AIBU to think that 'breastfeeding welcome here' stickers here aren't necessary?

[freezation]

Just that really. Why are they needed? The lack of a sticker could put someone off breastfeeding when they need to. I don't understand the point of them. It's not helping to normalise breastfeeding.

I breastfed DC1 for ten months and am breastfeeding DC2. I have always felt confident to feed in public, but was a bit inept in the beginning.
Have only had adverse comments from my own family and people in France wonder if it will happen again this year...
Despite this confidence, I like the stickers as a)it makes me even more confident and b)may have the same effect on those less bolshy confident.
Agree that it is a shame they are necessary though.

Oh, and I wouldn't notice the lack of a sticker - most places don't have them. Doesn't stop me though. And I would NEVER feed in a toilet, and nor should anyone feel they have to. More for psychological reasons than germ-related ones.

I am so proud of our shop's sticker!

We had to pass a test, a mystery shopper breastfeeding and then an NHS lady (I think she worked for the NHS, maybe it was the council).

It is a shame that we need them, but it's a very positive step.

I go to a breastfeeding group and "where is a good place to breastfeed" is a really common question asked.

I like the stickers - not just as they make me feel more comfortable breastfeeding but because a place that has them is also likely to have a changing table, high chairs, a kids menu and not look at small children like they are unexplored bombs.....

They can be pretty meaningless. My local hospital has huge pro breastfeeding 8 foot banners lining the main corridor yet its the only place I've ever felt too awkward to breastfeed and judged! Every chair in the tiny children area is knee to knee with another person and staff look at you like you're shitting on the floor, believe me I usually have the skin of a rhino.

We had to pass a test, a mystery shopper breastfeeding and then an NHS lady (I think she worked for the NHS, maybe it was the council).

I didn't realise they were like the food hygiene stickers! I work in a children's centre and we were just sent them, and stuck them up.

Its helping to normalise breastfeeding I think. If the (certain types of) general public see signs like that it puts the idea that bfing is ok into their subconscious mind, then if they see a baby nursing, (and im always a bit when people actually notice that someone is bfing their baby) they are more likely to just shrug as opposed to get irate.

I don't think of it so much as somewhere that you are allowed to BF, more somewhere that you might actually do it in some comfort - for me that is somewhere to sit with a back and preferably arms (or a comfy booth), and although I don't hide I really do prefer a quieter spot maybe round a corner or with my back to people. I don't like a bfing room but for example, we went for dinner in a crowded pub and I was sitting on a chair I could tell would not be comfy to feed on and where literally every other table in the pub could see me - I just felt too exposed and like it was too "busy" so I fed DD in the car in peace and comfort. I am sure I could have fed her where I was sitting (but getting hot and flustered and feeling gawped at) or asked the busy staff to find me somewhere and wait with a crying baby while they bustled to find a spot but that's not my idea of BFing friendly.

I was under the impression from my HV that those stickers mean they have breast feeding facilities ie a small private room or a chair in the bathroom.

I've never come across a sticker though so don't know if she is right.

A chair in a bathroom isn't what I would call breastfeeding facilities! The brilliant thing about breastfeeding is that, as long as you're comfy, you can do it wherever and whenever your baby needs it.

And should be able to

Miaowthecat, what about a sign saying "What YOU lookin at?"

uri

I agree. It's not my idea of fascilities but to some places it is.

I prefer to feed at the table whilst I'm waiting for my food. Problem is people insist on looking which makes me faff and the whole operation goes tits up. The people looking are not sniggering or tutting or anything but I could honestly do without 10 pairs of eyes watching me struggle to latch my overtired DS in the middle of Pizza Hut I was getting in such a muddle that I just walked out and fed him in the car.

Schrosaw that is awful - hope your LO is OK now.

Reading these threads makes me realise how lucky I have been. I've never had any looks, negative comments or had to feed in a toilet. In the past month I've fed newborn DS2 standing up at the tills at Tesco, sitting on a trolley in Ikeas car park, loads of cafés, Nandos , an English heritage attraction, the tube and the pub. No-one has batted an eyelid aside from a couple of older ladies who have said nice things.

I do have resting bitchy face though.

YABU re OP but you are quite reasonable otherwise. We shouldn't need these stickers but we do.

I liked these, made me feel I didn't need to worry about anyone tutting at me and that if someone did tut I felt staff etc on my side

YANBU. They should have a 'We don't tolerate people being rude to breastfeeding mothers or taking photos of them to mock on social media in this establishment' but it's a bit of a mouthful.

sign ^

I don't think the signs are necessary but something doesn't have to be necessary to exist does it?

They make some people feel better, so they are serving a purpose.

No wobbly but you could say that about lots of things. I just think it's a real shame they exist at all. Maybe we should also have breastfeeding unwelcome here signs, just so everybody knows where they stand .