Choosing a dentist is always a bowl full of fun. Even for the person who likes the minty fresh feeling you get after a teeth cleaning, its not something most of us would prefer to do if it weren't necessary. Its not an activity you would see on a bumper sticker i.e. "I'd rather be at the dentist." However, when you have a baby it can be even more of a challenge. I spent Monday morning at a new dentist's office because my previous dentist decided to teach instead of practice ( which makes you wonder about her skills if you go by the old adage, those who teach etc.). I was referred to Dr. Mark Palleshi in East Greenwich, RI. When I made the appointment they assured me they were baby friendly and they lived up to their word. Adrianna was in a foul mood since I made the appointment right around her self designated nap time of 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (give or take an hour). She wailed in the car seat and the hygenist cleaning my teeth was very sweet about the immense amount of noise she was making. I tried nursing her while my teeth were being cleaned. I don't know if it was the fact the blood was rushing to her head from the declined chair position or if it the intensely bright lights against the all white office but she just wouldn't stop crying. The woman at the front desk, Trish, took Adrianna up front with her and babysat her until my cleaning was done. Adrianna immediated quieted down when Trish took her out of the car seat to cuddle her and pay some one on one attention to her. Part of me felt guilty allowing a stranger to take care of her (especially since I had never done that before) but the hygenist assured me they do it all the time. After the cleaning, they suggested Io breast feed her for a while before the obligatory xrays required at a new dentist's office and then Trish took Adrianna back up front, asleep in her car seat. It was two hours later before I was done and Trish apologized to me for keeping me there so long. I had to make another appointment to meet with Dr. Palleshi. Before I left I thanked her. She told me my daughter was adorable and very snuggly and that there is usually someone on hand to watch babies when needed. I left very impressed with their patience and compassion. I haven't met the doctor yet but the office staff is extremely baby friendly.

Dentist: Dr. Mark Palleshi
Location: East Greenwich, RI
Rating: 5 rattles

A couple of weekends ago, my husband, baby and I went to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to see the Americans in Paris exhibit featuring the acclaimed "Whistler's Mother." The Museum of Fine Arts is a beautiful old stone building equipped with a grand stairway and an exhibition wing built by I.M.P.. We got stuck in traffic on the way to the Museum and by the time we got there , the baby needed to be changed and fed. We bought our tickets and immediately inquired on the baby changing facilities. Surprisingly, no changing tables were available in the bathrooms. We were directed to the double doors near the gift shop on the first floor. The changing area was in fact a changing table attached to the wall in a stairwell. While the facilties were sparse, we were grateful that that they were so close to the entrance. However, in order to access the baby changing "area," you first have to be admitted entrance to the museum which could pose a problem if there are long lines. Be careful was entering the main museum from the stairwell. Its easy to accidentally sideswipe someone waiting for the elevator situated right outside the double doors.

We had completed one of two major baby tasks. We had changed her but she was itching to be fed. The sign above the changing table pointed us to another part of the museum. Down a hallway and through an echoing gallery, we found the nursing room in an old utility closet. The room was actually quite accomodating for one woman and baby. It would be difficult to fit more than a couple of people in the room. A small loveseat and a couple of chairs furnished the room along with a small plaque which framed an award congratulating the museum for being breastfeeding friendly. All in all the museum made an effort to accomodate breastfeeding mothers even if the facilities were small and sparse.

We made our way to the exhibition wing with Adrianna in my Maya wrap (see mayawrap.com). But, she was still fussy and I didn't want to disturb the other people in the gallery. The gallery attendant was kind enough to let me use one of the portable seats and enthusiastically allowed me to nurse in the corner near the entrance of the gallery. I do not know if that particular employee's attitude was unique or if her attitude was reflective of the museum's attitude toward nursing mothers but I was very impressed and grateful for her help and support.

Location: Museum of Fine Arts
City: Boston, MA
Ratings (out of 5 Rattles) :
Changing Area: Two Rattles
Nursing Room: Three Rattles

In the warm weather, the inventive and adventuresome parent can change their baby in the trunk of their car with a little effort. A changing pad and a properly placed umbrella to block out the sun can do the trick in a pinch. However when shopping in a commercial area , a new parent tends to gravitate to the mecca of all things baby..Babies R Us. Babies R Us is always a good stand by because they stores have an incentive to catering to new moms. Therefore, you can find a comfortable changing room equipped with free diapers and a place to nurse the baby. The nice thing about Babies R Us is that just like any other chain store, they are familiar and in that sense comforting to someone who has just entered into the rigors of motherhood (or fatherhood for that matter). It does lack luxury and the furniture can be somwhat crusty. But, sometimes the convenience is worth the small trip if you are in the vicinity.

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The intent of this blog is to list baby friendly places such as hotels, restaurants, and travel destinations. You name it, I want to list it. I want to know the hidden gems such as the department stores with the best nursing rooms, the hotels with portable cribs for rent, restaurants that are fully accommodating to a baby and a nursing mom. I just recently had a baby of my own and realized what a challenge it is to find baby friendly facilities. Especially as a new mom, its always stressful figuring out where the baby can be changed and where she can be nursed comfortably. I say comfortably and not discretely because for most women, disgression falls by the wayside quickly once they become a breastfeeding mom. I live in north eastern united states. So, I am going to list all the baby friendly facilities I find and I hope people from around the country (and maybe the world) will do the same.