Nursing Room Reviews – Vol 2

A little while ago, I posted a field report on nursing rooms and baby care facilities in the different shopping centres we have visited. Here’s the second installation of my Nursing Room Reviews, I hope my fellow daddies will find this useful…

In this post, I will be reviewing the following fortunate/unfortunate establishments:
1) Takashimaya Shopping Centre
2) Paragon
3) Centrepoint
4) Bukit Panjang Plaza
5) Chinatown Point
6) Tanglin Mall

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1) Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Description – Situated on level three just beside the baby section, the family room is a single dedicated common area dedicated to baby care with multiple changing stations and a single common nursing room.

Cubicle: 6/10 – A common nursing area that can accommodate up to 3 nursing mothers (depending on the size of the baby…or…er…the mother), strictly no men are allowed to enter. From Jasmine’s description, there is only one sofa (that can barely squeeze 2 mothers) and another chair in that cubicle. Like most nursing rooms, there is a socket for mothers to use their breast pumps.

Changing Station: 8/10 – Standard cushioned tops without straps, but the management have taken the effort to provide additional changing mats for extra hygiene. The thoughtful folks even provide baby powder! But a big minus point is that they do not have a sink at the changing area. You will need to walk to the back of the room (past the nursing cubicle) to use the sink/wash basin. Be sure to bring a plastic bag for your soiled diapers cos’ there is only one waste bin which is also situated at the back where the sink is.

Extras: Hot/Cold water dispenser available at the back where the sink is. They provide soap for your hands too. The changing area is quite big and they even provide high-chairs for toddlers to feed on. There are ample seats for you to rest while the mother is breastfeeding. Another big plus is that they have sort of a baby wellness clinic on weekends where (certified people I hope) they provide free consultation.

General Feel: Not the best place to breastfeed especially if you are shy or your baby kicks up a fuss when he/she feeds (like Cherise!!!). But some mothers enjoy the communial setting, to each their own. But overall it is an adequately equipped family room with everything you need in one common area.

Score: 9/10 for the extras. And it does not have the “toilet smell”.

2) Paragon
Description – They have 2 dedicated baby care rooms, one on level 3 (with 3 changing stations) and the other on level 5 (only one changing station). Both have a feeding room separated by a swing door.

Cubicle: 7/10 – A small room with an uncomfortable rattan chair. You may have to park your pram/stroller outside the cubicle. The good thing is that because of the layout, people will know that there’s someone feeding in the room (cos’ you can see the legs) unless the other person is blind.

Changing Station: 9/10 – Standard cushioned top with no straps, though it is elevated at the ends to support the head. It is just next to the sink so you have access to water when it gets messy. They have soap dispensers as well.

Extras: Hot/Cold water dispenser for milk preparation, the sink even comes with hot/cold taps so you don’t have to wash your hands in freezing cold water.

General Feel: Simple yet well equipped. The only problem is that the one at level three smells like someone just let go 1 x ultra smelly fart. Another thing that I really appreciate about this place is that they also have changing stations in both the male and female toilets, so you don’t have to queue for the baby rooms if you only need to change a soiled diaper.

Score: 9/10 (for providing extra changing stations in the toilets.)

3) Centrepoint
Description – This place is quite impressive, they have family rooms in level 3 and 6, and additional diaper changing stations in the toilets at the even floors. Not too bad for an “older” shopping centre.

Cubicle: 8/10 – Only able to accommodate 1 feeding mother at any point in time, the feeding room is separated from the diaper changing area by a swinging door.

Changing Station: 9/10 – Standard cushioned tops with no strsps. It’s right next to the sink and hot water dispenser. The waste bin is just below the changing table.

Extras: A long bench for spouses to wait while their wives feed.

General Feel: Clean, simple and well equipped.

Score: 9/10

4) Bukit Panjang Plaza
Description – The whole shopping centre only has 1 foldable baby changing station in the handicap toilet at the basement. So far we haven’t been able to use it cos’ it’s always occupied. I took a peek into the place once and I was appalled by how stinky and dirty it was. Enough said.

Score: 1/10 For the fact that they at least have ONE changing area.

5) Chinatown Point
Description – This place is NOT baby friendly at all. No changing station anywhere in the whole complex. The last time we were there, we had to change Cherise in her stroller outside the toilet…not very good for your back.

Score: 0/10

6) Tanglin Mall
Description – Since the baby related shops are all located at the 3rd floor, it made sense that the baby care facilities are all located there. There is one feeding room with an armchair near the toilet area where you can change your baby’s diapers as well. The also have 2 foldable changing stations, one in the female toilet and outside (supposedly for diaper changing daddies).

Cubicle: 7/10 – Very private cos’ the door can be locked from the inside. Hunny says that the room is quite poorly maintained though.

Changing Station: 7/10 – I’ve only managed to use the one outside the toilet for obvious reasons. The waste bin is just next to the changing station so it is very convenient – just wipe, fold and throw. But the absence of a sink makes it inconvenient when it gets messy.

Extras: Free diaper changing demonstration for everyone walking past.

General Feel: I guess it is not very daddy friendly, but at least they try. The good news is that if you were to patronise Mother and Child, you can use the premise for diaper changing and feeding, a great place for breastfeeding mothers to hangout.

Score: 7/10

Okie…that’s all for now…standby for Vol 3…