Yorkdale Mall

The nursing room/family room at Yorkdale mall definitely score A+!  It is located in the same areas as the washrooms located across Holt Renfrew. The room needs to be unlock by security (there is a button beside the door you can push to request access) which ensures that it is use for its intended purposes!

The room is large and spacious and even has a small children's play area with low seatings! 

There are a row of about 5 very comfortable chairs along the wall. These chairs are extra wide, has soft handles (so you don't have to worry about your hitting your baby's head on the chair handle) and has back support! They are very comfortable to nurse in =)

The room also has a small sink and a microwave for those who need to warm up their food/water. 

Change tables are located inside each of the family washroom located towards the back of the room. This is the most inconvenient part as you will have to move all your belongings into the washroom in order to change your baby. They also do not have a diaper disposal bin so you'll just have to toss the dirty diaper in the regular trash bin.

This nursing room is quite busy as Yorkdale is a busy mall. However, it is very spacious and usually very quite, making it a very comfortable nursing place! 

This room is intended for family use so it is not restricted to women only. The few times that I've been there, fathers usually wait outside once they see a few nursing mothers on the chairs. However, some of them do stay in the room to watch their other kids or give their wife a hand, so if privacy is important to you, remember to bring along your nursing cover! 

Ikea Vaughan

Ikea is a great place to shop! The family friendly facilities attracts many parents to bring their babies and stroll around the store follow by a nice lunch in their bright and open restaurant. 

Ikea does not have a room dedicated for nursing purposes. However, they do have many family rooms around the store. Every family room is equipped with a changing table, sink, as well as a chair, which mothers could use for nursing purposes. As these are family rooms and not specifically for mother's use only, please keep in mind that fathers are brining their little ones into the washroom as well! 

As mentioned previously, there are a few of these family rooms around the store. The one located near the store restaurant is the busiest, so if you are planing to nurse, I'd suggest using the one down stairs, near the entrance of the store (beside the locker area). 

The family room is quite small, so you can't bring your stroller all the way inside the room or you will be blocking access to the washroom for others who need to use the space.  However, this is not such a bad thing as people can clearly see (from outside the family room) that someone is already in there, so they often leave and go look for another washroom! The children's table in the room is large enough to place your necessities, so leaving the stroller at the door is not a huge inconvenience.

Also, if you forgot to bring diapers, or run out cause your little one uses 4 diapers at one change (mine can use up to 6 diapers at once!!), Ikea does provide free diapers near the changing station. If they run out, you can always ask a staff member and they will refill the diaper for you!

A look inside the family room. Washroom located at the back of the room behind the grey door.

Parking your stroller at the door does not prevent others from using the room but does send a signal that someone is already in here ;)

Promenade Mall (Thornhill, ON)

The nursing room in Promenade mall (Located at Bathurst and Center street) is located next to the food court. This mall was recently renovated throughout; including new flooring and lighting. The food court area has gone through extensive renovation as well. The washroom (and nursing room) near the food court area has also benefit from this renovation and was totally updated!

Entrance of the nursing room is to the right of Teriyaki Experience

The nursing room (they call it the Mother's room) is located inside the women's washroom. It is at the right side as you enter the washroom. Although it is separated from the rest of the washroom area, there is no door for the mother's room and as as result, many people will mistakenly walk into the mother's room! In fact, the nursing chairs along the wall are often the first thing that caught people's eyes as they enter the washroom; so don't be surprise to have some curious people staring into the area!   

Entrance of the Mother's room

This Mother's Room is very well equipped with three nursing chairs, two side tables, one changing table with a small sink, a diaper disposal bin and a microwave. The chairs are wide enough for comfortable feeding. The chair backs are nice and think which provides good back support. There are also enough space in the room to part three strollers comfortably. 

  

                               
                          

Large mirror behind the changing table brighten up the space!

I have nursed here a few times and found that it can be busy around lunch time. Other than mothers who uses the room to change and feed their little ones, this room is sometime use by students (there is a high school near by) as a make up area as well! I've seen staff of the mall using the microwave to heat up their lunch, and/or just taking a break listening to music on their iPods! Needless to say, the three chairs are often occupied and if you are the type that needs a lot of privacy, please remember to bring along your nursing cover! 

The noise level in this mother's room is also very very loud. The hand dryers used are the powerful and LOUD ones! There is not a minute of silence as that dryer is always on!  If your little one is easily disturbed, then I'd suggest using the chair that is furthest away from the entrance. You can still hear the noise, but at least it is a little further away. 

The decor and colour scheme is really calming. The decorations on the walls are quite nice as well. Since the room was newly renovated, everything is new and kept quite clean! The only last comment I have is that the pot lights do add some heat to this not very well ventilated room, so be prepare to sweet a little ;)