Parent Room Reviews, by Suburb

Birkenhead Point: The one at Birkenhead is quite good too but certainly no micro-wave or anything like that.Submitted by Mav 1/8/1999 - taken from Mother & Child

Blacktown Westpoint: Westpoint Blacktown - the one in Grace Bros (the one in the centre is not so good). Has all the nessicities, plus a play area for toddlers. Can be a bit crowded at times. Submitted by Mellecia 2/8/1999 - taken from Mother & Child

Chatswood: Yesterday I was in Grace Bros in Chatswood (Sydney) and was very impressed with their babies' room. Spacious, clean, pleasant, private, comfortable and lots of facilities, including a microwave and a high chair! Submitted by Mags 25/7/1999 - taken from Mother & Child<

City, DJ's I'm surprised the one at DJ's in town isn't much brighter also. They really need to be cleaned regularly - I'm amazed at how many smell. Submitted by Mav 1/8/1999 - taken from Mother & Child<

City, Broadway: Broadway is the best one so far that I have been to. What makes it great is that the room is not an afterthought. This is a new centre & not only is the parent room great, with a leather sofa for breastfeeding as well as 2 private cubicles for breastfeeding and change tables within them. There's a microwave, a bottle warmer, sink & even a toilet big enough to wheel the pram in & also a kids toilet which is a mini version of a normal toilet. Great for those that a toilet trained !
Also what's great is that pram access in the whole centre is fantastic. You can shop,carry something back to your car which is too big to keep carrying around with you , then go back & continue shopping as the car park is close to the centre. Submitted by Nonda 27/7/1999 - taken from Mother & Child

Darling Harbour: As for Darling Harbour - the one near the Merry-go-round is OK but the other one in the shop part is not great. Submitted by Mav 1/8/1999 - taken from Mother & Child

Hurstville Westfields: Hurstville is great but location isn't as great, especially if you need to go & you're at the other end of the centre. There are others around but the best one is adjacent to the car park on the International Food Court section. There's a TV in there for breasfeeding Mums, a bottle warmer, change tables with a tap in the middle ( for some reason ) & a toilet within. Submitted by Nonda 27/7/1999 - taken from Mother & Child

Leichhardt Markettown: One of the worst. Submitted by Mav 1/8/1999 - taken from Mother & Child
I agree with the state of the Leichhardt Marketplace one, just went there today and the light didn't even work! I used to work for Lend Lease Retail who build and design shopping centres and was always surprised who had the say in the design of parents rooms, usually young single males! They are better now and survey the general public as to their needs. Let's hope they all smarten up their act 'cause there are alot of mums out here. Submitted by Becci 5/1/2000 - taken from Mother & Child

Parramatta Westfield: Parramatta Westfield - this one is enormous and has a whole separate room separated even further into comfortable cubicles with curtains for breastfeediing, a toilet for adults, and quite a few chage tables. I think it has a bottle warmer and microwave too, but not sure as I have never used them. Submitted by Mellecia 2/8/1999 - taken from Mother & Child

Penrith, Grace Bros: Excellent Submitted by Mav 1/8/1999 - taken from Mother & Child

St Ives: St. Ives Shopping Centre, Mona Vale Rd. St Ives has the nicest parents room that I have seen. It is unlocked by the management staff when you need it. (This is no problem as you pass their office on the way, and they do it automatically) It is always spotless and has babywipes just in case you forget your own. It also has toys to keep other children occuppied. Submitted by mumad 21/7/1999 - taken from Mother & Child<
I too have been to the parenting room at St Ives Shopping centre and agree that it is excellent.Submitted by Mav 1/8/1999 - taken from Mother & Child

Sydney Airport: I got caught out at the airport recently. Their room was fine but no nappy dispenser. I was only travelling domestic (40 minute flight) and (perhaps stupidly) didn't have a spare nappy on me (they were packed). The flight of course was delayed a couple of hours. Still I mentioned this to an attendant and he quickly provided me with a "Qantas baby" bag complete with nappies, wipes, toy plane, bib and placemat. Submitted by Mav 1/8/1999 - taken from Mother & Child
When we were seeing our eldest son off at the Sydney International airport last week we had the unfortunate task of having to use the baby change room. What a disgrace. The room was so small that there was not enough room for the pram or my husband. The toilet was occupied by an elderly Japanese tourist. There was a pull down change table, with no paper towel (always use my own mat anyway), a small sink and one plastic chair. Once the baby was on the change table his arm was hanging over the side. If someone had of opened the door his arm would have been hurt. Everytime I moved the hand dryer started, which in turn upset the baby. I could not get out of there quick enough. This room was not setup to allow fathers the take children to the toilet. The only toilet in there was an adult size one. Just as we were leaving the area an Airport Helper was showing someone else to the only room. I asked him where I could complain about the facilities. I followed him to get a feedback form, which I completed as soon as I got home and sent it in. He said that there was one more change room but it was usually closed. I can't believe we can host an Olympics but can't build an acceptable Parents Room. Maybe they are just assuming tourists will not bring their babies or small children when they visit. Submitted by Tracey 5/1/2000 - taken from Mother & Child
The best I've seen was in the international departure area at Sydney, and that had a pull-down change table next to a big old laundry tub... no children's toilet, no paper towels, no nothing. Disgraceful. Submitted by Trish 5/1/2000 - taken from Mother & Child

Warriewood, Warriewood Square: There are two parent's rooms in this centre. The original one is still in good condition (near Franklins), spacious with pictures and a separate toilet. The new one nearer the new food hall (which is in the new part of the centre) has couches, a microwave, separate feeding area, and a separate bathroom with 2 toilets - one for adults and a child-sized one. Lots of thought obviously went into this one. Submitted by Bettibeetle 24/5/2000

A Note from Sammyhamster 16/8/1999 who started this survey on Mother & Child:
I picked this up from the Nursing mothers web site. Does any one know of any baby care rooms that come close to their criteria?! It would be nice if all facilities met these guidelines:
**** The Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia has launched a national campaign to award the Baby Care Room symbol to premises which provide facilities to enable mothers to feed and change their babies and toddlers when they are away from home. Australia's Parents magazine is sponsoring the project.
The Baby care Room symbol is awarded to a premises with: · a convenient, quiet place to feed in privacy · comfortable seating (armchair style is preferable) · cleanliness · somewhere safe and clean to change nappies · hot and cold water and hand drying facilities · waste disposal · a smoke free zone · preferably access for fathers who need to care for infants without interfering with the privacy of breastfeeding women Other features that are highly desirable to consider during the design of a baby change and feeding facility include: · easy pram (stroller) access, including twin prams · doors should be light to push and have the ability to be propped open for pram access, but not automatic · the room should be clearly marked and easy to find · food preparation area separate to nappy change area, with bottle warming facilities · hot water thermostat regulator on taps · change bench within arms reach of taps so baby can remain attended · dispenser machine to buy disposable nappies · dispenser machine for paper cups · toddler toilet with low mirror, low wash basin with automatic cut off taps, no automatic hand drying facilities and a door able to be pushed open from the inside ******
Their website is:- "www.nmaa.asn.au"