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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

What is the law regarding bf in public places?

97 replies

AnnVan · 30/01/2009 12:33

A lady from my bf group told me yesterday that she was in a supermarket, and had to feed her 4 month old. She sat on a bench out of the way to feed. Her breast was not exposed, but a staff member (with a security guard in tow) came and told her to use the feeding room (it's a tiny cubicle with an uncomfy chair in a room that STINKS of pee) She stated that it smells, and we wouldn't want to eat in a toilet so why should her baby have to? She was told that she could either stop feeding and leave or use the 'feeding room'. She bundled her screaming baby into the pram and left.

What is the law about this? It seems really cruel to force her to leave, as no one would stop a ff mum from giving her baby a bottle in public. We want to complain to the supermarket, but I thought it would be best to find out where we stand first.

OP posts:
solo · 30/01/2009 16:51

Well, that could be arranged! let me know when and I'll see if I can get along.

Original poster
AnnVan · 30/01/2009 16:53

Ok - sounds good! Will discuss with bf group on monday, and let you know.

OP posts:
VictorianSqualor · 31/01/2009 01:01

Right, legally I've found out where you stand.

If you go into a store specifically to breastfeed and they have a policy saying it is ok, they cannot ask for you to be removed.

If they do not have such policy then if you enter specifically to breastfeed, you are trespassing, if you go in to meet one each other in a coffee shop/cafe however and are planning to purchase but do not plan on Bfing, then do BF you are not trespassing and not breaking any law.

HTH

ruty · 31/01/2009 10:40

that's hilarious VS, so you have to say to approaching security guard 'I didn't plan to, I didn't want to, the baby made me!'

VictorianSqualor · 31/01/2009 16:26

Lol. Well, kind of.

Much of the law is based on trespass and intent.
If you enter a store then you are allowed to be there on the condition that you intend to buy something. If you do not intend to then it's trespass and therefore they can ask you to leave.

LazyLinePainterJane · 31/01/2009 16:32

If it were me I would be tempted to get out my mobile there and then whilst feeding, call DE and ask for the HO number and call them, asking about their BF policy and explain what was happening to me, mentioning the names of these staff, as they stood in front of me. How dare they!??

ilovemydogandMrObama · 31/01/2009 16:36

Further to what Tik Tok stated, it is a criminal offence in Scotland to interfere with a woman's right to breastfeed.

This means that the police will get involved.

duchesse · 31/01/2009 16:42

She should get the bf group or local LLL or NCT group to organise a feed-in there. That'd learn em.

StarlightMcKenzie · 31/01/2009 16:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

VictorianSqualor · 31/01/2009 16:54

It wouldn't though duchesse, not if they went there intending to do a 'feed-in'.
It would be a form of protest and therefore trespass.

StealthPo09IsHere · 31/01/2009 17:59

BT - the Teesside Park one? Hang on until next Monday and I'll meet you there - I'll make sure to buy something before feeding DS

Original poster
AnnVan · 31/01/2009 18:20

Bugger. So the feed-in idea could be scuppered? hmmm. Might have to plump for a letter of complaint then.

OP posts:
iamaLeafontheWind · 31/01/2009 18:53

What's the cheapest thing they sell? Penny sweet? single grape? i could probably stretch to that.

BoffinMum · 31/01/2009 19:41

It would be cool if you did a feed-in by the formula shelves ...

BouncingTurtle · 01/02/2009 08:27

SPB - do you mean a week on monday, or tomorrow? I can definitely do the Monday after!

StealthPo09IsHere · 01/02/2009 14:17

I did mean a week tomorrow but I've looked at the calendar and it's the 16th I can do - is that when you mean?

KerryMumbles · 01/02/2009 14:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VictorianSqualor · 01/02/2009 14:21

iamaLeafontheWind, that wouldn't work either, because trespass occurs based on intent, not action.
So if you buy a penny sweet and then plan on doing a feed-in you become a trespasser.
This only matters if the police are called though so I'd suggest finding out any policy the store holds and contacting local press, that way police are less likely to be called.

BouncingTurtle · 01/02/2009 14:26

SPB - 16th is fine as well... 'tis only tomorrow I can't do on account of ds being all poxy.

StealthPo09IsHere · 01/02/2009 14:39

How would they prove it VS? Assuming they're not MNers of course
Sorry to hear D's still ill Hope he's feeling better soon

VictorianSqualor · 01/02/2009 14:41

The fact that you were all there BFing and refusing to move might be a start

In all seriousness I doubt it would come to this but in England a store can get you removed from their premises and you would then have to take it up later as a sexual discrimination case.

(Hence the fact we want the law to be the same as Scotland)

StealthPo09IsHere · 01/02/2009 14:43

No I mean how do they tell the difference between someone who has bought something, then feeds and reasonably refuses to be moved and someone who came in to feed but bought something first?

VictorianSqualor · 01/02/2009 14:46

With one person they probably couldn't, so the police would have to make a decision based on what they felt was appropriate. Most would just ask the mother to leave after feeding the baby.

If there were a number of you all feeding and refusing to move a la feed-in then it would be more likely that the police would ask you to leave. However, the police are meant to keep the peace, not throw people out of stores for breastfeeding so even then it would be down to Officer discretion.

davidbowiescodpiece · 01/02/2009 14:49

How sad I have just realised that now ds is 7 mo I could legally be asked not to feed him. Let me get this right then. They can legally ask me. But do I legally have to stop if asked??? What craziness

VictorianSqualor · 01/02/2009 14:51

It is never legal to stop someone breastfeeding.
It just isn't illegal to ask them over the age of 6 months in Scotland, any age in England/Wales.