Help us create a breastfeeding map of the UK

[KateSMumsnet]

Breastfeeding hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons again this week, after news broke of a mother being asked to leave a branch of Sports Direct after she breastfed her baby there. It's hugely important, of course, that we all pick up on stories such as this, and offer support to mothers who are made to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about feeding their children when they're out and about - but at times it can feel like playing catch-up.

It seemed to us that we could take this opportunity to change the rules of the game, and start celebrating those places - and companies - that make feeding on the move easy and enjoyable. So we decided to start a thread asking you to tell us about your favourite places to feed your DC in public.

Whether it's a park bench overlooking a nice duck pond or a particularly cosy corner of a cafe, we'd love to see your pictures of your tried-and-tested spots to feed your little ones. Please add them to this thread, along with their location - if we have enough submissions, what we'd really like to do is create a breastfeeding map of the UK, featuring great feeding spots up and down the country.

We've a page full of tips and advice on how to breastfeed in public, please do add any other pearls of wisdom you'd like to share below. If you want to chat about places to breastfeed in your area, why not start a thread in your Mumsnet Local site, or add a venue you love as a listing?

Oh yes, another vote here for ikea Warrington. Their feeding room is really nice.

For those in West London, esp Ealing Borough - come and share your experiences on our local Board too.

local.mumsnet.com/Talk/local_ealing/2062433-Breastfeeding-in-public-in-Ealing-help-us-create-a-breastfeeding-map

Things will not change for the better unless we start talking and acting upon it!

Your local Editor

Various JL branches, various costas, & Cafe Neros.

Bean & Brush in Sale, M&S Cheadle/Trafford Centre. Mother Goose Interiors & Monocle Deli both in Macclesfield.

Never had problems and had a lovely comment in M&S.

One of the issues I have now is dd is nearly 7 months and is becoming impossible to feed anywhere noisy due to nosiness. Even feeding rooms are a nightmare if other people are around. So now Macclesfield Library is very useful as is my car...

I've had nothing but positive comments when feeding out in public.

I live in Stoke on Trent. The other day I spent the morning in Trentham Gardens and had a lovely time.

I am quite gobby though. If someone said something I would have a go at them

The London Underground - just BF DS on the tube and a lovely lady engaged me in a chat about it.

I live in London but have also BF the length and breadth of the UK (and Europe) with no issues or comments (aside from positive ones and kindness).

Just a thought - why don't midwives give out information about UK breastfeeding laws / the Equalities Act with other BF handouts - so more women know that it is protected and that it is illegal to ask you to stop or move you on.

I fed anywhere and everywhere once I got the hang of feeding with DS1 (took a few weeks) - and anywhere and everywhere from day one with DS2.

First ever feed in public (it was a massive deal for me) was in Costa in Wimbledon - staff were lovely and helpful. We're in Winchester now and the staff in the local Costa are also lovely and helpful - I see lots of Mums feeding their babies in there.

I liked feeding DS2 in parks so that DS1 could play at the same time. I used to feed him all the time in Dundonald Park near Wimbledon and on Cannon Hill Common.

I fed in church when my FIL and his partner got married - nobody batted an eyelid.

Fed on many many South-West trains journies without a problem.

I have never fed in a feeding room. I think it's great they exist as I know some people prefer them, but for some reason I just didn't like the idea of them - I always preferred to find a bench or a cafe somewhere instead.

The most scenic places I've breastfed are Mount Stewart house in county down and the glenarm castle tearoom and walled gardens

My favourite place to feed is the streat cafe in larne. Thoughtful, kind staff and great food. And my 2 yo DS adores Stephanie the waitress.

I've been bf dc3 for 7 weeks and not encountered any negativity yet. John Lewis in Reading has a spacious feeding room and nice cafe.

Park benches, cafes, restaurants, aeroplanes, whereever it needs doing. Mostly it can be so discreet that no one would notice-a pashmina is a useful accessory!

anywhere my babies fancied a BF really.

I have fed in so many public places they are too many to list, but...a special mention for:

John Lewis Watford.

Carluccios St Albans is memorable as I fed DD1 there when she was only 8 days old and it was I think my first experience of feeding in public. No one batted an eyelid.

The London Underground.

