{"id":2744,"date":"2021-06-09T16:40:48","date_gmt":"2021-06-09T07:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theharunafamily.com\/home\/?p=2744"},"modified":"2021-07-08T13:20:59","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T04:20:59","slug":"baby-stations-breastfeeding-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theharunafamily.com\/home\/2021\/06\/09\/baby-stations-breastfeeding-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby Stations & Breastfeeding in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our son Jamie is EBF, which means exclusively breastfed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although you might not see a lot of people breastfeed publicly in Japan, many public spaces are supportive of breastfeeding. The building where we grocery shop includes a breastfeeding area on the third floor, which can be easily accessed via elevator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have taken advantage of a few of these public “baby stations”, and they are very convenient!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

It’s something that I would love to see available in more countries, rather than trying to change babies in cramped bathroom stalls!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Due to COVID restrictions, there is usually a limitation on how many people can be in a baby station at one time (this one allows up to 8 people), and hand sanitizer is provided at the entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most baby stations in privacy-conscious Japan include about four individual breastfeeding nooks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each nook includes a curtain that can be closed, a comfortable chair, as well as a side-table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Baby stations feature changing tables, a sitting area, a sink to wash hands, a separate sink for washing bottles, and a hot water machine for formula users. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of the areas except for the breastfeeding zone can be used by both male and female caregivers, which is helpful since I often have my hands full on a shopping day! My husband Masashi helps with changing our son in the photo above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The baby stations also offer an area to dispose of diapers (after inserting into free plastic bags), as well as a place for checking baby’s weight and height, with growth charts on the walls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some of the baby stations include vending machines that sell formula and other beverages or snacks for small children and their caregivers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being an area frequented by little ones, the baby stations are surprisingly clean! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you might be hard-pressed to find any building in Japan free of misspellings and “Japanglish” errors.. an overconfidence about English usage seems to surpass the glaring need for proofreaders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In addition to offering breastfeeding-friendly baby stations at many public locations, you can also purchase nursing covers at most maternity shops in Japan, and the La Leche League has a branch in Japan, see here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although information about nursing in Japan tends to be outdated, and breastfeeding in public is not currently popular, the country is still relatively supportive of breastfeeding, and I do not often feel inconvenienced about having a breastfed child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the contrary, I’m grateful to have clean, thoughtfully organized, uncramped spaces to take care of my son!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have any questions about breastfeeding in Japan? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please leave a comment below!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo credits: (c) theharunafamily.com<\/em><\/p>\n