Kara Sassone, who has two young children, has started an online petition asking the Krafts to make Gillette welcoming to parents of young children:
Join me in calling on Gillette Stadium to allow necessary childcare gear through the gates, and provide a space for parents to feed their babies in privacy while still cheering on the team.
When I first became a mother to my twins, I was so proud to be able to breastfeed them, even though they were born 7 weeks premature. But it’s frustrating to know that if I had tried to take my babies to a game, breastfeeding them while at Gillette would have been difficult, with no private room other than perhaps a broom closet. And changing their diapers would have been equally as difficult.
I’ve heard stories from moms who couldn’t even bring breast pumps into the stadium, and parents who were turned away for bringing diaper bags. Moms have even been forced to nurse their babies sitting on a toilet seat. Not only did they miss watching the game they’d come to see - and paid a lot to see - but their babies had to eat lunch in a bathroom!
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Comments
Sounds like you need to be
By anon
Wed, 09/02/2015 - 10:10am
Sounds like you need to be watching the game in the comfort of your own home..
With the million$ Kraft makes
By anon
Wed, 09/02/2015 - 10:12am
With the million$ Kraft makes off of the Patriots franchise, much of which comes from families, you would think he could spare a restroom specifically dedicated to diaper changing / feeding. I seem to recall seeing plenty of Patriots merchandise aimed at babies. I'm actually quite surprised Gillette Stadium doesn't already provid this.
They do provide it.
By Pete Nice
Wed, 09/02/2015 - 11:13am
There are family bathrooms located at each side of the stadium at 3 levels.
HOOTER HIDERS
By bostnkid
Wed, 09/02/2015 - 11:28am
my wife would feed the babies whenever and wherever.
http://www.diapers.com/p/bebe-au-lait-aero-hooter-...
no private room needed for nursing, frankly
By Alissa
Wed, 09/02/2015 - 12:20pm
Specifically regarding the complaint about the lack of a private nursing room: I nursed my son for a year, and he refused bottles so it all came straight from the tap. There was never anything stopping me from feeding him when we were out and about. You're legally allowed to nurse wherever you're legally allowed to be, and there exist several brands of nursing covers if you're squeamish about exposing your breast. If you have one of those babies who won't eat when there are distractions, you have no business taking it to an event space like that. Expecting any kind of special room in a place that isn't designed for children in the first place is silly.
Let's not forget old folks!
By jswift
Wed, 09/02/2015 - 1:31pm
Let's not forget old folks! They slow everyone down getting in and out, and their parking skills are terrible. Don't even think of bringing in a walker or that oxygen tank on wheels thingy. And ever see how long they take in a stall? They're probably snoozing or breast-feeding at the same time...
So please, think of the rest of us before you bring anyone over 65 or under 15 that can't behave or needs any special attention.
I have two small kids and my
By bstn2k14
Wed, 09/02/2015 - 1:54pm
I have two small kids and my wife is breastfeeding and I would never take my kid to Gillette unless I had a suite. It's way too much of an inconvenience for them.
Must be nice to be able to
By whaler
Wed, 09/02/2015 - 3:38pm
Must be nice to be able to afford to have a kid AND a patriot's ticket.
"I have kids!"
By MatthewC
Wed, 09/02/2015 - 4:51pm
"Give me everything!"
I'm surprised
By cw in boston
Wed, 09/02/2015 - 7:26pm
that people bring infants to Patriot's games. I haven't been in a few years but with the loud sounds, music, people jumping up and down, etc., it wouldn't occur to me to bring a young child. It's no fun for the infant.
I'm not a fan of this
By Sarah J
Wed, 09/02/2015 - 10:35pm
I'm not a fan of this attitude that every place needs to be baby friendly. Football games aren't really a good place for babies and small children, so why should the stadium make accommodations for them? And no, I don't think parents should have to stay home until their kids turn 18, but that doesn't mean every place needs to accommodate little kids. Some places simply aren't appropriate for babies/toddlers/kids. Part of being a parent is having to make sacrifices and deal with inconveniences. When you have a kid, you can't expect every part of your life to stay the same.
I don't know what I expected
By Millenial
Thu, 09/03/2015 - 12:09am
I don't know what I expected in these comments. Pretty much it is as expected. Why can't people just say, "Hey, this doesn't really affect me but to those that it does affect it'd probably be great for them."
As a breastfeeder, I have taken my kids to MLB games with no problems. MLB Parks are making changes. I haven't taken them to football games though so I can't comment on stadiums. But it would go a long way to not have to feed my kid in a toilet or with 60 people in my section watching on.
But I'm just an entitled millennial who expects everything to revolve around me.
Great Idea, Kara
By Steve Safran
Thu, 09/03/2015 - 12:25am
Holy moley guys... why is this even an argument? Kara (a friend - full disclosure) isn't asking for anything outrageous or even anything that would interfere with your enjoyment of the game. We're not talking about an "entitled" person here, we're talking about a woman who wants to practice the most natural act she can with her twins. Pumping is a modern and essential part of that. Ask any breastfeeding mother, and then tell them you know better. "She should stay home!"? Not your call. For how long? Suppose a woman has 3-4 kids. She should stay home for 8-10 years? Tell your wife that and see how well-received that is. Be a man... listen to the women.
Consider the other point of view
By lbb
Thu, 09/03/2015 - 9:36am
There's a lot of grumpy old men on here whose only form of entertainment is complaining about other people and managing their chronic constipation. A dose of perspective and Ex-Lax would solve both those issues, but they like their issues, and they'd rather go through life being sour and selfish than join the human race.
How is this not already happening
By Kevin Gray
Mon, 09/07/2015 - 9:36pm
This seems like the most obvious change with little consequence. In the last 10 years the Kraft family has done a great job of making the entire area a destination for families. Obviously families include parents and children of all ages, some small changes (relative to the massive updates done yearly) would make it an even more welcoming experience. Family changing and nursing rooms, a few ticket entry lanes that will take the extra time to screen accepted parental needs (pumps, strollers, diaper bags, etc.)... all very small changes that would make a big difference! Fenway does a pretty good job of this and it is a much older and more space constrained park.
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