Jen from Port Moody had this to say about Earls and I have to agree with her:
I find most places are equipped with basic baby essentials....but one place really stands out to me for the opposite reason: EARL'S! I have been to multiple Earl's locations that do not have change tables. Enormous bathrooms. Huge handicapped stalls. No change tables. I understand that babies are not their primary customer group, but come on....they have high chairs! I used to go there for lunch sometimes, but after having to leave the restaurant to change my son in the car on a below-freezing afternoon....no more!
Thanks Jen!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Milestones - Coquitlam
I just got back from a great lunch at the Milestones in Coquitlam. They are definitely baby friendly in the change table department. The only drawback was that the lock on the door of the family bathroom was broken so I wouldn't recommend using the toilet since anyone could walk in. As for highchairs they have the standard wooden ones which are great for older kids but not so great for little guys like mine who are still pretty small and skinny. I have a premie so my little guy is on the smaller side. Someone should design highchairs for premies. I didn't use it because I was worried he would slip through it. Also they didn't come up level with the table. The waiter offered to stack the highchairs which surprised me because I wouldn't think that would be all that safe.
Cactus Club Park Royal & Park Royal Mall
Nicole in West Vancouver sent along the following recommendations:
Cactus Club Park Royal - not all that stroller friendly, hard to manueveor. I took DD when she was about 2 months and then again at 4 months, so no input on the high chair part, but they were able to give us a big table on the patio both times so I was able to wheel my stroller right up to the table. SO - as far as changing goes - the first time, I went into the fancy bathroom and did not see anything, so I awkwardly changed her on this fancy leather chair which was NOT baby friendly! The second time I went I discovered that the change table is in the handicapped stall and it matches the rest of the fancy bathroom - who knew they made stainless steel change tables, rather cold, but I always use the cover that came with my diaper bag. I wish I had known about this bathroom when I came the first time. I think the staff could do a better job of informing you of the facilities!!
PARK ROYAL MALL - VERY stroller and baby friendly. Elevators are easy to find and they have ramps everywhere, so very nice with the stroller. They have lots of high chairs in the food court and they have a family room with a toilet, change table and a comfy chair if you wish to nurse. The family room was great as I go often with my husband and one of us can change DD while the other goes to the bathroom.
Thanks Nicole!
Cactus Club Park Royal - not all that stroller friendly, hard to manueveor. I took DD when she was about 2 months and then again at 4 months, so no input on the high chair part, but they were able to give us a big table on the patio both times so I was able to wheel my stroller right up to the table. SO - as far as changing goes - the first time, I went into the fancy bathroom and did not see anything, so I awkwardly changed her on this fancy leather chair which was NOT baby friendly! The second time I went I discovered that the change table is in the handicapped stall and it matches the rest of the fancy bathroom - who knew they made stainless steel change tables, rather cold, but I always use the cover that came with my diaper bag. I wish I had known about this bathroom when I came the first time. I think the staff could do a better job of informing you of the facilities!!
PARK ROYAL MALL - VERY stroller and baby friendly. Elevators are easy to find and they have ramps everywhere, so very nice with the stroller. They have lots of high chairs in the food court and they have a family room with a toilet, change table and a comfy chair if you wish to nurse. The family room was great as I go often with my husband and one of us can change DD while the other goes to the bathroom.
Thanks Nicole!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Best Buy, Coquitlam, Change Table & Stroller friendly
The hubby and I did some long weekend shopping and I can now add Best Buy in Coquitlam to my baby friendly list. Located at 1135 Pinetree Way, Best Buy is very stroller friendly and definitely change table friendly.
On a side note Kabuki Sushi in Pitt Meadows on Harris Road is not baby friendly. We went there for a late lunch and they didn't have highchairs or change tables.
On a side note Kabuki Sushi in Pitt Meadows on Harris Road is not baby friendly. We went there for a late lunch and they didn't have highchairs or change tables.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
So I had an inspiration...
...that it would makes things a whole lot easier if I also included comprehensive lists of all the places that are change table friendly, highchair friendly and stroller friendly as tabs at the top of the site. This way all of the information is in one place to save everyone from having to scroll through all the blog posts. You should also be able to search my posts using the Search box on the left hand side of the blog. Let me know if you can think of anything else that would make things easier. I'm open to suggestions!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
And so the reporting begins....
My goal is to report on baby friendly establishments individually to make searching the site easier. I will label each post with the name of the business, its location and whether its stroller, highchair or change table friendly. I'm new to this blogging thing so I'm sure as I go along I'll find easier ways to set up the site. Bear with me in the meantime. But for the sake of playing catch-up I've resorted to putting together a mish-mash list of locations. Here you go...
