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?

The feeding room in Harrod's is lovely. Big comfy chairs and long luxurious drapes in Beatrix Potter designs to section off cubicles if you want to. I didn't. The staff fell over themselves to make sure I was comfortable.
I have breastfed everywhere and haven't had any issues. I would breastfeed at the table if I was in a restaurant and on benches in shopping centres, but had to mention Harrod's as the rooms are lovely.

I've never had a negative experience feeding my LO in Belfast, but Clement's coffee shop is particularly good. The seats are comfy and the staff are lovely and come over to see if you need anything.

We used to feed everywhere! I must gave had a certain look, as I never had a negative comment, just the odd frown. I'm a peer supporter, and a mum couple of months back said she was asked to leave Pret a Manger whilst feeding. We were ! I think her mum has complained though.

First picture was a Beefeater, second is my favourite pic of DS1. (I feed all of them, just only have pics of DS1)

have and fed Grr

I have fed my son everywhere in Washington Tyne and Wear and have had mostly good comments apart from an older man once when I was in the metro centre shopping and to him I replied that we would all be extinct if nobody breastfed as who would have been able to invent bloody formula! He really had me riled and he told me I should have gone in the toilet TO bf! I wonder if he would of liked to eat his lunch in the loos.

Whoops, we're in Leicester! Forgot that bit!

I bfd a lot in John Lewis Kingston. Very friendly towards bf, great feeding rooms plus the cafes are very baby and bf friendly there.

The Dolphin Centre in Darlington deserves a gold star for its fabulous feeding room which is a separate room from the change room and has comfortable seats and enough room for a couple of buggies, I used it a lot when DD1 was small and I needed somewhere to feed her but didn't necessarily want to spent the money in the cafe. In addition the cafe in the Dolphin Centre has prominent signs up saying 'Breastfeeding welcome here' and lots of lovely comfortable sofas that are suitable for feeding in.

There are quite a few place around Darlington that have the 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' signs up, including the library which was another favourite spot to feed when in town, especially when I had DD2 and wanted to be able to entertain DD1 while I was feeding.

I think most people in the UK are pretty supportive of BFing TBH. A friend was on the train down to London and BFing her LO. A woman opposite started making a fuss but my friend said everyone else on the carriage was amazing to her and someone went to get the guard, other people offered her their seat so she could feed in comfort etc etc. The train company were fab as well and removed the awkward woman from the train AND upgraded my friend to first class!

My sister and i both bf on a random rock in Cornwall during a long walk last weekend.

I'm in the Durham area and have fed anywhere and everywhere without a problem. The current nursling is 2 and I feed him in public too without anyone batting an eyelid.

However there has recently been trouble with a local swimming pool trying ot prohibit feeding. This has not been sorted and as far as I am aware (and I have excellent sources) they are being sorted wiht bf awareness training.

The council runs a bf scheme where businesses can sign up, get awareness training for staff and then display a bf welcome sticker and can be listed on the website as a bf friendly business. Information can be found through the council website. In practice I think the list is rather short. We have a lot of great independent cafes around the area and very few listed on the scheme though all are welcoming and will bend over backwards to give you a hand.

here

The Durham city list is tiny. Vennel's, Leonards, Tealicious are just another 3 cafes which are lovely. Tealicious has the most lovely changing area too and a fab little menu for children so great if you have older ones. Over in Washington all the babywearing/breastfeeding/lentil weavery types go to Miss Tina's which is a cafe with a play area. I've never been myself but have heard great things. I think an official MN local meet up was held there organised by juneybean.

I'm surprised how few posts are from NE England but the ones that are all seem to mention the same places :)

Going into Newcastle City Centre this week for the first time since having DS so will report back on where I fed and what it was like. SD have just opened a new branch on Northumberland Street, where Peacocks used to be next door to TK Maxx

Also Runamokka in Whitley Bay is great for feeding, play area for the little ones, buggy park out back, and naice food on the menu.

anywhere in Center Parcs Elveden Forest haters gonna hate especially the poolside Starbucks

Many pubs in Shrewsbury, wider Shropshire and also on 2 holidays both in West Wales. no comments, no funny looks felt very comfortable. This is a moderately conservative part of the country.

I'm in Swindon and I will feed wherever my LO needs me to. We particularly like M&S in the town centre but have fed at John Lewis, Cafe Nero, Starbucks, Cafe Art, Cake and Ale, Town Gardens, Lydiard Park.....probably some more as well!

Aberdeen - John lewis - parent room or in their cafés

Places I've BFed and felt comfortable are numerous, but here are a few of the odder ones:
Thainstone Agricultural Mart
Macduff Marine Aquarium
Aberdeen City Council Chambers
Moray Leisure Centre

I've also never had a negative feeding experience and I'm 28months into breastfeeding (two different DC).

The best place I have fed was sitting on the front row at a Panto. Very entertaining! It was particularly good when the Panto dame asked everyone in the audience to stand up but said apart from this lady, she can stay sat down

Marshamallow

Yes it is often the most unlikely places- I will have to try to find out the name of it. But thanks for letting me know!

Brilliant poem/ rant by Holly McNish who wrote this while breastfeeding her tiny daughter in public loos; after she was told to go home for BF in public....

Mothercare in Cheltenham has a nice BF room with water cooler, leather settee and a couple of rocking chairs. BF in various cafes and pubs in Cheltenham. The Jelly Roll café in Tewkesbury was very accommodating, I even had some nice comments from people about BF in public.

How could i forget Morrisons in Inverurie? Have fed there many times, but one day when DD was tiny i was clearly struggling with lack of sleep and a lovely staff member offered to watch my trolley while I went to the cafe for a seat and fed her. I'd honestly been quite baffled about what on earth to do with my half finished shopping while she fed. Next time i brought the sling.

John Lewis, for essentially doing nothing! But also for carrying my tray in the cafe and not minding buggies in store and for having decent changing facilities