Woman stopped from breastfeeding her child in a (men’s) clothes shop!!

[clary]

what do you reckon to this? breastfeeding story

The point is, is that sometimes there is nowhere else to do it. And the reason we need a law like Scotland, is because although 90% of the time when we're out and about, we're near to a cafe, or a seat, or a nice mother and baby room that doesn't smell of shit, that 10% when we just happen to be somewhere where people who know nothing about breastfeeding deem "inappropriate", is the 10% that people get upset about and where people feel that it is socially acceptable to make a mother feel bad for feeding her baby. And that's really all it comes down to, imo - do we prioritise the need of a child to be fed without its mother being insulted, or do we prioritise the right of someone who is uncomfortable with the sight of breastfeeding, to be protected from that sight? For me, there really is no contest in a sane world.

Why is somewhere else 'better' than a shop anyway? If he shop is warm, dry and has a comfy chair is a perfect place to feed a baby IMO.

Fed dd perched on a display in Peter Jones the other day, while helping my stepdaughter choose perfume with her birthday money. If any eyelids were batted, I didn't see them.

Caligula,

Always been a fan of your posts.....

Why thank you ma'am!

I'd have thought a cafe would be better as there are comfy seats and perhaps a newspaper around too. I couldn't remember any chairs in the local shops here - but now I do, i used the chairs in the men's shoes department once (not many men about shopping for shoes during the day).

So it would be better to insist my dsd left the perfumery dept where she was happily in the middle of choosing perfume and I was happily chatting to her, while at the same time feeding my baby unobtrusively so we could trek to a cafe to have a cup of tea neither of us particularly wanted? Why?

aloha - I do feel a bit funny, like I'm having to justify myself but I'm hoping it's not a criticism and if I do post about my issues, it might help others who are big scaredy cats like me. I wrote about it on this thread , with my reasons mostly on the 3rd Sept posting at 9.01pm.

I certainly don't want to criticise. Really I was just wondering. It works for me and dd, it really does. I am far, far, far too scatty not to breastfeed. I would always be in a situation where I was out without anything for the baby and in a complete panic. At least with breastfeeding, whatever else you are doing or wherever you are, you can feed your baby!

I wish I felt like that, I really do. I just think it's not for everyone - and not just because of health reasons - and it just doesn't feel right for me. However, I will give it another go, but my heart's not really in it. I totally support the choice to breastfeed, though, I think it's a wonderful thing to be able to do for your baby.

Oh, I've certainly had my moments when I think 'aargh, get her OFF me!' and when I've felt fed up and resentful. But never quite enough to stop. I really am a pretty chaotic person and - esp with two - it does help that there is one thing I can't forget. I lost the car key yesterday - £70 to get it replaced. Gulp.

have fed dd2 in all sorts of places from whislt out bushwalking to dh's cardiologist's rooms, shops, etc. As dd2 goes from dead quiet to full scream in about 2 seconds - finding a cafe etc is not an option really. I just feed her where and when she needs it. To this day have not had a comment yet - dd2 is ten months old.

what are women thinking of taking babies out in public - it's a disgrace!

I frequently get asked to put my boobs away in public - mind you I don't have a baby with me.

daisy - sad thing is, you're more likely to be told to put them away if there's a baby attached, otherwise I bet no-one would say a word (to your face!)

I wouldn't want to feed my baby in a gents changing room - just think what you might see!

For some reason the link wont work for me so cant read story!!! I was in the middle of my shopping at tesco the other week when DS decided he was hungry, as the cafe was closed and DS too heavy carry whilst attatched to boob a tesco employee got me a chair out the changing rooms to sit on.I am always pleased when ppl are helpful so I thought Id share it with u Cant understand why some shops have a problem. I agree it is much easier to feed whenever and wherever babies are hungry, I dont care where I feed DS. On the beach, in a shop, in the street, on holiday by the pool.....

Wouldn't it be lovely to have a breastfeeding cafe in all shopping centres? Fat chance of it ever happening but it's nice to dream. Just think, nice comfy sofas, lattes brought to your table, newspapers available & a nice changing area where the nappy bin is actually changed more than once a day?

I'm pg for 2nd time & it's all starting to come back to me. I remember being particularly annoyed when there was no soap to wash my hands after a visit to the loo in a cafe. I was about to bf DS & didn't want to introduce everyone else's bacteria from the loo to my son. He'll do that for himself when he becomes a man.

The nappy bin at my local Debenhams is emptied ONCE A WEEK!

And as for changing/feeding rooms - all very well, but if you're trying to feed a baby older than about two minutes, the chairs are never wide enough.

Have mixed feelings on this. Before I had 2dds I found breastfeeding totally disgusting. Hated (and still do) the smell and taste of milk and found other peoples babies slurpy noises vary offputting. However, since being 3 months into bf dd2, have found a colourful, floaty sarong style drape over the potentially offending shoulder and slurpymachine tends to incite sympathetic glances rather than vapourising glares. Have successfully bf both dds in this manner in all sorts of unsuitable places, including various pub gardens and social gatherings. I think as long as people feel you are making the effort to be discreet, anything goes.

Message withdrawn

Old breast milk smells bad of course, but not fresh surely. And it tastes delicious!

Yuk! I've never tasted my (or anyone elses) breastmilk! I am not singling out breastmilk, just milk in general. Just feel squeamish about it, yukky! I agree formula smells much worse.

i have no idea why this women should have to feed her baby in a changing room even if it was offered to her.

she should not have to express to go out to the shop shes got ready made milk to the right temerature on tap why fuck about?

stupid its like we live in the middle ages or something. jesus