needed. The decor and lighting is so comfortable and relaxing, it’s sometimes hard to leave. This is a favorite choice among Columbia SC Moms Blog contributors.

    Note: There are two nursing chairs, so there is a chance you could be sharing a space with another mama (although very seldom from our team’s experiences).

    Richland County Library Downtown Nursing Lounge
    Behind this door is one of the BEST nursing mother’s rooms in Columbia!

    Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

    As of July 3, there is a brand new entrance to the Riverbanks Zoo, which boasts a lot of guest services amenities. A feature that is new to the zoo is a nursing lounge. Though I love the bears and new otters, I think having a place to nurse at the zoo is Riverbanks’ best addition for the modest mom.

    EdVenutre

    At EdVenture children’s museum, the “My Backyard” exhibit on the second floor is a gated play area for children ages 3 and under. While there is a dedicated nursing area, it is separated from the general public by only a curtain, which can easily be tugged by an exploring toddler. Also, it is constructed using lattice, so it is possible for someone to catch a view of you. There is a glider and books in the nursing room, which is a bonus (though sometimes non-nursing guests can be found relaxing in this area).

    Nursing Area in EdVenture's My Backyard Exhibit
    The nursing area in EdVenture is convenient, but the curtain does not guarantee privacy.

    State Museum

    A little-known secret about the State Museum is that their newly expanded 1st floor has a nursing area. To the right of the front desk, double doors will take down a hallway to the recently opened children’s play area. To the right of the play area is a nursing room which includes a glider and changing area. Although the door does not lock, it is clean and comfortable area.

    Shopping

    Buy Buy Baby

    Wanting to showcase the furniture they sell, Buy Buy Baby’s private nursing lounge boasts a glider (sometimes two depending on the furniture they are displaying, so be prepared for possible company). They do offer nursing covers (which are conveniently sold in-store as well). Other perks include a changing area (often stocked with diapers and wipes for your use), as well as a table with activities for smaller children. The room overall is decorated like a nursery, making a very comfortable experience for both mommy and baby. This is another preferred location among Columbia SC Moms Blog contributors.

    Target

    Target’s official breastfeeding policy, stating that women are welcome to nurse in fitting rooms, was made public just a few weeks ago to the delight of shopping mamas everywhere.

    Columbiana Centre

    The first nursing lounge I was fortunate to discover is at Columbiana Centre. Located off the food court is a hallway leading to regular restrooms, family restrooms, a changing area, and a room that you can – hallelujah! – LOCK when nursing. With dimmed lighting, it’s the perfect place to calm down the likes of a hungry baby.

    Columbiana Centre Nursing Lounge
    The soft lighting in the nursing lounge at Columbiana Centre makes for a peaceful nursing experience, no matter how crazy the mall is.

    Motherhood Maternity

    Being a store dedicated to motherhood, the spacious fitting rooms of Motherhood Maternity are a welcome place to breastfeed (and pick up a new nursing bra or tank – win!)

    Babies R Us

    As a specialty store catering to babies, there is a nursing room available. However, in our experience, it wasn’t a very comfortable place. There is a somewhat worn sofa to nurse your little one, and because lots of people are shopping in the store with children, it is not uncommon for several people to enter the small room to change diapers (males included). Overall, the room could benefit from a makeover.

    A Fitting Room

    When all else fails, and you can’t find a mother’s room or location you feel comfortable nursing, head into the fitting room of any store. It offers a private space where you can lock the door, sit down with your child and feed your baby without distractions or pressure.

    Finding and Sharing Nursing Areas

    This list is by no means exhaustive. New nursing areas are – thankfully – popping up all the time. Fortunately, thanks to the Internet and even smartphone apps like Moms Pump Here, it is becoming easier to find and share information about where to breastfeed.

    Know of an area not listed here? Let us know in the comments below!

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    Cheryl Glantz Nail
    The new mom of a baby boy, Cheryl Glantz Nail started her blogging and freelance writing career in 2008. She has written articles for several blogs and websites, including 24/Savvy and InterfaithFamily.com. Shortly after moving to Columbia, she turned her love of content writing and social media into a career in communications, currently serving as the Community Relations Director for a local non-profit. Prior to this career change, she enjoyed 10 years in education, both in the classroom and as a curriculum developer. When she isn't in front of her computer or wiping up baby drool, Cheryl can be found curled up with a young adult novel and a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream, looking at cats on Instagram, or attempting to be artsy. She blogs at Take a Second Glantz (www.secondglantz.com/blog), trolls Pinterest for recipes she'll probably never cook, and sleep tweets during late-night feedings.

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