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

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Breastfeeding while out in Central London

54 replies

Orissiah · 14/02/2008 13:59

Does anyone know of any nice places to breastfeed a baby in central London? I would love to still head into the city without worrying about feeding my baby (I can express milk into bottles I know but it would be lovely to still have the baby feed from the breast while out and about in the capital).

I'm assuming John Lewis's "parents room" in their store on Oxford Street is breastfeeding-friendly... I think Mothercare at Marble Arch and UCH at Warren Street have breastfeeding rooms. Anywhere else?

And what about cultural places like Tate Modern, Barbcian, National Gallery, British Museum and the like?

Any suggestions most welcome.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MegBusset · 14/02/2008 14:03

TBH in museums etc I would just find a nice comfy bench and get on with it...

Blu · 14/02/2008 14:06

I fed DS here, there and everywhere in Central London. Costa Cafes have leather armchairs with sides that come right round so offer a little tiny bit of privacy.
Do you want a specific room? Not sure of any of those.

No-one would bat an eyelilf if you fed in the seating or cafes of any of the places you mention. I sat on those benches in the galleries in Tate Modern, and they have many sofas to sit on throughout the building.

EffiePerine · 14/02/2008 14:08

I asked at the National Gallery about a feeding room and they told me I was welcome to feed wherever I liked . The feeding room at the Tate Modern is horrid, but feeding in the comfy chairs overlooking the Turbine Room is great. Starbucks also full of bfing women (if you look really, really closely) and often have baby changing as well.

ThursdayNext · 14/02/2008 14:11

Once you've got breastfeeding sorted, I would usually use cafes rather than a special breastfeeding room. No need to be tucked away in a special room, no one will bat an eyelid at you breastfeeding in a cafe.
You probably won't want to venture into town in the first few weeks while you're getting breastfeeding underway and might feel a bit awkward about getting the baby latched on.
You might want to get a sling to get into town unless you're planning on driving, tubes and buggies can be a real pain.

TheBlonde · 14/02/2008 14:12

Peter Jones at Sloane Sq has a v nice parents room
Most of the dept stores will have somewhere BHS, Debs etc, no idea how nice they are

NPG has various benches

As Blu says no-one will bat an eyelid if you feed in public in Central London, I have even fed on the tube

theyoungvisiter · 14/02/2008 14:15

honestly no-one will notice/care so I would just find a nice cafe and settle down. I've fed all over the place in central London.

How old is your baby, or is it still a bump? As Thursday says, I wouldn't venture in for the first few weeks as you get incredibly knackered (well I did anyway).

meemar · 14/02/2008 14:18

Agree no-one will notice or care. If it's anything like being pregnant in C. London people will treat you like you are invisible

stanleysmother · 14/02/2008 15:14

Selfridges has a lovely parents room on the 4th floor and Mamas and Papas on Regent Street is quite nice too. The one in John lewis is pretty skanky which is a shame as they have just spent gazillions refurbing... clearly the parents room not even on their radar... surprise surprise. If you are in JL though, the new cafe on 5th floor is HUGE and there are loads of comfy sofas. Peter Jones on Sloane Square has a nice feeding room and cafe on top floor but per above, even if you were bfing stark naked, you'd be unlikely to get a backward glance in Central London

Twiglett · 14/02/2008 15:16

you know I have absolutely no idea where any 'feeding rooms' are .. because I'd just feed wherever I was: cafe, restaurant, park bench if warm, museum, art gallery

nobody ever batted an eyelid

MrsBadger · 14/02/2008 15:25

ditto Twig
I once fed dd standing waiting for a train at Paddington.

wobbegong · 21/02/2008 12:36

So pleased to find this thread!

It is easy to say that you can feed anywhere, but it can be a bit difficult for those of us with squally babies who are terrible at latching on. My LO likes now to look around while we BF so I do need somewhere a little bit comfy and quiet. I find crowded cafes with hard chairs, loud music etc. difficult, and not out of embarassment. I also find that lots of cafes have no baby-changing facilities, which is really difficult. So I'm still interested in specific advice about where to change and BF, or indeed bottle-feed, in central London.

Great to hear about these specific rooms in shops. Yesterday I fed in the Tate Modern and the staff were lovely about helping me to find a comfy sofa in the information centre where I took up residence for one hour. Full marks to the Tate Modern!- but their specific baby changing room only has one fold-down changing table, so don't forget you can do it in the ladies loos on several of the other floors too.

