Connor Dragun, 18 months, had to take an early trip to the pub when his nappy needed changing and aunt Suzanne Dragun could find nowhere else to take him. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0621146)
FACILITIES in Town for mothers and babies are not up to scratch, say mothers and the NCT.
Lindsey Hutchings said that shopping was stressful because there was nowhere to change nappies or feed her children.
‘Twice I have been in Town and there was nowhere to go. It has become a nightmare,’ said Mrs Hutchings.
There are a few baby-changing units in Town, but they are on stores’ top floors.
This is difficult for parents with buggies and pushchairs, especially when lifts are out of order.
‘Marks & Spencer in Smith Street has excellent facilities, but when I went to go there the other day the lift had broken down,’ said Mrs Hutchings.
‘I had to think of somewhere else I could feed my daughter and returned to my car as it seemed the quickest and easiest option.’
Mrs Hutchings has a two-month-old daughter and a two-year-old son and uses a tandem buggy.
‘It’s not particularly wide, but in some places it can’t even fit through the door.’
Chairwoman of the National Childbirth Trust Guernsey branch Jane Dufty said the lack of facilities puts mothers off shopping in St Peter Port.
‘Retailers should be doing more to provide better facilities as mums wanting to feed their child or change them have few places that they can go.’
She added that many mothers did not feel comfortable breastfeeding in public and it was hard to find anywhere suitable.
‘It is quite upsetting that mothers are going back to the car, but I would probably do it as well because it is the easiest option.’
Suzanne Dragun said she had found shopping difficult with her 18-month-old nephew.
‘Unless you go somewhere to eat, there is nowhere to go to change them.
‘Even then the toilets do not always have adequate facilities.
‘On Saturday, Connor started crying so I thought I’d better check his nappy but
I thought where can I go?
‘In the end I had to go to a pub.’
Managing director of Creasey’s and chairman of the Chamber of Commerce retail sub-committee Tony Creasey said the issue had not been raised among chamber members.
‘The changing facilities that we do have are the best we can provide as the space is so limited,’ he said.
He also added that Town centre traders were disappointed when there were no public toilets or facilities included in the re-development of the Markets.
Sam Sindall, who was in Town with son Drew, six months, agreed.
‘I think they should put baby changing in public toilets – including men’s,’ she said.
A Treasury and Resources Department spokesman confirmed that there were no baby-changing facilities in any public toilets.
Article posted on 13th August, 2008 - 2.29pm
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23 Article Comments
I have a 17 month old daughter and I agree that the facilities are apalling. Many of the local cafes, even the new ones or ones which have recently been upgraded don’t have baby change facilities at all. It does make life difficult for those with young families. The large shopping centres in the Uk all have public baby change and feeding areas and the states should be doing something about this, especially with all of the work going on in town, this should be part of the new developments
Oh get a life! Children have been around since the year dot, and mothers have found ways in which to feed and change their children without making a song and dance about the whole thing. There are plenty of places to discreetely feed your child whilst you have a drink yourself. If parents didn’t overload themselves with ridiculously large buggies and shopping then they would be able to cope with stairs.
Sorry to say it, but your ideas NCT members are old fashioned - and you need to get on with bringing up your children without whingeing so much.
I am sure I have seen a baby change facility in the library. It is on the top floor but the lift is very spacious to accomodate book trolleys so there should be no problem with buggies and the new ramp by the market steps makes the library easier to reach.
Ex-pat - you obviously don’t have young children or you would not make such ridiculous comments! Wake up - it is 2008, and people have a right to expect clean and appropriate places to feed and change babies. I have a baby, a two year toddler, and a rather compact buggy, and i find it extremely difficult to get up/down flights of stairs, even though i am fit and strong.
I couldnt believe my eys when i read this, what the heck is an 18 month old child doing in nappies anyways!!!!! if you people had to handwash terry nappies you wouldnt have them in nappies so long. I have a 3 yr old and she was out of nappies day AND night by the time she was 18 months and yes town is difficult for toilet facilities. but i would be ashamed to admit my child was still in nappies at that age, and before you ask i have 3 older children too, and they were all out of nappies by that age too!!
Brodie,
You’re getting off the point here. Wow, well done on getting your kids out of nappys, well worth bragging about!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Nikki - I am not in the habit of making statements or comments about subjects I know nothing about! I have had three children (the last just 8 years ago) and never had a problem with finding somewhere to change or feed. My problem is with women who always have to make a fuss about something which is not world shatteringly important.
Brodie - perhaps we are on the same wavelength……
yes we are Expat, there are loads of places as i breatfeed all mine and always went to town mind you i didnt struggle with buggies either as i always carried mine!!
and jersey boy i wasnt get off the point i did say earlier that yes town was difficult for toilet facilities but when you have a youngster with you most shopkeepers are happy for you to use theirs when they realise your child needs the toilet!
