Breastfeeding your baby in public is one of those things that may feel a little daunting the first few times and then before you know it you barely think about it anymore.
From my experience breastfeeding in public was toughest in the early days when I was getting used to the mechanics of how to hold her and get her to latch on.
This is always particularly tricky when you haven’t quite got the hang of the latch and you have a baby who is fussy about latching on to begin with.
But it’s important to remember – whatever stage of breastfeeding you are at – that you can breastfeed your baby in public and the law protects your right to do so.
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What’s the law on breastfeeding in public?
In the UK breastfeeding women are protected from discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. The act states it is discrimination to treat a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding.
The law applies to anyone providing services, benefits, facilities and premises to the public, public bodies, further and higher education bodies, and associations. Service providers (which includes most organisations that deal directly with the public such as restaurants or sports centres) must not discriminate, harass or intimidate a woman because she is breastfeeding.
This law covers you in open spaces as well, such as parks and benches, public transport including buses, and petrol stations.
This law remains in place for as long as you are breastfeeding your baby – regardless of your child’s age.
In Scotland, under the Breastfeeding (Scotland) Act 2005 it is a criminal offence to try and stop a woman breastfeeding her baby in a public place.
The law on breastfeeding means:
- It’s unlawful for staff or owners of a business to ask you to leave their premises because you are breastfeeding.
- It’s unlawful for owners of a business or their staff to refuse to serve you because you are breastfeeding your baby.
The only time it is OK to stop a woman breastfeeding in public is if it is somewhere considered to have a health or safety risk, such as a chemical hazard. Women may also be asked to stop breastfeeding somewhere that offers service to men only, as long as they are acting lawfully by excluding women. An example would be a religious setting.
In the US all 50 states have laws allowing women to breastfeed in public and private locations.
How to handle awkward conversations when breastfeeding in public
These days its very unlikely that anyone will give you trouble when breastfeeding in public.
Most people will be understanding of what you’re doing and recognise there’s absolutely no reason to even bat an eyelid at a woman breastfeeding her baby in public.
But just in case you do come across any trouble, these are some things you could say in the unlikely event a person is negative about your nursing your baby.
Remember to keep your responses short and simple. Try to maintain your cool if you can. If you’re in a business premises or public place such as sports centre than always ask to see a manager if a staff member or member of the public is giving you any trouble.
- You’re in a cafe and a member of staff says: “Can you stop breastfeeding your baby.”
You say: “I’m allowed to breastfeed my baby in public by law. Asking me to stop is discrimination. Please can I speak to your manager.”
- You’re in a restaurant and a staff member says: “Can you take your baby to the toilets/a private room to breastfeed?”
You say: “I’m comfortable here, thank you. Please can I speak to your manager.”
- You’re in a park and a member of the public makes a nasty comment.
You say: “I’m nursing my baby because they are hungry. If you don’t like it then you don’t have to watch.”
- You’re on a train and a member of the public says: “Can’t you wait to feed your baby until you’re at home.”
You say: “My baby is hungry and will cry if I don’t feed him/her.” If they continue to bother you call for a member of staff to assist you.
How to cover up while breastfeeding in public
First of all, we’ve established already that by law you do not have to cover up when breastfeeding in public.
If you feel more comfortable covering up when breastfeeding in a public place then there are a few options for you. They are:
- Breastfeeding cover. This is a garment specifically made to cover you up when nursing. They come in different shapes and styles, but generally will fit over the neck kind of like an apron. Some are in a poncho style, which I used and found really handy as it was easy to pull on and off over my head.
- Use a muslin or light blanket. A large muslin cloth makes it easier to cover yourself, but a smaller one can be used too. Take the cloth or blanket and drape it over your shoulder (you could tuck a corner underneath your clothing at the back of your neck to keep it secure) and down over your front. Some babies get annoyed at being covered up but in general newborns won’t mind. The only trouble with this is it can make looking down to check on how baby’s doing awkward. Breastfeeding covers tend to be designed to make this a little easier. You can also tie the two ends of a cloth or blanket together and pop it over your head and under one arm, kind of like a sash.