I have actually never had a bad experience feeding in public.

Costa branches in Leeds and Bradford both great - spacious, comfy, staff bring your order over for you and you never get made to feel you're outstaying your welcome. The Mothercare feeding from in Bradford was really great when I was nervously feeding my tiny newborn who wasn't always latching on well. Friends rave on about the feeding room in the new Trinity Centre in Leeds.

Marks and Spencer cafe, Kingston. Lovely staff and the other customers smile and talk to me while I feed DD. It's mainly an older crowd and we've never felt unwelcome. The staff make a huge fuss of my older DS too which helps!

Sports Direct in a Banbury. In the interests of fairness one staff members cock up has damaged a whole chain, potentially. I don't blame SD for not rushing to comment until they've spoken to the staff member.

Also, the sensible person in me thinks

Why the fuck should we need a breast feeding friendly map? Any location that has both boobs and babies in it should be a breast feeding friendly location.

Your local Costa could be great one week then employ a total fart face the next who decides to do their level best to make someone feel uncomfortable.

A much better idea would be reminding society that babies often need a lot of immediate care and attention. And allowing Mum (if boobs are required) or Dad (if boobs are not needed) to get on without without issue shouldn't be a problem for anyone. Sometimes they cry loudly when everyone is quiet too. People seem to think babies need to be parented in public rather than nurtured, and that sucks.

Best place- Chartwell, Churchill's house. DH and I had taken DS (7 months) in the sling, but halfway round DS made it known that he couldn't wait any longer! The lovely room steward in Churchill's studio pulled out a (fairly ancient looking) chair without batting an eyelid, gestured for me to sit down, and discreetly wandered off while I fed. Kindness itself. Actually have fed at several NationalTrust places from 8 wks old and they've always bent over backwards to help.

There's a lot of callouts for Costa - also Pret A Manger has always been BF friendly IME. I remember one server (young, male) rushing out from behind the counter to get me a cushion and a glass of water. I wonder if they train their staff on this?

I'd also like to add the mum n baby screenings at the lovely independent cinemas in London like The Phoenix, The Rio and The Everyman. (The Everyman especially as it has waitress service in the auditorium so you don't have to worry about wielding a baby, a buggy and a cup of coffee into a cinema seat).

The Kastoori restaurant on Tooting High street with dd in the early days.
Good company and fantastic food.
Mind you they were exceptionally friendly there probably because we were regulars most Saturday nights and even invited us all over to India for a family wedding.
Sadly we didn't take them up on that, and I hear the Kastoori is no longer there on Tooting High Street.
But we were there in Tooting's hey day

I'm waiting for the day that someone gives me shit for breast feeding in public, but alas I have yet to roll out my best fish wife impression for the purpose of putting someone straight on this issue.

Yes, I agree there Sillylass - maybe MNHQ can think about the accompanying blurb - it needs a breast-feeding friendly disclaimer I think.

"Some breast-feeding friendly places are more friendly than others" or similar

In my patch of SE London: lots of places in Crystal Palace:

Living Water Satisfies is a very family friendly cafe as it's a social enterprise run by a charity supporting women who have experienced DV. Always full of families and buggies.

Bar Twenty-Five has weekly film screenings for parents & babies and always lots of people BFing in there. Can't answer for what it's like on a Friday night, though!

I always felt very happy feeding in West Norwood library (the temporary library site), which also has the best & most accessible baby change facilities in the area.

Last but not least, there is a cafe in Tulse Hill called Lazy Rhubarb which is the only place I've seen locally with a sticker in the window saying 'you are welcome to breastfeed here' - it was a pleasant surprise to see it, as I've hardly ever seen them except at children's centres where you'd expect BFing to be welcomed anyway!

Didn't mean to put a strike through that sentence, how did that happen?

Random places I've fed - Brownsea Island and the gardens of Hampton Court Palace, and Isle of Wight ferry, Swanage steam Railway.

Why the fuck should we need a breast feeding friendly map? Any location that has both boobs and babies in it should be a breast feeding friendly location.
Agree with this.

Your local Costa could be great one week then employ a total fart face the next who decides to do their level best to make someone feel uncomfortable.
I think the point is that staff training and having a specific policy would help avoid this situation.