Baby-friendly pitstop near Geneva train station?

Wednesday · #1 23.01.2012, 09:56

Sometime in the next few weeks I'm going to need to take my little baby son (2 months) on a day trip from Bern to Geneva to visit the Australian consulate for a passport interview. (He's not actually required to attend his own passport interview, but I can't leave him at home while I go!) I was wondering if anyone could suggest a baby-friendly place within a few minutes walk of the Cornavin train station where we could take a break in between the train journey and hopping on the bus to the consulate? Baby-friendly = a bathroom with baby-changing table and maybe a quietish place to sit and breastfeed. (Of course in principle baby can be fed anywhere but some places are less relaxing than others.)

Based on my limited knowledge of the area I can only think of Migros and Manor restaurants ... and I don't actually know whether they have changing facilities since I didn't have a baby last time I was around there.

catandmouse · #2 23.01.2012, 10:15

There are two McDs - one in the Cygnes Shopping centre, one in Chantepoulet, both less than 100m from the station. From memory, both have baby changing facilities. Quiet? Well they're McDs. The Chantepoulet has sorts of nooks and crannies on the upper floor, which might be OK.

Anjela · #3 23.01.2012, 10:15

The Manor toilets definitely have a baby hanging facility (I saw it last week), but I don't think they have a specific area for feeding.
Thirty years ago I just used to find a quiet corner of the restaurant and get on with it but people seem more up-tight about it these days (I'm talking about observers who might be 'offended', not you)!

Wednesday · #4 23.01.2012, 11:19

	Quote:	catandmouse
	There are two McDs - one in the Cygnes Shopping centre, one in Chantepoulet, both less than 100m from the station. From memory, both have baby changing facilities. Quiet? Well they're McDs. The Chantepoulet has sorts of nooks and crannies on the upper floor, which might be OK.

	Quote:	Anjela
	The Manor toilets definitely have a baby hanging facility (I saw it last week), but I don't think they have a specific area for feeding. Thirty years ago I just used to find a quiet corner of the restaurant and get on with it but people seem more up-tight about it these days (I'm talking about observers who might be 'offended', not you)!

(Poor babies!

) Nooks, crannies, quiet corners are good. Not speaking any French is hopefully a good defense against offended onlookers.

Anjela · #5 23.01.2012, 12:04

Hopefully! I found being discrete and concentrating on what iwas doing worked.... if anyone did make a snide remark I just tried to ignore them. Afraid I'm a bit far out on the other side of town, otherwise I'd offer you cup of coffee and a place to rest before the consulate.

pregny · #6 23.01.2012, 13:26

Don't know if this helps but this is the list of public places where you can bf in Geneva. They aren't necessarily close to the train station though.

http://www.gifa.org/files/Lieuxallaitement.pdf

The other option is to get off at the airport train station...

Wednesday · #7 23.01.2012, 13:51

	Quote:	pregny
	The other option is to get off at the airport train station...

Wow! I can't believe I didn't realise that the consulate was with 1km of the airport train station. (I know why I didn't, though: it's not mentioned at all in the directions on the consulate's home page.) It looks like it should be an easy walk, much easier than getting the bus with pram from Cornavin.

Is there a pedestrian crossing under/over the Autoroute somewhere near the airport station though?

Wednesday · #8 23.01.2012, 13:54

It should be safe to assume there's somewhere to change a nappy in either the airport or the airport train station shopping centre, shouldn't it? Hmm ....

613lululemon · #9 23.01.2012, 16:45

	Quote:	pregny
	Don't know if this helps but this is the list of public places where you can bf in Geneva. They aren't necessarily close to the train station though. http://www.gifa.org/files/Lieuxallaitement.pdf The other option is to get off at the airport train station...

I'"m a wee confused after reading that pamphlet:

'Un Espace Allaitement
est un endroit accessible et
discret, non fumeur,
où les mères sont accueillies
et peuvent allaiter leur enfant
en toute tranquillité

Soo..you can ONLY breastfeed in those areas (since they are quiet, discreet, non smoking etc)? Legally I have to find one of these spots?

I only ask because while it's the norm to boob feed pretty much everywhere in Ontario, I was asked to go somewhere else on a trip to Miami when my son was much younger. A whole kerfuffle ensued, but I'd like to be informed as much as possible before moving to CH.

Anjela · #10 23.01.2012, 17:27

	Quote:	Wednesday
	Wow! I can't believe I didn't realise that the consulate was with 1km of the airport train station. (I know why I didn't, though: it's not mentioned at all in the directions on the consulate's home page.) It looks like it should be an easy walk, much easier than getting the bus with pram from Cornavin. Is there a pedestrian crossing under/over the Autoroute somewhere near the airport station though?

Chemin des Fins, right? There's just possibly a crossing point/bridge at Palexpo, but that's already quite a walk, especially with a pram! Your safest bet is to catch the #5 from in front of the Airport and get off at Le Pommier. Take a map with you! Most of the buses are new and pretty 'pram friendly'.

According to that list, there is a feeding place at the airport, in Departures I think. It's not totally clear as it says 'zone d'embarquement' which just might mean that it's inside the travel zone, past the security checks.
I'm pretty certain all the toilets at the airport are equiped with changing stations.

Anjela · #11 23.01.2012, 17:35

	Quote:	613lululemon
	I'"m a wee confused after reading that pamphlet: 'Un Espace Allaitement est un endroit accessible et discret, non fumeur, où les mères sont accueillies et peuvent allaiter leur enfant en toute tranquillité Soo..you can ONLY breastfeed in those areas (since they are quiet, discreet, non smoking etc)? Legally I have to find one of these spots? I only ask because while it's the norm to boob feed pretty much everywhere in Ontario, I was asked to go somewhere else on a trip to Miami when my son was much younger. A whole kerfuffle ensued, but I'd like to be informed as much as possible before moving to CH.

Pretty certain there's no legal requirement to find one of these places, otherwise there would be an awful lot of screaming babies around.
I'm sure there are plenty of places where you can happily breast fed, as long as you're discreet about it. Someone will be along soon I sure who's 'active' in this area at the moment!

Wednesday · #12 23.01.2012, 17:48

	Quote:	Anjela
	Chemin des Fins, right? There's just possibly a crossing point/bridge at Palexpo, but that's already quite a walk, especially with a pram! Your safest bet is to catch the #5 from in front of the Airport and get off at Le Pommier. Take a map with you! Most of the buses are new and pretty 'pram friendly'.

Actually it looks like there is an underpass right near the station -- according to this groovy map for pedestrians and cyclists I found at the airport website. I think the Australian consulate (yep, Chemin des Fins) is just off the bottom of the pedestrian map. If the weather is ok I'd rather walk than take a bus, but it's good to know that the buses are pram friendly just in case!

gazoline1212 · #13 23.01.2012, 18:20

Number 3 bus will take you directly from Cornavin to the Australian mission (the stop is Maison du parlement)
And you can breastfeed/change baby in the Starbucks just outside Cornavin.

You can breastfeed anywhere in Geneva, no problem (I've been doing it now for 15 months). Manor actually has got a breastfeeding area and a change station now on their top floor.