Just because I can BF anywhere doesn't mean I will.

[elodie2000]

I've been following the 'chucked out of west end show for BF' thread with interest.
It's legal to BF pretty much everywhere but I wondered where others avoid feeding or even taking their baby?

I wouldn't take my baby to
The theatre (adult only show) 😉
Loud music Concert
Nandos near me (and similar stuffy, smelly, overcrowded, dirty restaurants.)
Public toilets
Exam hall
Staff meeting/presentation

I wouldn't BF
in moving car
at side of swimming pool
at the side of a motorway
In a salon whilst having my hair/ nails done.

Basically, anywhere I myself wouldn't usually eat food, or dirty, noisy, smelly or overcrowded places. Adult or particularly formal places.

IABU to think that despite the law, just because you can doesn't automatically mean you should?

There are loads of places I would try to avoid it, either because it's not great for my baby (public toilets), inconvenient to me (busy department store) or not particularly suitable for small children (West End theatre) but very few places I would not do it if I had to. The bottom line is, it's my choice. I can legally breastfeed almost everywhere.

Judy Probably one of my worst nightmares. You're right... What else could you do?

Sorry op - I got my first disapproving looks and tuts for bf this week - in the IKEA cafe, so I'm feeling a bit sensitive about this topic at the moment.

I suppose I wouldn't bf anywhere I wouldn't take my baby but beyond that, I wouldn't rule anything out.

Well I think it depends on the baby. My DD would feed little and often, had tongue tie and suspected silent reflux. My first year was hell. My dh worked away, my DS was 3 and I had no family to help. I wore loads of layers and would bf as subtly as poss whenever DD started screaming (and could she scream, her shriek set of fire doors at a toddler group once!) Lots of mums feel conscious as it is. Why make s big deal of doing the most natural thing in the world? Many countries wouldn't bat an eyelid.
I remember being stuck in heavy traffic in London with a screaming baby (dh driving) and trying to get my ample and not the most pert boob in her mouth. We were both securely strapped in the back and I just managed it. Not my finest hour but needs must!

I would not do it in the car
I will not feed them from a jar
I only BF in my house
Just to avoid the cats bum mouth
I am a sanctimoany mummy
(I'm really not, this thread is funny)

MadrigalElectromotive
Much better the IKEA cafe than the IKEA toilets!! 😄

Katie Good work!

You have a gift Katie Scarlett.

Please do one with Nandos in it, as I'm totally perplexed as to the prohibition here!

I would not BF on the loo
In case my DS ate a poo
Nor whip 'em out in a moving car
Because they will not stretch that far
There's nowhere else I will not feed
Avert your eyes, then you won't see!

I never understand why people give others dirty looks in cafes for BF. Surely the easy thing to do is just not to stare at other people while they're eating!

To those stating they breastfeed in a moving car while the baby is in its seat. Can you not see how dangerous this is? Everything with weight is increased in a crash. A crash at 30mph is about 20G's multiply your weight by 20G's and picture that slamming straight down on your baby, which is exactly what would happen. In a crash where your baby may otherwise be OK, if you were feeding them you could be responsible for seriously injuring them or worse killing them. This is not an over reaction or something made up. It's just basic physics.

I will not, will not in a tree
Dangle boobs for all to see

I could not, would not on a farm
I would not, could not cause alarm

I do not feed at the theatre or shop
I do not feed while I sweep or mop

Will you feed in the rain?
Will you feed on a train?

Not in a moving car, not in a bar
Not near a school, not by the pool

I could not feed where there is noise
(that surely lacks all grace and poise)

I do so like breastfeeding, it's true..
I'd even do it in a loo!

I've BFed in a nuns' convent. They were much happier to have me feed him than have him crying!

In short, you feed your baby anywhere where you are with them when they need it.

Slings and wraps were particularly useful for my perpetually ravenous 2nd baby when I couldn't stop to constantly find nice cafes due to his toddler sibling. Many a time people would come up and pat his head mid feed without realising!

Nice work spud
Nothing rhymes with Nandos

I didn't feed my baby everywhere, but I think it fine anywhere the adult feels comfortable. I think having a car accident with your body contorted sideways in a seatbelt would be very dangerous.

Anywhere I went, I took my baby, and he decided himself if he wanted fed, and when he did, I fed him. I didn't spend time thinking about what other people do but I don't do, or about what other people don't do but I do, because there is more than enough petty judgement in this world already.

Its not about where you would BF your baby though really is it in reference to the West End thread. Surely its about not taking a baby to inappropriate places in the first place - so yes, West End Show (unless family performance) would fall into that.

In regard to where I wouldn't breastfeed - public toilets because thats revolting quite frankly and anywhere it wasn't safe. So hard shoulder of the motorway etc.

Anywhere else I absolutely would and probably have

Twister

My daughter was ebf and I felt so self conscious of feeding in public at first. She gave me little choice though and at a week old I had to feed her mid eye exam whilst examiner was writing up notes as dd was screaming the place down and there was nowhere private to do it (I asked). Then had to feed her in a park whilst I waited for my lift. I had lots of layers and was vv discrete, but was terrified someone would come up and have a go at me! From then on, just got on with it. If I felt 'on show' out and about, I'd sit in car to feed. Once at a nice restaurant at lunch time I asked for a booth, they said no, so I had to feed mid meal at a table in the middle of the restaurant. Again vv discrete using big shawl. Basically I'd try to be as considerate as possible for squeamish people but get on with it. As long as it was safe and hygienic to do so, I'd feed my baby. Anywhere.

katie fanjo?

I bottle fed but I think the only place I wouldn't have fed was in a public toilet.

I simply won't when hanging clothes,
I couldn't, wouldn't in Nandos.

The breastfeeding in public debate has really got me worried about moving back to UK. Dd was born in Greece where boobs are not so offensive. They are on the beach, wandering around changing rooms and are whipped out to feed hungry babies any and everywhere. Often when I fed dd in public a woman would wander over to me to offer congratulations or bring her small children over to watch! Men would just politely avert their eyes. Im pregnant with second dc now and dreading bf in England

YABU. The point is having the choice to breastfeed anywhere. I'be breastfed in all the places you mention except a public toilet. I do take my babies into public toilets however. How else would I ever have a wee or take older children to the toilet?

I will breastfeed in the pool
I am allowed, it is the rule.
I will breastfeed on the bus
And squirt them if they make a fuss.
I will breastfeed in the sea
and in the park for all to see
I will breastfeed without a care
I will breastfeed everywhere!

I would have thought taking a baby into a theatre production was a very stupid thing to do anyway, whether you breast fed it there or not.