Oh, the places you’ll go—Dr. Seuss tells us. But when you are your baby’s sole or primary food source, it’s easy to feel less than adventurous during those early days and months. But we know that positive distractions, like going outside and refocusing on what you love to do, can be crucial for your postpartum mental health. And now, it’s easier than ever for new mothers to get out of the house thanks to theses free, easy-to-access nursing lounges and amenities at local attractions and venues like these.
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Fort Worth Museum of Science & History
This museum is cultural gem for families, only in part for its play space for Children’s Museum but also for, perhaps lesser known, its breastfeeding-friendly spaces. Nursing moms are welcome to breastfeed in any area, though if you prefer privacy, make your first stop the parent’s room in the Children’s Museum (see featured image) on the first floor.
This room has a rocking chair and ottoman, changing table and sink, as well as a white noise machine that’ll comfort baby and help in drowning out any noise from children playing outside its doors. In the event you need to bring in your older children with you, there’s wall-mounted toys to keep them entertained while you feed baby.
If the parent’s room is occupied, not to worry. Two more options sit right next door: a family restroom and a calming room. The latter is a designed for sensory-sensitive children who may need a timeout, but new moms are welcome to use it as well. It’s equipped with a white noise machine, soft furniture and padded walls, and dark lighting—perfect for lulling baby to sleep. // Fort Worth, 817/255-9300; fwmuseum.org
Globe Life Field
At the start of the Texas Rangers’ 50th anniversary season in 2022, the team’s ballpark introduced new mothers’ rooms and bathrooms, each stocked with complimentary essentials including U.S.-made diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer and hand soap by Hello Bello. Eight fan-accessible rooms, themed after Hello Bello’s own diaper designs, can be found on the suite level near guest services and at several concourses (in sections 20, 27, 101, 125, 130, 209 and 224). // Arlington, 817/533-1723; mlb.com/rangers
IKEA
The Grand Prairie store especially caters to breastfeeding mothers via its baby care room, located in the restaurant area, a great spot to where you can grab a snack too and take a breather from the IKEA maze. The baby care room’s got seating, a changing table and is always stocked with complimentary diapers in case you need a spare—or just don’t want to rummage through your diaper bag. The Frisco store doesn’t have all the same offerings, but they do have a private room with seating inside the family restroom. // Grand Prairie, 972/641-9535; Frisco, 972/712-5591; national number: 888/888-4532; ikea.com
Kimbell Art Museum
The Kimbell also houses quite a few amenities to encourage patrons of all ages, even infants. Breastfeeding mothers are welcome to bring their babes along and take a rest in the nursing room. One is located in the Renzo Piano Pavilion, downstairs from the education classrooms. This private room is furnished with a comfortable armchair, sink and mini fridge for storing milk during your visit.
All the restrooms—women’s, men’s, and family restrooms—in both museum buildings have changing tables. Of course, nursing mothers are welcome anywhere throughout the museum, whether that be on a bench in the courtyards, outdoor porticos, in the Studio A play space with toys and activities designed for children 5 and younger. // Fort Worth, 817/332-8451; kimbellart.org
Nasher Sculpture Center
For lovers of modern and contemporary art, you can feed your soul while also breastfeeding your hungry baby on a stop into this Downtown Dallas art museum and its sculpture garden. Nurse anywhere you like, and if you prefer privacy, staff welcomes you into the designated quiet room. Located next to the restrooms with sinks and changing tables on the lower level, the quiet room’s got the basics you’ll need: adjustable lighting, seating, a locking door, and an electrical outlet for mothers to plug in a breast pump. // Dallas, 214/242-5100; nashersculpturecenter.org
NorthPark Center
This luxury shopping center with world-class art on display is a fabulous excuse to do some retail therapy, treat yourself to lunch out, or going to a baby program at Bookmarks library. While you’re there with baby, take advantage of NorthPark’s several private nursing rooms, each with extra wide seats, electrical outlets, sinks and padded changing tables for not-so-glamorous blowouts.
On level one near Breadwinners and across from the Bookmarks, you’ll find two nursing rooms furnished with lounging chairs and three family restrooms with kid-friendly toilets and sinks—and on the second level, three spacious family restrooms open into the hallway between Ray-Ban and Auntie Anne’s (convenient if a soft pretzel sounds tempting, too).
