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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Thrown out of Harrods for Breastfeeding

119 replies

twelveyeargap · 03/12/2009 01:46

My good friend was in the Laudree cafe in Harrods at the weekend, discreetly breastfeeding her 4 month old daughter. A maitress d' came over and told her she couldn't breastfeed in the cafe and that she had to breastfeed in one of the "designated areas", presumably the toilets. Unappealing for obvious reasons.

My friend was really upset and took all her Harrods purchases back before leaving the store.

How much longer do we have to wait before the law is changed and it's no longer legal to ask women not to breastfeed?

I'm appalled. Any thoughts?

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 10/12/2009 14:01

would love to do this but I'm in durhgam
can i send a life sized cardboard cut oyt?

BurningBuntingFlipFlop · 10/12/2009 14:29

I'm definitely up for a flash mob breast feed!

WilfSell · 10/12/2009 14:33

Thousands of BF women, in Dept store cafes in big cities around the country, feeding their babies, while holding up the covers of topshelf magazines and page 3 shots. Someone walking round with big arrows pointing at the BF women and magazines which says: 'which contributes the most to society?' and 'which offends you?' and 'do you like being stared at while you're eating?' and 'which would your mother be most proud of?'

JustAnotherManicMummy · 10/12/2009 14:40

Hi Ali I've just logged on. I can start a thread now though.

In chat

Burning are you coming along to Lauderee next week? Hope so!

LeninGrotto · 10/12/2009 14:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tigerbear · 10/12/2009 14:42

Haaaahaaaaaa!!!! Excellent idea ladies!
Unfortunately I have no DC so can't join in, but would love to pop along to Harrods on the assigned day to sit in the cafe and see if it all kicks off!!!!

tigerbear · 10/12/2009 14:45

Oh and Edam and Brandybutterfly - I'm with you on the dodgy employment practices Harrods use. A friend of mine used to recruit for them, and was told by their HR that they didn't want to interview any black or 'ethnic' people, only whites!!!!! And - as it's run by Al Fayed!!!

misdee · 10/12/2009 14:46

i owuld love to doa feed-in

but dd1 is singing in town that day with the school choir.

JustAnotherManicMummy · 10/12/2009 14:51

Spotted the thread in chat. Will go and bump it a bit now

ChatterClausIsComingToTown · 10/12/2009 16:57

Willself - I love your passion.

Alligryls - Be sure to say to anyone trying to stop you 'Ok, you call the police to remove me whilst I call the news desks....'

AliGrylls · 10/12/2009 17:31

Will, will you be there?

Fibilou · 10/12/2009 17:47

I think you'd be best off wtih the number for The Guardian.

Can you get anyone from NCT or La Leche League involved ? They would probably be able to get a journo interested.

I would love to do it but I'm afraid the baby is still inside

AliGrylls · 10/12/2009 18:14

Onebat, doesn't sound like anyone could know more than you do .

AliGrylls · 10/12/2009 18:49

The Guardian sounds like a good number to have. I could contact the NCT tomorrow. I have nothing else to do.

One of the lecturers from my university was a very prominent nutritionist with a specialty in child/infant nutrition. She knew everyone in the industry. I am wondering whether it would be worth contacting her for some advice and some contacts (assuming she still works at the uni). Thoughts anyone?

ManicMonday, seeing as you are my partner in crime on this matter, is there anything that you would like to do? I don't want to seem like a hog in organising everything.

WilfSell · 10/12/2009 18:59

Ah I'd love to come with my BFing 2.5 yo but sadly have to be at work.

I'd do it near me if we organise a MN flashmob Feedathon though.

WilfSell · 10/12/2009 19:03

Only thing is though: I bet Harrods will be somewhat tipped off now, there being 8 millions MNers or whatever the latest visitor figures were.

You might need a strategy to deal with them, er, expecting you. You'd hope they'd help you with the pushchair, provide you with a jug of iced water and a few pillows and Al Fayed himself would pop down for a photo-op wouldn't you?

