What should cafe/restaurant staff be know about BF?

[LostMyPants]

Following on from this: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2062333-Help-us-create-a-breastfeeding-map-of-the-UK

What would it be useful for restaurants and cafes to tell their staff about breastfeeding?

I was thinking:

1. BFing is welcome in our establishment
2. Sometimes BFing takes a long time
3. BFing mothers may be quite thirsty
4. Some mothers prefer more privacy when BFing

Is there anything else?

[deepinthewoods]

Legally they are only required to serve free tap water if they serve alcohol, no obligation otherwise.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/tap-water-rights

[squizita]

Cafes and restaurants are supposed to offer tapwater to customers by law anyway?

[deepinthewoods]

Lost I think it's fantastic that you want to help other mothers have a good breastfeeding expereinece. have you thought about other ways you can help- becoming a peer counsellor for instance, or a breastfeeding counsellor?

[LostMyPants]

It's okay, I have accepted that my idea made less sense to others than it did to me! That's why i asked about it on here :)

[ThermoLobster]

Oh ok! DD1 sometimes used to take me by surprise as I fed on demand, so wasn't always organised. Thanks for your advice but I am not having any more babies my two are hard enough work

[deepinthewoods]

No I don't think it is common thermo- wise to carry water around.

I don't want to sound churlish, it's just that women have fought so hard for breastfeeding to be "normalised" that many don't want to be singled out as something unusual. If you know you get thirsty while breastfeeding then carry extra water with you.

A good cafe should be helpful to all its customers, whether wheelchair users, someone who struggles to read the menu, a busy Mums with children, an elderly person who struggles with their seat etc, it's part of being a good establishment.

As good intentioned as the OP is, I could just see this backfiring.

[ThermoLobster]

What is the norm? Bfeeding? Not according to the stats I have seen. Can someone point me to the latest stats.

[Universal]

Accept that's it the norm and doesn't need special treatment.

[ThermoLobster]

I used to get incredibly thirsty whilst breastfeeding, and without getting a drink I used to feel a bit faint. Obviously not whilst formula feeding. I thought it was normal but it seems not.

[Ericadm]

I agree it would be nice to be asked if you need anything brought over or be offered a glass of water. My baby can feed for over an hour so even if i ordered a drink at the beginning i could easily run out of it and feel thirsty again. And I don't find walking around with a latched baby particularly easy.

[deepinthewoods]

I too think the OP is well meaning, but perhaps does not see the wood for the trees.
Not sure what you mean about that "feel like I might faint" feeling though.

[ThermoLobster]

I am not saying op is right. Just well meaning. I found bfing relatively easy with DD1 - although I couldn't walk around feeding - and I was quite confident feeding in public. I had to formula feed DD2 not through choice, and it is the case that it is easier to stop a formula feed to get a drink, and you don't get get the physical 'feel like I might faint' feeling when formula feeding generally. But of course you still need help with balancing stuff to get back to your table.
I just find some of the attitudes on this thread, which is meant to be about making breatfeeding easier, a touch depressing. Just because some people find it a walk in the park, doesn't mean everyone does.

[deepinthewoods]

THermo , I agree not everyone does, but should that mean special dispensation for breastfeeding women? Most formula feeding women would not be able to carry food and feed a baby at the same time either.
If a woman is not comfortable feeding in public she can find a more private setting, but it's not up to the restaurant to provide that. A courtesy, yes, as they may offer to any other customer who is struggling for whatever reason.

[ThermoLobster]

Agree with BonjourMinou. Not everyone finsds breastfeeding so easy that they can walk around, order and pay for food and take it back to their table whilst feeding. And not everyone is happy to do it in very exposed seats whilst they are still fumbling around, learning how to do it in a way that makes them feel comfortable. I think op is well meaning.

[deepinthewoods]

sunflower-" I like when people bring me things." don't we all!!

Women who are formula feeding also need space, would like to sit near the windo, next to toillets, in fact mmothes with toddlers would like this too. Or elderly people.
It's nice if these things happen of course, but not something we sgoudl expect just because we are breastfeeding.

[deepinthewoods]

I am sure they are lost, I am just being a bit thick.

[Sunflower1985]

It would be nice to go into a restaurant and if they showed you to a table that wasn't conducive to bf (e.g. No space to pull chair back, right in the window, next to the toilets) you'd be able to ask for another one, explain the reason and not feel like you're asking for the moon. I like the idea of more education. I like when people bring me things.

[LostMyPants]

Sorry, i didn't realise the two phrases were not interchangeable!

[deepinthewoods]

It shows the current laws in England are inadequate.

[KatieKaye]

The right to breast feed in enshrined in legislation in Scotland, in terms of the Breastfeeding &c (Scotland) Act. So there isn't the same need to have "breastfeeding welcome" schemes as in England because it is not just a right in Scotland, but protected by law.
I think lost meant council areas as interchangeable with local authority.

[deepinthewoods]

Only in "council areas"? So only in cafes that are in council estates?

[LostMyPants]

The initiative is only in certain parts of the UK, deep. In a few council areas. There are no Breastfeeding Welcome schemes running in local authorities in Scotland so there won't be any venues.

[deepinthewoods]

Interesting to see I can't find one "Breastfeeding welcome" venue in Scotland.

[LizzieMint]

GotNoTime - I'm in Bristol too and Bf'd three children out and about all over the place with no problems.

There's a couple of baby-friendly cafes in Bedminster which go all out to be welcoming, have toys, run baby singing classes etc so I'd imagine they'd be good. They are called the Bubbahub and the Hungry Caterpillar play cafe. I haven't used them though as they are quite new and my youngest is nearly 4 now.

[BertieBotts]

I really think it's personal choice. I would like the business to know the law and not want special treatment. I was always walking around while BFing, and didn't mind if I was sitting in a booth or on a table.

I think some businesses would find this offputting and it might put them off encouraging BF mothers from using their cafe. I also think that it encourages people to see it as something "weird" which needs special measures where it just needs to be seen as normal.

These things would be nice if the business chooses to offer them. But as a general mainstream thing to apply to all - no way.