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AIBU?

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Original poster

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:
bigbluestars · 03/12/2014 12:22

"There is nothing wrong with being considerate. Claridges weren't asking the lady to stop, they were asking her to be considerate to others. If someone had rocked up in shorts and a t shirt, they would have been told to dress more appropriately."

Thankfully the law does not agree with you.

In Scotland this waiter could have been arrested by the police.

PortofinoVino · 03/12/2014 12:24

Thankfully we're not in Scotland !

MarjorieMelon · 03/12/2014 12:24

The mother in question wasn't wearing shorts and a tee- shirt. She was dressed appropriately so how can you compare the two?

CallieG · 03/12/2014 12:25

I am so tired of this debate raging on for decades, What about child's right to be fed when it is hungry? What would you prefer a screaming baby or a content one? The majority of women are discrete, we plan our days around feeding schedules and we try to be at home for the most part but that is not always possible. We don't want you staring at our breast anymore than you want to see them, but once the baby is feeding you cant see anything more than the back of their heads, modern maternity bras and special tops make things discrete. No woman should have to take their baby into a dirty public toilet to feed, would you eat your lunch sitting on the toilet? I think not. That cafe lunch that mother is having with friends is possibly the only adult human contact she has had in weeks or maybe months. Boobs Boobs Boobs, Bums Bums Bums, Sex Sex Sex is used to sell everything most of which has nothing to do with women's bodies or sex, super short skirts and crotch crawling shorts, billowing breasts falling out of plunging cleavages and skin tight clothes, men sitting with their legs splayed scratching their balls, underpants hanging out of droopy jeans around their knees all sorts of people getting around in next to nothing, but a woman dares to feed a hungry baby in public and everyone loses their minds. Breast feeding is NOT about sex GROW THE FUCK UP PEOPLE. Angry

Trapper · 03/12/2014 12:29

Clarifies were in the wrong by the sounds of it, but the press release that was printed in the Standard yesterday read more like the event was being used by the family to raise his profile. Three references to him and his career which seemed irrelevant? Also they made a big issue of the fact that she was reduced to tears, when she is clearly sitting there smiling.

PortofinoVino · 03/12/2014 12:30

It was a publicity stunt, through and through. I wonder if they'll report on the 7 pages of outrage on MN next?

Nancy66 · 03/12/2014 12:34

these BF banning stories never turn out to be what they seem.

Remember that woman who claimed she was thrown off a bus in the pissing rain for breastfeeding? CCTV showed she'd totally made it up.

there was another one recently that was pure invention as well

Andrewofgg · 03/12/2014 12:35

marnia68 Change seats so that you have your back to the "offensive" sight.

Someone at Claridges has probably had a bollocking. And deserved it. The next time there will be no fuss.

ClaudetteWyms · 03/12/2014 12:39

Claridge's should be ashamed of themselves. I am loving that someone keeps posting this picture on their facebook page. They need to apologise very very publicly.

Ola Jordan's visible breasts and nipples in a completely see through dress are fine in Claridges' "classy" and "discreet" establishment because they are performing a sexual function in pleasing male viewers. But a breast feeding mother's completely covered breast needs shrouding because it is performing its natural function of feeding a baby. We live in a fucked up world indeed.

And some of the comments on the articles about this, and indeed on this thread, show just how much people (including women) hate women.

Chunderella · 03/12/2014 12:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Neverbuyheliumbalonz · 03/12/2014 12:42

The vegetarian analogy is a great one actually.

To the 'don't breastfeed in public, you might offend someone' brigade:
If you were in a restaurant enjoying a delicious steak, and someone was staring at you and muttering things about meat being 'disgusting' or something, would you think 'oh my, how inconsiderate of me, of course some people are going to be offended by this, I shall finish my meal with a napkin on my head or better still I shall go and finish it in the toilet'.

Or would you think 'gosh that person is rude, if they don't like it they don't have to look' and continue enjoying your steak?

PterodactylTeaParty · 03/12/2014 12:44

Thankfully we're not in Scotland !

