12:54pm Thursday 10th July 2008
By Scott Mullins
AN IMAGINATIVE student has created a new chair designed to solve the problems associated with breast-feeding in public.
Design student Nicola Hart came up with the idea for her discreet chair after watching a TV programme about the problems faced by breast-feeding mothers.
The 22-year-old explained: "Although breastfeeding is encouraged by medical professionals, many women decide against it for a variety of reasons.
"One of the deciding factors is they believe they can't breast-feed in public places, often due to poor facilities, lack of confidence and other people's negative reactions."
Miss Hart of Charmwood Lane, Orpington, is displaying her luminous pink chair at the New Designers exhibition at the Business Design Centre in central London from July 10 to July 13.
The event showcases around 4,000 graduates' work each year.
Her designs include a foot rest for shorter users and an in-built table and she says that the chair is ideal for cafes and other busy public places.
She said: "My chair not only provides a good breastfeeding posture which is comfortable and supporting but it also takes into consideration other people's attitudes in relation to breastfeeding in public.
"It helps keep it discreet using privacy wings."
Miss Hart graduates with a degree in Furniture Design from De Montfort University in Leicester this summer and canvassed mothers for their ideas before designing the chair.
She added: "The chair's high back provides good back and neck support while providing a sound posture.
"The arm-rest and wide seat provide plenty of room for mother and baby.
"An optional footrest allows shorter users to lift their feet to create the ideal flat lap and the in-built table allows the user to eat or drink during the baby's feed."
Miss Hart's design coincides with the news that mothers are to get the legal right to breast-feed a baby up to six months in public when the recently announced Equality Bill becomes law.
Under current laws, women who breast-feed in public places can be charged under public order or indecency legislation.
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