Starbucks - So far neither of the locations I've been to seem to have highchairs. They do however have change tables which is great but I'm really surprised about the highchairs especially seeing as how plenty of moms and mom groups go to Starbucks.
White Spot - VERY VERY VERY baby friendly. They have highchairs, change tables and the whole shebang. It is also very easy to navigate a stroller through the aisles and I've been able to park my stroller at the end of tables and/or booths quite easily even though I usually just park my son in his carseat on the bench or chair next to me.
Blenz - The only Blenz I've observed is the one at Waterfront Center in Vancouver and funny enough it's the one that gave me the inspiration for this blog. To my surprise it didn't have a change table. I ended having to change my very cranky son on the security guard's desk. Not an ideal situation at all and probably not all that hygienic!
Shoe Warehouse in Sunwood Square, Coquitlam - So not stroller friendly at all! I could barely squeeze my stroller down the aisles and when I did I kept knocking things over. I ended up leaving and going back to shop when I didn't have my son with me which seems really unnecessary and a waste of my already limited time.
Pho T & T Vietnamese Noodle Soup Restaurant, Port Coquitlam - They have high chairs but no change table which I found odd because there was more than enough room in the restroom to install one. The highchairs aren't the most secure looking ones either. It's essentially a bucket with holes for the legs. Not sure I would trust them.
Starbucks - So far neither of the locations I've been to seem to have highchairs. They do however have change tables which is great but I'm really surprised about the highchairs especially seeing as how plenty of moms and mom groups go to Starbucks.
White Spot - VERY VERY VERY baby friendly. They have highchairs, change tables and the whole shebang. It is also very easy to navigate a stroller through the aisles and I've been able to park my stroller at the end of tables and/or booths quite easily even though I usually just park my son in his carseat on the bench or chair next to me.
Blenz - The only Blenz I've observed is the one at Waterfront Center in Vancouver and funny enough it's the one that gave me the inspiration for this blog. To my surprise it didn't have a change table. I ended having to change my very cranky son on the security guard's desk. Not an ideal situation at all and probably not all that hygienic!
Shoe Warehouse in Sunwood Square, Coquitlam - So not stroller friendly at all! I could barely squeeze my stroller down the aisles and when I did I kept knocking things over. I ended up leaving and going back to shop when I didn't have my son with me which seems really unnecessary and a waste of my already limited time.
Pho T & T Vietnamese Noodle Soup Restaurant, Port Coquitlam - They have high chairs but no change table which I found odd because there was more than enough room in the restroom to install one. The highchairs aren't the most secure looking ones either. It's essentially a bucket with holes for the legs. Not sure I would trust them.
Welcome to Baby Friendly BC
Are you tired of going into the coffee shop around the corner with a cranky hungry baby in tow only to realize that they don't have any highchairs? Ever struggled to find a clean place to change a wet diaper when a change table isn't readily available? Ever had to navigate a stroller through crowded aisles all the while trying not to knock things over?
As a new mom I know I have and that's why I've started this blog. I hope to make these parental headaches a thing of the past. Providing a directory of local BC businesses that are and aren't change table, stroller and/or highchair friendly, this blog aims to make the everyday hectic and sometimes even stressful task of heading out with baby a little bit easier. Now you can check before you even leave the comfort of your home to see if your destination is baby friendly or not and plan accordingly.
I would love your input and recommendations on establishments that are baby friendly or aren't. Just send me a note with the name and location of the business and whether or not it is change table friendly, stroller friendly or highchair friendly to annajeanetteblack@gmail.com. If you have a little story to go with it that would be great as well! If you have suggestions for new categories of "baby friendlyness" please let me know as well. Thanks in advance!
As a new mom I know I have and that's why I've started this blog. I hope to make these parental headaches a thing of the past. Providing a directory of local BC businesses that are and aren't change table, stroller and/or highchair friendly, this blog aims to make the everyday hectic and sometimes even stressful task of heading out with baby a little bit easier. Now you can check before you even leave the comfort of your home to see if your destination is baby friendly or not and plan accordingly.
I would love your input and recommendations on establishments that are baby friendly or aren't. Just send me a note with the name and location of the business and whether or not it is change table friendly, stroller friendly or highchair friendly to annajeanetteblack@gmail.com. If you have a little story to go with it that would be great as well! If you have suggestions for new categories of "baby friendlyness" please let me know as well. Thanks in advance!
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