Help us create a breastfeeding map of the UK

[KateSMumsnet]

Breastfeeding hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons again this week, after news broke of a mother being asked to leave a branch of Sports Direct after she breastfed her baby there. It's hugely important, of course, that we all pick up on stories such as this, and offer support to mothers who are made to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about feeding their children when they're out and about - but at times it can feel like playing catch-up.

It seemed to us that we could take this opportunity to change the rules of the game, and start celebrating those places - and companies - that make feeding on the move easy and enjoyable. So we decided to start a thread asking you to tell us about your favourite places to feed your DC in public.

Whether it's a park bench overlooking a nice duck pond or a particularly cosy corner of a cafe, we'd love to see your pictures of your tried-and-tested spots to feed your little ones. Please add them to this thread, along with their location - if we have enough submissions, what we'd really like to do is create a breastfeeding map of the UK, featuring great feeding spots up and down the country.

We've a page full of tips and advice on how to breastfeed in public, please do add any other pearls of wisdom you'd like to share below. If you want to chat about places to breastfeed in your area, why not start a thread in your Mumsnet Local site, or add a venue you love as a listing?

[Weegiemum]

I fed all my dc in public in a very conservative part of the UK, the Outer Hebrides. I was never challenged and often congratulated! No pics as my dc are a bit old (now 10,12,14) but yes I very felt anything but supported!

[lovelychops]

Sefton park Liverpool

[PeaceLillyDoge]

My favourite place is in Sefton Park in Liverpool, on a bench overlooking the duck pond. No pics sorry but it islovely and peaceful and so beautiful at this time ifof year.

John Lewis make a good effort with their feeding rooms, would be great of there were more places like this. I found them particularly helpful when DC was newborn and I was still trying to build up my confidence. Would be nice if the rooms were a little less skanky tho.

I've also always found staff in costa very helpful and they will happily bring over your coffee if DC is screaming for a feed. Always felt very comfortable feeding in there, no pressure to move on if baby is taking an age to feed and you've only ordered one coffee.

[PeaceLillyDoge]

Boss that Sefton Park gets two out of three votes! I'll get a pic next time I'm there

[Spirael]

Last time around, I didn't have a single problem anywhere in or around Leeds/York/Harrogate with breastfeeding. I only ever got warm smiles and the occasional lovely comment. Several places even bent over themselves backwards to make sure I was comfortable and supported.

Hopefully it'll be the same again this time around. :)

[mrscog]

I always liked Kidderminster library in the day - I found that if I went to cafes too much I spent too much money, where as there were loads of comfy seats in the library, and it was quite quiet so I'd find an interesting book to read and sit and feed in there.

Also Solihull John Lewis is a nice feeding room.

But I BF for 20 months and there was not once made unwelcome anywhere in Worcestershire so maybe the whole county is BF friendly !

[Velve]

I have no photo as I don't like having my picture taken, but my favourite place to breastfeed in public is divided between the park benches at Guildford Castle, and Harris+Hoole coffee shop.

That said, I'm confident about breastfeeding in public and no one has ever said anything negative to me about it so I breastfeed wherever is comfortable at that particular moment.

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

Bristol John Lewis. They do have a BF room but I much preferred to use their showroom glider chair and always got brought a glass of water :)

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

Exeter Central library

[PurplePidjin]

Waterstones at Castle Point in Bournemouth has a reading area - very handy a couple of times when the cafe was packed or it was raining! Nobody batted an eyelid even though I clearly couldn't reach a book massively frustrating :o

Boots on the West Quay trading estate in Southampton had a lovely comfy proper feeding chair, although it was next to the changing area and the bins. We shouldn't have to hide to feed, but it's obviously not practical to have armchairs that aren't for sale on the shop flop (there aren't any cafes nearby either, nearest is a good 5 minute walk through a car park, up a couple of floors and across a massive and very confusing shopping centre)

And Costa. Always offered to bring my drink over and plenty of chairs supportive enough for long feeds. Disappointing for me as I prefer to support local businesses, but I just couldn't feed for 40 minutes on a hard dining chair

[PurplePidjin]

And Wexham Park Hospital A+E department deserve some recognition - dp had a stroke when ds was 5 weeks old. He was rushed through for scans and tests, and the amazing and massively overworked staff not only found me a comfortable chair in a private room but brought me a cup of tea too! Then came and fetched me when there was space by his bed. I was a complete mess, obviously, and that little piece of kindness was the one thing that really helped me keep it together.

[nevergoogle]

I'll need to see if the local 'didge man' will agree to having his picture taken.

so far this week I have fed my newborn in Woods Bistro in Totnes where the staff were lovely.

[technosausage]

Frome library
The cheese and grain café also in Frome, it can hold 18 prams and has a lovely kids play area so I can feed dd whist the toddler plays. The owner is amazing and also runs the café in Victoria park which is great in the summer.

[MsPickle]

Herne Hill, Tulse Hill and West Norwood I've fed all over! Brockwell Park is very friendly and the walled, quiet garden is out of the wind. Although I can testify that with a 5 week old in January it's still eye wateringly cold but was sheltered enough for a pit stop to get us home.

But I'd also like to shout out to the unnamed commuters who made space for me to sit with a newborn and didn't bat an eyelid when I fed on the train (preferable to the noise!).

Will see if I can find some pics to post.

[FlyLikeABird]

Colchester M&S cafe. The staff are great and bring your order to the table for you. Lots of supportive comments from other customers. Good changing facilities too, somewhere to actually rest the changing bag!

[Mildpanic]

John lewis York. Lovely breastfeeding room, all new and sparkly.
Monks Cross shopping park also has a dedicated feeding room.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Several different John Lewis branches.

[TheABC]

I have breastfed everywhere in the past nine months - trains, buses, parks and cafes! My home town, solihull (west midlands) is very pro-feeding; there are feeding rooms in John Lewis, Morrisons and the basement floor of touchwood (near the library). However, I have fed publicly in shops, cafes and around the square, without anyone batting an eyelid. I have fond memories of feeding during the German Christmas market, with a baby's head in one hand and a mince pie in the other.

My top tip for breastfeeding mums; get a good, supportive sling. It frees up your hands and even lets you walk and feed at the same time.

[FrenchLimeBlossom]

Anywhere and everywhere but particularly John Lewis in Trafford and Cheadle, IKEA in Warrington, and The Victoria pub in Altrincham - tiny place but so so breast-feeding friendly, the staff were really helpful helping me and a friend arrange our stuff, prams etc and hold babies and brought glasses of water when we ran out over lunch without being asked.

[EllaMenoPea]

Worthing library and on a bench at the lake of Arundel castle.

[OrangeMochaFrappucino]

Zizzis in Meadowhall gave me a new dinner when mine got cold whilst I was feeding newborn DS1. I'm now a pro at feeding one-handed! I've fed DS2 everywhere I've gone since he's been born as he's very vocal about it and encountered no negativity so far. The Mansion cafe in Roundhay Park, Leeds is very nice - baby and I both enjoyed lunch there recently!

[IShallCallYouSquishy]

Everywhere I've breastfed in Exeter I've never been given a second glance of anything more than a smile.

Darts Farm in Topsham I always find very welcoming and have offered me the sofas instead of normal dining chairs and even been asked if I would like a glass of water.

I've used the feeding room in John Lewis when I had my first and was a lot shyer and it is bright and has a water dispenser. A lot nicer than the mothercare one.