It is sometimes not so easy to meet babies' needs quickly outside the familiar home. There is often no suitable place in a public space to breastfeed or change a baby. In the service center in the town hall, there is now a central contact point in the form of the newly equipped breastfeeding and nappy-changing room.
The room allows parents to look after their babies in peace and quiet. During the opening hours of the Service Center (DLZ) - Monday and Thursday from 8 am to 6 pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 7.30 am to 1 pm - it is open to anyone who wants to feed or change a baby and not just those who have an appointment at the DLZ. It can of course be used not only by mothers, but also by fathers and other carers and is also available to employees of the city administration.
In order to provide a protected atmosphere, the breastfeeding and changing room can be locked and the key can be collected and returned at the information desk of the service center. Those who have an appointment at the service center can pause it during their stay in the room by informing the information desk. In addition to the armchair and the changing area with diaper bin, there are paper towels, a disinfectant dispenser and flyers that draw attention to a wide range of offers on various topics. Free water is available right next door in the waiting area. Information about the breastfeeding and nappy-changing room is displayed on the entrance terminal and the information screens in the DLZ.
"The infrastructure for families in Bonn is already diverse. I am very pleased that we as the city administration now have another addition with the breastfeeding and nappy-changing room in the Stadthaus and are thus also sending out a breastfeeding-friendly signal. The award as a breastfeeding-friendly municipality is an incentive for us to set up such rooms in other administrative buildings," says Lord Mayor Katja Dörner.
The city of Bonn has been named a "breastfeeding-friendly municipality" by the North Rhine-Westphalian State Association of Midwives for setting up a breastfeeding and nappy-changing room in the Stadthaus. The breastfeeding room was set up on the initiative of the city's Equal Opportunities Office. The construction was carried out by the city's building management department and the equipment was procured by the personnel and organization office. The Citizens' Services Service Center provided active support.
"Breastfeeding mothers should also find a quiet and protected space in the Stadthaus where they can look after their baby. We also want to raise public awareness of breastfeeding," says Stephanie Clemens-Krämer, Equal Opportunities Officer for the City of Bonn.
Nadine Quäsching, head of the service center, adds: "In the past, we have been asked from time to time by mothers for a place to breastfeed. It's great that we can now offer citizens such an appealing space for breastfeeding and changing at the service center."
Background: "Breastfeeding-friendly community" campaign
Mothers and fathers often have problems finding a place where they can change and breastfeed their babies undisturbed. There is also often little acceptance of this. In order to promote breastfeeding as the norm, offer mothers a safe space and thus make NRW more family-friendly, the North Rhine-Westphalian State Association of Midwives has launched the "Breastfeeding-friendly Municipality" campaign. Thanks to this campaign, towns and municipalities can be certified as breastfeeding-friendly if they meet certain requirements and create facilities for breastfeeding mothers in public buildings.
To be recognized as a breastfeeding-friendly municipality, the following requirements must be met: A protected area, ideally a lockable room, must be provided in public buildings that are open to the public. The breastfeeding area must be easy to find with clearly visible signposts, offer a comfortable chair and baby changing facilities and a free drink such as tap water should be available. All public buildings that are certified will appear on the map of breastfeeding-friendly municipalities on the regional association's website, thus setting an example to the outside world.
According to the association, local authorities and municipalities can use simple means to significantly increase their attractiveness for young families and promote the acceptance of breastfeeding in public spaces. The aim is for more and more women to say "yes" to breastfeeding.
The breastfeeding room in the service center of the Stadthaus is just the beginning in Bonn. The Equal Opportunities Office would now like to examine other locations and office buildings and gradually create more breastfeeding and baby changing facilities in the city.
Translated with deepl.com (free version)