An issue that has come up in my research on barriers to breastfeeding in a
low socio-economic area is that of the bottle sign being used in the major
shopping centres in this area to denote the baby care rooms (I think it is
used in airports too). While I think the baby care rooms are usually well
designed, I have a problem with the sign (and also the location - next to
the toilets if not inside them - but that's another story)and have written
to them about it. Their reply was that the bottle sign is an international
sign for baby care rooms. I think we should look at changing this -
afterall one rarely sees a mother bottle feed in a baby care room because
it is acceptable to do anywhere while I wonder how many mothers who wish to
use the baby care room to breastfeed really feel that it is OK to
breastfeed there. Why not use a baby sign to denote the baby care room -
after all that is where one goes to care for the baby. What do you think?
What sign is used in your area?
Ellen McIntyre, South Australia