Why does John Lewis have a "Bottle Feeding" area?

[LittleAmy]

The John Lewis resturant has a "Parents Room" and inside there is a "Breast Feeding Area" and a "Bottle Feeding Area". Each area is the same size with two chairs and a table. I can understand the need for a breastfeeding area, as some mums feel uncomfortable getting their breasts out in public because we live in a society that has sexualised breasts. But I don't understand why John Lewis has created a "Bottle Feeding Area". We live in a FF culture.

I'm sure there's an obvious answer to this that I can't see because I'm sleep deprived

shrug

maybe they are afraid of being accused of helping out one group and not the other?

Dunno. Think it seems stupid, IMO.

Because bottle-fed babies may also need somewhere quiet and without distractions to feed and relax?

I don't see a problem, it's great that they actually have a feeding area at all (rather than a scummy disabled toilet).

does it have bottle warmers and comfy chairs?

i have no idea but had noticed it at bluewater but not really given it any thought

persoanlly i'd rather feed my baby in the cafe with a nice cup of coffee and a cake but each to their own!!!

Ah OP, sorry I just re-read your message and see what you mean - why not just have the one room for all to use. Yes, it is a bit odd to have two seperate rooms.

I know the answer to this, because I have discussed it with John Lewis in the past.

There is no 'bottle feeding area' or at least not one labelled as such (unless things have changed or unless individual branches have their own policies). There is a separate breastfeeding area. This is because (they told me) fathers and others come in to bottle feed/change babies' nappies and customer research tells them breastfeeding mothers want privacy from this possibility. The breastfeeding area is normally screened or otherwise set away from the door or the centre of the room.

I don't think anyone would be obliged to bf in the bf area.

I think all this sounds acceptable, to be honest. I wish they would change their parents room logo from a bottle, though.

the natural history museum has a bottle logo too - couldn't see a boob anywhere

That makes sense tiktok. I don't see why it's a problem really.

the JL on Oxford st definitely has both a bottle and a breastfeeding area. when i was in there the BF room was full so i had to feed in the bottle room, as did two other BFers. made me feel heartened! i had just been in the cafe and ds was asleep so didn't feed then, and didn't want another cup of tea so went to try the famous parents' room.

Well I suppose it's there if you want yo change baby and feed it somewhere quiet.

Just a wild guess...

John Lewis has great facilities - always handy to pop into if we need to feed or change the little one. And the cafe is always full of mums Bfing and FFing too :-)

I guess there is a bottle feeding area because we all have choices and some people want to bottle feed. and also as another poster said a father might be feeding their baby...i don't see why it's such an issue. Some of us can't all be lucky enough to breastfeed. (i do but was only lucky second time round)

The solihull one has 2 separate areas for feeding in that are partially screened from the main changing area. It's been a few years since I was in there so I can't remember if they are actually labelled...but one side defo had a bottled warmer in it....which I found handy as we were bottle feeding ebm at first. TBH though it was very busy at times so people just sat and fed whereever there was a space. I certainly didn't feel awkward about bottle feeding on one side or breastfeeding on the other. It was just nice to have somehwere clean and cosy to have a rest and snuggle with DS

Ours (Edinburgh) has a breastfeeding area, but I never use it.

This is because there are spectacular views over the Firth of Forth which I can't see from the breastfeeding area because they have put opaque stuff on the glass.

I am assuming this is so that nobody can see in, however, there are no windows overlooking the room at all. Perhaps it's to stop the people in Fife with super strong Hubble type telescopes from catching a glimpse

At least they've got one. Our Boots moved down the street and lost it's feeding room.

What should the symbol be for a bf area? maybe

The International bf'ing symbol would be my first choice:
www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/

I didn't realise fathers were not supposed to sit in the breastfeeding area my dh has always come in to sit with me otherwise he would just be standing outside the door waiting?!
I have nit seem a bottle-feeding area in the john lewis here though it's just called a " feeding lounge".

Fernie isn't that a bit insensitive to the mothers who use the breastfeeding area because they feel uncomfortable in public?

I love that symbol lunafire

I don't see how plenty of men come in to use the changing area or the family toilet in there ? I have just assume the feeding area is just somewhere to sit rather than anything else.

Ha ha mawbroon! I'm a fifer and know what you mean.

Wish JL was closer to me, being my fave shop. Would love to try the facilities they have provided. Still too chicken to get my boob out in public!

Ha ha mawbroon! I'm a fifer and know what you mean.

Wish JL was closer to me, being my fave shop. Would love to try the facilities they have provided. Still too chicken to get my boob out in public!

I feed in a shopping centre feeding room once and a woman was in there feeding and her husband was in there too, I was a bit
I had to ask him for a seat...

Think its not on to have your DH in with you tbh, some women will be uncomfortable with a man present. Personally it doesn't bother me who sees my boobs but it bothers some.

Fernie, I think the feeding room is normally separate from the family room or the change room, (where of course, dads/grandads etc are more than welcome) so that women don't have to feed in front of the dads in there changing bums.

Some women prefer to breastfeed where there are only other women - that's their choice and it should be respected.

A grown man should be able to amuse himself in a department store without having to sit with his partner in the bf area - surely? :)

In my local JL (Cole Bros, Sheffield) the bottle feeding area is more public (ie the breastfeeding area is further from the door and is screened off) and has a bottle warmer.