“I love that nursing moms are being thought of,” said parent Krystal Mendoza Garza. “Especially for the moms, like me, who aren’t so comfortable nursing in public.”
A priority of Houston Airports is to make our passengers happy, even those who are just a few months old.
Traveling with infants and young children can be stressful, which is why we are spotlighting details on some helpful resources in August, which is National Breastfeeding Month. Private nursing rooms, more inclusive restrooms and a nursery help us celebrate the month dedicated to advocacy, protection and promotion of breastfeeding.
“I love this! I can say as a mom who breastfed and pumped, seeing these spaces in airports is such a relief,” shared Krystal Mendoza Garza on Facebook with George Bush Intercontinental Airport. “I love that nursing moms are being thought of and aren’t forgotten.”
Families are invited to use any of the 6 Lactation Rooms/Mothers rooms strategically located across Bush Airport. The private, safe and comfortable spaces were created in 2018. Each room offers an AC and USB power outlet, a table and nursing glider chairs for the comfort of mothers and babies. Most rooms comfortably accommodate 3 mothers at a time, additional children, changing tables and an area to temporarily store strollers.
“I used the room in Terminal D,” wrote Mariana Mondragón on Facebook. “It was super convenient and helpful to have this space available to change my son, feed him and take a nap during the delay!”
Where you can find the Lactation Rooms at IAH:
- Terminal A, between gate A1 and The Breakfast Klub
- Terminal A, near gate A17
- Terminal C, across from gate C34
- Terminal C, inside the women's restroom, across from gate C4
- Terminal D, across from gates D8 and D9
- Terminal E, near gate E11
A nursery with baby crib, rocking chair and private bathroom is available in Terminal D, next to the Chapel, between the KLM Crown Lounge and the British Airways Lounge, opposite gates D8 and D9.
Most restrooms also offer baby changing tables, including women’s, men’s and family restrooms at both Bush and William P. Hobby airports.
Hobby Airport offers 3 private nursing rooms. Traveling mothers and families can find them near Gates 4, 24 and 46. Each room offers an AC and USB power outlet, a table and nursing glider chairs for the comfort of mothers and babies. Most rooms comfortably accommodate 3 mothers at a time, additional children, changing tables and an area to temporarily store strollers.
“The rooms are beautiful, accommodating and allow customers at Hobby Airport to be met with five-star customer service,” said Dawn Hoffman, Terminal Manager at Hobby Airport.
In 2019, Houston Airports installed a portable mother’s room from Mamava. You can find it near the food court in the central concourse at Hobby Airport. Available 24 hours a day, the unit is big enough for 2 seats, 2 changing tables, plus AC and USB power outlets available to plug in breast-pumping machines or to plug in portable devices. The room can be accessed through code provided through the Mamava app. App information is available on the unit door. Once accessed, it provides a quiet, softly lit place for mothers looking to breastfeed privately, change diapers or even sit quietly with their child away from the hustle of Hobby Airport.
“Part of being a 5-star facility is recognizing the needs of all of our passengers and providing the kinds of facilities and services that help make their traveling experience a positive one,” said Liliana Rambo, Chief Terminal Management Officer for Houston Airports. “For traveling mothers, this special unit provides a dedicated space for their specific and special needs, and we are committed to ensuring their needs are met.”
CLICK HERE: List of VIP lounges, art, music and additional amenities to help families relax while waiting for flights at Bush Airport
Thanks to the Friendly Airports for Mothers Act, medium and large U.S.-based airports must have one nursing area per terminal. These nursing areas, also known as mother's rooms, are available for use by any gender parent who needs a quiet place to feed a baby or young child.
Beginning in 2019, Texas law allows women to pump breast milk anywhere in public. The City of Houston Health Department encourages mothers to call the Texas Lactation Support Hotline at 1-855-550-6667 should they need help while traveling with their children. The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Houston Health Department confirms the many benefits of breastfeeding. For the baby, breastmilk reduces the risks of asthma, obesity, respiratory infections, sudden infant death syndrome and gastrointestinal infections. For the mother, breastfeeding lowers the risks of high blood pressure, diabetes, ovarian cancer and breast cancer.
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