Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Local

Find conversations happening in your area in our local chat rooms.

Flip

Original poster

So apparently they don't allow breastfeeding in Cambridge Library..

21 replies

flowerybeanbag · 27/02/2010 21:40

DH took DS1&2 there today while I was having my haircut. DS1 was looking at books and it was time for DS2's feed. DH asked a member of staff whether it would be ok to feed him there. She hmmmed a bit and said she wasn't sure, she'd ask her supervisor. Supervisor said yes fine as he will be bottlefeeding. They don't allow breastfeeding any more after having had complaints when someone breastfed her baby there.

that they had complaints about someone breastfeeding but how pathetic of the library to respond by banning breastfeeding.

OP posts:

overmydeadbody · 27/02/2010 21:43

God I think that's bollox. In your situation I would not have even thought to ask, I would have just breastfed. I doubt very much that they could actually stop you if you just started breastfeeding.

And the kids section is pretty well cut off from the main section, who apart from other parents would actually see?

How utterly ridiculous. Next time, don't ask, just get yer norks out and start feeding. To hell with the 'rules'.

arolf · 27/02/2010 21:50

really? where is the library? (I only work in cambridge, don't live there!) would be more than happy to bfeed DS there and see what happens

Original poster

flowerybeanbag · 27/02/2010 21:55

I wasn't there overmydeadbody. DH was in charge. He told me he was going to the library and asked what he should do about feeding DS2. I said if DS1 is busy looking at books rather than drag him away to the cafe, it would be fine to just feed DS2 there in the children's section.

He asked someone to make sure anyway, because he's super-polite, and was told he could but only because DS2 would be fed with a bottle, rather than norks. They didn't say 'norks' though I don't think..

OP posts:

overmydeadbody · 28/02/2010 11:32

arolf the library's on the first floor of the Grand Arcade shopping centre in town.

Flowerybeanbag it does seem very wrong for the library to have that policy! I am very tempted to delve deeper and question them on this, and question the council too. Shame DS is 6 already and isn't still breastfed

arolf · 28/02/2010 11:36

ok, will make a point of going there and feeding DS sometime soon

LeninGrad · 28/02/2010 11:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Penthesileia · 28/02/2010 12:21

I've never asked either.

I've fed DD (21mo) in the children's section of the library. Noone said anything to me. I do turn the chair around so that I face away from the central section with the booktrain and look towards the books for older children - not so much out of embarrassed modesty as to try to get DD to focus . She asks for milk, then doesn't pay attention when I go to the trouble of getting it out. I've also fed her, discreetly IMO, while she watches a bit of CBeebies on the computers. Again, I go the computers at the back and try to choose a chair out of view of the other library users.

Children eat and drink all the time in the children's section, so it's not a question of no food & drink.

I can see that there might be an issue with the need to feed reasonably discreetly because of the mixed-use nature of the library - dads, grandparents, etc. But I don't know any breastfeeders who wander around like a hunter-gatherer with their chest exposed.

I would be seriously, seriously pissed off if someone told me to stop. I would be prepared to make a fuss about this if necessary.

The library is a fabulous resource for parents - I wish it had been there when DD was littler. I would hate to think that a bf-ing mum would feel unable to go there with her baby because of a few bigots. There are few enough places to go with a baby without problems like these making life any more difficult or isolated.

Can the library even "ban" breastfeeding? Is that allowed?

Original poster

flowerybeanbag · 28/02/2010 15:06

Perhaps the complaints were about one of you guys!

I wouldn't have asked about feeding either. DH has had a few bad experiences though, being kicked out of feeding rooms for being a man , so he is a bit worried about it and would always want to ask first.

I don't bf DS2 anyway, as it happens, which means unfortunately I can't go there myself, whip 'em out and glare at anyone who tries to stop me.

However I do reserve the right to be outraged on behalf of everyone who does bf that they might be stopped and told to go elsewhere.

OP posts:

goldenpeach · 03/03/2010 20:16

There was a bill in 2007 to make it illegal to ask a woman to stop breastfeeding in public. I assumed it was law by now. It's already illegal in many European countries.

They do allow it in other libraries in the UK and if somebody complains, then tough for them.

This makes me really angry and if it happened to me I'd put in a serious complaint with a breastfeeding charity.

BoffinMum · 04/03/2010 12:02

See pages 25 and 26

I think Cambridgeshire policy is aimed at increasing bf rates, not reducing them. So the library is bang out of order, as they say. Tempted to have a bit of a nork fest in there at the weekend .... I like the hunter gatherer idea ...

BoffinMum · 04/03/2010 12:04

Cambridgeshire Local authority website's Greener Babies page recommends bf and library use - lovely free downloadable height chart saying as much

Rubyrubyruby · 04/03/2010 12:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Poledra · 04/03/2010 12:16

Well, that makes me want to start bfeeding DD3 again, just so I can go to the library and feed her. However, given that we stopped about 5 months ago, I suspect she'd quickly get pissed off and og looking for a cake or something

If anyone here does go to the library and feed, and gets hassle, could you let us know on here in order that we might support you?

Am feeling ready for a ruck now.....

Rubyrubyruby · 04/03/2010 12:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gizmo · 12/03/2010 12:01

14 weeks to go and then I can put this to the test, when DD arrives.

Actually, I'm going to the library in about 30 minutes' time, I'm tempted to Have A Serious Conversation with them now.

sweetnitanitro · 12/03/2010 12:48

Ooh, let me know if anyone organises a feed-in. This isn't my local library but it would be nice to know that if I do use it then I will be able to shut DD up feed DD. I am pretty sure that it's not legal to tell someone to stop BF, isn't it covered under the sexual discrimination act?

JumpJockey · 15/03/2010 18:25

Blimey, I've fed dd there and she's over a year as well so that's, like, freaky weirdo bfing as well Nobody tried to stop us. OK, I wouldn't sit in the middle of the Quick Picks but I have done in the tea room bit at the top, and on one of the comfy chairs up by the magazines.

LaCerbiatta · 16/03/2010 15:41

I breastfed ds there last week and no one told me off. Saw another lady breastfeeding as well.

I live in Cambridge, by the way, have a 3 week old ds and 4.5 years old dd. I'll be on mat leave for the next 6 months so I'll be bfing in trhe library often! [smíle]

LaCerbiatta · 16/03/2010 15:43

What's wrong with my 'smile'??

test:

LaCerbiatta · 16/03/2010 15:43

strange....

Fourleaf · 04/05/2010 10:51

Am shocked by this... I'm going to the library today with my friend and our 6 month old DSs - we'll both bf and see what happens

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread