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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

IKEA breastfeeding discrimination!!!!

29 replies

Malwina13 · 23/10/2013 00:22

IKEA braking law!!!! I've been asked to stop breastfeeding my 2 months old baby at IKEA UK store. I made formal complain and that's what they replied " ...Mothers can Breast feed anywhere in store providing their breast is not exposed...". My question to IKEA is how you can breastfeed without exposing your breast. I do not wish to wear cover, if that will be your suggestion. I don't eat in tent so I treat my baby in the same way. Also that's not what the UK law states. Please share and help to normalize breastfeeding

OP posts:
TheOldestCat · 23/10/2013 00:23

Which store? Contact their head office. Sounds like an individual employee being an arse rather than a company-wide policy (Scandinavians are v positive on BFing, no?).

MortifiedAdams · 23/10/2013 00:25

So did you sign up to MN to.ask this?

Smellyanne · 23/10/2013 00:31

I breastfed quite recently in Ikea without a cover.I did it discreetly and noone batted an eyelid ....

BlueJess · 23/10/2013 00:32

That's odd... I breast fed twins in Ikea and no one batted an eye lid.

Btw it is usually possible to breastfeed without showing very much breast. I never used a cover.

BlueJess · 23/10/2013 00:35

Malwina sorry, just re-read your OP. they asked you to stop while you were actually feeding?

How would any breast be on display while you were feeding? The babies head is in the way?

thistlelicker · 23/10/2013 00:35

Why did u spell normalise with a z????

I've seen plenty bf there so have a Biscuit

PedlarsSpanner · 23/10/2013 00:42

Can you post the entire text of your email correspondence, please, of course remebering to.take out your name, email address and name and email address of the IKEA employee. Thank you.

Original poster
Malwina13 · 23/10/2013 01:35

When your baby is latching you are exposing your breast and they can use that argument. I was sitting in the corner and was shielded by my husband. You are right it was just a single employee, that's why I wrote an email to Ikea so they can make sure all employees now the current legislation. But in replay I've got this. So basically even when you are breastfeeding and your baby is latched, still you are exposing your breast tiny bit. Law says :
A business cannot discriminate against mothers who
are breastfeeding a child of any age.
The Equality Act 2010 has speciically clariied that
it is unlawful for a business to discriminate against a
woman because she is breastfeeding a child.
A business may ask a breastfeeding woman to leave
their premises if the reason for this request is not
due to her breastfeeding. However, if the woman
later claims that discrimination occurred because
she was breastfeeding, the business will have to
prove that there was in fact no discrimination.
DO make sure women you’re providing services to
are allowed to breastfeed on your premises if they
want to.
DO also ensure that mothers breastfeeding babies
are not discriminated against, no matter how old the
baby is.
DO train all your employees, especially those who
deal with the public, to be aware of the protection
from discrimination given to breastfeeding mothers
under the Equality Act 2010.

OP posts:
Midori1999 · 23/10/2013 04:46

I'm quite suprised at this and its certainly not company policy, do obviously an individual staff member getting it wrong.

Our local Ikea hosts an NHS run BF support group. It gets quite busy (10-15 mums each week) and they provide free drinks and also store a box of toys in between group times. They also provided a Father Christmas to visit the group last year with gifts for all the babies.

Sunnysummer · 23/10/2013 06:28

I've fed at multiple Ikeas, first as a beginner bf mum accidentally exposing myself all over the place and now as the mother of a 7 mo who pulls up my top for fun without issues - so it does sound like an individual with an issue rather than the store. Their policy is presumably about exposing the whole breast vs the small amount needed for latching?

kd73 · 23/10/2013 06:42

Oh dear, so sorry to hear of your experience with ikea. I really hope yours is an isolated incidence which you can escalate formally. I hope you have a better experience next time

PlatinumStart · 23/10/2013 06:42

Jeez give the OP a break Hmm

The fact one or (one million) women have bf without complaint in a chain is hardly the point, it doesn't stop one small minded person making an issue.

And mortified so what if she did? Maybe after months of lurking this is the issue that made her post? Or maybe she's changed her name? Or maybe she tried talking to RL friends who also all replied in a similarly dismissive way to some of the above posters?

