On Friday night it was our Mummies From School night out ? it was in a suburb about 6 miles away and it was a ?Bring a Party to a Party? night with tribute acts and things, a meal and a bar. There were 2 tables of us, so about 16 of us, but there were about 14 tables, so over 120 people in total I?d say at the party night.
One of the Mummies had a baby 5 weeks ago ? this was obviously her first night out since she had him, and he is breastfed. She brought him in his car seat, she was one of the first there and picked a seat in a corner at our allotted table where the car seat was thoroughly protected from any ?people traffic? etc. She also has a really funky car seat cover, like a rain cover, but material with a flap so he was very covered up. And there was no inside smoking.
Basically before anyone else arrived at the whole night, the manager of the event came over and told her that it was an ?Over 18s? night, it was too noisy and he couldn?t stay there...she would either need to leave, or have someone collect the baby.
Now, I?m torn....I honestly don?t know who is in the right or the wrong...
As far as I?m concerned
He was sleeping
He was out of the way
He would need fed during the evening
He?s only 5 weeks old
No-one apart from the people at our table were even aware he was there
We are in Scotland where there are more formalised laws to protect breastfeeding mothers.
And if the Mum felt that she was happy for him to be there, then that surely is her call...
BUT in the same way...
I don't know if I would have brought him in that situation - I think I might have not gone on the night out - (I left at 11:15 - I'm 34 weeks pg - and was home by 11:30 as I was driving). Dinner in a restaurant maybe but this was a drunken party night with loud music....maybe she would have been better not coming at all...
In the end her DH came out and picked up the baby (presumably having had to get their 2 older children out of bed to come too) and then she left about 90 mins alter in order to get home for 10..
I honestly don?t know if I should feel some sort of indignation at the Hotel for telling her she had to leave, or if they were entirely correct in imposing a ?no under 18s at all? rule and it was an inappropriate place to bring him. I'm guessing they have a "where do we draw the line" issue - under 1 year, in a car seat and being bf is allowed? Under 2..? Under 5...??????