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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

219 replies

elodie2000 · 28/08/2016 10:22

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?

OP posts:
Ham69 · 28/08/2016 11:26

Exactly, Mommawoo Posts like these don't help. Come back to the UK, the more people like you the better!

Pumpkin2010 · 28/08/2016 11:26

I've BF pretty much everywhere, even had to sit in the middle of a crazy golf course on the grass verge because he was overtired and screaming, and my other 2 were playing. I have also fed him whilst getting my hair done. He was constantly attached and I desperately needed my roots doing.

Only place I wouldn't feed is the loos. Disgusting.

Pumpkin2010 · 28/08/2016 11:27

Oh and Mommawoo, I've never experienced any negativity!

KatieScarlett · 28/08/2016 11:29

I will not BF in IKEA
Despite the cheapie knockenstiihjla
I will not feed in M&S
Cos some old dear will point and hiss
My poor sweet babe, from out my fanjo
Will never eat a meal in Nandos
I care so much, So hear me shout!
My babe will starve before baps come out

Original poster
elodie2000 · 28/08/2016 11:33

Bravo Spud, Twister & Allow!! 😄

OP posts:
JaniceBattersby · 28/08/2016 11:34

I've breastfed pretty much everywhere. It's fine when you have one baby and can maybe move somewhere more comfortable to feed (if you want to, you don't have to obvs) but when you have multiple children you're hardly going to tell everyone to get out of the pool and go into the changing rooms every time the baby wants a feed. I just feed on a chair at the side of the pool.

I've also fed in the public toilets at JL, as they had a chair available in there and I've fed on trains and on buses. Why wouldn't I, if the baby was hungry and I was sitting down?

Original poster
elodie2000 · 28/08/2016 11:35

And Katie You're fabulous! Flowers

OP posts:
motherducker · 28/08/2016 11:36

Mommawoo please don't worry, I've breastfed everywhere (including nandos AND poolside). No one has ever said anything to me and I've never felt any hostility from anyone. In fact most people barely notice.

Original poster
elodie2000 · 28/08/2016 11:36

I will not feed in M&S, Cos some old dear will point and hiss Smile

OP posts:
brightnearly · 28/08/2016 11:38

Breastfeeding in a moving car is possible - baby in backwards-facing car seat, breastfeeder in middle seat leaning forward enough to place nipple in baby mouth.

not that I've ever tried that

ChocChocPorridge · 28/08/2016 11:38

I've breastfed lots of places - including a moving car.. we were in stop-start traffic, had been for 2 hours, no opportunity to move over (and we had to get to the airport, so couldn't risk it anyway) - like the previous poster, I left DS in his seat and leaned over. I was no less secured than I would have been with just a lap belt (was bloody uncomfortable - but then so was a screaming baby)

My favourite was a deckchair in the middle of costco - the people I was with were horrified and tried to drape a beach towel over me. All the other shoppers either didn't care, or glanced at me, realised what I was doing, and wandered on with a little smile on their faces. I think most people care much less about it than the daily mail comments suggest.

Soubriquet · 28/08/2016 11:42

I am Envy of these rhymes

Can't rhyme to save my life

Fwiw my local pool has a sign up asking you to refrain from BF in the pool. Poolside is fine, in the water is not

Original poster
elodie2000 · 28/08/2016 11:43

Momma I understand your concern. There are still people out there who don't like BF in public
I'm asking about where you'd avoid BF or feeding a baby in general. The anywhere rule is there but I'd try to avoid going to some places or situations like the plague!

OP posts:
Original poster
elodie2000 · 28/08/2016 11:45

That wasn't worded well! - people can feed wherever they like without prejudice.

OP posts:
MrsRyanGosling15 · 28/08/2016 11:47

Bright it may be possible, but it is no way safe at all.

Original poster
elodie2000 · 28/08/2016 11:49

chocchoc😄 Iis there a Costco equivalent of You tube's 'people spotted in Wallmart' ?!

OP posts:
BurnThisDiscoDown · 28/08/2016 11:50

My DS fed little and often, I went from only feeding in mother and baby rooms/going into another room if we had visitors to just feeding anywhere I could find a seat in about 2 weeks! I wouldn't have done in the loo but would have done most places I went. I never had any trouble from passers by either, once in asda cafe (I know, I'm so classy!) I thought an elderly man was going to kick off, but he came up and said well done instead.

JasperDamerel · 28/08/2016 11:52

But that's not about breastfeeding, is it? It's about places where it is and isn't appropriate to take a baby. So generally speaking, if it's ok for a baby to be there, it's ok to breastfeed a baby there. And people do have views about where it's ok to take a baby - loud music with ear defenders, for example, is generally considered fine by some people and not fine by others. It's not somewhere I would be happy to go with a baby, but my rock musician friends have their baby at their gigs, and that seems like the most sensible place for him to be.

LBOCS2 · 28/08/2016 11:57

I BF my baby anywhere it's appropriate to take a baby - and particularly in places where it's a bit borderline and I want to make sure they're quiet (kids cinema, for example).

I haven't ever had any negativity about it. Positive comments, yes, but I've never been told to put them away.

Original poster
elodie2000 · 28/08/2016 11:58

Jasper: So generally speaking, if it's ok for a baby to be there, it's ok to breastfeed a baby there. This!! You're right!

OP posts:
Zoolander · 28/08/2016 12:14

I think it's acceptable to breastfeed a baby anywhere it's acceptable to bottle feed a baby and anywhere it's acceptable to take a baby.

I don't think it comes into the same category as an adult eating because babies need feeding more often and can't really wait.

KatieScarlett · 28/08/2016 12:16

Can I just say it's really not OK to breastfeed without an infant.
Just so we're clear.

MoonriseKingdom · 28/08/2016 12:16

I've fed in Costa, Nando's too.
But not where people go to poo.

I've fed on boats and trains as well.
And mostly people could not tell.

If baby cries I'll get them out.
And don't care a fig if people pout.

OwlinaTree · 28/08/2016 12:26

momma you will be fine bf in UK. I've fed in all sorts of places and never hada negative comment, on occasion I've had people say positive things.

I've fed when having my hair done, needs must! The worst place to feed was on a plane as you are so close to the next person.

Trying to think where I would not feed...

Soubriquet · 28/08/2016 12:29

^Can I just say it's really not OK to breastfeed without an infant.
Just so we're clear^

You mean I'm not supposed to breastfeed my Dh in public?! Is that why people keep giving me funny looks? Damn

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