When I had Baby Arabian Notes, I was pretty nervous to go out in public at first as I just wasn’t confident with breastfeeding and thought of having to do it in public just didn’t make me comfortable. It’s something that I became pretty used to after time, once we’d settled into a routine, though it was still preferable to me to try to only go out between feeds wherever possible! Whilst breastfeeding is positively encouraged here in the UAE, and with the law on our side even, it’s certainly not something that we should feel uncomfortable about or worry about, but I know that just like I did at first, there are also lots of other women out there who do feel the same.
So, for those of you who do feel more comfortable with a little privacy, here’s some of the baby feeding rooms I found on my travels around the city…
There are actually very few malls that don’t have these facilities, although some are considerably better than others as you’ll see!
Ikea changing and nursing room
Ikea actually has at least two of these rooms, and although they’re small they were quite pleasant with nice decor, a comfy chair, good changing facilities and even a cot!
Ikea changing and nursing room
Yas Mall is a great mall for breastfeeding and has some great areas… the larger ladies toilets have cordoned off semi-private seated waiting areas before you reach the bathrooms which are fine to use – I have used those areas myself previously and seen many other women do the same.
Yas Mall semi-private female only area by the bathrooms – a perfect feeding pit stop
My favourite feeding room at Yas Mall though had to be inside Babyshop… two comfy chairs even with footrests and a functional changing area. What else could you ask for? The pictures below are of the Yas Mall Babyshop, though it’s worth remembering that all Babyshop stores have these rooms, you may just need to ask where they are, and they’re not all quite as nice in my experience… their newer stores have nicer rooms.
Babyshop feeding and changing room at Yas mall
Changing area in Babyshop changing and feeding room at Yas mall
One of my other favourites is The Galleria mall. They have really large changing / feeding / breakout rooms that are even equipped with TVs! There’s also a little table which is great if you have other older kids in tow too, and a big comfy seat.
The Galleria mall nursing and changing room
It’s also worth noting that The Galleria mall also has parent and child parking spaces! I’ve looked for these at so many malls and so few have them! Even Abu Dhabi’s newest, Yas Mall, doesn’t have ANY parent and child parking spaces. Now I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s not about being near the mall door – it’s about having a space wide enough to pull the buggy up next to the car door to get the baby in and out of the car seat easily! This can be so difficult in a normal space, especially when someone invariably comes and parks at a most inconsiderate angle next to you! Tell me I’m not the only one who’s been there… sweating in the heat and struggling to get the door wide enough to get the baby back into his car seat?!
The Galleria mall
Mother care at Abu Dhabi mall also has a changing room that could be used for feeding, though I’m not sure if there’s a chair. And Mamas and Papas also have changing facilities too.
The rooms at Al Wahda Mall amount to no more than just a tiny, stuffy room with a hard chair and separate changing facilities which are usually inside the toilets.
Al Wahda Mall nursing room next to Mugg and Bean coffee shop
Mushrif Mall has a larger room that also has changing facilities, and at the other end of the room there’s also a toilet since it doubles as a disabled bathroom.
Mushrif Mall feeding room
In fact, the only malls I have come across that don’t have some sort of facility are Dalma Mall and WTCAD although you can find Babyshop stores with feeding rooms in both of these malls.
And as a final note, it has also often been mentioned to me by friends that if you’re really stuck, you can use the female prayer rooms and as long as you’re being respectful to the space and not leaving a mess or anything, people won’t mind. These are clean and comfortable and usually have a little bench or seat outside.
If you know of any others or have any other suggestions that might help others then please do feel free to let me know in the comments below. 🙂 I hope you found this useful!
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Mothercare at Yas mall as a great one as well. And you can feed your baby in all Mamas&Papas they have nice rooms for that.
Oh yes, those are good ones, thanks!
In UK used to hate the rooms that were annexes to the toilet, usually smelly, no fresh air. It’s a catch 22 the less mums that feed in public the less likely future mums will feel comfortable to feed in public as its not seen as the ‘norm’.
Yes, you’re right on both counts. It should be seen as the norm as there couldn’t be anything much more normal! I guess it’s just nice to have options sometimes.
Great article, thank you!:) I fed in public in Dalma mall, just sat down on a bench and put on my nursing cover cause I had no idea Babyshop had a nursing room! And when I really can’t find any comfortable place to go to, I go to a changing room in a store like H&M or something. They usually have a chair.
Glad you liked the post! Yes, a few people have also suggested changing rooms to me before – apparently Marks and Spencer are a favourite!
Toys R Us in Dalma Mall also has a great nursing room with nursing chair and footrest, changing stations etc.
Good to know, that’s one I wasn’t aware of, thanks! ????
I am afraid there is no breastfeeding room at Babyshop in WTCM, or did I just miss it? Abu Dhabi Mall has a nice BF room also. Changing rooms are also great, I remember we had it at VS’ in Yas Mall and I was feeling Iike I were a princess resting on a pink velvet couch with blings everywhere! Felling sexy though I was with a milk monster then… ????????
Yes, there definitely is a feeding room at Babyshop WTCAD because I’ve used it myself ???? but it is hidden round the corner towards the back-right side of the store, the staff will gladly show you if you ask for it ????. I like the sound of your Yas Mall experience, any opportunity to feel sexy as a milk monster is worth its weight in gold! ????
Thanks so much for this article! Just came from Al Wahda mall rushing back home to feed my LO. The toilets and feeding areas are a sore sight but now I have learned where to go and don’t have to rush out like I did today. This really helped!
Glad the article helped! I’m sure there are more options now since I first wrote this too. I need to add the new family bathrooms at both Yas Mall and The Galleria as they are great spaces complete with comfy seats! The Galleria has to win here on comfort and style points though – they have the best bathrooms of all.