Places to breastfeed in South Derbyshire - help!

[Mooghill]

Hi, does anyone know of any discrete places to breastfeed in or around south Derbyshire? I am planning a day out with a friend who is breastfeeding, but she doesnt feel comfortable doing it in public. I know big stores such as Boots, Mothercare and Ikea offer places to nurse babies, but I have no idea whether there is anywhere in more rural Derbyshire?

Thanks xx

Countryside for a walk? I was thinking there are likely to be fewer people around and you could have a picnic in a private spot. She could also get some sort of BF cover-up so she doesn't feel so exposed.

It's a shame she feels embarrassed about BF in public. If she does it a few times she might find she gets less bothered - that was true with me.

And whatever she does, do not let her feed in a toilet - horrible!

carsington water might be a good place as nice walk, level around the lake and nice area for coffee. Perhaps try after Easter holidays as less crowded. Most places are good with breastfeeding - more issues with the buggy and space. Shipley Park is another excellent open space or Elvaston castle

Thanks all. Carsington water sounds nice, i will suggest it. I should have mentioned my husband will be there too, and she wont want to BF in front of him. I think you are right re: confidence, it takes time.. although when i was BF-ing i never actually got the confidence up to do it in front of anyone other than DH and my mum, so I know its a hard step to take. Will have a look at Carsington online.

Cheers x

It's such a shame to feel restricted as to where you can go, though. I think a nursing cover-up might be the way to go, then you can all go where you please!

I'm not sure if you want to find somewhere to find indoors with a reasonable degree of privacy or outdoors. I found bf-ing outside a bit harder than bf-ing indoors initially. In a feeding room (they have them at the Westfield Centre in Derby for example) you can be confident the only people who'll see you will be other people who have kids who should have the sense not to watch (or are too busy looking after their own kids to notice) whereas outside anyone could come along. I'm in Belper so some of these suggestions might be a bit far north for you.

Carsington is lovely but the visitor centre will be heezing over the holidays and you might have difficulty finding a quiet shady picnic spot. Elvaston Castle is a good idea.

At Kedleston Hall you can walk through the park and possibly find a quiet spot in the woods. The walk is buggy-able, we did it last weekend. The tearoom there is also huge, and if you go on a quiet weekday your friend might find a corner where she feels comfortable.

Shining Cliff Woods above Ambergate are a lovely spot for a walk (but you'll want the baby in a sling - not pushchair territory) and you could head to the Bear Inn at Alderwasley afterwards. The pub has lots of small rooms and provided you go on a quiet day you should be fine. Or the garden is huge with big trees so your friend could find somewhere outside.

If you parked at Black Rocks above Cromford and walked west on the High Peak Trail (can use a pushchair) you could probably find some secluded spots around the National Stone Centre.

Lea Gardens are lovely although the cafe might not offer much privacy, the Coach House in Lea might be a good option on a Fri at least.

Downstairs at Le Mistral in Wirksworth the tables are in lots of small rooms so fairly easy to get some privacy and Wirksworth is a nice place to potter around.

If you are ever in Belper the tearoom at I Should Cocoa on Strutt St is very bf-ing friendly, but not especially buggy friendly. If you take the baby in a sling and use one of the tables upstairs you should get a fair degree of privacy and they once gave me free chocolates because I was bf-ing so I love them very much.

I second the suggestion of the nursing cover, like the bebe au lait ones. They cover pretty much everything, no chance of anyone catching any glimpse of skin. Think your friend will feel more comfortable with one, and it saves you all the hassle of running around to find a place to go with a hungry baby on tow!

I BF my baby at Alvaston Castle yesterday which I know doesn't sound like a big deal but I was wearing a normal bra as DS3 is 11 months and I didn't think he'd need feeding. Anyway I needed to unfasten bra and lift up so couldn't feed discreetly. I'll get to the point now - there are lots of quite, secluded spots there for privacy feeding even on a busy day like Easter Sunday and it's a lovely place to visit.

My DD is keen to test me on this point regularly, today I've fed her in Shipley Country Park - we just plonked down on the grass in the shade, near a hedge and weren't bothered by anyone. Also we've tried every parent room in the Westfield, as well as the Slug & Lettuce in town, and the visitor centre at Attenborough Nature Reserve.

Thanks all for your help everyone! Some wonderful suggestions for us to consider :)) Attenborough is lovely, and Ive been to the stone centre in wirksworth a few times in the past ... there are quite a few private nooks and crannies round there, but i was really hoping for somewhere indoors for a first big venture out with baby. The cafe in Belper sounds fairly ideal, although my friends live near Belper, so likely she would prefer to go home if we are nearby. I will pass on info about the I Should Coco Cafe for her days out shopping though thats brilliant help thanks!

:)))