I don't know what the fuck is wrong with people on here at the moment.

OP I'm sorry you had this experience - id have been gutted if someone had asked me to stop bf any of my DC's especially early on in my bf experience. It would be helpful if you could provide the exact words that idea used in their response to you.

Original poster
Malwina13 · 23/10/2013 07:40

That are exact words from Ikea store manager and I'm not lurking, I've breastfeeding everywhere before so was surprised that someone actually came over and made a comment about breastfeeding. I would be happy with their replay if they would apologise and said they welcome breastfeeding mothers. Just put yourself in my situation and imagine what I felt when all eyes where on me, because I was breastfeeding. I don't comment on here as I'm working full time and don't have time to do that. That happened last month and I got replay yesterday. I do not want anything form Ikea I want them to educate their staff!!! I knew I will be bullied here. Women cannot unite, someone always will make other person feel bad. That's the reason so many of us it's still bottle feeding. I breastfed my son until he was 1,5 and now my daughter who is 3 months old. I got negative comment twice. In both cases from a women which just proves my point. More empathy everyone. And thanks for positive comments I really appreciate it.

OP posts:
MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 23/10/2013 07:42

Which store?

PedlarsSpanner · 23/10/2013 07:52

We are amazed, in a bad way, because IKEA has such a great record for supporting breastfeeding in the UK

Poor you. To have had a telling off from staff there, not once but twice is utterly unbelievable, I am so sorry for you. Sad

So, what would you like to do? Take it to Head Office? I bet we could find you an email address for a UK high-up person!

whereisthewitch · 23/10/2013 07:54

Women not uniting is most definitely not the reason I bottle fed OP.

Maybe you were out looking for a fight because it sounds to be like you are in some sort of save breastfeeding mission!

phantomhairpuller · 23/10/2013 07:59

Your OP reads as though you're looking to start a bun fight.

You obviously know the LAW, so why do you need to come on here and start a thread about 'breast feeding discrimination'?

Like it hasn't been done to death already.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but on the whole they're few and far between IME.

Zoway · 23/10/2013 08:00

Whaaat! Im no lactivist but i hate when posters seem to doubt a story. I can believe her. Any way u dont have to be passionate about breastfeeding to breasfeed your children. I did. I wiuld have been pissed off to have been told off. She came here and got told off again. Agree with platinum start. Whats wrong with people.

Wishfulmakeupping · 23/10/2013 08:07

That's terrible OP

Blu · 23/10/2013 08:15

How very unSwedish!

It sounds as if the manager who replied is also making up 'ifs and buts' off the top of his/her head.

I would write a letter to Head Office and get clarification that the company does not intend any discrimination against bf mothers and that all stores need to understand the law and company policy.

Famzilla · 23/10/2013 11:56

Can you tweet or Facebook them OP? I tend to find you get much better replies on a public facing medium.

CackleCackle · 23/10/2013 14:24

Take the reply and complain further. It is not acceptable that you were asked to stop, it is not acceptable to reply as they did.

Flowers
mrsmartin1984 · 23/10/2013 19:10

What is wrong with people on this thread. She is not on a mission. She is mearly trying to feed her child which she has every right to. It is few and far between for this to happen thankfully. But it is upsetting when it happens. And yes you can vent on this forums.

It does surprise me that it happened in ikea. I went round the market place bfing the other month (yep, hardcore BFing on the move). I was told off BFing in a place I thought "safe".

Yes take your complaint further. They need to know that it is not ok to have a go at a woman for feeding her child

BlueJess · 23/10/2013 19:10

I asked for clarification regarding the "exposing the breast" comment because I was trying to ascertain just how unreasonable the store were being iyswim.

Platinum it is possible to ask for clarification without doubting the OP. I'm not sure anyone was rude really?

It does make a difference if lots of wonen have fed in Ikea without problem, it tends to indicate that the problem is local to that store rather than systemic or a matter or policy.

BlueJess · 23/10/2013 19:12

And I agree with previous posters- complain to head office in the strongest terms.

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