Breastfeeding in public

Breastfeeding in public is a subject of great debate, with some people opposing breastfeeding in public and others campaigning to support mothers who want to breastfeed their babies in public. Some mothers will feel uncomfortable breastfeeding anywhere other than in the privacy of their own home; however, other mothers will be keen to get out and about and feeding their baby in public will seem perfectly natural. The article below will offer information and advice about breastfeeding in public.

What are my rights?

Legislation has been put in place to allow mothers to breastfeed their babies wherever they want; breastfeeding is completely legal and can be carried out in public spaces across the country.

The 1975 Sexual Discrimination Act also protects breastfeeding mothers against being discriminated against for feeding their babies in public places, including libraries, restaurants and shops. Women who have problems with particular employers or proprietors are entitled to make a complaint against them under the Sexual Discrimination Act.

Breastfeeding is legal and for many women it’s a natural part of raising a baby; however, many women feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public and some members of the public feel uncomfortable seeing a woman breastfeeding; a large part of this is probably embarrassment because you’ve caught them off guard, rather than a deep-seated disapproval of breastfeeding in public.

Breastfeeding in public is largely a matter of personal choice; some women will feel horrified at the thought of feeding in public, while others won’t give it a second thought. If you want to feed in public, it is perfectly legal but try to appreciate that other people may be a little surprised and taken aback initially.

Public opinion

In previous generations, breastfeeding in public was believed to be highly inappropriate and mothers didn’t dare to even consider feeding their babies in public; however, in recent years, breastfeeding has become a lot more acceptable and a recent survey carried out as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week found that the majority of people are in favour of breastfeeding in public. Town and city councils are making efforts to make local businesses more welcoming to breastfeeding mothers and people are becoming a lot more tolerant; of course, there will always be people who object to it, as with any idea or activity.

Finding a suitable place

If you feel flustered and anxious about feeding in public, this probably won’t help your baby and it may affect the feed so try not to panic if you are out and your baby needs feeding; there are many places you can go where there are facilities for mums and several high street chains have been praised for their attitude to breastfeeding, including Debenhams, Pizza Express, Ikea and John Lewis. It is up to you where you choose to feed and if you want a little more privacy, go to a store where they have mother and child changing facilities.

Tips for breastfeeding in public

Here are some tips for breastfeeding in public:

• Remember to wear nursing bras so you and feed your baby without having to worry about taking off your bra and adjusting your clothing in front of other people.
• Try to stay calm and relaxed; this will put your baby at ease and lead to a better quality feed
• If you are worried about other people, try to head for a larger department store, as these usually have mother and baby facilities
• If you are going out and really don’t want to feed in public, express some milk and bottle-feed your baby
• Ask your friends and relatives about their experiences; they will be able to recommend good places and tell you which ones to ignore.
• Don’t feel uncomfortable; breastfeeding is perfectly natural and legal so you’re not doing anything wrong
• If you’re worried about breastfeeding in a particular place, ask the staff if they have breastfeeding facilities; if they don’t, they may be able to direct you to a place with better facilities.

Breastfeeding:

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• Breastfeeding
• Breast milk against formula milk
• How to breastfeed
• How do I know that my baby is feeding properly?
• Tips for breastfeeding
• Expressing and breast pumps
• Breastfeeding and Jaundice
• Extended Breastfeeding
• Foods to avoid when breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding myths

• Breastfeeding after a caesarean
• Breastfeeding and birth control
• Baby refusing to breastfeed
• Factors that may have an effect on breastfeeding
• Lactation Consultant
• Breastfeeding and Medication
• Breastfeeding Premature Babies
• Nursing bras
• Formula milk
• Breastfeeding when ill
• Breastfeeding in public
• Oversupply of breast milk

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