Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Were they right or should I complain?

152 replies

Gauchita · 16/10/2011 16:30

Right, having shed a few tears I'm now calmer and can ask you all about this. I really don't know whether they were right or not, so I'm perfectly open to be told they were and if so I'll just get a grip and forget it.

Today we went shopping as DD needed new pijamas. While we were shopping at a store (don't know if I can name them) DS, who is 6 weeks old, started crying. I had fed him at home so that he wasn't hungry for a little while at least, so I took him out of his pram to check whether it was maybe wind. It wasn't wind, he was hungry so I looked for a quiet area in the store, sat down in a low level piece of furniture and started feeding him. I was very discreet (nothing could be seen), no one could see me, there were only two other ladies in that area. A female member of staff passed by me as I was next to one of those "staff only" doors. She saw me and smiled, didn't say anything.

A few minutes later a member of security approached me and told me, very politely, he had been told I was here and he had been asked to tell me I couldn't breastfeed in the store. DH was near now (he had been queuing to pay), heard him and asked whether he was sure that was right. He said yes, so DH politely asked him to speak to the supervisor.

By now I had already finished feeding DS so we just waited for the supervisor to come. When she arrived she told us a member of staff had told her I was there and that I couldn't breastfeed the baby in the store. To be honest she didn't choose the best approach (tone and manner), we asked whether she was sure that was right and she said yes, that this made customers feel uncomfortable Sad She then changed what she had said a bit and now it hadn't been a member of staff who had told her but a customer who had complained about me breastfeeding. I could see DH's face by now and I was already feeling a lump in my throat so I asked DH to leave it there and to just go.

DH, however, asked her again how things had been then, whether it had been a member of staff or a customer, etc, to be honest I just wanted to get out. She had the lovely idea to speak quite loudly the whole time so I felt people were looking at us, agh! DH asked her for her name so she went away with him and DD to give him a card and meanwhile I started putting DS in his pram. The security guy, who stayed with me, then told me that maybe it had to do with the fact that no food or drinks were allowed in the store Confused And then he said he had been breastfed himself and he had breastfed as well (I think he obviously meant his partner) so he had no problem with it but this was how things were. I could only feel the lump in my throat getting bigger and bigger so I just said "This is really disappointing, to be honest" and started to walk towards the lift.

Were they right? This never happened to me with DD (2.4 now) and in 6 weeks it's happened to me twice at two different stores. Would it have been any different had I not sat down and directly walk around feeding him? Would they have been able to say the same? I clearly remember feeding DD walking around places all the time so maybe things have changed? Should I complain with their head office? I really want to know if they were right so as to not do it again or plan whatever outing I have to do better. I felt horrible and cried from the moment I stepped out of the store, but I'm prepared to be told I'm just being hormonal and overreacting.

Thanks and sorry for the length!

OP posts:
Sossiges · 16/10/2011 16:38

Not entirely certain, but I think there's new legislation that says you can bf where you like in public, let me have a look-see. Anyway you should complain. Sorry you are Sad x

baileyslover · 16/10/2011 16:38

I am no expert and I am sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon but I am sure you were in the right. It must have horrid. I would definately write to head office and demand a written apology. How are breastfeeding levels supposed to rise when you get that attitude. Please please don't let this stop you feeding out and about. Chin up and good luck

Sossiges · 16/10/2011 16:39

There was a thread about this the other day, trying to find it...

PrimaBallerina · 16/10/2011 16:40

YANBU. Sorry to hear that happened to you. Six weeks is still early emotional days.

If you want to complain wait until you feel a bit calmer though.

helpmabob · 16/10/2011 16:42

I am convinced they were in the wrong. You should let your dh take this further with letters of complaint etc. I am sorry they made you feel so shit. You did nothing wrong.

LoopyLoopsPussInBoots · 16/10/2011 16:43

They were breaking the law. Very strongly worded letters needed.

Hope you're OK. :)

BellaBearisWideAwake · 16/10/2011 16:43

Outrageous! Definitely complain.

Gauchita · 16/10/2011 16:45

Thanks for the replies. I remember telling the security guy when he first came that I thought what he was saying was not legal, but then I shut up as I started doubting about it and I didn't want to make a fool of myself.

