Breastfeeding friendly places in Leeds?

[Floois]

My baby is nearly 4 weeks old, I really want to be able to breastfeed her in public (I've done it once in the park) but I am quite shy and after 29 years of not getting my nipples out, I find the idea of doing it in a cafe quite daunting!
I'm sure it's possible to be really discreet when you have had lots of practice but for me at the moment, I do end up sitting with my nipple poking out of the slit in my unattractive nursing bra while she punches and headbutts my breast for a few minutes. So, if anyone knows of any cafes/shops in Leeds where other people regularly breastfeed I would be grateful!

Hi Floois

Now, I have to admit I have never been to Leeds, but having been to a few cities around the UK there are a few consistently good places: Mothercare, John Lewis, big department stores, M and S. In terms of independent cafes, look for ones with lots of space - easier to get buggies in and out and look for ones with lots of buggies. Sometimes it's hard to spot the ones that people are b'feeding in because b'feeding can be so subtle. Look for any group of mums and I bet there are a few boob snackettes going on!

Good luck and hope it all works out well for you. :)

Floois your local NCT group may have a list of "BF friendly places" - many do. Also look out for "breastfeeding welcome" stickers which I've not seen in Leeds specifically but they are around.

FWIW I've fed my babies in many cafes in Leeds and only had positive reactions so I'm sure you will be fine.

You may be interested to know that it's illegal to stop someone breastfeeding (unfortunately civil, not criminal law as it in in Scotland) under the maternity and sexual discrimination laws (and BF is excempt from indecent exposure laws) so you are actually fully protected - if that gives you any reassurance.

I know it's really tricky to BF discretely when you're first getting the hang of it. Me, I don't care but I know what you mean. You can, if you wish, sit on a seat facing a wall and you could pop a muslin over your shoulder although this can be awkward.

Personally I prefer to be really open about it (without actually waving 'em around!), because I feel that if I show other people that I can BF in a way that is not "whopping 'em out" but is also not hiding behind something, it helps to normalise it all. I'm sure that if you saw me, for instance, in the cafe when your baby needed feeding that it would make you feel happier about it.

Practise at home a bit with the tops you'll wear out (nursing tops do help) and just go for it - maybe first time take a supportive friend?

Thanks, I will try soon....I don't want to hide it but just want to feel comfortable. I suppose this will only happen with doing it regularly.

Absolutely. If you want company I know another MNer who lives near you and I'm pretty close, too!

I think the more people that breastfeed anywhere and everywhere the more normal it will become ,and don't be put off my people who say they have had negative reactions ..I think they are quite rare really

good luck

I've breastfed in various places in Leeds, only time I've been aware of anyone paying any attention was in the Debenhams cafe when a lady told me what a good thing I was doing :)

Must have fed in loads of cafes, can't remember specifics particularly, starbucks, costa, M&S cafe, the cafe in the Corn Exchange. Once you've done it a few times you'll soon get used to it :)

Hmm, where have i bf in leeds? Tbh i have avoided town since having ds. But i have fed him outside haha, obviously it was sunny at the time. I went in to change his nappy and the member of staff that opened the changing room for me was lovely so would have felt happy inside had it been cold.

On the art gallery steps, again sunny (my info on this is a bit hampered by the summer, sorry)! I would feel very comfy bfing in the tiled hall cafe, the one that's in the art gallery and library. Also apparently the museum has a cafe and i bet that's very welcoming. Most of those sort of middle class places tend to have other people bfing (i'm sorry, i know that's crap but there you go, when you are more confident i'm sure you'll be up for it any where but i can understand the comfort of having other bf's around).

All the chain cafes, starbucks, nero, costa are very supportive of bf ime. Also i think i bf at the jamies restaurant. And tgi fridays. Fwiw i used to work there back in the day and bf mums were always more than welcome, that's my experience of all the cafes/restaurants i've worked in actually.

If you are unsure i'd be happy to meet up with you one day if you want some support.

Give me a couple of weeks and I'll hopefully be breastfeeding dd2 (due on 2nd Oct), so I'll second that offer of support.

I have breastfed all over leeds and never had anything but nice old ladies commenting.

pret a manger has tables and chairs in the back if you're a bit shy.

I've been fine all over Leeds too. Just a thought if you really want somewhere that is absolutely, definitely friendly to try it out for the first time is to go to Ikea. They make a big deal of being breast feeding friendly and IIRC hosted the "mass breastfeeding in public" thing the other year. Plus, if you get flustered and shy they have that sheltered corner place you can go instead.

I haven't fed in Leeds, but places such as M&S, Mothercare, John Lewis, some Asda stores, have feeding rooms. Unfortunately they are normally combined with changing rooms, but hey!

You'll get more comfortable the more you do it :) You can position yourself facing away from most of the customers if you prefer, and you will get to the point when its just second nature; you do it so quickly, that even people you're sat with won't notice you've latched them on.

I've fed in various cafes in Leeds too. Mainly in North Leeds:-

Chapel Allerton
LS7 cafe- very baby friendly and helpful staff. Quite open plan though.

