Just missed a golden opportunity

[AlistairSim]

Was out with dd (2.5) and ds (3m).

Ds in sling as usual.

We stopped for a restorative cup of tea and toasted teacake.
Half way through were approached by waiter and asked if we would be 'more comfortable' somewhere else.

Took a while for the penny to drop (I am blonde), he thought/assumed I was breast feeding and somebody had complained!

Was so shocked and speechless that I missed the chance to stand up and make a huge fuss. Bugger.

Just wish dp or my mum had been with me.

How rude! Email their headoffice do it now! They will probably sent you some vouchers for free tea and teacake next time. ( where were u can you tell us?)

Do you really think this was the case?
He really may only have been trying to be helpful.

moondog - He actually said that somebody had complained of 'feeling uncomfortable'.

What I don't think I perhaps made clear is that I'm not a bf-er, therefore somebody felt uncomfortable despite having seen not so much as a flash of breast, bra or even heard a gentle slurping sound.

the waiter suggested you go elsewhere even though you weren't actually breastfeeding?

Yep!

Ds was in his sling, against my chest and they assumed I was bf!

It was the most bizarre experience, just wish I had pretended I was bf and told them all to bugger off.

that's hilarious

hilarious...and pathetic at the same time.

yes pathetic is a good description

Did you move?

Nope, looked confused (my natural state), he realised I wasn't doing anything 'offensive' and apologised.

I won't be going back there anyway but certainly gave me an insight into how uncomfortable it must be to be a bf in public

I don't know whether to laugh or cry!

It just goes to show how idiotically prejudiced some people are.

wait a minute, someone felt uncomfortable about seeing a tiny baby in a sling and a mother drinking tea...amazing...what a world.
Funny and sad.

Oh my. This is still so commonplace in the UK. How sad it is! Poor you, to be made to feel unwelcome like that, BF or not

want to know..where are you? (town)

Is it still legal to ask someone to move when breastfeeding in England?? Grrrr

how awful

I've bf my 3 children all over the place over the past 7 years and not once have I had a negative experience. Wonder if I'm in the minority?

I magine the mind of someone who is uncomfortable at the idea that someone might be breastfeeding, with absolutely no evidence that this is happening. Shows what hard wired weirdos some people are. Iremember a bf counsellor saying that it is the intimacy between mother and baby that makes people feel uncomfortable and this proves the point.
Keep that baby at arms length- no funny business mind!

charliegal - I was in harrow, North London.

It wasn't part of a chain, so prolly not much point in making a fuss now but the more I think about it the more I wished I had made a big fuss at he time!

I don't understand it, I really don't. My mum bf exclusively in the early '70's and says she never even had so much as a funny look, so what the hell is going on?

Where in Harrow? I'm going there for a week to stay with the ILs soon so can make a point of going ther and BFing my 7 month old .