Page 14 | Mum asked to stop breastfeeding a TWO YEAR OLD in shoe shop.

GinaDavva · 2025-11-20T11:30:16+00:00

Mixed feelings with this one. Shaming a mother publicly breastfeeding a small baby is never acceptable but breastfeeding a two year old child in a shop? Surely at that age a bottle is more convenient in the middle of a shop? My first thought was that this was more about attention than the actual principle of the matter. After breastfeeding 3 of my own I can honestly say there has never been a time where it felt necessary to start breastfeeding any of mine in the middle of a shop at two years old. Frankly at that age they wouldn’t find much in mine anyway! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3z31jn7v1o

Bananaandmangosmoothie · 20/11/2025 12:29

LadyWiddiothethird · 20/11/2025 12:22

I breastfed 3 children and never once felt the need to do it in public.Mothers that do it are attention seekers.

I can assure you that’s not the case.

Daaaaahling · 20/11/2025 12:29

It's impressive that some people manage to breastfeed for so long despite having internalized hatred and disgust for their own breasts' natural function. I'll give them that. Having breastfed oneself doesn't mean your views on the subject can't be loaded with misogyny.

Ps the evidence supports breastfeeding into toddlerhood as a protective factor against obesity lifelong. Probably the main reason to choose extended breastfeeding if it is an option for you.

Yesimmoaningaboutbenefits · 20/11/2025 12:28

Hons123 · 20/11/2025 12:26

My dc (teenage) was invited to a friend's house at the week-end, lunch, etc. In the middle of lunching, his friend's mother whipped out her breast and started feeding a 3-year old at the time, as if it were normal. 'They are bloody crazy as a family' was my teen's verdict. I totally agreed.

I'd be embarrassed to admit to raising a teen like that.

Anonymous07200408 · 20/11/2025 12:28

Hons123 · 20/11/2025 12:26

My dc (teenage) was invited to a friend's house at the week-end, lunch, etc. In the middle of lunching, his friend's mother whipped out her breast and started feeding a 3-year old at the time, as if it were normal. 'They are bloody crazy as a family' was my teen's verdict. I totally agreed.

Oh Hons - I’m glad I don’t live in your Victorian world where my son’s teenage friend is conditioned to be disgusted by me doing something completely normal whilst accepting my hospitality. Have fun up there on your high horse.

MarvellousMonsters · 20/11/2025 12:28

“Surely at that age a bottle is more convenient in the middle of a shop?”

LOL. Tell me you haven’t breastfeed a two year old without telling me you haven’t breastfed a two year old. Also, when is expressing and bottle feeding EVER more convenient??

ClairN · 20/11/2025 12:28

scaredfriend · 20/11/2025 12:11

Two year olds don’t need to breastfeed in public (nor do they need bottles). Give the child a water bottle with a straw for sips of water if they’re thirsty. If they’re hungry, then take them for a meal / snack.
Of course, if they’re ill and need to feed for comfort then it’s different, but stay at home and look after them properly and don’t drag them around the shops.

I fed both DC to early toddler age (14 ish months I think). I never fed in public once they were well on the way to weaning, at around 6-8 months. It’s just not necessary.

They don’t need to breastfeed, but it provides comfort and connections, antibodies which boost their immune systems and target their specific infections, helps regulate their circadian rhythm, provides vitamins/fat/protein in whatever quantities they need, builds and boosts their gut microbiome, quenches thirst and hunger, reduces the mother’s cancer risks…

So why wouldn’t you do it, whilst child and mother want to, in case some judgemental busybody doesn’t like it?

ChevernyRose · 20/11/2025 12:28

Anonymous07200408 · 20/11/2025 12:22

Surely people aren’t thick enough to think that breastfeeding is just about food?! Why on earth wouldn’t you offer the most naturally comforting thing in the world to a distressed child?! Have we become that disassociated from the fact that we are mammals and that’s what we do? Is someone else’s prudish discomfort worth a small child crying, disrupting the shop and being distressed when it can quickly and easily be soothed? So weird.

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Yes, there are some right weird prudes on this thread.

WiggyWiggyImGettingJiggy · 20/11/2025 12:28

Hons123 · 20/11/2025 12:26

My dc (teenage) was invited to a friend's house at the week-end, lunch, etc. In the middle of lunching, his friend's mother whipped out her breast and started feeding a 3-year old at the time, as if it were normal. 'They are bloody crazy as a family' was my teen's verdict. I totally agreed.

Whipped out her breast, no less. Did she do it performatively as well?

Shame your poor teenager is going to grow up with the same shameful views as you.

WhatAreYouDoingSundayBaby · 20/11/2025 12:27

God some of these comments are depressing.

ContinuewithGoogle · 20/11/2025 12:27

usedtobeaylis · 20/11/2025 12:22

Did you not read the article because you don't understand what you're reading? The point is relevant because you drew an equivalence between snacks when it was fuck all to do with snacks. Hope that helps.

