Cutting-Edge Pods Make It Easier To Breastfeed At Newark Airport

NEWARK, NJ — Mothers seeking to breastfeed at Newark, JFK, LaGuardia and New York Stewart airports can now take advantage of dozens of high-tech privacy “pods,” courtesy of a major upgrade from the Port Authority.

On Tuesday, Port Authority officials announced that 28 upgraded nursing suites have been installed at the four airports. The new facilities – which resemble mini-cubicles – are larger versions of the previous pods, which were first introduced in 2015 at LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports in response to customer requests.

Currently, there 12 available at JFK (here) nine at Newark Liberty (here), six at LaGuardia Airport (here) and one at New York Stewart International Airport (here).

LaGuardia and Newark were among the first airports in the nation to offer the freestanding stations, Port Authority officials said.

The units are cutting-edge, officials stated:

“Created by Mamava – Spanish for ‘mother on the go’ – the suites are large enough to accommodate a mother with a stroller, her child and a traveling companion. The pods feature comfortable benches, a fold-down table, an electrical outlet for plugging in a breast pump and a door that can be locked for privacy. Mamava’s ADA-compliant pods offer a 60-inch turnaround and grab bars for easy wheelchair access. For additional user convenience, Mamava launched a free mobile app to help mothers locate pods, and with just one tap on the mobile device, users can unlock the suite.”

The suites are located post-security in each airport terminal, and are listed on the Port Authority’s individual airport websites, officials said.

“With the Port Authority in the midst of comprehensive airport redevelopment, any amenity that makes the travel experience better for nursing mothers is an important component of that modernization,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said. “We recognize the needs of our travelers and are committed to providing them accessible, sanitary and convenient nursing suites.”

“We commend the Port Authority for being a leader among airports by installing 28 Mamava nursing pods,” the La Leche League said in a statement. “Breastfeeding anywhere is a mother’s right, not a special privilege.”

“This a terrific move,” said S. Nadia Hussain, the New Jersey-based director of the Maternal Justice Campaign for MomsRising, an organization that works to improve conditions for mothers and their families. “We are all harried when we travel and making it easier for moms to breastfeed or pump at airports is a significant step.”

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page here. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photos: Port Authority of NY/NJ