I am, and it's terrible here! Women strip right down to their waists to breastfeed. Often they walk around the restaurant half-naked first demanding everyone stares at their breasts. You can't get a meal anywhere without gangs of roving breastfeeders descending on your table shouting "look at my booooooobs!"

Actually no, we have really low breastfeeding rates and lots of us still feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public because of attitudes like yours. But good for you for standing up against those 'militant' breastfeeders...

PortofinoVino · 03/12/2014 12:49

because of attitudes like yours said ptero

Which is what exactly? I have said nothing untoward at all, only that I'm glad the waiter didn't get arrested Confused

Chunderella · 03/12/2014 12:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bigbluestars · 03/12/2014 12:53

nancy- "Remember that woman who claimed she was thrown off a bus in the pissing rain for breastfeeding? CCTV showed she'd totally made it up. "

I know this women- it happened in Edinburgh. I can assure you she did not make this up.

Sephy · 03/12/2014 12:53

Marjorie I'm chuckling at the mental picture of you trying to feed like that in Claridges.

Personally I chose to be discreet if I could, just as I would choose to be discreet about eg adjusting uncomfortable ridden up underwear. I would be mortified if a waiter came over to say I was too obvious in my clothing adjustment - frankly it's not his business at all - and similarly with breastfeeding. But that's me personally, if people choose to be considerably freer in their feeding - or sorting out the odd wedgie(!) - that is completely up to them.

pinkfrocks · 03/12/2014 12:55

There is nothing wrong with being considerate. Claridges weren't asking the lady to stop, they were asking her to be considerate to others. If someone had rocked up in shorts and a t shirt, they would have been told to dress more appropriately.

I find it a bit embarrassing the reaction to this. Women shrieking that it's their right. Their baby neeeeeds it. It makes my toes curl.

Yay for common sense!

some women on this thread need to learn to read.
No one has said DO NOT FEED YOUR BABY IN PUBLIC.

Lots of posts here have nothing to do remotely with what some of us have posted- you are making things up that are not written.

Hatespiders · 03/12/2014 12:55

All this malevolence and unkindness vented towards innocent bf young mums and their babies, wanting them out of sight for 'decency's sake'.

And yet magazines with God knows what on view on newsagents' shelves.

And pop videos on TV verging on porn films.

Very sad.

Neverbuyheliumbalonz · 03/12/2014 12:55

Ola Jordan's visible breasts and nipples in a completely see through dress are fine in Claridges' "classy" and "discreet" establishment because they are performing a sexual function in pleasing male viewers. But a breast feeding mother's completely covered breast needs shrouding because it is performing its natural function of feeding a baby. We live in a fucked up world indeed.

Yep. Because its a baby and not a man who is getting something from the act of breastfeeding, it offensive/wrong/disgusting/exhibitionist/insert other ridiculous adjective here.

Now that is what's sick.

PterodactylTeaParty · 03/12/2014 12:56

That not wanting to drape a napkin over your baby = 'militant', perhaps?

ChoochiWoo · 03/12/2014 12:57

omg the guardian comments section..... "so she should I don't get my dick out in public !".....Confused Confused Hmm Grin

Neverbuyheliumbalonz · 03/12/2014 12:59

So again pinkfrocks if you were eating a meat based meal in a restaurant and someone asked you to stop or do it out of their sight because they are vegetarian and think its gross, would you happily oblige?

Gruntfuttock · 03/12/2014 13:00

pinkfrocks would you please look at the two photos of the woman in question on this link www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30298382 and explain why the one on the left is so offensive? No breast is visible and isn't she far more noticeable in the one on the right?

BeCool · 03/12/2014 13:00

Shockingly the Independent gave 'voice' to this nasty article written by a woman who is "qualified" to say what she does as she BF 2 children. But as she thinks babies scream while being BF I think she's just made it all up.

www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/if-you-want-to-breastfeed-your-baby-then-stay-indoors-dont-go-to-a-five-star-hotel-9898748.html?cmpid=facebook-post

She starts off slating BF in public but the article ends up sounding like all round baby bashing. Clearly Natalie Drake is gunning to be the new KH.

BeCool · 03/12/2014 13:01

I really hope Claridges are prosecuted

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