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

I agree with tiktok totally. Personally I had to bottle feed for different reasons, but I think I would feel uncomfortable Breastfeeding in a room where guys were sitting twiddling their thumbs. I know plenty of women who would also feel uncomfortable. We dont all have the self confidence some mums might have while BF.
I don't see what is wrong with a bottle feeding room anyway. It just makes John Lewis more favorable with us bottle feeders for actually recognising the fact that some mums do want to and have to Bottle feed. Maybe some mums might be a bit sensitive sitting next to a breast feeding mum (especially if they feel strongly about it and they havent been able to themselves. Bottle feeding is not always a choice!)

great post beebuzzer

Babies being bottlefed also benefit from a quiet comfortable place to have their lunch.

My DH was kicked out of Mothercare's feeding room once (not labelled as bf only) because he was a man and had to feed DS1 on a bench in the shopping centre.

If ff aren't allowed in bf areas then good on John Lewis for providing additional space.

Thanks mosschops! :)

s everyone else has said the areas are seperate as some BF mums prefer privacy.

Fernie If you prefer to have your DH with you then perhaps you could find a quiet corner of the coffee shop in which to feed (and get cake if you;re there for an hour!)

Alternatively I have frequently gone into the BF area where any man present has immediately asked me if he should leave.

The benefits for FF mums are that they and their babies also get peace, quiet and comfort.

nice to see a level headed all rounded post on bf v ff thread which are usually so tiresome I dont even bother reading.

How are you doing, LittleAmy?

It is Mosschops, it makes me sad all these FF versus BF wars! As long as our babies are healthy we should just be glad we can actually feed them unlike other mums in poorer countries.

we have the best john lewis ever here and the idea quite obviously is that you can heat bottles there, heat your boobs there too if you like

Fernie- you shouldn't feel bad about it- I think it shows that your DH is just comfortable around feeding mums. From other posts, it's obvious you're not the only one who have used the area as a family and not just a ladies area. If the point is that the area is for ladies only, maybe they could find a way to label it in a way that doesn't offend fathers.

I don't think privacy is the only reason for a separate feeding area- some mums/babies need to be away from distractions to get through a feed. The cafe might suit some, but can be noisy and overstimulating for others.

Cadmum what negative things have been said to your FF friends?

Oh I forgot to say, the breastfeeding area has a water fountain and cups whereas the bottlefeeding area does not.

barkfox at JL Newcastle the water cooler is right next to the sign that says breastfeeding area. You'd have to be a bloke with pretty big balls (and very thirsty!) to attempt to get water.

Maybe John Lewis are considering FF dads.

flowerybeanbag - what happened when he was kicked out?

DS1 was about 6 weeks old, and suddenly decided he was starving, as 6wo babies are prone to do. DH was in the middle of a busy shopping centre, just outside Mothercare. As DS1 was screaming the place down he thought the quickest thing to do was pop in there and see if they had anywhere, rather than looking for a cafe, queuing up to buy something, then starting to feed. 6wo babies don't like to wait, obviously!

Mothercare had a feeding room, with no indication that it was exclusively for mothers/for bf, so DH went in. DH had got DS1 out of his pram, out of his jacket, got a bib on and the bottle out when he was asked to leave by a member of staff.

6wo DS didn't take kindly, obviously, and DH didn't feel in thse circumstances he could argue, so he just grabbed DS and everything and perched on a bench outside in the middle of the shopping centre.

I'm not for a minute suggesting that bf mothers shouldn't have privacy, or that ff areas should be provided everywhere, but really, let's not criticise a retailer who is trying to support bf mothers, ff mothers and ff fathers. As long as it's not a case of ff being supported at the expense of bf, what could possibly be the problem?

I had the most surreal experience in the curtained off area in John Lewis that is the designated breastfeeding area with DD1. Went in to feed her when she was about four months - would normally go to the espresso bar there instead but was in a rush and had nappy changed in the area by the breastfeeding room - anyway there was a man sitting in the bf room feeding a toddler a jar of mush. I sat down regardless - I wasnt intimidated because I wasn't there for privacy, just convenience, usually feed anywhere/everywhere - and he took offence and asked me to leave as HE found breastfeeding offensive. In the breastfeeding room! and it is marked as such. I didn't.... but I go to the John Lewis in Newcastle a lot and have not noticed the bottle feeding area other than a couple of chairs where the nappy change is - is there somewhere else, Amy? I ought to check that in case another anti-breastfeeding man feeding solids to a toddler tries to evict me from the breastfeeding area again (now bf DD2, seven months, though no weird experiences this time)...

I have/had a bottle fed baby (now on solids so less of an issue) who is the worst feeder in the world pretty much. A feeding room would have been good for us as cafes way too distracting. Not even an ounce normally can be got down her in a public place.
Wrong (an stereotypical, and therefore possibly ignorant) to assume that ff is always easy and can be done anywhere.

"Wrong (an stereotypical, and therefore possibly ignorant) to assume that ff is always easy and can be done anywhere." Very true PDT it's not in some ways it's more trouble tha breast feeding.

I agree it is good to have bottle-feeding space too, Pommedeterre.

Particularly puzzled though if the John Lewis in Newcastle has that, as to why the man feeding solids was in the breastfeeding area being offended by breastfeeding!

Chocaholica, what did you say to the man who asked you to leave the bf room?

Flowery I think its awful your DH was asked to leave the feeding room in mothercare, I've never seen that room labelled as 'breastfeeding only' or 'women only', that is terrible, I'd be livid if that happened to my DH.

I do think that specifically labelled breastfeeding rooms/areas are different though and should be women only. Of course, I'd happily sit with a bottlefeeding woman in a breastfeeding area (if she and her baby would benefit from the peace and quiet) but I think men ought to stay out. Again, tbh I have no dignity left at this stage (lost count of how many docs etc have seen it all!!) but some women would e very put off by a man being there.

I think JL are bloody marvellous for providing an area for feeding where dads/grandads can go and not feel they are invading a bfeeding mums privacy and where any bottlefeeders can go if they need quiet or bottle warming etc AND a more private area for women to bfeed.

I think the point of a bottle feeding area is that you can sit and feed your baby somewhere warm and quiet without having to pay for a cup of tea, which seems like a good thing to me. I would guess that it's not combined with the breastfeeding area so that men can use it too without making breastfeeding women feel uncomfortable. Again a good thing IMO.

Plastic, I wish I had had the presence of mind to say something sensible, but I was so taken aback that I just sort of blethered about how my baby needed feeding and I needed to feed her. He replied that I was selfishly making his son wait for his food, as he has to take his son away to avoid seeing me breastfeed. I just ignored him then and started talking to DD1 along the lines of 'food time now' while getting her to latch on. He stomped off.

Agree it is fab to have a feeding space where you don't have to fork out for a drink whatever your feeding mode. Though I must admit I like the excuse for cake....

Chocoholica - I'm so cross for that he said that. I wonder where he wanted you to feed? So he was obviously happy to make your ( younger) child wait for food.