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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Claridges Breastfeeding Policy

638 replies

ifgrandmahadawilly · 02/12/2014 20:31

Aibu in posting this here, in the hopes that the people of mumsnet let Claridges know how unreasonable they are being?

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-health/11267989/Mother-forced-to-cover-up-with-large-napkin-while-breastfeeding-at-Claridges.html

OP posts:
RightyTightyLeftyLoosey · 03/12/2014 16:56

If I couldn't leave the house as bfing mother it would be 2.7 years so far!
Probably would have serious vit D deficiency by now would also be completely mad and living on cardboard

wishmiplass · 03/12/2014 16:58

Righty... it's in the comments section at the very end of the page/article.

Very odd people with very strange views.

IMHO, of course.

wishmiplass · 03/12/2014 17:00

Justgo... quite right. It is offensive.

I think we should be called Titzillas! Wink

RightyTightyLeftyLoosey · 03/12/2014 17:02

Justgotosleep
It's just crazy isn't it?

It brings out the angry in me, it's just feeding a child, not a fucking strip show!

funambulist · 03/12/2014 17:02

Just thought, one way of protesting at Claridges if you aren't a breast feeding mother would be to go and eat there with a napkin on your head!

ithoughtofitfirst · 03/12/2014 17:05

funambulist absolutely creased Grin

RightyTightyLeftyLoosey · 03/12/2014 17:07

Titzillas Grin

And yes they are very strange views! I normally try and see the other side but....just...does not....compute...

leedy · 03/12/2014 17:09

Oh great, now I've got "Titzilla .... TITZILLA ... and Titzuki!" stuck in my head...

Chunderella · 03/12/2014 17:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

funambulist · 03/12/2014 17:17

Like a previous poster I have emailed Claridges to express my disappointment that their actions made a young mother feel humiliated, unwelcome and on the point of tears.

tiktok · 03/12/2014 17:17

Comment showing amazement and disapproval that a woman was even out of the house with a baby of 12 weeks old was in the Daily Telegraph - I mean what planet etc etc etc???

Claridges lady did not 'go to the papers' - they came to her. She posted her story with pics on Twitter. I don't see anything would have been wrong, though, if she had trawled round the media herself with the story - it's clearly of interest to many people, and why should she not be unhappy with Claridges and want to stick it to them?!

The photos were clearly taken on a camera phone. The fact she's smiling does not mean she was lying when she said she felt upset and humiliated and that she cried....this does not have to mean she collapsed on the floor in floods for the next half hour. I think if it was me, my initial reaction would have been distress and embarrassment, and yes, probably tearfulness....then I'd have seen how ridiculous the whole thing was, and I'd have asked my companion to take a 'without napkin' and 'with napkin' pic just for the record. And again, yes, I'd have been thinking 'I'm going to tweet this, for sure.'

The whole thing about 'others being uncomfortable' reminds me of my late MIL, who was a lovely lady, and who had early onset dementia (from about age 55). We all took her out to a cafe (not Claridges) many times, as there was precious little we could do that she still enjoyed. She stopped being able to feed herself, eventually....FIL had to help, a lot. I expect this made people feel a bit uncomfortable. I felt uncomfortable - it was a v. sad sight. But no one told us to be 'discreet' or to 'have consideration for other people who might not like to see' or to feel sorry for people having 'to watch', or to stay at home! Should we have taken her into the toilets? We all see things that we might bristle at for many reasons. Polite people keep these feelings to themselves, for the sake of the wider community.

OnlyLovers · 03/12/2014 17:24

Just place-marking at the moment but will email Claridge's tomorrow when I have more time.

Well done to the posters who've emailed them already, and shame on them for the response to weaselish from the aptly named Thomas Kochs.

hellyhants · 03/12/2014 17:41

I found this very strange. Feeding the baby WITH the napkin was a lot less discreet! I would have simply refused to comply and referred them to their duties under the Equality Act. What were they going to do, call the police and/or manhandle her plus baby out? I don't think so.

Of course, a quiet complaint would have been a lot less public than putting it all on Twitter, which has had a much bigger effect. When are service providers going to learn?

SpaghettiMeatballs · 03/12/2014 17:42

Just to add further clarification re the 'older people being offended' my Tory voting, Telegraph reading, 70 something FIL isn't offended by my breastfeeding his grandchildren in public even without a napkin.

funambulist · 03/12/2014 17:45

Claridges have replied to my email as follows:

Thank you for your e-mail.

Please rest assured that we are very saddened that this conversation is happening. Claridge's fully embraces breast-feeding and the team is keen to provide protection and privacy as and when needed. We welcome hundreds of guests in our restaurants and bars every day, amongst them many mothers and children, again, many of them breast-feeding. We have been dealing with this graciously and successfully for many years. We regret that the lady, who is being discussed in the press left disappointed but we are confident in our robust policies and rigorous staff training programmes that not only reflect but fully exceed the relevant statutory requirements and legal obligations. Breast- feeding mothers often welcome the fact that, as a courtesy, we offer privacy and protection to mother and child especially in our busy restaurants.

PterodactylTeaParty · 03/12/2014 17:56

Claridge's fully embraces breast-feeding

Hmm
5madthings · 03/12/2014 18:06

So wanting a bfeeding mother to be covered with a napkin is offering "privacy and protection" to mother and child now?!Hmm

Pasithea · 03/12/2014 18:09

I can understand that some people find it uncomfortable when aware that someone is breast feeding and think it should be done discreetly.

The law should be used to protect both parties.

pommedeterre · 03/12/2014 18:12

Why are Tory voters more likely to be offended by breastfeeding?

pommedeterre · 03/12/2014 18:13

Shitty email reply which basically says they are anti bf as the mother wishes to do it!

Writerwannabe83 · 03/12/2014 18:16

Surely Claridges would realise that if we actually wanted "privacy and protection" we'd bring our own method of covering up! What an insulting thing to say. It's like he thinks we should be grateful for them offering out napkins?!

5madthings · 03/12/2014 18:19

Why should someone need protection in law forma bfeeding mother?! Are boobs lethal weapons now?!

If you dont like it, don't look!

Chunderella · 03/12/2014 18:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bigbluestars · 03/12/2014 18:23

pasithea- "the law should protect both parties!

And how do you suggests that should work? Say a women is breastfeeding in a coffee shop and someone doesn't like it. Should the complainer have the right to have her thrown out of the shop? Should the breastfeeding woman be arrested?

Either the law supports anti- discrimination or it doesn't. It can't do both.

Those who are offended need to grow up.

Mintberrycrunch · 03/12/2014 19:01

In Italy it's much different, I've just told my DH (Italian) about this and he said that when I have v occasionally used a muslin square to cover up a bit, he has found it odd, as it's not really done, bf'ing is embraced, and have never had any problems odd glances just cooing and "Che Bella!" The British can be a little prudish when it comes to breastfeeding.