Cafe Nero

Alwoodley/Moortown
Sainsbury's cafe at Moor Allerton Centre is ideal for practising as is like a creche during the day. It is very spacious and also has sofas.

There is also a breastfeeding cafe at the red brick church near here on Thurs pm.

Lord Darcey pub!- huge and lots of quiet corners

Roundhay
Lakeside cafe- seats not v comfortable and a bit close together but full of Mums.

Napa-Very helpful staff

The Roundhay Fox- lots of quiet areas, lots of Mums and by the park.

Lawnswood
Lawnswood Arms pub- is a Wacky warehouse so very child/baby friendly. Very spacious so can find a quiet corner. Food cheap and near Golden Acre park so could go for a walk.

Headingley
Costa

Starbucks

Citrus cafe- have fed in all Citrus was dead, so could be a quiet place to practise.

Salvo's restaurant- staff friendly- baby fell asleep being BF and stayed put for duration of meal.

Otley
Buon Apps restaurant

Hyde Park
LS6 cafe. Used to be post natal pilates upstairs so obviously baby friendly.

City Centre
Nandos!- has good booths too and they sat us in a nice quiet corner.

Also Fodder in Harrogate and Fennel In Wetherby tend to have plenty of Mums in the day.

Out of all of the above I would find Sainsbury's cafe, The Lord Dracey Pub, The Lawnswood Arms and The Roundhay Fox best to begin with....3/4 pubs! Really just because they don't have big windows, are spacious and have sofas/booths.

After all this you're probably in South Leeds!

I'm in Chapel Allerton actually so all very helpful! Thank you for all this support, it's made me feel better about doing it.
I used to work in Cafe Nero a couple of years ago and some nasty regulars complained to me a couple of times about the babies and about women breastfeeding, that's another story, but maybe why I'm a bit nervous about it.
I was planning on going to Baby Cafe in the Chapeltown Children's centre to get used to breastfeeding in front of others, then...to town!

There is a lovely community cafe on a monday in a methodist church near chapel allerton, packed full of mums and much bfing. I think the church might be called harehills methodist church (?) but it's on the road with what used to be the hospital on iykwim. If you were walking from the old hospital in the direction of harehills it's on your right, just past the park. Really cheep, just sangers and spuds sort of things but everyone is very friendly. i think it's every monday but can't be certain as i don't go often as i don't live near by.I'd recommend it though.

floois when the "regulars" complained, what happened?

I've breastfed pretty much everywhere in the city centre (once got stuck in a changing room for an hour when DD was about 2 months old as she fed, pooed, then fed again but that's another story!) I was quite shy at first but it is possible to be discreet in the corner of most places. There is also a feeding/changing room in boots which was a godsend on occasion. Most of the coffee shops are used to mummies so shouldn't be a problem at all. I've never had any complaints and I fed DD until she decided she didn't want it any more at 16 months ish.
Good luck x

floois i wouldn't take the regulars complaints to heart. In my time in hospitality i fielded all sorts of odd call complaints. From one irrate woman insisting that i had microwaved the coffee i had just made while next to her to people complaining that children were allowed in the restaurant at all, not forgetting the man who complained that his mushy peas were cold. It was guacamole. Seriously, odd people will complain about all sorts but it doesn't mean any one else shares their view.

lol at mushy pea/guacamole confusion. fool.

When the regulars complained....a nasty old woman told me that she didn't want to look at someone's tits and that the woman should sit in the toilet to do it. I was so shocked that I don't think I said anything to her....wish I had a good argument ready! This woman also had a "Special" drink which we had to get exactly right or she would send it back and read the Daily Mail every day.

Daily mail. Well that explains it. The most insiduesly (sp) woman hating rag of all. Classic.

Ha ha, that's what I thought!

Glad you're not in South Leeds after all.
I live really close to you so would also be happy to meet up with you for coffee/practise. My DS has just turned 7 months.

I also met a few people on Netmums 'meet a mum board'- had a 'first date' with one of them in Nero! I found it a nice way to meet people as 1:1 meet ups are less daunting than groups.

I bf in public all over Leeds recently. If you want practice feeding in public, try starting off feeding at a baby group. Then once you think you've got your technique a bit better, graduate to coffee shops & restaurants.

Though I never had any negative comments whilst out and about. Fed in some of the same places as lemonbergamot as well, as I was based in North Leeds.

I bf today in the town hall while registering birthm then in casa mia in mil. sq. no one batted an eyelid.

DS is 2 weeks, so if you want to meet up and bf all over leeds am happy to! ( I think Im the one Organiccarrots is referring to above). live v close to you as well.

BF all over in Leeds, if you are really that shy, have you tried a piece of muslin over your shoulder to give you abit more privacy? Never favoured this myself as it felt as though DD/DS were too covered, but it works for some. Starbucks on St Pauls in city centre is huge and usually quiet in the PM and weekends. Never had a negative comment and I think unless you are tuned into what BF looks like you probably won't get noticed. Good luck.