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If you insist on not understanding my point, maybe you just are not getting it. Ok then 😂

Outside9 · 20/11/2025 12:27

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TaupeRaven · 20/11/2025 12:27

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You should probably do some reflection on why you are so disgusted about this, because if there's one thing on this thread that's not natural it's your wildly disproportionate reaction.

usedtobeaylis · 20/11/2025 12:27

ChevernyRose · 20/11/2025 12:25

How weird to think feeding a child is the same as shitting

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Someone actually did go with that equivalence?!

JinglingtoChristmas · 20/11/2025 12:26

newbluesofa · 20/11/2025 11:37

The way the shop owner spoke to her was disgusting

And ilegal.

Pinkandpurple225533 · 20/11/2025 12:26

LadyWiddiothethird · 20/11/2025 12:22

I breastfed 3 children and never once felt the need to do it in public.Mothers that do it are attention seekers.

Genuinely interested to know how you managed this. What did you do when you were out and about for more than an hour? You said no public spaces so no cafes, shops, toddler groups, parks? Literally only inside private houses? What did you do if you were out and baby was crying and hungry?

Hons123 · 20/11/2025 12:26

My dc (teenage) was invited to a friend's house at the week-end, lunch, etc. In the middle of lunching, his friend's mother whipped out her breast and started feeding a 3-year old at the time, as if it were normal. 'They are bloody crazy as a family' was my teen's verdict. I totally agreed.

Yesimmoaningaboutbenefits · 20/11/2025 12:26

ContinuewithGoogle · 20/11/2025 12:21

In 2025, it's still not appropriate to feed your children in a shoe shop, whatever you feed them with. There are many places completely inappropriate like that, especially in 2025 when we are supposed to be a tiny bit civilised.

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Breastfeeding is uncivilized, is it?

ChevernyRose · 20/11/2025 12:25

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How weird to think feeding a child is the same as shitting

usedtobeaylis · 20/11/2025 12:25

Hons123 · 20/11/2025 12:22

But that is because you are a civilised person.

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This is the absolute top dog 'I'm brainwashed by western marketing' comment of the day. Congrats.

WhatAreYouDoingSundayBaby · 20/11/2025 12:25

Tbh OP, I still bf my 3yo (although not during the day) and there is no way this woman did this 'for attention'. When you're breastfeeding, it just becomes so normal that you don't think twice about it, it's such a non-issue. It's only other people who have an issue, and they shouldn't.

Pinkandpurple225533 · 20/11/2025 12:24

Tiddlyswink · 20/11/2025 12:17

exactly ...they are 2 , why do you think you should feed a 2 year old who is upset rather than comforting them in a different way? many 2 year olds are at nursery, the nursery staff dont feed them because they are upset do they? hence why people grow up and eat when they are distressed rather than learn healthier ways to express and comfort themselves. if a 2 year old is distressed, does a non BF mum grab a cup of milk for them , no they don't, they comfort them, give them a hug etc.

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But why do you think they shouldn’t feed for comfort? Why do you think another way is better? Breast milk is good for children, the evidence is very clear.

why is another way “healthier”? Why is the non-BF mum who doesn’t comfort with milk and instead gives a cuddle “healthier”? Is it not just “different”?

Do you have any evidence to support your opinions which you are putting across as fact?

I believe you are linking binge eating and perhaps obesity to extended breastfeeding which is a huge leap

IwishIhadcheese · 20/11/2025 12:24

Surely at that age a bottle is more convenient in the middle of a shop?

What do you suggest should be in the bottle?

usedtobeaylis · 20/11/2025 12:24

Tiddlyswink · 20/11/2025 12:17

exactly ...they are 2 , why do you think you should feed a 2 year old who is upset rather than comforting them in a different way? many 2 year olds are at nursery, the nursery staff dont feed them because they are upset do they? hence why people grow up and eat when they are distressed rather than learn healthier ways to express and comfort themselves. if a 2 year old is distressed, does a non BF mum grab a cup of milk for them , no they don't, they comfort them, give them a hug etc.

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You mean, different people comfort different children in different ways? But you personally want to dictate what is and isn't an ok way to comfort a child anyway?

Anonymous07200408 · 20/11/2025 12:24

TheignT · 20/11/2025 12:21

Do you know if the mother in the article breastfeeds every time her child is distressed?

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They wouldn’t be universally slaughtered. As a mother of kids between 7-19 and a therapist I find it utterly tragic that being “civilised” entails ignoring distress from a tiny child in case other people are offended or find it performative. It is a good thing as evidenced by all psychological literature available which is really what we should be measuring it against- rather than pearl clutching mumsnetters.

babyno2duejuly2026 · 20/11/2025 12:24

ContinuewithGoogle · 20/11/2025 12:21

In 2025, it's still not appropriate to feed your children in a shoe shop, whatever you feed them with. There are many places completely inappropriate like that, especially in 2025 when we are supposed to be a tiny bit civilised.

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I still disagree and I formula fed, it’s just breast milk not like mum got a 3 course meal out for her child. I don’t understand why this bothers you so much,