Please explain the UK breastfeeding law to me!

[Climbing Rose]

I know someone in the UK who says she can only BF in designated family friendly places, or at home, which is obviously hard!

Others have explained to me that she is wrong, and I seem to be finding conflicting info online.

I want to help this mom, but I don't know what to tell her.

I honestly thought it was that you could BF anywhere, and the UK was getting a law to clarify this for moms.... but I really don't know.

Help!! and thank you so much!! =)

[Onemagicmummy]

im a UK mum. i have breastfed everywhere with out problem.

i read something a few months ago saying that a woman can breastfeed a baby pretty much anywhere she wants and can not be asked to stop, its under the sex discrimination act 1976 i think, there was a amemdmant in 2008 covering babies under 6 months with additional cover (as in if a mum of a baby under 6 months is asked to stop they can bring charges in both the sex discrimination act AND the 2008 MATERNITY section also,

i cant remember where i go tthe info, but UK is protected, i have breastfed on buses, in cafes, on metros, in the street, in a super market, in a park, at the beach, anywhere and everywhere.

i would google but dd is sleeping on my left arm.

kiz

[Claire and Boys]

I have never had a problem and I have nursed everywhere. I have heard of a law coming out that is supposed to clarify (As Kiz mentioned), but it has never been against the law to NIP in the first place.

I think she is probably getting confused, they do have breastfeeding friendly stickers that venues can put up to let people know that they are welcome to breastfeed there, she perhaps has misunderstood them to mean that she can ONLY nurse in those places, if you kwim?

[NW6Londonmum]

She's wrong but her situation does depend on where she lives.

In Scotland she is completely and totally protected up until the age of 2. Anywhere.

But I'm going to guess that she is in England as otherwise she would probably be aware of that.

As a PP says there are several laws which do offer some coverage but it's patchy. The clearest thing is a European Directive that came in April 2008 and covers discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or maternity. The government equality folks have applied this in the case of bfing when a mum was thrown out of a cafe in Dorset a couple of weeks after the law came in. The law states you can't be discriminated against in the case of provision of services/ goods/ facilties. She is therefore covered in cafes, shops etc.
This article talks about it:
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/2209486.0/

A law is currently going through which will make things clearer in all public places but annoyingly not up to 2yrs as in Scotland.

But I would add I think it's sad she feels she needs a law to 'allow' her to bf in public. There isn't a law saying I can eat a Snickers bar on a bus but I assume I can. I'm guessing you are on this page too.

[Climbing Rose]

Thank you so much!

I will let her know.