Tue 13 Feb 2007
Baby’s Room
Posted by Kevin under Thinking Aloud, Popular, News
Last week, Jaime organised a gathering for some new mummies at Globetrotters family restaurant, United Square. I think about 16 mummies showed up with 16 babies. I did not join them since it’s a all mummies affair, just left Talia & Jaime at the enterance of the restaurant and I decided to go for a quick lunch.
On my way down, I was distracted by the new “Children” area and decided to take a quick look. There were many new shops targetting Parents. Nothing new except that I noticed the sling baby carrier by Moms in Mind was sold in one of the shop. We visited Moms in Mind’s shop at Jalan Pemimpin a few times, but it’s always closed and we keep forgetting which day it closes.
The other shop that I took noticed was Growing up Gifted, a pre-school center + kindergarden. I heard some good comments about them before and decided to pick up some brochures. Frankly, I was not too impressed by what I read. It’s just some common sense parent-child interactions which I’ve already plan to do with Talia.
On my way to the little boy’s room, I saw a sign that read Baby’s Room. I pressed the entrance button and a Malay aunty cleaner stopped me. She said “Mothers ONLY!” I pointed at the sign and said “Baby’s Room. Your husbdand never change your baby’s diaper?”. Her facial expression seem to say “yes”, but she got my point.
I told her I’m checking it out as I’ll need to change my baby’s diaper, make milk and feed my baby here some day.
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Ok, back to the Baby’s Room in United Square. I’m impressed by how spacious the room is. The are 3 diaper changing counters, a sink, a Hot/Cold water dispenser, padded benches and 3 nursing rooms. Unlike the yucky nursing room in Suntec City, they have rubbish bin to dispose dirty diapers.
The lighting is nice and warm. The ventilation was good.
I like the little privacy design for the diaper counter, but the excessive wall mirror was an overkill. When a crying baby see another crying baby in the mirror, what will he/she do? Cry louder.
I know the ID intention was to make the room look larger, but the room is already large enough to start with.
Overall, I’m please with this baby’s room. It’s one that left an impression and will encourage my family to shop & dine in United Square more often. Three stars for the Management of the Mall.
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February 13th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Haha…, the aunty must be thinking you are up to no good entering a baby room without kids or baby. I will probably ask too if I see a man without children or a woman around him, trying to enter a baby room. You know lah, not all places have good design, and there maybe mother nursing her baby inside.
February 13th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Ky <== That's a sexual discrimination mindset that need to change. It's the same kind of sexual discrimination against male child care teachers resulting with so many sissy boys in Singapore. We are pretending to be a 1st world nation, yet most Singapreans are at best 3rd world in their mentality.
BTW, there is a different between a baby's room and a nursing room. The nursing room is an entity within a baby's room. The Nursing room should be out of bound for men. A baby's room should not. Which is why the wise management of United Square name it Baby's Room instead of nursing room unlike some other 3rd world malls in Singapore. Doors are also provided for the nursing rooms.
If you think logically, what's wrong for a man to enter a baby's room alone. He can be collecting hot water for milk, he can be washing bottles, disposing diapers...etc.
Now you know why a shared toilet like the one in Ally Macbill will never work in SG. Singaporeans are just not ready mentally.
If any female readers think that all men are perverts, you are a sexual discriminating sexist. It’s time to renew your mindset and progress with time.
PS: Ky, my reply to your comment are not directed at you personally. I know some readers will think the same way and it’s a general reply.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Hey Kevin, I noticed that you are a pretty “involved” dad. Many dads will not bother to check out baby rooms. They’ll always leave it to the mums…
I think you will have realised that in alot of public toilets, diaper changing area is only available in the female toilet. I always wonder what will happen to those days when baby and dad are out alone without the mum… guess they will have to “bare” it all in front of members of public.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:48 am
I’m sooo impressed with this Baby Room. I can’t find such great facility in most of the malls here..and you would think an angmoh country is more pro-child or pro-breastfeeding. Some of the Chinese restaurants don’t even have a changing table in their female restrooms.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:29 am
i was like u many months back. Always checking out nursing rooms, in malls. As I am a lazy nursing Mom, I don’t bring bottle, and bf outside. I dislike the nursing area to be part of a ladies toilet, out of bounds to men. I hate it even more when the diaper changing station is IN the female toilet!
It is also a lousy idea to put a baby changing area in handicap toilets. Some people just hog the toilet for their own “business” for push or “pump”…and they take ages!
February 14th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I think what I want to say are all said here.
My brain can’t think now …sleepy after taken chinese med.
You are a blessing to Jaime by being so involved with Talia. This help to off load her a little. Just like my dear hubby
February 14th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Ivy <== Well, probably because I had a “involved” dad during my childhood. He was pretty much absent during my teens, else I could be a better man.
Yes, there are many 3rd world shopping malls in SG without diaper changing counter. Those 1st world wannabe installed them in the female toilet, thus reducing them to developing nation standard.
I’m glad the church I goes to have diaper changing counter in the Gents.
Vien <== Angmoh country are not necessary pro-family, just the few closer to the artic.
Fannie <== I can’t agree more. It’s time for change. Let’s be change agents to engage the right authorities.
Jean <== Take care and rest well. May your body be restored and health always.