Do any of you have experiences with breastfeeding areas / policies in daycare centers?  Our State Health Dept. is building a new office building and hopes to include an on site daycare center for infants of employees.  They want to make it a state of the art facility, including a lactation room.  I have been consulted regarding the physical requirements for this space.  Their thought is to combine the lactation room with their laundry facility and their main questions relate to sanitation.  Is it ok to have moms nursing / pumping around dirty diapers, etc.?

My thinking is why put moms in a separate room to nurse?  Wouldn't this be a great opportunity to demonstrate breastfeeding as the cultural norm to the other children?  I don't really think moms would need to pump at the daycare center as there is already a lactation room for pumping in an adjacent building.    I'm thinking they need a nearby sink for handwashing, a rocking chair, stool, pillow, and maybe a portable privacy screen for those moms who do not feel comfortable nursing out in the open.  Any other considerations?

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html