- Whatever’s handy. If you’ve got a cloth sling, a jacket or a scarf, any of these things can be turned into a nursing cover!
Top tips for nursing in public
Wear easy access outfits
No one wants to be fiddling around with awkward fastenings and buttons when out and about.
Choose outfits that are super simple to whip open and gain access. Buttons may be hard to do up and down with just the one hand. Poppers may be easier but go for tops that don’t have hundreds of the things so you won’t spend ages trying to do them up.
A good nursing bra is essential, but of course if you’re breastfeeding then you already knew that!
Dresses or tops with buttons are great. You can of course buy nursing tops and dresses with little flaps that discreetly open so your can nurse and stay mostly covered up.
If you’re wearing a normal top that you plan to pull up so you can feed, you could consider popping a thin vest top underneath it, which you can use to keep your tummy covered if you wish. All you need to do is pull the normal top up, then pull the top part of the vest down and you can access your bra.
Find a parent-friendly venue
Most cafes are more than happy to welcome breastfeeding mothers. But some venues may specifically run mother and baby mornings where breastfeeding will be very commonplace.
Research what’s available in your area and try a nursing-friendly venue if this is your first trip out with your baby, just so you can gain confidence if you’re worried.
Find a comfy spot
You never know when your baby may wake up needing a quick feed.
When choosing a place to sit in a cafe, restaurant or elsewhere, find a seat that will be comfy for you to nurse. A stool, for example, may be a bit uncomfortable compared to a seat with arms and a back rest.
Choose a quiet corner
When I first started nursing my second baby she would pop on and off the breast like a yo-yo which often left me feeling a bit exposed.
If you are worried about nursing your baby in public then find a spot that is a little more separate from other people if you can. You could try sitting with your back to the rest of the room.
Always have a muslin handy
When my letdown reflex kicked in I used to be able to fire milk a good few feet away from my boob!
Have a muslin on standby in case your baby moves away from your breast while your letdown reflex is firing milk. You could have it draped over your shoulder so it’s right there to cover you up just in case.
It’s also handy to have a muslin to wipe baby’s chin when they are done feeding.
The giant muslins, such as these ones, are perfect for using a nursing cover if you would prefer to drape something over yourself when feeding in public.
I must stress that you should only wear a nursing cover if it’s what you want to do. Don’t wear a nursing cover because of what anyone else says to you.
As outlined above, you can breastfeed in public and you should not be discriminated against for doing so. There are no caveats to this law saying what you should or should not wear, it’s very simple – if you are breastfeeding in public, people cannot ask you to leave or treat you differently to any other customer.
Remember to wear nursing pads
If you don’t want your outfit to end up with wet patches where your boobs are then remember to pop nursing pads into your bra!
Practice in front of a mirror
If you’re feeling really self-conscious about staying covered up when nursing in public then practice at home first.
Sit in front of a mirror while nursing your baby and see how you get on with staying covered up. This should give you a boost in confidence for going out and doing the same in public.
Think about the timing
As with anything to do with babies, you may want to time your trip out so that you will be in a convenient location for nursing your baby when they are likely to be hungry.
You don’t want to be rushing around the high street searching for a nice place with a chair where you can feed your baby while they are screaming their head off in the buggy. Avoid the stress and try to think when your baby will be hungry next (usually every two to three hours) and time it so you are settled somewhere that’s comfy for you to feed at that point.
What you need to know about breastfeeding in public
So the important messages here that no matter how you choose to breastfeed your baby – covered up or not – it is totally legal for you to do so.
If you do get any trouble and someone says something to upset you when you’re breastfeeding in public, keep your responses brief and if it’s a member of staff ask for their name. Make a complaint to their manager there and then or send an email later, as it’s important that venues comply with the law on this.