For Nordstrom shoppers, take the elevator up to the third floor. In addition to a family restroom, they’ve got a spacious women’s lounge and mother’s room inside the women’s restroom, furnished with two couches and four chairs and equipped with a changing table. // Dallas, 214/363-7441; northparkcenter.com
Perot Museum of Nature & Science
When you’re in need of a quiet retreat for nursing, head to one of three areas here. On level 4 near the Paleo Lab in the T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall, there’s a private nursing nook, with outlets for pumping and a Nessel lactation chair for seating. Albeit there’s no changing table or sink; for those, head into the nearby restrooms on the same level. Another nursing nook with the same amenities is located on the lower level in the Moody Family Children’s Museum, an interactive play space specifically for children 5 and younger.
Even if you only get as far as the Perot’s main entrance before you need to stop and breastfeed, you’re welcome to sit on the benches inside the restroom near Hoglund Foundation Theater. Also on level 1, as of early November 2023, the Perot has added a new family restroom equipped with a changing table. // Dallas, 214/428-5555; perotmuseum.org
The Shops at Clearfork
While at this outdoor shopping center enjoying some sunshine time with baby or splashing in the Plaza’s fountains, a private breastfeeding room is nearby if you need it. A nursing mothers lounge is nestled next to the Tiffany & Co. store (donut and window shopping, anyone?). This lap of luxury includes comfortable furniture and a sink for rinsing out baby bottles or cleaning up. Bring along a breast pump and running low on battery? They’ve got electrical outlets too, and of course a changing station. In the event that the nursing lounge is occupied at the moment, try the two private family restrooms right next door. // Fort Worth, 817/732-9552; simon.com
Meyerson Symphony Center
Breastfeeding patrons are welcome to do so in their seats, though, if you prefer privacy or if your child is crying during a performance, head toward the parent’s room located in the lower lobby, on the east side, near the box office room, near the Guest Services Center. This room is fitted with two comfortable chairs, a changing table and privacy curtains. Don’t want to miss out on the show? Near the restrooms, a video screen displays a live feed of the concert. // Dallas, 214/849-4376; dallassymphony.org
Nursing Pods on the Go
These free-to-access portable lactation stations and pods provide a relaxing, discreet respite for breastfeeding and pumping moms on the go.
Mamava Pods
This is the kind of infrastructure we need: freestanding pods found in dozens of locations around Dallas-Fort Worth. “Pod” sounds tiny but there’s space enough for seating, a side table, outlets and mirror. The XL pods are wheelchair-friendly, with extra space to fit your stroller. Download the free app (it’s impressively user-friendly) to search the map for the Mamava Pod nearest you, and use the keypad or the app to unlock a pod with an access code.
The drawbacks? No sinks, and they discourage users from changing diapers too, though the pods are often placed in close proximity to restrooms that do have changing tables. And beyond pods, the app also shows even more lactation spaces at non-Mamava destinations. This info is user-generated, so you can read and leave reviews, add photos, and add a whole new lactation space you’ve found around town. // Multiple locations, 802/347-2111; mamava.com
MilkSpace
This mobile breastfeeding space—popping up at select events and family festivals in North Texas—is a climate-controlled, decorated trailer equipped with all the creature comforts a mom could want within arm’s reach. Plush pillows and seating, including a space to lay down while listening to smoothing music, a mini kitchen with a microwave and refrigeration, snacks and water, and enough room to fit up to three mothers at a time. Siblings are welcome too, says Kelli Mumphrey, the North Texas mom and veteran who founded MilkSpace in 2018. Follow on Instagram @milkspace.co and on Facebook to stay in the know about where it’ll be popping up around North Texas. // Locations vary, 972/919-6927; milkspace.co
Pluie Diaper Changing Tables
One thing that’s changing the game on diaper changes in public restrooms? That’s Pluie (hellopluie.com), the world’s first and only self-sanitizing diaper changing table. Gone are the grimy and ill-maintained plastic tables, in are plush pads with a UV-C light system that kills 99.9% of germs.
Founder Addie Gundry, of Keller, who first imagined a more hygienic alternative after her then-10-month-old son blew out his diaper in a public restroom, and cofounder Brittany Hizer launched the brand in 2020. Now, Pluie is popping up in more places around the country. These auto-disinfecting changing tables are installed at these Dallas-Fort Worth area locations:
• Globe Life Field: in the nursing/mothers’ rooms behind sections 103 and 207
• Bahama Buck’s: in Double Oak and Roanoke
• Dallas Love Field: seven locations throughout the airport
• DFW International Airport: Terminal C at the High C gates (in the nursing/mother room, family restroom, men’s and women’s)
• PeeknPlay in Grapevine, Frisco (new location), and McKinney (coming end of December 2023)
• Texas Roadhouse restaurants in The Colony, Denton, Fort Worth, Mesquite and Prosper
Top image courtesy of Fort Worth Museum of Science & History
