Mum asked to stop breastfeeding a TWO YEAR OLD in shoe shop.

[GinaDavva]

Mixed feelings with this one. Shaming a mother publicly breastfeeding a small baby is never acceptable but breastfeeding a two year old child in a shop? Surely at that age a bottle is more convenient in the middle of a shop? My first thought was that this was more about attention than the actual principle of the matter. After breastfeeding 3 of my own I can honestly say there has never been a time where it felt necessary to start breastfeeding any of mine in the middle of a shop at two years old. Frankly at that age they wouldn’t find much in mine anyway!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3z31jn7v1o

If you had read the article before jumping in you would know that she wasn't feeding the child as an equivalent of a snack.

I don’t see what’s funny about breastfeeding at a swimming pool? I breastfed my baby at a swimming pool. When they’re hungry, they’re hungry! What are you supposed to do: get everyone dry and changed before feeding them in the cafe?

And I wasn’t ‘performative’ about breastfeeding in the slightest! Absolutely hated it.

Fucking hell the child is TWO.

Seriously? I’ve breastfed a hungry screaming baby in a swimming pool before. I sat on the side. What’s the issue, I don’t get it? Why is any one place better than another? It has absolutely no impact on anyone else. In fact arguably swimming pool makes more sense than a shop because you’re already semi-dressed in swimwear. And swimming pools are plenty of other more disgusting bodily fluids than breast milk (which was going into my babies mouth anyway not into the water).

Not as judgemental as yours.

I agree

so? I said that I didn't breasfeed, bottle feed, feed OR give snacks to my children in a shoe shop.

How is your point relevant.

Sometimes actions are performative. And people do want to challenge and rile other people. Maybe the mum was really pro BFing and wanted to make a point / start a discussion.
It does seem less about the child who could easily have waited 5 mins or bought themselves a twix.

I wouldn't do it, not because I think 2 year olds shouldn't be breastfed but more because well I wouldn't let my 2 year old just sit in a shop and eat their lunch either. I would probably find somewhere else that was more comfortable because feeding a 2 year old isn't as urgent as feeding a baby, they can wait.

That being said I wouldn't actually care if somebody else did it and they certainly should have just been left to it.

Do you feel this way about every parenting decision you've made? That it is the only right or acceptable option? Or are you only this authoritarian about breastfeeding?

2 Year olds don't need to cuddle in public. 2 year olds don't need cute little matching mittens and hats. 2 year olds don't need to learn to use a little scooter. But lots of things that aren't "necessary" aren't wrong either. And there is nothing wrong with breasts being used to feed or comfort a baby or child. It's literally why we have them.

Thanks. Then I really don’t see the issue at all - better a quick glimpse (if even that) of breast than a crying child, surely?

The posters children - or worse HUSBAND - could have caught sight of the shamless attention seeking breastfeeder's boob or even nipple!

Her husband would turn into a ravening sex beast; sons would either be so distressed that they'd be turned off boobs and have to go gay, or be so excited that they'd become addicted to porn. Daughters might think their bodies aren't shameful, and god only knows what that could lead to.

I breastfed until almost four years old but at two I would have provided a snack or drink as there wasn't a need to breastfeed so often. However if she wants to then it's kind of ok but I would have thought they could have gone somewhere else.

You'd think but apparently some poor MNers suffer from a debilitating disease whereby they will keel over clutching their pearls if they see part of a breast or a child older then what THEY decide is ok, breastfeeding.

I really hope we can raise awareness of this debilitating disease in 2026 😓

absolutely this

So you think it's a better parenting decision to give a young child high sugar UPF wrapped in plastic than it is to give them healthy human milk which is perfectly designed for them by millions of years of evolution? To prioritise avoiding the discomfort or judgment of other adults who have hang ups about breasts? Parent of the Year award.

I agree with this, if someone came on here and said everytime my 2 year old is distressed, upset etc i give him/her a dummy they would get slaughtered and told they need to teach the child how to calm down without it. I dont see any difference in this situation... Not saying i agree with how the shop handled it either

exactly ...they are 2 , why do you think you should feed a 2 year old who is upset rather than comforting them in a different way? many 2 year olds are at nursery, the nursery staff dont feed them because they are upset do they? hence why people grow up and eat when they are distressed rather than learn healthier ways to express and comfort themselves. if a 2 year old is distressed, does a non BF mum grab a cup of milk for them , no they don't, they comfort them, give them a hug etc.

If you are an established breastfeeding mother who is with their child then a bottle is never more 'convenient' than on tap milk, perfectly prepared, available all day!

Honestly, does society prefer a toddler to be given a twix over being breastfed? Is that really preferable?

Two is still so little. Breastmilk has amazing benefits.

The weird brag about breastfeeding 3 of yours and then segue into irrelevant comment stating that when they were 2 they wouldn’t find much anyway 😬. Why are you comparing your supply to another breastfeeding mother? All very odd.

I don't think a two year old is likely to buy themself a twix and a good thing in my opinion.

I’m just in shock that in 2025 we are still having this debate. Why do others care so much about how others feed their child or where they feed them? Get a life, seriously.

It’s really not okay for anyone to eat or drink anything in a shop irrespective of what it is. A 2 year old can probably wait until they’ve exited a shoe shop to be breast fed bearing in mind they are probably eating three meals of solid food a day.
If the kid is getting fractious they can wait until you take them somewhere else more appropriate rather than whipping out a snack or a boob instantly and taking over chairs that customers genuinely need to try on shoes.
I was on a shoe shop recently hoping to purchase some specialist shoes. They have machines etc that show your foot shape and pronation but I couldn’t use them as there was a whole range of families with the kids lining up to have a go, pushchairs everywhere and babies on laps of adults watching said kids. No one was buying (they don’t do kids shoes) so I couldn’t use the machines and there was nowhere to sit to try on shoes.

I left. The staff looked frustrated but clearly couldn’t say anything lest the mummy mafia come after them.