Times have certainly changed! When I first had Cooper, my Mum told me when I was born there was nothing available for parents. You would feed your baby sitting in the middle of the shopping centre, if it was acceptable or you would feed baby in the ladies room. She would change our nappies in the pram, trying to juggle shopping bags and people looking at her. If you needed a bottle or baby food heated you would have to hope that a cafe had a microwave and they would be willing to heat it for you.

Now life is so much easier! We now have wonderful parents rooms! A clean, safe and practical place to feed and change baby and even with play areas in some!

Our local shopping centre is excellent. It is brand new and has the best parents room I have seen. It has a fenced play area for the kids with a few things to climb on and some activities aswell as a flat screen tv. The change facilities are great with a sink right next to the change tables and bins within arms reach. There is also a little kitchen nook with a microwave and sink for heating bottles and food and 2 private rooms for breast feeding. Plus for the Mum’s with toilet training aged children there is 2 toilets in the restroom – 1 full sized toilet and a smaller kids toilet!

When we were there yesterday there was a new addition which I thought was photo worthy! A vending machine! Not your usual machine filled with your favourite drinks or snacks. But one filled with all of your parenting needs! Here are a few things that were in the machine:

* Sippy Cups
* Nappies of all sizes sold in a single pack
* Bottles
* Small toys – hot wheels cars and farm animals
* Sultanas
* Dummies
* Baby food
*Snacks
* Nappy cream

Those are just some! It was really a great idea and so handy if you have forgotten anything!

Parents rooms are really an amazing luxury we have and I really applaud the shopping centres for allowing us the space and facilities to make feeding and changing so easy!

Jen xx