BF in England - what is the legal position

[Clydesdaleclopper]

I'm about to head off down south for a couple of weeks and wondered what the position is regarding BFing in public. I know they don't have an equivalent of the Scottish BF Act but I vaguely recollect something about sex discrimintation regulations. Can anyone enlighten me please?

My midwife told me you are allowed to bf anywhere but I don't know what the legal side says, sorry.

As far as I know there is no legal protection for the right to breast feed in public, like there is in Scotland.

That said most places allow it, Marks and Spencer for example will usually allow you to use a changing room etc.

Some restaurants like Nandos ask that you cover up with a shawl or something if doing it at a table.

In general people are far too polite to say anything.

It's illegal to ask someone to move from somewhere because of breastfeeding.

It's against the sexual discrimination act which was amended in April.

If you look here there is an article about someone who was turned away from a coffee shop for it, it explains where people stand on the issue.

My God, have you read some of the comments attached to that article !!!

Didn't that article turn out to be untrue?
Or was it another story I'm thinking about
Though some of the comments are just so nasty, though!
I've fed several times in my local costa coffee with no problem, in fact during National breastfeeding Week, our local SureStart held a Bfing mums meet up there.

CC - whereabouts are you headed?

Thanks for this. I'm heading on the mammoth journey from Aberdeen to Essex. So will have lots of stops along the way and don't want any hassle BFing DS.

My mum lives in Essex... I don't think I've ever fed in public there though (I live in the NE). But shouldn't be a problem.

Unfortunately I've just taken a look at the amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act and it only applies up to 26 weeks after birth. DS is nearly 9 months so it won't help

I shamelessly have BFed in (west London) waitrose at the customer service desk (the only place there was a chair!), in starbucks hammersmith many times, in costa coffee brent cross and Asda coffee shop - no-one has ever said a word! Thank goodness!!

Wow - didn't realise the law only covers us till 26 weeks! that is shite!

That is shite! I thought it was supposed to be for up to a year (though think there shouldn't be an age limit!)

please don't worry!
it is not illegal to bf in public anywhere - you are not doing anything wrong and no-one has any right to ask you to "cover up"
the law in Scotland makes it illegal for anyone to try and harass or prevent a woman bf. it is not that it is OK for anyone to harass you in England, there just isn't a specific law to protect bf women apart from the sex discrimination amendment
that doesn't mean that you can't bf anywhere you like!
I have never in five years of bf been asked to stop or had any comments whatsover in public
(private is a different matter )

I've never had anyone ask me not to breastfeed or even 'tut' and I do it everywhere - shops, restaurants, public transport. Last weekend, I breastfed while walking between Covent Garden and Embankment tube station in London, because I didn't want to make the whole family sit down for 20 minutes and wanted to get home.

I have bf all over the place in England: coffee shops, service stations, supermarkets, verges at the side of car parks.... no-one has ever said anything. Occasional stares from blokes (stare them out), but it's fine. Do it wherever you and lo feel happy.

Exactly what harpsi said (right down to privatebut never public negative comments!).

Don't worry, feed where you like. Talk of this bloody law does more harm than good by making people think that bfing it illegal without it

I breastfed in the queue in the council offices yesterday, no-one batted an eyelid.
I did it in the school playground and noticed the teacher showing her class out of the window!!
I did it sat on the bus and I did it on a park bench whilst the DC's played.
Not once did anyone make a comment, it's really unlikely anyone will.
In all the time I breastfed I've had two comments, both from vicky pollard types.

Anything is legal unless expressly prohibited by statute or common law... Scottish and English law starts from the position that persons may make their own choices unless otherwise stated. Laws in mainland European countries, by contrast, tend to assume that rights must be expressly given by the state.

I really wouldn't worry. Legal or not I've bfed everywhere you can think of with 3 DCs. I've never been made to feel uncomfortable or asked to stop/leave.

am that anyone has to worry about the legality of BF in public!

It had never occurred to me that the law should or indeed would make a provision for it.

I would not worry either. I've never been made to feel uncomfortable anywhere tbh.

Yes bf in england isnt illegal but mums arent protected either. here in ireland there is a law that protects us no matter the age of baby. For eg if i am in a restaurant bfing my dd and someone hassles me then the management are legally reqd to come to my defense and even throw out the person harrassing me if necessary.