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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to think she is? Just a little...

39 replies

CakesAreNotTheAnswer · 17/07/2013 18:59

www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Young-mum-told-to-stop-breastfeeding-at-Cambridge-pool-because-of-no-food-or-drink-rule-20130717055500.htm

basically a mum feeding her 9 month old (so not a newborn) actually in the pool.

I'm a bf peer supporter, feed my toddler, dying to pick a fight with someone about my right to feed anywhere, so not exactly anti bf, but if the rule is a blanket rule against food in the water and she could have got out and fed him with impunity at the side of the pool then perhaps she's making a stink over nothing?

OP posts:
ArabellaBeaumaris · 17/07/2013 19:02

Would a bottle feeding mum be allowed to feed in the jacuzzi? Seems unlikely. I breasted into toddlerhood too but I have to say I agree with you, especially as he's 9m old.

LadyBeagleEyes · 17/07/2013 19:02

There's another thread about this somewhere.
I can't believe a jacuzzi would be a healthy place for a baby anyway, she should have just got out and sat at the side.
And now she wants other BFrs to stage a nurse in.
What an attention seeker.

Justforlaughs · 17/07/2013 19:03

Sounds like a fuss about nothing tbh, if she could have fed the baby at the side of the pool then she's just kicking up because she thinks she can. I'm a fan of breastfeeding, but for me the golden rule is, could I have bottle fed there? If not, then you really shouldn't be breastfeeding either.

thebody · 17/07/2013 19:04

agree she's a daft mare. anyway at our gym no under 16s allowed in jacuzzi so surprised she was.

I too bf into toddlerhood.

monicalewinski · 17/07/2013 19:07

She says in the article that her friend had been told not to previously, so I wonder if she had gone to the pool with the intent to cause a stir?

Xales · 17/07/2013 19:07

I don't like it. But I don't know why. Not very useful I know.

I breastfed wherever DS needed feeding when he was young. Even in the queue at ASDA once as it was heaving and he decided he was hungry.

She wasn't being asked not to feed him just not in the water.

Madamecastafiore · 17/07/2013 19:10

I don't want to sit in water with her breast milk floating around in it or any other food or drink for that matter. Yuck. And small children do not have the same ability as adults to cool down so a Jacuzzi is not a great place for a child that small.

pudcat · 17/07/2013 19:11

But why would she want the baby in the hot tub? I am sorry but if I was in the tub I would not like the thought of milk maybe dripping in the tub.

JustPanicking · 17/07/2013 19:14

The headline is a little misleading. There is a big difference between 'at the pool' and 'in the pool'.

Blissx · 17/07/2013 19:17

Was all ready to be angry at the Swimming Pool until I actually read the article. The Equality Act states that mothers should be provided with a safe place to feed-a jacuzzi is not a safe place and nor is it hygienic. The staff asked to to feed at the side of the pool. Totally reasonable IMO. The mother in the article is wrong to trivialise breastfeeding in public in this manner as it reflects negatively on those who genuinely want to feed in a safe place in public. Shame on her.

Sleepyhoglet · 17/07/2013 19:20

Eeew. That is so not on.

iliketea · 17/07/2013 19:29

She is being a bit ridiculous. No child (of any age) NEEDS to be fed in a jacuzzi. If your child is hungry and needs feeding, the appropriate thing to do is sit at the side of the pool (using a towel to keep warm if necesary).

ThePowerof3 · 17/07/2013 19:32

It's gross to take a baby into a Jacuzzi

KobayashiMaru · 17/07/2013 19:33

Daft mare. Hot tubs are unsafe for babies and I almost guarantee there were signs up saying no babies or kids in the hot tub.

I hate this shit, it detracts from actual cases of discrimination.

ComtessedeFrouFrou · 17/07/2013 19:35

It's bodily fluids, isn't it? It's the same reason they expect you not to pee in the pool or go in with gaping wounds or oozing sores.

TheCrackFox · 17/07/2013 19:36

Why didn't she just feed at the side of the pool? Why would anyone want to feed in a Jacuzzi? It doesn't sound very hygienic at all.

ThePowerof3 · 17/07/2013 19:36

I thought it was illegal to stop someone BF in public in Scotland but not England, would be glad to hear I'm wrong

KobayashiMaru · 17/07/2013 19:42

I doubt its illegal in a case like this, where a baby shouldn't be for health and safety anyway. I'm sure its not illegal to stop someone breastfeeding while driving a car, or on a rollercoaster.....

Wahla · 17/07/2013 19:45

They weren't stopping her though, just asking her to move out of the jacuzzi which is not unreasonable imo. I'm also a toddler/anywhere and everywhere feeder.

weebarra · 17/07/2013 20:04

I bf DS2 until he was 2.5 and wouldn't have been comfortable feeding in a jacuzzi!

QuickQuickSloe · 17/07/2013 20:15

I BF until DS was 20 months, we never attracted funny looks or comments and I fed wherever we happened to be as long as it was clean and I could be comfortable. I wouldn't have dreamt of BFing in a Jacuzzi, or taking him into one in the first place.

The leakage of milk into the water is not nice for other people- it is a bodily fluid after all.

I wouldn't have wanted DS accidentally drinking Jacuzzi water either, it will have god only knows what churning around in it at body heat.

She is BU and icky.

giantpurplepeopleeater · 17/07/2013 20:20

Errrmmmm...... surely A child that young shouldn't even be in the hot tub!

Also, sounds like she has gone with the idea of making a fuss.

I agree with other posters. It's unhygienic and ridiculous not to have gotten out and sat by the side of the pool doing it. Silly mare.

Turniptwirl · 17/07/2013 20:29

I don't get why you'd take a baby into a hot tub in the first place never mind feed him in there

Totally unreasonable and a shame the pool have been made out to be anti-bfing villains because if she was feeding at the side of the pool like any sensible person, they wouldn't have had an issue

BrianTheMole · 17/07/2013 20:37

She is being utterly unreasonable for taking a baby in the hot tub in the first place and for thinking its ok to feed the baby there. Bm is still bodily fluids. She could have sat on the side to do that. Looks like shes trying to make a point where there is no point to be made. And I bf my dc where I pleased, apart from in a hot tub shared with other people Hmm

FirstStopCafe · 17/07/2013 20:43

She is being ridiculous. I bf my son and am very pro public breastfeeding but I don't think it's appropriate to feed a child in a hot tub. She should have got out and fed him poolside