Breastfeeding in public

[Emmer]

I can not believe the amount of stupid men (and women) out there who think breastfeeding mothers should feed babies in toilets or just not leave the house at all. Breasts have become so sexualised that they are not seen as something to feed our children anymore. Breast is most definately best, FACT! And when I am out with my screaming, hungry baby I will not hesitate to stop and feed him anywhere. I am not flaunting anything to anyone or trying to make anybody feel uncomfortable, just making sure my baby is happy. Please help change the law by signing this petition

petitions.number10.gov.uk/breastfedright/

totally agree mate, fed my 3 anywhere and when needed.

actually had a wonderful 4 hour flight to Cyprus with a 7 week old. fed most of the way, peaceful lovely journey, howevwe as they do she suddenly pulled off mid suck and the bauld guy in front got splashed with my breast milk.. great ice breaker......

I thought that women had already got the right to bf in public earlier this year-have I got that wrong? (I couldn't get your link to work)

I recently found out that the law only allows it up until the age of 6 months. Its silly!

I have posted a new thread and somebody kindly provided a link to the site. If not jut try copy and pasting?

I've never had any problems breastfeeding in public. In fact, I've never had anything but positive comments from people. Have you experienced any negativity then?

No, I have never experienced any negativity myself, just the occasional snigger or stare. But I know people who have been asked to leave places or have had nasty comments made. I have actually only just realised the amount of people who can be so negative towards it

The law "allows" it

So it's fine for women to wear low cut tops flaunting everything, page 3, topless sunbathing abroad etc but oh no we cannot use our breasts for what they were intended for in case God forbid someone should SEE a flash of a nipple or maybe a little bit of breast.

Formula companies must laugh at all this, we'll make a product that is infinitely inferior to breastmilk that people have to pay for, we'll sell it in a country that has boobs everywhere but women feel unable to BF in public, a country where new mothers are given sod all support to help establish BFing, where 2 whole generations have been brought up thinking bottle is the normal way to feed a baby. We'll be quids in.

Emmer, you have this wrong.

There is no law allowing or disallowing public breastfeeding at any age - it is perfectly legal to breastfeed your child wherever you happen to be. Where did you get the 6 mths thing from?

What we have in the UK is no law that prevents harrassment of bf women - except in Scotland.

I read it on a few websites and articles-where I got the petition link from. Whatever the law, there shouldn't even be an issue or the need for petitions like this, But unfortunately there are still so many negative attitudes towards feeding a baby the way nature intended

There isn't
I think the only way to change it is to do it!
Tomorrow I shall probably be breastfeeding at the Sea Life centre

oh and ds is 19mo - i'll let you know if i get arrested

And it's a criminal offence in Scotland to interfere with a woman's right to breastfeed...

I don't wanna be categorical about this but, my understanding of the recent amendment to the law regarding BF'ing is that there is now legal protection for women feeding babies anywhere UP TO 6 MONTHS of age. ie you cannot be stopped (!?$) and the outrage-from some quarters- is that this IMPLIES that its not really ok or acceptable for babies over that age. That the 6 month clause was inserted does seem laughable, why not blanket protection for any breastfeeders?

ruby, you are wrong, thank goodness. Nothing is in law - you are no doubt referring to the Single Equalities Bill (not law) which was discussed earlier this year and which did appear to promote confusion.

The govt made its position clearer here:

www.equalities.gov.uk/news/news-page3.htm

Women cannot be prosecuted for breastfeeding no matter what the age of the child - please don't lets continue the myth that they can!

Having said that, I totally understand why the myth has taken root

tiktok, you seem very informed about this. Thanks for clearing things up for me

wouldn't it be nicer to have good facilities to go to? if for example shops provided a breastfeeding room? sorry if not!

Ahh... so the thing is that you are not 'allowed' to try to, say, prevent or disallow a woman from BF anywhere, for eg in your cafe? Just seeking clarificationa as we had this conv in our toddler grp and no one really knew...?

Some shops do offer what they call breastfeeding facilities but what they actually mean is baby change rooms with a crappy chair or the toilet! Would anybody eat their dinner in a toilet? Nice areas to feed in such places are rare so I would much prefer to go to a park or comfy sofa in a shopping centre or in my seat in a cafe/restaurant

Ema76, lots of shops offer b.feeding rooms - they have one in Marks and Spencer but yesterday I chose to sit in the cafe and have a nice cup of tea and cake while I fed DD.

Much nicer than sitting in the corner of the baby change room on a hard plastic chair

maybe the gov should consider encouraging shops to provide nice facilities it might help women who are put off b/f for the public reason as some are not as confident, i know of someone who practically goes out in between feeds and plans everything accordingly. mad but true. i agree with the toilet thing - not nice and not acceptable.

x post emmer!

Emmer were you watching Doctors today by any chance - they had a whole storyline on it and mentioned the six months thing...not that i watch Doctors of course - I was just waiting for Diagnosis Murder [whistles theme tune]

I don't want a room provided for me. We are far better served educating people and instilling confidence in breastfeeding mothers than building rooms we can tuck them away in.

ah well just a thought. not all women would want to feed in public even if everyone was supportive of it. some are very shy and wouldn't have the confidence that is all. glad you are confident puzzlerocks. good for you.

I appreciate some people are shy but I think that having a separate area reinforces the idea that it should be something hidden away.

Happily bfed my dd at the table in cafes/restaurants, one waitress was so encouraging of it she removed the menus from our table so people could view me easier!!