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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
Scottishskifun · 09/08/2023 21:35

1: completely illegal breastfeeding is protected under the equality act
2: lifeguard was in the qrong I would be putting a complaint in
3: please do not feel put off by this and know for future you are protected by the law!!!!

WaltzingWaters · 09/08/2023 21:36

Definitely put a complaint in.

BarbaraV · 09/08/2023 21:37

Sitting on side of pool? As in legs in water?

WeWereInParis · 09/08/2023 21:41

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.

Surely that's a ridiculous reason unless they also have a policy that says any babies must wait a set amount of time after being fed before being anywhere near the water.

Calmdown14 · 09/08/2023 21:41

To be honest I think the rules of 'would you give a baby a bottle there' probably apply.

Feet in the water, no I don't think it's appropriate. You are not allowing for any sick ups or spills (and having had to clean a leather sofa after feeding several babies it definitely goes places you never imagine it can or see any evidence of it happening at the time).

On a chair at the side clear of the water, you are owed an apology.

AdoraBell · 09/08/2023 21:45

He was wrong and you can definitely complain.

faban · 09/08/2023 21:46

I wouldn't have left. They can't stop you breastfeeding!?

faban · 09/08/2023 21:47

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.

👏

GameOverBoys · 09/08/2023 21:48

Are food and drink banned in the area that you were feeding? I don’t think you should have been asked to stop either way but I’m trying to understand their logic.

ThreeLittleDots · 09/08/2023 21:48

Stupid gits. Please re-educate them via a formal email to management, including links on the equality act.

Nowthenhere · 09/08/2023 21:49

Life guards are usually young and often their first or second job. It's highly unlikely that he knows it's a protected under the law or that he doesn't need to follow orders.

He was wrong and I would have highlighted the law that he needs to read up on and why.

Sunnysummeragain · 09/08/2023 21:51

Fuck me. The number of people who are saying you shouldn’t be doing it in you or your feet were in the water when it’s has nothing to do if it’s allowed. The op isn’t asking for opinions she is asking for the law.

pamplemoussemousse · 09/08/2023 21:54

GameOverBoys · 09/08/2023 21:48

Are food and drink banned in the area that you were feeding? I don’t think you should have been asked to stop either way but I’m trying to understand their logic.

That isn't logical. She wasn't eating a sandwich she was bf her baby.

Jamtartforme · 09/08/2023 21:54

Neyon · 09/08/2023 21:32

Breastfeeding IN a pool is also legal. And no, it isn't unhygienic or a safety concern.

https://www.laleche.org.uk/breastfeeding-at-a-swimming-pool/

I’m a big fan of breastfeeding and am currently breastfeeding my second who is only 4 months at the moment. But no, I don’t think people should be breastfeeding in swimming pools. I think we all know a baby is most likely to puke in the couple of minutes after a feed, and I don’t want to swim in a pool with another woman’s breastmilk regurgitated into it.

ShirleyPhallus · 09/08/2023 21:57

Jamtartforme · 09/08/2023 21:54

I’m a big fan of breastfeeding and am currently breastfeeding my second who is only 4 months at the moment. But no, I don’t think people should be breastfeeding in swimming pools. I think we all know a baby is most likely to puke in the couple of minutes after a feed, and I don’t want to swim in a pool with another woman’s breastmilk regurgitated into it.

Show quote history

Agree with this.

there is no real reason to BF IN a swimming pool. It doesn’t take much to get out and sit on a lounger by the side.

Curseofthenation · 09/08/2023 21:59

The OP clearly says that she exited the pool. YANBU. I would have refused to move. As others have said, you have a legal right to feed your baby.

Canisaysomething · 09/08/2023 21:59

Speak to the manager or someone at reception in the holiday park and just ask what their policy on breastfeeding is around the pool. You need an explanation on why you were asked to stop feeding, it's pretty odd.

Neyon · 09/08/2023 22:00

Jamtartforme · 09/08/2023 21:54

I’m a big fan of breastfeeding and am currently breastfeeding my second who is only 4 months at the moment. But no, I don’t think people should be breastfeeding in swimming pools. I think we all know a baby is most likely to puke in the couple of minutes after a feed, and I don’t want to swim in a pool with another woman’s breastmilk regurgitated into it.

Show quote history

Regardless of opinion though, he should never have asked her to leave even if she was in the pool, as it's legal.
I'd be more concerned about the wee and other less desirable things from other people's bodies finding their way into the pool to be honest, breastmilk would be very low on my list.

Thedogscollar · 09/08/2023 22:01

ShirleyPhallus · 09/08/2023 21:57

Agree with this.

there is no real reason to BF IN a swimming pool. It doesn’t take much to get out and sit on a lounger by the side.

Show quote history

OP was not in the pool. Please read what's been written.

Sugarfree23 · 09/08/2023 22:01

Op I think you should email a complaint to the pool management. But I don't know the law in England or Wales but I do know in Scotland the baby has a right to be fed, note its the baby who the law protects not the parent.

ithinkhesawus · 09/08/2023 22:02

GameOverBoys · 09/08/2023 21:48

Are food and drink banned in the area that you were feeding? I don’t think you should have been asked to stop either way but I’m trying to understand their logic.

Yeah that's what I'm thinking. I wouldn't necessarily leap to they are arseholes. Just that they have misunderstood an instruction somewhere.

Jamtartforme · 09/08/2023 22:04

Neyon · 09/08/2023 22:00

Regardless of opinion though, he should never have asked her to leave even if she was in the pool, as it's legal.
I'd be more concerned about the wee and other less desirable things from other people's bodies finding their way into the pool to be honest, breastmilk would be very low on my list.

Show quote history

I don’t have a sliding scale of undesirable bodily fluids that I don’t want to swim in, I don't want to swim in any of them full stop.

gamerchick · 09/08/2023 22:05

Nobody is allowed to eat in a swimming pool or edge of. You wouldn't bottle feed a baby either on the edge of a pool. Babies posset.

You wouldn't sit and eat your dinner at the edge of a pool. I breastfed for years but a bit of common sense sometimes comes in handy.

LunaLula83 · 09/08/2023 22:05

Really honey?

DaisyThistle · 09/08/2023 22:05

This is something that really sets me off. You were not being unreasonable. There is nothing unreasonable in a woman feeding a baby. Anywhere. Under any circumstances. If it would be OK to whip out a bottle of formula then it's OK to whip out a breast. Anyone who thinks it's wrong has sexualised and fetishised the female breast. It is designed to feed babies. That is its purpose.

I don't like this phrase but in this instance, those lifeguards really need to educate themselves!