Perhaps there aren’t many babies and young children in your place of work or in your stores, but it’s possible they aren’t far away and it’s very likely that pregnant mothers will come into your spaces.

If they are already there, then what are the young children drawn to and how can you make their experience more playful?

How can you better make new parents, small babies and breastfeeding mums feel welcome in your spaces?

The corporate world is not usually designed with young children in mind, yet, they won’t be far away.

See the space from a child’s eyes, think about how they spend time there. Iceland’s knee height posters are a great example, but it can be as simple as providing high chairs and easy buggy access.

Gatwick Airport reviewed its airport experience for families and created a range of services which help make an often stressful experience as fun as possible. From car parking spaces to dedicated security lanes and amenities for kids, it makes families feel seen and supported.

For breastfeeding spaces designate quiet, private rooms with comfortable seating, changing tables, and possibly a sink for handwashing. UNICEF have an excellent guide to creating these spaces.

Be creative about how you can make your space support a child’s development – there are lots of big and small things that you can do.

It might be providing space for parents to find connection and support, such as parent meet-ups M&S Cafés.

It could be adding an element of play to your customer experience, or converting unused outdoor spaces into safe places for young children to explore.

Or perhaps it could be thinking about how waiting spaces can be used to enhance the social and emotional skills for young children. Across the US, hundreds of laundromats have installed family-friendly literacy spaces for kids under six to turn boring waiting times into family bonding opportunities.