Not allowed siblings at my sons nativity play .. including my breast fed baby??

[WinnieLovett]

My daughter is 4 months old and breastfeeding.

My two other sons are involved in the school nativity play. The school will be having two performers one at 2:30 and one at 7:00.

I have been informed that the school has a ‘no sibling rule’ to watching so I will not be allowed to bring my daughter. The issue is these times are both when she has milk.

I was also told by the head that she may make noise and interrupt the performance !!

Really sad as I don’t want to miss it ! But do not feel happy leaving my baby at these times!

You are, unless the place is exempted from the discrimination legislation but that can only be on certain grounds and a school hall is most definitely exempted.

I actually WAS the real baby in the manger! And EBF. Yet somehow my dear mother was willing and able and possibly over-enthusiastically volunteered me… to hand me over for the duration, including dress rehearsal and set-up. (I must have been one of those magic sleeping non-crying breastfed babies, sadly it’s not genetic.)

Everyone should be able to bring tinies. We always did. By 2/3 they should be able to be reasonably behaved for 45 minutes. If not it doesn’t matter. Where still allows videos of school plays?

All the parents what their child sounds like already- no need to hear four words. Nice if you can but the world still goes around if you can't.

This isn’t about childcare. It’s about feeding their children. It’s not about breastfeeding vs non-breastfeeding.

The start of a glittering stage career?

As others have said this is normal as is no filming unless in exceptional circumstances. This was the case for my now grown up sons. I think the idea of bringing babies to the dress rehearsal mentioned upthread might be a good idea unless it's distracting

Equally, then, doesn’t the world still go around if you can’t see your older DC in the school nativity?

What you actually mean is, you know a lot about your breastfeeding relationship. you couldn’t leave your breastfed baby for longer than 30 minutes without all hell breaking loose. lots of women and babies are quite happy being separated occasionally for an hour or so.

i don’t really class a 4 month old as the early weeks. By 4 months, a lot of babies are able to stretch the time between feeds a little bit more to make it easier for mum to go out briefly for whatever reason.

Actually it’s about a blanket sibling ban that you’re determined to make into a breastfeeding cause celebre even though it has FA to do with feeding.

And that's why there is a blanket ban - 24 pages of responses......

@stuntbubbles Yes but I don't think it's about seeing your siblings (though that is lovely) but about knowing mummy was there watching - even if she couldn't hear (but didn't mention it) and had to stand at the back jiggling a baby. I think it's quite important that a child doesn't end up thinking mummy couldn't come because of the baby.

A blanket sibling ban which is discriminatory, and the HT would have to accept that. I am not trying to make it into anything. As a teacher, a mum, a breastfeeding supporter, and a WOMAN I support the rights of someone to feed her 4 month old baby without having to justify it.

I think that's fine for school ro enforce this....imean you have to draw the line somewhere.. its not like you have to attend....you either find a way round it or don't go .....you do sound a bit entitled OP🙄

Also a mum, breastfeeding supporter and WOMAN (why are we shouting that?) and fully support the rights of anyone to breastfeed their child of any age, wherever that child is allowed. Which isn’t at this play.

The risk with making a discrimination complaint when the law isn't on your side is you make a tit of yourself.

i’m shouting woman because it’s my right to accentuate any aspect of my message - you chose to shout an expletive. Each to their own

@CaronPoivre I don’t disagree but there will be women who can’t come because of the baby, and it’s OK to lie and say “I was at the back! You were BRILLIANT”

It’s not shouting if it’s an acronym. HTH.

thats your rule. I didn’t interpret it in that way. But respect your right to say it whatever way you choose

That’s your experience and it sounds difficult, but it’s not everybody’s. My babies were not attached to me 90% of the time - after a few weeks they were feeding every 2 to 3 hours - meaning appointments and events (without baby) were fairly easy to work around.

Pun intended @Bananasareok ??? 😂

As for the thread itself.. Jesus Christ on a bike 🤦‍♀️ No words… except.. sweat the small stuff much?!

Even if it’s discrimination (which it isn’t), discrimination is lawful if it’s a proportionate means to pursue a legitimate aim. Or in other words, the school banning additional people due to numbers or the desire to have a performance which can actually be heard.

Do those going on and on about discrimination think it’s illegal for some theatres not to allow a baby to go to the opera? If not, why not?

Our school allows siblings but strictly two tickets per family

so i imagine there may be some
annoying toddlers there

They probably do. There's definitely a cohort of people who think it's a breach of equality law for a breastfeeding woman to ever be prevented from taking the baby somewhere.

There's definitely a cohort of people who think it's a breach of equality law for a breastfeeding woman to ever be prevented from taking the baby somewhere.
I picture them gatecrashing weddings, funerals, the state opening of parliament, bursting in wielding a milk-drunk baby like Buffy kicking a door down and brandishing a cross in front of her, shouting “I know my rights!”