To think it's ok to breastfeed a newborn in the library?

[thisismynewname]

DS (8 weeks) feeds A LOT. His sister was the same - none of this feeding for 20 mins then three hours gaps nonsense, more like feed for three ours with 20 min gaps.

DD (2) needs to be doing something other than being stuck in the house with me feeding or bored at the same toddler group feeding.

So...we went to the library today. There is a big sign on the door saying 'breastfeeding mothers welcome' and we only went in the children's library. They have loads of cushions on the floor (shaped like widgey cusions) and as there was hardly anyone in there no one was using them. So, I used one to prop up DS while I fed him and DD pottered around with the books.

I was reading quietly to DD when a snotty faced -ancient- middle-aged librarian came over and told me that 1) we were making too much noise and 2) the cushions were for the children to sit on, not for feeding babies.

I got the distinct impression it was my breasts she actually didn't like, but obviously couldn't say so, despite the fact that I am the queen of discreet feeding.

WAS IBU for being made to feel unwelcome and discriminated against by this woman?

God complain complain complain

MillyR I wasn't sitting on a cushion.

DS was lying on a cushion and the cushion was in my arms.

I agree with TweetleBeetle - which area are you in?

I actually use my local library as a feeding room rather than Mothercare etc and so do a lot of people - sometimes theres a queue for the sofa - I would use one of those squashy cushions you're referring to to sit on but am afraid I'd never get up again...

What I mean is, it is okay to ask breastfeeding mothers to sit on a chair if all adults are asked to sit on a chair! But if it is only you, then you should complain and point out that this is happening to you breastfeeding, not adults in general.

And a librarian complaining about an adult reading to a child in a library is utterly absurd.

I was sitting on a chair.

It was DS on the cushion!

Jeezo, bugger the whole cushion malarkey. The library assistant was out of order.

Do they have the breastfeeding in public law in England and Wales like they do here in Scotland? It is fantastic. You can breastfeed anywhere you like and no one can 'complain'.

Sorry OP, I have totally confused this thread with my misunderstanding. You should complain, for the benefit of others.

Oh FFS!!!!!!

Of course you should be welcome to bf your kids wherever!!

I utterly agree that you should be able to feed your babe anywhere including the library but I probably wouldn't have used their cushion in case of my baby possibly posseting on it or something. Can understand that some slightly anal people may think that it is not very hygienic to breastfeed on a cushion to be used by other people afterwards. Although personally it wouldn't bother me a bit.

What was your reply to the library assistant, name?

I just sort of spluttered an apology and we crept out not long after.

I think we can have a bit less of the 'oldist' on this thread, though.

Lots of very young people don't like it, either. The assumption that because she's old or middle-aged plays a factor, is a bit simplistic.

I think you should practise a much better response, name, and then go to the library and do the same thing tomorrow. Just a simple response like 'why can't I use a cushion for my baby to lie on?'

YANBU - she is. Was it the same librarian that was muttering rather loudly about 'people coming to the library to amuse their children instead of putting their own heating on' a few weeks ago in our library?

I suppose she felt that your DD would be better off at home drinking fruit shoots in front of endless re-runs of InTheNightGarden whilst you busy yourself with the baby. Good on you for getting out of the house.

Dreadful behavious by the librarian.
Do complain if you have a moment, perhaps by email if that's quicker/easier?
Childrens' libraries should welcome all families and her comments were not welcoming at all.

If the library states that breastfeeders are welcome, than they have a duty to uphold that policy.

However, m library has no such policy. Every day, piles of school children come through the doors on organized trips.

I know what you're all going to say, but I remember being eight, and I don't think I would have welcomed the sight of a breast-feeding mum reclining on cushions when I'm trying to choose a book.

I'm afraid it would have been a bit of a situation for me at that age.

That said, if your library says WELCOME, than a WELCOME it should be.

I thought the whole point of libraries was to encourage a love of reading in children from an early age.

Write to the Head of Libraries or County Librarian. There should be contact details on the council website.

Of course you can! Complain. In our library people sit on the cushions and read stories to their DCs, I don't see how a feeding baby can be louder than that.

"I don't think I would have welcomed the sight of a breast-feeding mum reclining on cushions when I'm trying to choose a book."

And indeed you wouldn't have seen one.

Hows about you read the OP properly Desi? There's a love.

I hate it when people don't say that they have a problem with bfing and skirt around the issue but manage to annoy you just as much. I bfed ds3 in the church once in the "crying room". The lady who is in charge of the upkeep of the church saw me. Later that week, I met her in the village and she started going on about how some families had given their children juice in the church and she had found cartons and really there was "a time and a place" for drinks.
No marks for guessing what she really meant!

Oh, I read it, newname.

What gives you the impression that I didn't?

complain, that's outrageous of her to say something to you. Wonder what she would have thought if your baby was screaming with hunger!

My ds1 regularly runs around the children's section of the library while I bf ds2.

Well, they'd hardly scream of hunger, debi.