If you are a breastfeeding mother, you know that it can be awkward trying to find a good place to breastfeed your baby when you’re not home. Some people are bolder than others about breastfeeding in public, but there are times when you need to feed your baby and don’t have time to go home. As a mum of two in the Winchester area, here’s my guide (from personal experience) of the best places to breastfeed in Winchester, Hampshire, England. If you know of any other good spots, let me know.
Debenhams
Conveniently located on the Winchester High Street, Debenhams is a major department store. This may seem like a weird place to tell you to breastfeed, but if you don’t like doing it in public view, this is a great choice. Debenhams has nice dressing rooms, and some of their fitting rooms even have armchairs and/or sofas. If you want a comfortable place for a longer feed, this is a great place to go. Take the lift at the back of the store to the changing rooms on the 1st or 2nd floors, and go to a fitting room to be able to breastfeed your baby in a quiet, private place. This is especially good for babies who are easily distracted when breastfeeding, or if you’re hoping to settle your baby down for a nap.
Outdoor Spaces
If the weather’s nice, it can be really nice to breastfeed your baby outside. The grassy area in front of the Winchester Cathedral is quite inviting, and does have some benches that you can sit on. It is often quite crowded during the summer, but it’s a friendly environment with a good mix of people, including families.
If you have older children, then the playground is also a good choice. Then you can let your older kids run around and play (the playground is in a gated area and includes good play areas for kids of various ages) while you sit on the bench and breastfeed baby. Winchester has some great outdoor spaces that are a lovely place to sit, relax, and breastfeed when the weather is nice.
Winchester Discovery Centre
The Winchester Discovery Centre is Winchester’s revamped library on Jewry Street. It is a big modern space with a library and other spaces, like an art gallery. There are plenty of places where you can sit down and breastfeed. I particularly like breastfeeding in libraries because you can pick a book to start reading while you feed.
B.A.B.I.E.S.
There is a support group for breastfeeding in Winchester (Babies and Breastfeeding, Information, Encouragement, Support). Located at Lanterns Children’s Centre on Bereweek Road, they run sessions every Wednesday morning. It’s free to stop in, and you can breastfeed and chat, or get support and advice.
There are, of course, countless places in Winchester where you can breastfeed your baby. These are some of the most comfortable and convenient spots that I have found.
