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Reds open nursing suite to help breast-feeding moms at the ballpark
The Cincinnati Reds announced a new ballpark feature Monday that any mother will love: A nursing suite where breast-feeding moms can retreat during a game for a more comfortable, more private moment with their child.
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Phil Castellini, the Reds' chief operating officer, told ESPN that the club had an increasing number of women asking for a better place to nurse. Pro sports stadiums are loud, crowded and sometimes sticky — so finding a serene place is a bit of a challenge. As a father of five, Castellini knew this was a serious demand, so the Reds created something special at Great American Ball Park.
"It just didn't make sense that we would put a couple chairs in the women's bathrooms," Castellini told ESPN.
And so, the nursing suite came to be. A local homebuilder created it and the Reds got Pampers to sponsor it. The result is this straight-outta-HGTV suite that's probably better than most peoples' homes.
The Reds advertise the suites as: "A private area open to all moms for breast feeding, bottle feeding and other child care needs. This space features comfortable gliders, a kitchenette with a sink, ice and refrigeration, a private restroom, changing stations and lockers for storing your items during the game."
Castellini also notes that there are flat-screen TVs, so Mom (or Dad, if he there's for a diaper change or bottle feeding) won't miss the game. There are also toys for toddlers, should one tag along.
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This isn't a first in MLB. The Seattle Mariners have a nursuing lounge, as CBS Sports blogger/friend of The Stew David Brown points out. But the Reds' nursuing suite has stepped things up, by a sizable margin. With as much effort and energy MLB teams put into creating things like Frankenstein stadium food or self-serve beer stations, it's nice to see them thinking about families too.
Well done, Reds. Take note, rest of MLB — moms and babies matter too.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