But I suppose it may not be the kind of publicity they want. The only other thing though, is that I think the OP hasn't been back to this thread. I wonder if a bit of fact-confirming from the original OP is in order here, and indeed some input from the friend.

JustAnotherManicMummy · 10/12/2009 20:38

Wilf I was wondering the same things earlier.

I've CAT the OP to see if she and her friend will be coming. Certainly she's been a member on here for a while so unlikely to be a troll or bored journalist trying to create a story. And even if she was I don't think it matters really. It can be a meet up and chance for a natter

A few people have said they'd come were it not for the school run - should we move the time forward? Ali great idea about contacting the NCT and LLL is also a good idea and Baby Milk Action.

I'm inclined to hold off on the press angle unless there is a problem. Would all be very embarrassing if it was just a few mums having a nice time and nothing happened at all!

If we have 100s of people then we can give the newdesks a ring at the time. None of them are based miles away from Harrods.

tiktok · 10/12/2009 20:41

Wilf - I strongly suggest people follow your idea of checking up. This was the (disappearing) OP's friend, after all....things are not always what they seem!

londonmackem · 10/12/2009 23:08

I have breastfed in the cafe in Harrods within the last month with no problems (the one on 3rd or 4th floor).
I also fed in a 'designated area' near the grotto on Tuesday - not fancy but very helpful lady to look after you.
In the store guide it tells you which cafes are family friendly and Ladurée is not one of them. Perhaps this should have been said to your friend before she sat down with her child but I certainly haven't found Harrods to have a problem with breastfeeding per se.

spanna74 · 11/12/2009 06:35

That does not surprise me in the slightest about Harrods, worked there for a while years ago and won't step foot in the place now, the way they treated employees then was awful. My sister was asked to leave once when she was shopping there because she was violating the dress code by wearing a slightly cropped top in the summer...

I have BF 5 month old DD2 in cafes/ restaurants and always do it discretely but never feel completely comfortable, i had to BF her in starbucks the other day and was sitting in a corner and an oldish man literally did a double take at me...my child won't take a bottle so short of sitting at home all day what am i supposed to do!

AliGrylls · 11/12/2009 10:22

should we move it forward to 12:30? That would give people enough time.

What is a troll?

AliGrylls · 11/12/2009 10:44

I just spoke to the NCT (Nicola). She said that she spoke to the woman who was kicked out of Harrods two weeks ago and advised her of the grievance procedure, which apparently she has decided to follow.

However, she did say that since the phonecall she has not heard anything back from her at all.

OP, if you are there she needs to contact the NCT to let her know what she wants to do.

I was advised that a bf'ing sit in could potentially be bad for her case if she intended to proceed and that it should be a last resort.

I am not sure what to do - I am starting to feel a bit suspicious about the whole thing. The fact that she contacted the NCT and since has failed to contact them seems strange to me. Thoughts anyone?

tiktok · 11/12/2009 10:44

Ali - a troll is someone who posts on the web purely to stir something up. Often what they say is not true. They post and they may then stand back and watch the 'fun'.

Honestly, tell me I'm over-cautious, but organising an event when you cannot be sure the original 'offence' took place is asking for trouble. You have no idea when this took place, who the mother was, and when you are asked these details, you will have to say 'dunno....read it on the internet, because her friend posted about it.'

It may all be true, but your case is weakened without details.

Typical troll behaviour, BTW, is to post and then disappear....

tiktok · 11/12/2009 10:45

I can see NCT's point. I think protesting on behalf of an unknown person with unknown details could backfire.

WilfSell · 11/12/2009 11:11

I think hold off the BF-in. Why not get the debate going on onebat and wonk's MN campaigns thread, and develop a longer-term plan for a BF marathon of MNers around the country?

It could just be really awkward if this is someone trouble-causing.