Lactation Room Set Up Guide: Best Practices and Design Ideas

So, you’re in human resources or facilities management and you've been tasked with designing a Lactation Room for your employees. That can be an intimidating job, especially if you’ve never seen the inside of a Lactation Room before. Where do you start?

The best place to start is to put yourself in the shoes of a new parent who is returning to the office after parental/maternity leave.

You will want to feel comfortable and supported in the decision to provide milk for your newborn. You will want to feel that the room you are in is safe, private, and unable to be opened from the outside. You will want an ergonomic setup for your pumping position, a fridge to store milk, and a sink to clean parts. And that’s just a start!

Here’s a list that you can take with you on designing your Lactation Room.

1. Start by identifying your designated Lactation Room space

Your Lactation Room should have electrical outlets and a sink.
How many parents will be using the space at a time? Each parent needs privacy, so remember to plan for dividers or curtains if more than one person will be using the space at the same time.
Lactation rooms should also have a door that can be locked.
Don’t forget to label the Lactation Room!

2. Source the large appliances for the Lactation Room

A fully equipped Lactation Room includes:
Refrigerator with freezer unit. Optionally, consider a unit that features individual milk lockers for each mom. Having a safe, clean, dedicated space such as a fridge and/or freezer in the lactation room is ideal. It gives pumping parents peace of mind to know their chest or breastmilk is protected. Given the delicacy of human milk, these fridges are special in design, specifically for human milk storage.

These fridges are made to operate at the temperature range needed for safe human milk storage. Additionally, there are models that are outfitted with safety measures such as alarms that alert to temperature fluctuations, a door left open or power loss–all of which can be devastating to a pumping parent and to their children.

Additionally, with the understanding how crucial it is that Lactation Rooms are ultra-clean, the mother's room fridge would also have anti-microbial handles to reduce germ spread-especially important with multiple users with COVID-19 still a consideration.

Lactation Rooms ideally would also include the following amenities:
Microwave
Hospital-Grade Breast Pump

Contact Healthy Horizons for help with any or all appliances and furniture for your Lactation Room. for info about Lactation Room appliances.

3. Furnish your Lactation Room

The chair and pumping table that the parent uses should be ergonomic, comfortable and easy-to-clean. We always recommend pleather chairs and C-shaped pump-side-tables.

The surfaces of the room should be easily wipeable in order to disinfect germs and potential viruses. These surfaces include the pleather chair, pump table, counter tops, sink space and even door and refrigerator handles.

3. Chose a Lactation Room Theme

We've seen lots of great Lactation Room themes over the years. Consider themes that align with your corporate culture, and provide a relaxing and comfortable environment. Some themes we have seen are boho, clean and corporate or underwater.

3. Decorate and add ambiance

Choose a fun wallpaper that lightens the room and provides a soothing ambiance.
Add a sound machine so they can relax and not be distracted by outside noises and conversations.
Tall lamps are always a nice addition to the rooms.
Hooks for hanging clothing and bags are a must.
Adding a bulletin board or white board allows the parents to share notes and photos of their babies and families providing that community feel!
Faux plants or succulents help create a soothing environment.
A mirror is necessary to help the parents get redressed after pumping.
Blankets and pillows. Not only are they for comfort, but the pillow allows them to sit upright while pumping.
A heater for the room is great, as corporate offices tend to run a little cold.
Foot rests are super helpful while pumping.

Lactation Room Services from Healthy Horizons

Healthy Horizons has been a leader in corporate lactation services since 1991. We are here to help you support your chest/breastfeeding employees.

We take pride in providing the best in Lactation Room care. Let us help you with:

Lactation Room Assessment

Lactation Room Upgrades

Lactation Room Design and Installation

Remember, your goal is to make the transition back to work as seamless as possible, and a crucial part of that is a high-quality Lactation Room. We all know that if parents are relaxed, they will have an overall better pumping experience, be able to produce more milk, and in return, will have a healthier experience.

Learn About Corporate Lactation Programs

SHOPPING CART

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