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Infant feeding

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

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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:

AliGrylls · 11/12/2009 12:55

Wilf, that was my thought too.

I just didn't want to say it in case people thought I was being wimpy by going back on what I had said. Glad we are in agreement.

However, I do still find it objectionable that this sort of thing does go on. When I spoke to the woman at NCT she said this sort of thing happens all the time.

JustAnotherManicMummy · 11/12/2009 13:24

I've just logged on...

There's been no reply to the CAT I sent last night to the OP.

I'd suggest one of two approaches. Either...

Pull the other thread and cancel the feed-in and organise something really big like Wilf's BF marathon.

Go along and see what happens. If are few of us meet up and have tea, a nice chat and a bit of BFing and no-one bats an eyelid - well no a bad thing. If they do ask us to leave then we take it from there.

I think the OP has got some of us thinking - but we're not planning to court publicity unless there is a problem. No problem, no press.

AliGrylls · 11/12/2009 16:58

ManicMummy, I think I like this idea.

It would be nice to meet up still with like-minded people. Maybe we could even discuss how we go about organising the BF-ing marathon.

Where do you fancy going? Anywhere on the district line is good for me.

JustAnotherManicMummy · 11/12/2009 17:54

I'm on the district line too. West side. I don't mind where

ChatterClausIsComingToTown · 11/12/2009 21:22

Manic and Ali, am glad that you are going to meet up. Maybe best to organise it via email or cat though. N.B. this is a public thread and will show up if you google Harrods. If shops etc are aware of when you are coming you might not see a true reflection of how a breastfeeding woman would be treated (i.e. they will be on best behaviour so as to avoid bad press).

Original poster

twelveyeargap · 12/12/2009 09:12

Hello, so sorry I haven't been back. The tread dropped off my "threads I'm on" and I got side-tracked online with Christmas stuff. (Doesn't help that we'd been at our playgroup Christmas party before I posted - as you might imagine from the time of the post). I suppose that also explains my inflammatory language. I'm very indeed.

My friend breastfed in the Laudree cafe in Paris recently, so it's not a French or Laudree thing. She'd be thrilled to come to a feed in on Thursday, but very sadly for me she is emigrating home to Australia on Wednesday. Part of the reason she was so insensed is because she's Australian and it is illegal to ask a woman to stop breastfeeding.

She had been in Harrods buying souveneirs to take back to Australia and had been having a lovely time. The incident would have upset her anyway, but was so much worse because it had ruined some fond memories she would have been taking back with her as well.

I'm not sure if she called Harrods for details on their policy (which I did tell her was a good idea at the time). I'll ask her today and come back to you.

Thanks for the support and again, sorry I disappeared. I normally hate it when OPs do that!

OP posts:

AliGrylls · 12/12/2009 18:08

Hi Manic funny that - I am on the west side too (actually in Wimbledon). Assuming you are nearish to me. Do you fancy meeting in Putney / Fulham?

JustAnotherManicMummy · 12/12/2009 23:41

Putney's good for me. We should pull the other thread so no-one heads off to Lauderee.

Splodge can you get to Putney?

questions2008 · 13/12/2009 00:19

ahh i was looking forward to a feed-in..! i bf everywhere i go and tbh haven't had any bad comments etc, so haven't had the chance to defend my right to bf DS ifyswim. also, i'm bored.

JustAnotherManicMummy · 13/12/2009 00:22

Can you get to Putney questions? You can come along to the meet

There'll be a feed-in. Just not before xmas I think!

becksydee · 13/12/2009 15:06

just seen this thread - would have been up for a feed-in! or meeting up, can't do thursday though cos i'm heading off for xmas hols that afternoon. will keep my eyes peeled for anything happening in the new year

SnowyBoff · 14/12/2009 11:19

My DH has pointed out that apparently Kathy Lettes reports being thrown out of Harrods for bf at the beginning of her book "Mad Cows" (he thinks). So they have form.

AliGrylls · 15/12/2009 07:54

Shall we meet in Costa Coffee? It is on the high street.

dorisbonkers · 15/12/2009 20:02

I breastfed my 13 month old in that cafe in Harrods recently.

I was on my own and did get a few looks as my daughter walks well.

But no one said anything to me.

Incidentally. I used to live in Singapore and a waiter asked me to stop b/feeding but to be honest I just said 'I can't stop, wait until we're finished' calling his bluff. To be honest there's not much they can do mid-feed and even though I was steaming inside I just continued to feed.

What are they going to do, forcibly lift you up and carry you both out.

That said, I was about 5 months into it and bolshy by that stage. In the first few weeks I used to use a cover and felt very self conscious ... for shame.

JustAnotherManicMummy · 15/12/2009 22:34

Costa's great. About 2pm?

AliGrylls · 16/12/2009 18:31

That's good for me. Looking forward to meeting you.

splodge2001 · 16/12/2009 18:45

Hi there, sorry guys Putney's terrible for me (i'm russell sq), have a stinky cold DD anyway so wouldn't be able to make it. Will keep a look out for any updates!

JustAnotherManicMummy · 16/12/2009 23:12

Ah that's a shame splodge. Another time maybe? Somewhere more central.

Ali I should still be ok for tomorrow although DS has not been very well. As long as he I sleeps tonight then I'll bring him along. He also has a sore head where he pulled himself up on a chair, fell back and pulled it over on top of himself. Hopefully no black eye...

splodge2001 · 17/12/2009 20:23

Yes keep me informed, though I might stop BF soon, mad DD dropped right booby some months ago and is working very hard at removing left nipple with her teeth OUCH!!!!!!!

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