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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Baby Room in Boots - shut due to thieves?? Told to feed baby in public toilet - Opinions please

45 replies

wobblyweeble82 · 28/10/2011 21:02

This afternoon, I got told that the Baby Room in my local branch of Boots was closed indefinitely due to theft of baby items (ie taking them off the shop floor and using them in the Baby Room) and that I could BF my baby in the Public Toilets next door. Whilst I realise that its a sad sign of the times that some people behave that way, I was genuinely shocked that a company like Boots would behave this way. Past experience led me to believe that Boots was very pro-breastfeeding. I was equally shocked to be told to feed my baby in the toilets. Its the old adage of 'you wouldn't like to eat your lunch in the toilets so why should DD' ...

I realise some of you will have no issue in feeding your babies anywhere and everywhere, but I have massive norks and am very self conscious about them and how much is on show (you do see a lot with DD partly due to their size and partly her being nosey and pulling away) so appreciate greatly that these Baby Rooms are available. I was with ex-MIL who is a Senior Midwife Supervisor at the time. She made a verbal complaint at the time and has urged me to complain officially. I'm just interested in your opinions on it before I put my Snotty-Letter hat on. Thanks all.

OP posts:

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 28/10/2011 21:04

What could Boots have done to keep you happy?

Original poster

wobblyweeble82 · 28/10/2011 21:09

Let me feed DD! They told me the room was shut indefinitely and the injustice of it all got me riled - once more the vast majority of us are penalised due to the behaviour of a handful of people.

OP posts:

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 28/10/2011 21:09

But why are you annoyed with Boots about it?

Original poster

wobblyweeble82 · 28/10/2011 21:11

As Boots have shut the baby room in their store!

OP posts:

whostolemyname · 28/10/2011 21:11

Im not sure what you can complain about really. Boots aren't obliged to provide any feeding facilities. Its a shame but I don't think you can do anything about it.

Original poster

wobblyweeble82 · 28/10/2011 21:14

I know they're not obliged - nowhere is. Like you say, its just a shame. The whole thing just stinks. It was of course made even worse by DD giving me merry hell as she wanted feeding and she wanted feeding NOW...

OP posts:

juneau · 28/10/2011 21:16

I think you should complain. If Boots provides a room for BFing they should open it for a BFing mother who requests it. If they're having problems with theft they could perhaps keep the key at the pharmacy and get you to request it rather than just shutting the room. And no, they aren't obliged to provide the room, but since they have done so, they should allow genuine BFing mothers to use it.

Original poster

wobblyweeble82 · 28/10/2011 21:17

juneau Common practice prior to today was the key being kept at the Photography counter. It was there that they told me I could use the toilet

OP posts:

TheScareyWail · 28/10/2011 21:19

Boots used to have one at our local branch but closed it about 4 years ago giving similar reasons. Bluewater mother are shut their nursing room and made it a stock room. People forget what it's like to be a new parent trying to learn how to get a new baby to feed and juggle normal life. (I seem to have mentally blocked the early days )

TheScareyWail · 28/10/2011 21:20

Grr mothercare damn you autocorrect.

Birdsnotbees · 28/10/2011 21:20

How old is your DD? I hope you feel able to feed in public soon - it does get easier. I used a baby feeding room once or twice but a) they're usually horrid and b) hardly anywhere has them, so having to rely on them makes getting out and about almost impossible. I found a scarf/blanket/baby's jacket (if I forgot the scarf or blanket) covered me up particularly when DS & DD went through that pulling off phase. I now just shield my nips with a hand (DD is 8mo) but tbh I'm past caring.

Boots doesn't have to provide them and if stuff is getting nicked as a result you can hardly blame them for closing the feeding room. It must have been annoying but it's not really their problem - I know it's hard for you but I can't really see why you are complaining.

RitaMorgan · 28/10/2011 21:21

It's up to them if they choose to no longer provide a room. It's not like they told you that you couldn't feed on the shop floor and had to go to the toilets.

Original poster

wobblyweeble82 · 28/10/2011 21:22

You'd think if it were quite a common occurence then they would have found a way round it by now then? can't think of the way round it, but then its not my job to!

OP posts:

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 28/10/2011 21:23

I'm sorry but I think this is utterly ridiculous! Most shops do not have a "baby room". If that particular branch of Boots wants to close their baby room for a specific reason, why on earth shouldn't they? What if it was closed for redecorating or because of a plumbing problem? It is such a non-issue. No, you don't want to feed your baby in a toilet, so find somewhere else to feed her! The shops of the UK do not have to take account of your shyness about breastfeeding in public.

Original poster

wobblyweeble82 · 28/10/2011 21:24

DD is 5mo and well established in BF. I'm just not at all comfy in doing it in public, and when I'm not relaxed, it takes aaaagggges for the let-down reflex to kick in by which point DD is more frustrated than ever and the whole thing just becomes nightmarish. I'm going to notify Boots regardless of the situation. Perhaps adequate signing could be put up if nothing else.

OP posts:

juneau · 28/10/2011 21:25

And yes, I think it's vile that they suggested you feed your baby in the toilets FFS! I hope you asked if they'd like to eat their lunch in a public loo.

MadameJ · 28/10/2011 21:25

I am not sure a letter of complaint is needed because as you have said they are not obliged to provide anywhere to feed - Maybe a letter explaining how usefull the room is to you (and possibly others) may make them reconsider their decision to close it?

KickArseQueen · 28/10/2011 21:26

Actually, boots has a very specific written breastfeeding policy. Your mil was right to complain. Thex have i believe broken their own rules telling u to use the toilet. Please do complain in writing. I suspect u will get an apology and the storeperson re-educated on policy. Needs to be sorted, just an arse that u have to do it iykwim.

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 28/10/2011 21:27

Fgs.

Original poster

wobblyweeble82 · 28/10/2011 21:28

That's a great idea MadameJ. There's only two baby rooms in town and the Mothercare is going to become mad busy if Boots shuts (the Boots room is very big and spacious and is actually very lovely indeed)

OP posts:

Birdsnotbees · 28/10/2011 21:32

Oh Wobbly I do hope it gets easier for you soon - 5 mo is a long time to be having to hide out in feeding rooms. Really, people don't give a monkeys about mothers feeding in public these days (at least they never have when I have, & I feed anywhere & everywhere, for 12 months with DS and so far for 8 months with DD). So people see a flash of your nips. So what? Use a blanket, turn and face the wall, sit in a squashy armchair in a cafe - all these things are so much easier than planning trips out based on where the (few and far between) feeding rooms are. Best of luck.

MadameJ · 28/10/2011 21:32

No problem, hope it helps

KickArseQueen · 28/10/2011 21:32

Bibity, they have a nationwide policy on bf. That gives customers a level of expectation. When my local boots was having work done on the room they opened an office instead. Yes u had to ask, but there was a sign.

Original poster

wobblyweeble82 · 28/10/2011 21:33

Do they Kickarse? I'm not bothered about sorting it if it makes my life easier when in town! Oooh I just found the policy:

mkbreastfeeding.livejournal.com/37083.html#cutid1

OP posts:

lilham · 28/10/2011 21:34

I know it's ridiculed a bit here. But have you considered something like a bebe au lait? I like it a lot when wearing dresses. It's very easy to feed in and the neck line has wires so you can see your LO from above. If it gives you the confidence to feed in public it's worth it.

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