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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

National Breastfeeding Picnics, Monday 19th July

72 replies

pookamoo · 15/07/2010 11:02

Following on from my plug on the GMTV site I thought there should be a separate thread about the picnics.

These are happening nationally on Monday 19th July, to promote the campaign for legislation to protect breastfeeding mothers and babies/children.

In Scotland there is a Breastfeeding Act, which has made it a criminal offence to stop someone from feeding a hungry child in public. If you are hassled, you can call the police who will come and deal the hassler a hefty fine.
In the rest of the UK, you would have to leave the premises if asked, then find and sue the owner at a later date. This is NOT FAIR [grr]

There is some protection from current and proposed legislation, but this does not go far enough. How many will really go the whole hog and sue? Far easier to get on the phone and call the police, as you could in Scotland, non?

The more the merrier... find your local picnic, come along on Monday, and then speak to your MP / local paper / aunt's cousin's dog etc to spread the word and back the campaign!

OP posts:
MoonFaceMama · 18/07/2010 22:19

minidriver yes it is there and then.

Eeek! Am very excited that so many people are coming!

BunnyLebowski · 18/07/2010 22:23

Oh yay!!!

MoonFaceMama - yep, I'll be the one in the green toenail polish

See you all tomorrow

MummyWithA1Family · 19/07/2010 02:05

Moonfacemama I'm so excited at the prospect of meeting other local MNers. I really hope my back holds up. Do you think it'd be ok if I brought DH along? I don't want to offend or embarrass anyone. If my back's upto going out I'll be there but won't manage to run around after DS aged 20 months or even pick him up! If I'm there I'll be the one with dirty/greasy hair (hate the thought of going out like this but can't bend to wash my hair and don't want to miss meeting other mums!) also if that's not enough I'll be the one with the bright green buggy hobbling towards the bandstand!!

If I don't make it (hoping I do) then I hope you all have a fab time xxx

MoonFaceMama · 19/07/2010 07:52

hi mummywitha1family yes bring your dh! I'm bringing mine as similarly could do with a hand due to my slight broken-ness! Really hope you can make it! It's looking a bit gray, but dry at least!

MummyWithA1Family · 19/07/2010 08:40

Moonfacemama I'm pleased to hear your DHs coming too at least mine won't feel like such a spare part then! Am in sooooo much pain this morning but popping painkillers in earnest so fingers crossed!

hmmSleep · 19/07/2010 09:36

Will also try and make Leeds, a nice trip to tropical world after . Depends if I can collect dd from pre-school and still make it in time though!

itwascertainlyasurprise · 19/07/2010 09:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MoonFaceMama · 19/07/2010 09:52

yay! Another leeds mner! I'm sure we'll be there a while hmmmsleep!

MummyWithA1Family · 19/07/2010 09:58

So sorry but I can't come today. DS has just woken up (very late for him) and has been very sick. I'm hoping that it's just his teeth (canines coming through) and that he'll be able to keep something down later. Poor little man I always feel so useless and bad for him when he's poorly.

Hopefully we can arrange another bf session or meet up again in the next few weeks or so.

Hope you all have a fab time and don't get any ignorant people criticising or giving paddington bear hard stares!

Sorry again x

MoonFaceMama · 19/07/2010 10:12

Oh i'm so sorry! I know you were really looking forward to it...even prepared to brave it with your bad back. I am so for you. Is there any chance he might perk up and you might come? I'm sure we'll be there for a little while. I could happily be there till two. I'll have my phone so can check this thread so let me know if you set off late and i'll wait for you!

But if you can't please don't apologise. Just concentrate on looking after your ds.

Shineynewthings · 19/07/2010 10:25

I'm going to try and make it to the Victoria Tower Gardens one today. Do you think 1 0'clockish would be o.k.? I have my DS 11, and 8 both with me though, no chance of finding child care. Do you think it would still be o.k. to turn up? (bit nervous)

Hidingattheback · 19/07/2010 10:32

Anyone know what time this is happening in Liverpool? I might be able to go. Can't get into the Facebook site without being a member!

cheeselover · 19/07/2010 12:04

Was really hoping to get to the London one but sadly hasn't worked out - just posting to say I will write to my mp though. Hope all the picnics go well

Shineynewthings · 19/07/2010 18:56

Well I went along to the Victoria Towers picnic. Glad I went, met a couple of nice people and it was good to do something in behalf of a very valid cause. I would say though,that because no picketing/banners were allowed, (because you can't within a certain distance of parliment) and there were also other groups of people picnicing near by, I not sure it did much in terms of raising awareness about BF legislation on the day, although I do think that will help overall.

I must say it did seem as though everyone there already knew of/each other. I'm not sure they seemed prepared for strangers to just turn up! After I inquired whether it was the BF picnic, I sat around for a while and attempted to make conversation a few times unsuccessfully before really getting someone to really talk to me - although in fairness I did get there after 1 o'clock and the co-ordinator was quite busy taking pictures by then. When the conversation did get going it was good and they were expecting an MP to come down.

I just wish it had been given greater media profile/advertised better as i'm sure more people would have come if they had known it was happening. But thumbs up to MN!

MumNWLondon · 19/07/2010 19:03

I was in London. I didn't know anyone but did manage to speak to a few people. I thought the organisers could have done a better job in making sure those who came alone were involved in conversations. Will fed this back.

The organiser was a bit p*ssed off as she'd been told not allowed placards or posters etc etc and then there was another group - a teachers union etc with placard and posters.

MoonFaceMama · 19/07/2010 19:51

i had fun at leeds, there were six mums (plus babies etc) which wasn't bad for a couple of days notice and no real "organiser"!

We've suggested another get together so will post on here if we arrange one as i know some couldn't make it today!

hmmSleep · 19/07/2010 19:58

Glad it was fun in Leeds MoonFace, sadly after collecting dd at 12:45 and realising we needed to be back for dentist (live in Harrogate) at 2.30pm decided it would all be a bit rushed!

TruthSweet · 19/07/2010 20:18

I went to the Brighton picnic - fabulously organised by SirBoobaLot at very short notice. Had a great time and the children got filthy playing in the mud so well done SBAL!

MummyWithA1Family · 20/07/2010 01:49

Moonfacemama I'm so glad you had a great time I'm gutted to have missed it. I love the idea of another get together so I and the mums who couldn't do it at short notice can be there.

To start the ball rolling how about these two ideas, maybe even both?

Meet up at somewhere like Crazy Tykes soft play in Thorpe Arch. They also have a lovely outdoor play area with huge pirate ship. Little ones can play (seperate soft play area for under 3s with pre-walkers for £1 and play gym/ball pool/slides/climbing nets etc for over 3s so something for the older ones too) whilst mums natter.

Other idea would be another bfing 'protest' in the heart of Leeds city centre at lunch time near offices (business men ime are often the most appalled by bf in public so let's promote it during their lunchtime!!). Anyone up for this?

I think we should organise it at least a couple of weeks in advance so as many mums as possible can be there. Maybe even get the YEP involved for extra bf publicisty if mums are ok with this??

MummyWithA1Family · 20/07/2010 01:55

Other idea would be another bfing 'protest'

MoonFaceMama · 20/07/2010 10:12

Hmmmsleep not to worry, hopefully there will be other opportunities!

Good Ideas MummywithA1Family! I'll hope to email the others shortly so will see if I get a response!

MummyWithA1Family · 20/07/2010 18:36

Great, thanks Moonfacemama. Sounds like you're now the official Leeds bf/meet organiser (if you want the job of course!).

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