Another vote for Starbucks including the one nearly opposite Angel tube. Also the new M&S toilets on the ground floor of the Islington branch have spanking new baby changing facilities in ladies, gents and disabled toilets- but their Revive cafe is really crowded and I couldn't feed baby in it, had to go back to Starbucks.

If you find yourself in the City, Spitalfields market has a lovely brand new babychanging room and then you can park in one of the cafes round there.

cass66 · 21/02/2008 13:12

breastfed in the foyer at sadlers wells theatre, rather crowded, found the only chair and got on with it- was leaving baby with dad after so I could see the male swan lake (fab, recommended), then had to feed on the tube on the way home surrounded by not sober eastenders - lovely people, made a potentially embarassing moment ok!!!

learn to do it discretly and develop an arrogant stare to anyone who looks like objecting!!!!

lollipopmother · 21/02/2008 14:37

I don't think I could contemplate doing it in public, but I admire anyone that can, I just wouldn't have the guts. I think I'd rather do it on the loo in a McDonalds than do it in the middles of Sadlers Wells Theatre!

moondog · 21/02/2008 14:39

Oh Lolli,really people just aren't bothered!
I'm another who never bothered with specail rooms. What;s the point?
B/feeding is meant to make life easier not fu;ll of even more hassles.

lollipopmother · 21/02/2008 14:55

I know, but it wasn't that long ago that I saw a woman wap her boob out in the pub and start breastfeeding and I was just shocked that's all, if not a little scandalised to be honest. Obviously I'm going to have to mature a bit soon because I'm going to have to do it myself, but at the time I was just like 'she's just got her tits out!!!'

MrsTittleMouse · 21/02/2008 14:57

Try BFing in front of a mirror. Then you can get a good idea of how much other people can see. I was surprised at how discrete it can be, to be honest.

gingerninja · 21/02/2008 14:58

Lolli, you won't feel like that when you're bf'ing. Your breasts take on a while new personality.

gingerninja · 21/02/2008 14:59

whole

Bubbaluv · 21/02/2008 15:02

Mammas and Pappas on Regent Street has a big Cafe full of Mums and good change rooms.
Selfridges has decent change rooms up near the childrens dept. They also sell lovely pashminas and scarfs which allow you to bf anywhere you like. I'm still waiting to use the arsenal of one-liners I have stored up if someone ever says anything rude to me. They never do!
Further afield, Wholefoods on Kensington High Street (apparently) and Tea Palace in Notting Hill - good change rooms.

lollipopmother · 21/02/2008 15:32

Yeah I know Ginger, to people who BF it's just about giving your child a feed, but to most boobs are not that at all and you'd get told off if you just decided to get your boobs out whilst in a cafe! Obviously I know it's different, but not everyone views it as that, which is why I'll be a complete pansy I think and end up doing it in the loo.

JingleyJen · 21/02/2008 15:37

Lollipop - HONESTLY did she get her boob out or did she position the baby then lift up her top to give the baby access to her nipple?

Now if she had removed her top, left said breast hanging out to dangle in the wind before getting the baby ready I can see your point of view but I can't imagine anyone would really do that.

I agree with MrsTittlemouse do it in front of a mirror at home from alsorts of angles.. you really will be able to be very discrete.

Good luck

halogen · 21/02/2008 21:43

The café downstairs at Thomas Neal's in Covent Garden is a good place to feed a baby. Usually fairly quiet, plenty of seats and a baby changing area. Also, they do really nice milkshakes and pies.

seeker · 21/02/2008 21:50

There is absolutely no reason why your baby should have her lunch in the loo! As everyone else has asid, once you've cracked how to do it, you can arrange things so that there is no boob visible at all. If you're still concerned,a shawl makes sure there isn't a centimeter of skin showing.

I am a much older than average mother, and I was really hoping someone would challenge me so that I could give them what for, but in 3 years of publich breastfeeding in got nothing but positive comments. And I once fed ds one handed while unloading my trolley in Tesco with the other hand!

mummyrazzle · 22/02/2008 13:59

Please petition your government in England !! It is illegal to stop anyone from breastfeeding in Scotland - so if I wanted to go into town with my knockers out - as long as I had a baby with me it would be ok

lollipopmother · 22/02/2008 14:21

Oh it was really obvious she was breast feeding, she hadn't covered the baby or anything, just lifted her top up, so you could see the side of her boob if you were side on. I just didn't think it was appropriate and neither did anyone else to be honest.

Flip

1 2 3