Breastfeeding and facilities in the UK for bubs

[claireh05]

Hi, we are flying back to the UK on Sunday for two months (yeay!) and a friend of mine has just returned from a trip there with her 10 month old. I talked to her yesterday about it and she was saying that breastfeeding older babies (ie. not newborn) seems to be frowned upon and that there are some people who are trying to get it banned!!! They can't do that I know, but it won't help anyone feel comfortable doing it over there will it?!

Also, my friend said that the parents rooms were really bad over there and don't cater for the parents well at all. Has anyone got any positive feedback about their trip to the UK for me?!!! I am a little worried about it all now!!!

Claire :)

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

as far as I know the UK ahead of Australia in this...so really surprised at your friends comments...for instance Boots have mother and baby rooms and so do most big shops unlike Target, Kmart etc...oh and the supermarkets do too like Tescos, Siansburys again unlike Coles and Woolies...as for the boob feeding now as far as I am aware law is as it is here...there are always gonna be some ignorant people who dont like to see it etc etc infact I have seen more people bfeeding in cafes etc in UK then here...most people seem to head for the rooms here...sorry no definate reply there...perhaps your friend was just unlucky in the area she was and the opinions of people around her?? I know in rural Somerset/Dorset and in the towns & cities around us no problemswith either of these things so imagine the same most places...:D

[meeper]

hi there :wave:
we just arrived from the UK at the end of last year, and it didnt seem to be that bad!

we lived in kent for a few years and used to frequent Bluewater shopping centre where places like Lewis' and Boots had great parents rooms (don't you just miss Boots?!!)

I BF ds1 only up until about 8 months as i had to go back to work, but talking to midwifes etc. they certainly encourage you as much as over here.

You could try contacting someone like the National Childbirth Trust in the UK and they could prob tell you more about the places you are visiting and how BF friendly they are.

Have a good trip !:smiliedance:

[flowerpot21]

have to say... i saw the odd mother and baby room but it was mostly for nappy changing and lots of them lookd pretty grim.. i have seen great ones here, never saw any great ones in the uk when i was out and about with my sis in law and niece/nephew.. i have never seen a mum and baby room there with comfy chairs etc designed for BF like i have here..