feeding meet anyone?

[Lyns]

Well done you for taking a stand. You may like to use a copy of the letter I've just posted in this thread....

https://www.babyandbump.com/breastfeeding/45379-breastfeedin-public-7.html

It's from the british government (Deputy Mnister for Women and Equality) dated this month, assuring women of their continued right to feed any baby in public!

BTW, if you would like me to stir up a bit of support amongst the UK BF organisations for you just drop me a line!

 

[StirCrazy]

Personally I think you'd be doing more good than harm (for the cafe I mean). Unless you aren't planning on buying anything (in which case they can legitimately ask you to leave) what are they gonna care if you turn up with your friends / make them a profit / and fill up the cafe with other customers that are breastfeeding (and who obviously don't mind it). All the time you are in the cafe you are making them money (plus the 'ole adage: any publicity is good publicity - the flip side is there are people out there that want to have a coffee in a cafes that doesn't allow it. Now you are giving them free airtime by letting people know).

 

[sam's mum]

Where abouts are you living? Jump on a train! Anna can't stand car journeys much, especially in the heat - but we went to Wales by train this weekend and she loved it! We even went first class and nobody would have known there was a baby there - she just looked out the window the whole way (with the occasional public feed of course ) lol

I'm over in Farnborough (London end of Hampshire) but think it would mean going into London, across on the tube and out...will have a look! x

 

[sam's mum]

Personally I think you'd be doing more good than harm (for the cafe I mean). Unless you aren't planning on buying anything (in which case they can legitimately ask you to leave) what are they gonna care if you turn up with your friends / make them a profit / and fill up the cafe with other customers that are breastfeeding (and who obviously don't mind it). All the time you are in the cafe you are making them money (plus the 'ole adage: any publicity is good publicity - the flip side is there are people out there that want to have a coffee in a cafes that doesn't allow it. Now you are giving them free airtime by letting people know).

It's more just about letting them know that they can't get away with that sort of discrimination, and be so rude to paying customers. No problem with them earning a bit of money while having their eyes opened

 

[Sarah88]

Stupid cafe! Love to see some pics once you do it!

 

[Ragirl]

If they want to have coffee in a cafe that does not allow bfing, they can have their coffee at cafe- your- own- house where you set your own rules. And I have to say while Stircrazy might be right that they will make a profit that day from women buying stuff while they sit- if the cafe is anything like the ones here- you can buy one $1 coffee and sit all day if you want- so it wouldn't be a huge profit. And from what I have seen, in the long run companies tend to not benefit because when women and men who support bfing discover they have this "policy," they will find a new cafe.

 

[StirCrazy]

Don't get me wrong, I'm just playing devils advocate. But I can't help thinking that some take exception to 'policies' (like the cafes) out of principle without thinking of all the factors involved. A few years ago it was acceptable to smoke in public (athough some places had a 'policy' not to allow it, but that was to cater for their clientele). I wonder if the tables were turned and someone lit up a cigarette in a room full of breastfeeding mothers (even though it was legal) if the majority would be against minority.

Unfortunately you will find that 'big business' always cater for the masses.

I'm not "one of those people", I just don't think these kinda of places are deliberately victimising / singling out breastfeeding mothers with the intent to offend them.

But that's all academic when the new laws come in (or have they already come in?)

Personally I think you'd be doing more good than harm (for the cafe I mean). Unless you aren't planning on buying anything (in which case they can legitimately ask you to leave) what are they gonna care if you turn up with your friends / make them a profit / and fill up the cafe with other customers that are breastfeeding (and who obviously don't mind it). All the time you are in the cafe you are making them money (plus the 'ole adage: any publicity is good publicity - the flip side is there are people out there that want to have a coffee in a cafes that doesn't allow it. Now you are giving them free airtime by letting people know).

It's more just about letting them know that they can't get away with that sort of discrimination, and be so rude to paying customers. No problem with them earning a bit of money while having their eyes opened

 

[Wobbles]

Just an idea - Could you maybe ring up and arrange to speak to management & discuss this with them & why your Mum was asked to move (Im assuming asked to leave)?

x

 

[tinytoes]

shocking! I used to live in Colchester so would join you if I could..but I'ma little far away now!

 

[sam's mum]

Don't get me wrong, I'm just playing devils advocate. But I can't help thinking that some take exception to 'policies' (like the cafes) out of principle without thinking of all the factors involved. A few years ago it was acceptable to smoke in public (athough some places had a 'policy' not to allow it, but that was to cater for their clientele). I wonder if the tables were turned and someone lit up a cigarette in a room full of breastfeeding mothers (even though it was legal) if the majority would be against minority.

Unfortunately you will find that 'big business' always cater for the masses.

I'm not "one of those people", I just don't think these kinda of places are deliberately victimising / singling out breastfeeding mothers with the intent to offend them.

But that's all academic when the new laws come in (or have they already come in?)

I'm sure most of them aren't deliberately singling out breastfeeding mothers, and just trying to do what they think pleases the majority of their customers. They are passing a new law later this year, but it is already unlawful to ask a mother to stop breastfeeding (as explained in this fantastic post by Lyns, as my brain isn't quite awake enough to think properly yet ):

https://www.babyandbump.com/breastfeeding/45379-breastfeedin-public-7.html#post649207