Told to stop breastfeeding

[cinnamonbun]

Took my two children (DD 4 and DS 4 months) to soft play at my local leisure centre today. While DD played I sat down to BF my little one. A few minutes in a (female) staff member came and said I had to stop. I was stunned and asked her why. She said because there were children around and her manager had said so. I had a long scarf wrapped around my boob so it was definitely not on display. I feel both angry and ashamed. This was only the 3rd time I've BF in public (I never dared to with my DD) and now I don't want to do it again.

[ItsaWonderfulLifeofGru]

Love it. You can't breast feed here because there are children around. What? You mean those healthy, beautiful little creatures many of whom will have been breastfed and have much more open minds than adults when it comes to feeding a baby.

[Twattyzombiebollocks]

The manager of that soft play really has no idea of the shit storm that is about to descend on their head after this do they :0)

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

If the council are going to deal with this, surely the place will be breastfeeding friendly any time soon?

That isn't my point. I know the OP has a response from the council but local mums groups are excellent when creating awareness about something or even just having a rant about something local.. At least mine is.

[helenthemadex]

sounds like they need up dating on the law, glad the council are taking the matter seriously

[SouthernComforts]

Very quick response from the council - well done.

Definitely some staff training needed.

[GLLCommsTeam]

Dear Cinnamonbun

I'm posting on behalf of GLL, the charitable social enterprise that manages Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre.

We wholeheartedly apologise for the fact that a member of staff asked you to stop breastfeeding. She was mistaken to do so. Our company policy clearly states that breastfeeding is allowed within our leisure centres.

This was a 'one off' mistake by an individual. We'll be re-iterating our guidelines to all staff at the centre to ensure this doesn't happen again. And once again we apologise for your experience earlier today.

[PedlarsSpanner]

very swift response GLL Comms Team - well done

[scottishmummy]

Prompt,and helpful response,well done
Do add breast feeding to up your mandatory staff training

[WorraLiberty]

We wholeheartedly apologise for the fact that a member of staff asked you to stop breastfeeding. She was mistaken to do so.

Well yes she was, but she was instructed to do so by her manager.

Just making this point because I'm hoping you're not going to shoot the messenger

[ErrolTheDragon]

This was a 'one off' mistake by an individual.

two individuals - the manager needs the training (and any reprimand) more than the staff member sent to talk to the OP. But aside from that nitpick, good to see prompt response.

[CocktailQueen]

Complain, and name and shame! Get all over their facebook and twitter pages.

Also, you were vv unlucky. I bf my two for 2 years and 3 years and never once had anything but positive comments. Don't let it put you off feeding in public.

[stargirl1701]

Another nitpick, I'm afraid.

'Allowed?' - It should really be entitled to breastfeed not allowed to breastfeed.

[PedlarsSpanner]

Read the thread eh Cocktail

oh yes about the being allowed to as opposed to being entitled to, good pick-up

[imip]

Just adding my voice to the chorus telling you not to let it deter you from bf in public. I have breastfeed my four dds, in public, in london, and continue to do so with dd4 who is 23 months. I've never had a bad word, though I am sure I have stunned a few. I feed regularly in Better facilities (east London). As others point out, it is the act of an individual and the problem does lie with places such as better and other such providers who should actively train staff with regards to breast feeding legislation when they commence employment. It should be part of regular training also to familiarise staff on an on-going basis.

In a soft play centre, ffs!

[Blatherskite]

Aside from agreeing wholeheartedly with stargirl's nitpicks, I think that's a fairly good response from the Council and the Leisure Centre.

I hope that is has given you the confidence to continue to breastfeed in public OP. I remember being nervous with DS but a trip to Scotland soon after they brought in their legislation helped a lot. With DD I was fearless :)

[TwerkingNineToFive]

Allows? No the law allows it not the policy.
The policy should be to actively encourage bf.

[IceBeing]

Yes it is so kind of them to 'allow' a mother to do something she is legally entitled to do....

ah well. A small issue - the big one is being dealt with.

[TheFabulousIdiot]

this thread is quite confusing to me. I have the OP's posts highlighted in green and so it doesn't look like she has had a response until closer reading when you see that other people have had a response VIA twitter (?) so don't go telling people off for not taking in all the facts!

[PedlarsSpanner]

TheFabulousIdiot (great name btw!) two representatives from the council have posted directly onto this thread, it's not hard to identify them, really it's not:

GLLCommsTeam

LondonBoroughofCamden

[ErrolTheDragon]

I find that if I CBA to RTFT, reading the OP and the first few, then the green ones and then the latest half-dozen or so usually gets the jist reasonably well.

[Feenie]

Of course, you could just RTFT, TheFabulousIdiot.

[DoYouNeedAWahhmbulance]

Well done to the council and the gll for responding so quickly

I do hope the conduct of both members of staff involved is investigated and appropriate training given. The manger was at fault telling the member of staff to ask the op to stop but it sounds as though the member of staff was rude to customers who were doing absolutely nothing wrong

[BonaDrag]

Oooooh GLL thanks for allowing me to breastfeed.

[CocktailQueen]

Oh, sorry, just read the first page when I replied. Good that the op has had a speedy reply! Bad that both the manager and employee were wrong, tho...

[PicaK]

Great response Camden council, less so from GLL - the manager is badly at fault and "allow" is a bad word.

Please don't let it put you off.