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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Asked to stop breastfeeding

229 replies

MsCoco · 09/08/2023 21:21

Recently we went on holiday to a caravan park down by the south coast. The caravan park is really aimed at families - a petting farm, soft play, kids shows etc. We were in the swimming pool area - there’s a kiddy splash pool and a toddler swimming pool, the whole place is filled with young families. We’re playing in the toddler pool and my youngest DD needs a feed, she’s 6 weeks old, so I exit the pool and sit on the side to feed her whilst watching DH and our other children play.

I’m breastfeeding and a lifeguard comes over to me and tells me I have to stop, I’m not allowed to feed and I have to go to the changing rooms to do that. I was a bit taken aback and just said ok and stopped feeding, and he then went over to another lifeguard and said ‘I’ve told her’.

I’m genuinely interested to hear thoughts - was I wrong to breastfeed in this scenario? I was very discreet, and felt quite embarrassed to be told off. Why would they have this policy?

OP posts:
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5
Rainbowshit · 09/08/2023 21:23

When you say sit on the side were you partially in the pool?

HeartShapedBox · 09/08/2023 21:23

Isn't that illegal?

Greenfishy · 09/08/2023 21:23

You were absolutely (and legally!) well within your rights to feed there and wherever you damn well please.

I’d be absolutely bloody ropable and complaining to the highest levels of management.

allgrownupnow · 09/08/2023 21:24

They are wrong to tell you to stop, and as far as I know that are not allowed to ask you to stop (someone wiser than me will be along with more clarity on the legality of the situation)
If it was me I would be complaining to the management.
You did nothing wrong Flowers

firef1y · 09/08/2023 21:24

You were in no way wrong. Would they have made you go in the changing room if you were bottle feeding??? I believe it's actually illegal for them to have told you to stop.
And before a certain demographic starts, it's not like you hadn't got out of the pool and bfing is nothing like excreting other bodily fluids

CoachBeardsJane · 09/08/2023 21:24

Breastfeeding in the swimming pool? http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breastanddbottlefeeding/1545835-Breastfeeding-in-the-swimming-pool old thread but interesting answers.

Neyon · 09/08/2023 21:24

You have every right (legally as well) to breastfeed there, no need to be discreet either. He was very in the wrong and I'd complain if I were you.

WunWun · 09/08/2023 21:25

Sounds like it was just the lifeguard's opinion. I would have questioned it.

Marblessolveeverything · 09/08/2023 21:25

If you were not in the pool then they had no right. But I do remember reading an exception if mum was feeding while in a pool.

Ftumch · 09/08/2023 21:25

What the lifeguard did is illegal. I would be kicking up a stink, how dare he!

PurBal · 09/08/2023 21:25

Breast feeding in public is protected under the equality act. They broke the law by asking you to stop.

Mangotango39 · 09/08/2023 21:25

Silly kid!
I'd be putting in a complaint.

The only thing that would have been unacceptable would be inside the swimming pool (which I read before once on here!)

Absolutely nothing wrong with what you did x

Kernsworld · 09/08/2023 21:25

I think they actually can ask you to move from poolside if you are feeding, as they don’t want to milk spillages and baby throw up around the pool.
There are exemptions to the law that allows you to breastfeed wherever. I really can’t remember though but I think they can ask you to move from the pool area and go to a seating area or changing rooms or wherever.

You certainly can’t feed in the pool.

Anothernamethesamegame · 09/08/2023 21:26

He was wrong to ask you to stop. Honestly it’s ridiculous.I doubt it is the parks policy. Might be worth emailing them for future reference.

I have people with a stick up their arse about breastfeeding. It’s so ridiculous

Sunnysummeragain · 09/08/2023 21:26

HeartShapedBox · 09/08/2023 21:23

Isn't that illegal?

Yep

SmirnoffIceIsNice · 09/08/2023 21:28

If you were sitting on the side of the pool with your feet in the water they may have been worried about baby being sick or regurgitating milk and it going in the water. A lot of pools don't allow feeding close to the water. Otherwise, I don't think they can force you into changing rooms if there are other seating areas you could have used.

Pandaflop · 09/08/2023 21:28

As long as you were away from the poolside then no they shouldn't have said you need to stop. Presumably the issue isn't that you were in the way either as they'd have moved you on rather than say go to the changing rooms.

BungalowBuyer · 09/08/2023 21:28

Were you sitting on the side of the pool ?

Thedogscollar · 09/08/2023 21:29

As a midwife this hugely pisses me off. YANBU this is one of the reasons that the UK breastfeeding rates are so low.
You were feeding your child what on earth is offensive about that........absolutely nothing.
This attitude needs to be questioned and challenged every single time.

Sunnysummeragain · 09/08/2023 21:30

Legally you are allowed to breastfeed where every your baby/child is allowed to go. A baby could vomit at any time in a pool and bf women can leak milk into the pool at anytime and considering all the other less hygienic things in a pool this is not a health concern.

There is lots of inaccurate advice on this thread.

jackstini · 09/08/2023 21:30

He was wrong
Discreetly feeding by a family pool is fine

He wouldn't go and eat his dinner in the changing room!

Is it a chain place? I would call head office and ask them what their breastfeeding policy is, and to send it you in writing!

WhateverMate · 09/08/2023 21:31

Which caravan park was this?

noodles20 · 09/08/2023 21:32

They were absolutely in the wrong. I dont know the rules/laws but I took my kids swimming to our local pool a few months back and there was a lady breastfeeding at the edge of the pool. She was out the pool but sitting at the edge and her family were kinda gathered next to her but in the pool. Nobody cared! I'm actually angry for you. I would definitely complain.

Mamai90 · 09/08/2023 21:32

Assholes like him make it more difficult for new mums to BF. This really angers me! I think its really important that feeding in public is normalised because it is bloody normal!

I'd be putting in a huge complaint!