Claridges Breastfeeding Policy

[ifgrandmahadawilly]

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

There's a lot more on show in nightclubs and streets every weekend and you don't see the staff asking those women to cover up.

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

Brilliant training course there

pasithea You are protected, by the swivel function on your head and neck and the ability to look the other way.

There's a lot more on show in nightclubs and streets every weekend and you don't see the staff asking those women to cover up

This is what I find most offensive I think, over the years the celebs being papped falling out of claridges in various states of undress...

Firstly, legally it isn't a two way street at all. Claridge's have broken the law. Their patrons have the right to expect them to observe relevant legislation.

yes, very clear and very simple.

I always love this.

She seems happier in the covered up picture...

My brother's girlfriend had a strange thing (like that but in hideous fabric) she would set up when breastfeeding in public which actually drew more attention to the fact.

I BF my now month olds old until she was 13 months, but would generally go somewhere private if available. I know I was entitled to BF anywhere, but not everyone (especially the older generation) is comfortable with it - particularly when they're eating.

I'm guessing Claridges was chosen as the venue because of its old fashioned way of doing a "proper" afternoon tea. The mum shouldn't have been too surprised that along with silver tea pots and liveried waiters there was an expectation of old fashioned values like modesty and consideration for fellow dinners.

Claridges has gorgeous huge powder rooms with comfy chairs - I would have gone in there. It's not like there was no other option. I don't think Claridges was being unreasonable.

Link to Government website advising businesses on the application of the Equality Act with reference to breastfeeding and, below, the relevant advice. In a spirit of helpfulness I have sent this to Claridges to assist them with their staff training.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85008/business-quickstart.pdf

A business cannot discriminate against mothers who are breastfeeding a child of any age.

The Equality Act 2010 has specifically clarified that it is unlawful for a business to discriminate against a woman because she is breastfeeding a child.

A business may ask a breastfeeding woman to leave their premises if the reason for this request is not due to her breastfeeding. However, if the woman later claims that discrimination occurred because she was breastfeeding, the business will have to prove that there was in fact no discrimination.

DO make sure women you’re providing services to are allowed to breastfeed on your premises if they want to.

DO also ensure that mothers breastfeeding babies are not discriminated against, no matter how old the baby is.

DO train all your employees, especially those who deal with the public, to be aware of the protection from discrimination given to breastfeeding mothers under the Equality Act 2010.

DON’T forget, under the Equality Act 2010, discriminating against someone because they are with a breastfeeding mother is also prohibited, so companions of breastfeeding mothers who are also treated unfairly may have a claim, too.
FAQs
• Am I responsible for how other customers treat a woman who is breastfeeding?
Yes, you may be responsible, and you will be responsible if other customers’ behaviour has been brought to your attention and you failed to act.You have an obligation to ensure that a woman who is breastfeeding while receiving a service you provide is not treated unfairly. The Equality Act 2010 aims to give women complete confidence to breastfeed while going about their day-to-day business. Businesses must facilitate this.

• Does this mean I have to create a separate facility to allow women customers to breastfeed?
No, but you are under an obligation to ensure that
a woman can breastfeed without being treated unfairly. It is up to you to decide how best to do this

if I'd had to stay inside for the first twelve weeks with either of my babies I would have gone stark, staring mad

I barely left the house for 3 months whilst breastfeeding and never breastfed in public. I hated it. It hurt, it made me feel physically sick and I utterly hated being a milch cow. I don't like seeing women breastfeeding and obviously that is my problem. If someone feeding was sitting near me in a restaurant I would leave.

No doubt I'll get pilloried for saying that.

I'm getting SO about this 'older generation uncomfortable' waffle being rolled out every time anyone feeds in public as a valid reason why women should not feed their baby in public.

Yeah, and this and the next generation are also going to be 'uncomfortable' and knicker twisty unless feeding in public becomes a normal, non-comment worthy thing to do. And that happens by people doing it in public.

Or am I missing something?!

Lots of publics there.

Sorry.

Did somebody in Claridges complain about the BF mother or did Claridges just take it upon themselves to decide they didn't want to see it?

Phaedra, no pilloring from me. Clearly you are right to leave a restaurant if your feelings are that strong. What you would not be right in doing is to object to the restaurant or the mother.

Writer, no one had complained. The waiter was following claridge's policy. This was confirmed by the manager who also spoke to the mother.

I think that some people feel uncomfortable about breast-feeding because they are not used to seeing it. We have smaller families these days and few people are brought up surrounded by younger siblings and cousins who are being breastfed.

When I had my children I felt fortunate that I could, unusually amongst my friends, remember my much younger siblings being breastfed by my mother. It meant that I assumed that I would breastfeed my own children and gave me the confidence to persevere with it during the first, difficult weeks. Although I felt self conscious at first (having seen few people other than my own mother many years ago breastfeeding) I became more confident and began to feel that it might help women who felt uncertain about breastfeeding to see someone doing it in a relaxed and confident way in public.

The more it happens the more normal it will become and the more comfortable those who currently find it odd will become.

MillieH, why do you think that when a mother is enjoying tea in Claridges and her baby gets hungry, she should abandon her tea and her friends and sequester herself in the powder room for however long it takes to feed the baby? Is she supposed to ruin her afternoon out just so as to be "modest" and considerate to other diners? Why shouldn't other diners be considerate towards her?

Why do some people consider breastfeeding to be "immodest"? Would they also consider bottle feeding a baby to be immodest? Why is a baby being fed particularly upsetting for those people when they themselves are eating?

I am always amazed how bothered some people get when faced with a woman feeding a baby. And that they seem incapable of not looking.

Really bemused that this is still an issue. Claridges need to improve their customer service. I guess I am part of the 'older generation' they felt would object but I BF my 4 DCs I until they were well over 2. And I fed them when they were hungry, wherever we were at the time.

This included in meetings with senior managers at work (well they were the ones who wanted a work meeting when I had a 5 week old baby), on nights out with the 20 something lads from work, at dinner in restaurants, in the supermarket while shopping and anywhere else I happened to be.

In all cases, the sight of me with a baby stuffed half under my tee shirt was infinitely preferable to the sound they would have made if they couldn't t have fed.

Of course they were in breach of the equality act. If they had asked a disabled person to drape a cover over their wheelchair and be "more discreet" about their disability you think that upholds the law?

good point Big.

I really don't buy the idea that feeding tiny babies offends the older generation. I've fed my two for nearly 3 years in total and have done so wherever they needed feeding in several different countries - fancy restaurants, public transport, cliff tops (bit windy, wouldn't advise)... The only time anyone ever made a comment was when somw ladies of a certain age kept looking over in a cafe. I braced myself for the worst, fearing 60 something disapproval... One of them came over and said how much she liked to see a mother feeding her baby and well done me.

On the other hand there are some cracked people about. I dare say there's probably a couple of Claridges regulars who don't entirely approve of black people or homosexuals taking tea with them either. But do Claridges pander to thier ignorance and prejudice? No. Because it's against the law.

Same with BF, if it offends you, TS. Look away or stay at home and eat your crumpets in peace.

I would have died rather than flop my boob out in public to bf. But then, I have never gone topless on the beach either.