Expat/Brodie, the sad aspect here is you rubbish those who are indeed correct in what they say. You are so rude in questioning their parental skills. The harsh reality is that there are indeed not enough changing facilities in the island let alone the town area. You may deem this statement garbage because it does not fall into both of yours illogical views and superior parenting skills and it is your right but please if you are going to comment then use some intellect instead of belittling those who are obviously more on the ball in all aspects then you two could ever be……
Pete - I am not seeking to question anyone’s parental abilities - that is not my job. I wouldn’t dare to assume that my parenting skills were any more superior to yours, however, I have had the ability to bring up three children without the need for whingeing (yes, whingeing) about the toileting facilities in the Town.
It is great to see a man getting into this argument though. Of course - you may see that as being patronising Pete. But I shall leave you to mull over that little comment, and see what your next salvo will be.
FYI - There are baby changing facilities inside the Guernsey Information Centre on the seafront. For those of you with prams and can’t manage the 3/4 steps, there is a disabled lift you can use to get inside the building.
Stop making such a ridiculous fuss. ‘Nightmare’? Get a grip woman. If town is so nightmarish I suggest you stay in.
What a shame Guernsey people are so vicious and nasty about those trying to improve facilites. I cannot believe that somebody would be so rude about somebodys child on a public forum such as this and am quite amazed that the Press review process felt it appropriate to publish such nasty comments about those trying to make life here a little eaier and more pleasent for themselves. This topic is hardly world changing, are the comments from ‘perfect parents’ expat and brodie really necessary?
I often look on “thisisguernsey” as I am a Guern living in Norfolk. I can see everyone’s point. Yes there aren’t many changing facilities in town and that can be a pain, but its not only Guernsey that has that problem. I live in Norfolk and while some places do have excellent facilities like Castle Mall in Norwich, some have none. Many a time I’ve changed my daughters on the floor of a cafe toilet or even on the front seat of the car.
The only comment I didn’t agree with was Brodie’s about children not being in nappies at 18 months, well my Mum did use Terry nappies and still calls baby wipes “liners” bless her, but then again that was 38 years ago and disposable nappies are so much easier (I could start on about the environment, working Mums, etc. etc. but I’d be here all day so I won’t). My eldest wasn’t fully toilet trained till she was 2 and my youngest is 14 months and still in nappies. All children are different I know, but I don’t think people should be judged because their children are still in nappies at 18 months!!!!
I dont have children and don’t live even on the island, but is a regular (former) visitor i like to respond. Maybe youre right if you tell that facilitis are poorn for mother wit small children, but my experiance is that on Guernsey people helping eache other. I think its better to realise how lucky you are to live in Guernsey with all the benefits of an island were people still help eache other an where is a lot of less crime is than in England or anywhere.
Well done Markets misdevelopers, some of this is down to you. When other towns were getting shopping malls with whizzy new facilities, we eventually get one that takes toilets away. You don’t have to be a breastfeeding mum to find Town a nightmare. A couple of schoolage daughters getting caught short in the Old Quarter does it for me. At least we guys have the Bordage pissoir.
as i have said twice now, i do agree, toilet facilities are difficult in town i wasnt being vicious or nasty “claire” nor rude either, and im far from perfect otherwise i`d call myself GOD not brodie my dear!!
for those of us who do still have children in nappies (yes, at 18 months+) and who may be less confident breastfeeding in public (i’ve had several rude comments i the past), perhaps the Press or the NCT could publish a list of appropriate facilities islandwide, then we can all stop “whinging”!
Agree with ParentPete - how on earth did the markets get redeveloped minus a set of new toilets with baby changing facilities. Unbelievable.
Though the Market toilets were down a steep flight of steps and did present access issues, they were still toilets and better than none if you could make the steps.
I can’t believe they have been closed, it is not like the entrance to the toilets is being used by something else, no just coffee drinkers sitting at tables (filling bladders, irony in that)!
Big mistake loosing public loos, any loo is bettr than no loo, and then at least the demand on near by businesses for toilets would be less as it would be restricted to those who could not make the steps.
I have a baby and a three year old and I try and avoid town as much as I can. But, if I am in town and my son needs a nappy change, I manage to use the facilities available. They are not great and some are hard to get to when you have a buggy and bags full of shopping (which is what you go to town for isn’t it?) but they have come in quite useful at times. I’ve also changed nappies on the seat of the car, in the boot and also in the buggy! In an ideal world, ‘Boots’ would be located in a buggy friendly location with no steps and a car park right outside, but we all know that’s not going to happen! Us Mum’s will just carry on doing what we do best….multi-task!
I have never commented on one of these things in my life but I’m afriad brodie and expat have really got my goat. First of all, it is not normal to have your child toilet trained by 18 months, it is your choice. How dare you say you’d be ashamed to admit your child was still in nappies at that age. If you actually knew what you were talking about you would know that it is not recommended before the age of two and those who wait find it a lot easier (child and parent). As for carrying your brood around Town, expat, good for you. What do you want, a medal? In fact you are the kind of parent whose children no doubt get under everyone’s feet, dragging clothes off rails and swinging off window dressings. Get off your high horses and get a life.
oh and by the way Brodie, no not all shopkeepers are happy to let children use their facilities. Last summer I was in New Look with my 4-year-old and 18-month-ol (still in nappies, shock horror). Due to ‘health and safety reasons’ they did not allow my daughter to use their staff toilet so she peed on their floor. Also, please tell me you’re not STILL breastfeeding the 3yr old??