Asked to stop BFing in Debenhams!!!!

[hopedance]

Yesterday a manager in Debenhams, Oxford, asked me to stop breastfeeding, because "this is a public place". Apparently it is inappropriate for me to breastfeed in public.

I explained to her that I wasn't going anywhere until my baby was quite finished feeding, that it is against the law for her to ask me to stop or move, and for details to make a written complaint.

She then called in her manager, who also asked me to stop breastfeeding or move, as it was not an appropriate place for me to breastfeed my baby. I sat and finished the feed, then insisted I was given the address to send a complaint to before leaving.

I was sat in a shoe shop in there (Dune), quietly in a corner out of the way being discreet while my friend tried on shoes. At the suggestion of several people on facebook, I thought it would be quite funny (and make a very good point) if we all descended on Dune and held a breastfeeding sit in.

I've invited anyone with little ones who they are breastfeeding, and anyone who might know others who are breastfeeding so please pass the invite on!

I've suggested next saturday morning as a time (11am), but if nobody can make it, I'll change it.

So who is in?? Check out the face book event page:

www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166794540075643&view=wall¬if_t=event_wall

I'm very glad they've apologised. Their "idea" of the breastfeeding party is pretty clever, got to hand that to them.

Not just possible, but very likely. Where a company isn't completely in the stone ages it (well, not necessarily using the word "party" but laying on a friendly welcome and refreshments for any breastfeeders who turn up) is a fairly common way to handle a nurse-in -- it turns it into more of a "see, we all agree that breastfeeding is a Good Thing. Scone, anyone?" thing.

Will there be wine and cake?

the party was my idea, although i didn't use the word party until they did. ;)

The way you were treated is outrageous and was done out of ignorance and prejudice. You are right to complain and when I have my second baby in December I am going to go into Oxford to breastfeed in Debenhams. The point needs to be made. I only stopped nursing my toddler a month ago otherwise I would have joined you for your nurse-in.

Good for you for carrying on until your baby had finished the feed, and for sending a letter of complaint, it is very well worded and I do hope you get a response.

Last summer when my little boy was 6 months old we went into Oxford for the day. I was still shy about breastfeeding in public and so I took him into Debenhams to feed him in that nappy changing room you mention in your letter. It was a disgusting place to be, it smelled really bad and there was dirt everywhere. I sat there with my blood boiling and wrote a letter of complaint afterwards. Unfortunately everyone passed the buck and said that it was not to do with them, and I never got a proper response about it. I was told it had been passed to the manager of that Debenhams but they didn't bother to respond, despite my prodding on several occasions. I really hope you get an answer as something needs to be done about this store's attitude to breastfeeding. It is very strange as there are so many mothers in Oxford who breastfeed their children well into toddlerhood and beyond.

I've just seen that they have apologised! Woohoo and enjoy your nurse in!

THeSecondComing. Your friend probably used the GoogleAlert service. You can set up search criteria and receive an email whenever these criteria are referenced.

Well done everyone for getting such a good result on this and especially to Hopedance

this case has been discussed all morning on LBC by James O Brien

For what it's worth, OP, I think that all this guff about "don't do the sit-in, you'll give breastfeeders a bad image" just reflects the pervasive, sometimes subtle, negative attitude towards breastfeeding in public in this country, that makes many of those of us who choose to breastfeed feel at best ambivalent and at worst deeply uncomfortable about feeding in public.

I'd have been there for a "nurse-in", and I'll be there for the "party" - whatever it's called, it's great to raise awareness of this issue. Good on you.

Sorry nap but I don't agree.

The reason for not doing a sit-in is because it's unnecessary. Debenhams broke the law!!! Are all the celebs who had their phones hacked by the News of the World doing a sit-in to protest? No they are not, they are taking the b**tards to court!

Sit-ins were totally appropriate in the days when breastfeeding mums' rights weren't recognised by the law. But now the law's there (Equalities Act 2010), we've gotta wield it or people won't take us seriously.

Boobmeister