The supervisor even told me "there were cafés or Mothercares to do that" and I immediately thought "WTF! so we're supposed to drop whatever we had in our hands, and go out to look for one?" How would any shopping be possible? I can't help feeling angry and sad about this...

OP posts:
Rikalaily · 16/10/2011 16:46

So sorry that you were treated that way :(

They have broken the law, I would send a letter of complain to the store and thier head office.

LoopyLoopsPussInBoots · 16/10/2011 16:46

Here, Equality Act 2010

Gauchita · 16/10/2011 16:47

have, not had in our hands, sorry.

OP posts:
Gauchita · 16/10/2011 16:47

Thanks for that link, Loopy. Off to have a look at it.

OP posts:
NormaSatansFelcher · 16/10/2011 16:48

Name and shame. Where was.it?

Mimmee · 16/10/2011 16:50

From the Equality Act which came into force October 2010:

Where can a woman breastfeed? You are protected in public places such as parks, sports and leisure facilities, public buildings and when using public transport such as buses, trains and planes. You are protected in shops, public, restaurants and hotels regardless of how big of small. You are also protected in places like hospitals, theatres, cinemas and petrol stations.

So no they weren't right - definately complain. Sorry you had such a horrible experience Sad

Gauchita · 16/10/2011 16:50

Can I name them? It was H&M. Gutted, as I buy from them all the time, can't believe they'd have someone handle their customers so badly. The supervisor insisted it was their policy and we had to go somewhere else.

OP posts:
FrankNCock · 16/10/2011 16:50

Definitely needs a strongly worded complaint about their ILLEGAL behaviour! You have done nothing wrong.

Mampig · 16/10/2011 16:51

I feel terrible for you!! Tbh your dh remained so calm- my dh would've lost it!!! I'm pretty sure that you are in the right though- and even if it was a customer, the staff should be trained to deal with the customer who complained- not to you and tell you to stop!! If you read the thread re feeding in debenhams there are lots of links which point you in the right direction with regards law etc. I think though that you should write down every detail first so that you have it clear in your head. They can start spouting about health and safety etcAngry in a bid to get round what they did. In the end it's up to you though- if the complaint goes well, you'll get a much needed apology. If it doesn't you'll get very stressed and angry so make sure you can cope with this. The lady on the debenhams thread got a public apology after being asked to stop bf in Dune in debenhams in circumstances similar to yours!! The management should be made aware of the law- where you cannot be asked to stop bf in a public place- and should be training staff accordingly! Hope this works out for you- if I were you I'd complainSmile

Sossiges · 16/10/2011 16:52

Ha, finally found it "Asked to stop BFing in Debenhams!!!!" in Breast and Bottlefeeding.

Which shop was it you were in?

FrankNCock · 16/10/2011 16:52

Did you get a look at the supervisor's name tag or can you describe her? I'd actually call the store and say you want the name of the supervisor who was on duty at the time you were there. Make sure you specify what time you were in the store and which department you were in.

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 16/10/2011 16:53

You need to email them, mention theEA and ask them to clarify their policy. Sorry you were treated like this and feel so bad, please don't let it get you down.

violetwellies · 16/10/2011 16:54

Two different shops? Oh dear. They need naming and shaming.

EauRouge · 16/10/2011 16:56

Those bastards Angry I am so angry that they treated you like this, especially with a tiny 6 week old. They can say it's "store policy" until they are blue in the face, it's still a bloody offence to tell you to move or to stop. Debenhams came out with a public apology, let's see what H&M can do.

ChippingInToThePumpkinLantern · 16/10/2011 16:56

I hope you let DH lose on them!! It is against the law to tell you that you can't BF.

I hope it doesn't put you off. At least, if anyone ever says anything again, you now know you are in the right and can quote the bit of law to them!

Congrats on your baby :)

Gauchita · 16/10/2011 16:57

FrankNCock, DH demanded to have her name so she agreed and gave him a card. So we have her name and yes, the time we were there is in the ticket of the things we bought. DH even wanted to record her on her phone telling us we had to go somewhere and I couldn't bf DS there but of course that was a long shot and she refused. DH was losing his calm and things started to get heated up, I just wanted to disappear as I really wanted to cry but didn't want to do it in front of them.

I didn't know there had been a similar thread recently, didn't mean to be redundant, sorry about that.

OP posts:
AKissIsNotAContract · 16/10/2011 16:57

You should definitely write and complain.