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?

I'd say John Lewis.

Another vote for Costa and JL, plus I was impressed with the comfy little bfing area in Ikea Sounthampton- cosy chair, privacy for those who are less confident and toys for other dc.
Boswells in the Swan Centre, Eastleigh has nice little tucked away corners with comfy chairs.
Overall, I've fed in various places around the Southampton/Winchester area and haven't had any negative comments.

There is a breastfeeding friendly initiative thingy that has stickers for places that are breastfeeding friendly. Bromley used to be hot on this IIRC. I've never seen one but nor have I had any problems feeding my babies any where and everywhere.

The only place I got any sort of negative reaction was in a restaurant off Oxford Street from some overseas tourists who tutted a bit. I made my fuck off face at them and all was well :)

Another one here for the Isle of Wight ferry- and then everywhere on the island, including blackgang chine- saw various other mums bf there too.

Sunny day in Tredegar park. Coffee #1 is always chilled.
I'm ultra discreet and have never had an issue, although he's started to lift my top.
A lovely elderly lady called me a 'dear little lady' the other day which bought me to tears, she was so so kind about me feeding.

Oh and I've fed many, many times in various places around Marwell Zoo - never any problems there.

I think staff training in franchises would be brilliant.

I've seen threads on here where mothers in M&S and Debenhams have been requested to sit in the baby changing room. Whereas both my M&S cafe and Debenhams one have offered a glass of water and carried items over for me as they saw I was feeding.

I'm not very discreet. The whopping toddler shouting "MORE!" is a bit of clue. I'd rather a campaign for not being breastfeeding apologists. No more...

"it's ok if it's discreet"
"I don't mind if it's a tiny baby because they can't wait"
"So long as she's not being an exhibitionist about it I don't really mind"
"I always sit in the corner/facing the wall/away from other people so I don't cause offence".
"I'm sure most women would prefer to feed in a baby or feeding room"

Of course it is fine to cover up, sit where you like or do whatever it takes to feel comfortable but for breastfeeding to be seen as totally unremarkable we need to stop feeling we need to make any justification for it.

Anyone who is taking care of a baby, regardless of how they are fed, deserves a medal because it is bloody hard.

I breastfed everywhere and anywhere and never had any negative experiences. Best places:
IKEA Bristol
John Lewis Bristol
Debenhams Bath
local cafes in and around Keynsham, Midsomer Norton
Parks in Bath

gosh, I've never had a bad experience bfing!

Most comfy was definitely the baby room in Peter Jones, Sloane Square (apart from the noisy air con), I rocked in a glider chair for an hour! The chairs in John Lewis Oxford Street baby room were a stupid shape for bfing, but I bfed in the top floor restaurant many times.

The sofas in Tate Britain were very comfy, on the ground floor kind of in a corridor (don't know if they are still there now it's all changed - this was 4 years ago).

I agree with that iK8 and thought MNHQ's first suggestion of a nice park bench overlooking a duck pond was not the bravest suggestion - though I did enjoy park benches as well as the cafe on Wimbledon Common with dd IIRC
park bench for summer only though!

I thought that John Lewis in Solihull was an awful place to feed DS, hard chairs facing a wall etc

I feed him in the Lyndon Pub in Olton a few times, in the small room off from the bar, nice swidgy sofas and the staff bought me a drink over. I don't know if these photos are any good though as you can see boob and can't tell where I'm feeding him.

I don't have any pictures but the best place for me was Costa Coffee in the Met Quarter in Liverpool.

I never had any comments that weren't positive. Lots of positive comments too

Just to add: I BF DS1 for 18 months and NEVER used a dedicated baby room or feeding room - just fed him wherever he wanted.

I would also like to add a lot of pubs and bars but am too

Never had a bad experience breastfeeding, but have regularly breastfed in Waitrose cafe Cheltenham (which is very popular with lots of mums and babies) and Drucker's in Cheltenham. Loveliest place has been Westonbirt Arboretum, sat on a blanket under a tree (in fact my first public bf was at the cafe there)

When relaxing in Valentines Park, Redbridge in London.

I've got pics of the place, but not with me BFing in them?

Oh were we meant to put photos of the place up rather than the breast feeding?

Honestly? The whole of our town (in East Herts) is fine. I've fed everywhere, including the fire station, most cafes and restaurants, on the train, on the tube, on the plane, in motorway service stations.

I have only had odd looks once in 4.5 years of bfing, and that was at the GP surgery this week. (in the UK that is. Got some very strange looks in a German service station, and been asked to stop/move/cover up in Czech Rep more than once)

I think it's down to luck really - you can encounter a pillock anywhere. Best thing is to know how to respond to them!

Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, always a great place to feed.

Wright's Food Emporium in Llanarthne. The place was packed but when I told them the baby needed feeding they found me a lovely chair by the fire.

Costa Coffee in Bletchley, Milton Keynes have always been wonderful when I've breastfed there. As a generally child-friendly place, i love popping in there with the whole clan in tow.

the church in Shrivenham in Oxfordshire. DD screaming so I stopped to feed on a bench in winter and the lovely vicar asked if I wanted to come into the church out of the cold

I've not had any problems feeding dd anywhere so far. If anyone's been bothered by it then I haven't noticed. One place who went above and beyond though it wasn't in public was yew tree clinic osteopaths in Bristol. I was still going because I had Spd for a while after dd was born and I went to an appointment and dd was cranky as she hadn't slept well, I was weepy cos I was knackered. My osteo worked on me while dd fed ad then fell asleep and then offered for me to have a lie down in one if their empty treatment rooms so I could rest while she slept. Unfortunety dd woke before I could take them up on the offer but it was very thoughtful all the same.