Breastfeeding in public
Babies can look for food or comfort anywhere and at anytime. They also have small stomachs and need to feed often. This means they need to be with their mothers and have ready access to breastfeeding. Because breastfeeding has not been very common in Ireland over the past few generations some people may respond negatively when they see a mother breastfeeding in a restaurant , hotel, shopping centre or other public area. Fear of a negative response to breastfeeding in the company of others has led some women to choose not to breastfeed.
Therefore it is very important we welcome and support breastfeeding in Irish society after all breastfeeding mothers are saving us all money in health and environmental cost savings.
To ensure breastfeeding mothers feel more confident in responding to the needs of their breastfeeding babies when outside home they are protected by the Equal Status Act. This Act protects them from discrimination or harassment from others when they are breastfeeding in public.
When out and about remember:
- You don’t have to ask to breastfeed. You can breastfeed anywhere you and your baby want or need to.
- Make it easier for yourself by wearing trousers or a skirt with a jumper, blouse, sweatshirt or T-shirt that can be pulled up from the waist.
- Wear a maternity bra that can be opened from the front with one hand.
- Feed early. Don’t wait until your baby gets too hungry or distressed, That way you’ll both be more relaxed and feeding will go more smoothly.
- If you feel unsure about breastfeeding outside home bring your partner or a friend along for support until you become more confident.
- Find out if there are any restaurants, shopping centre or hotels that particularly welcome breastfeeding mothers. There are ‘breastfeeding welcome’ stickers supplied by the HSE that hotels and restaurants can display.
- If you would prefer more privacy, ask if the nearby restaurant, hotel or shopping centre has a private feeding room (not a toilet area) available for your use. Or choose a seat in a quiet corner where you can turn away from other customers.
- If you are happy to breastfeed in a public area the owner, manager or staff of the area are not allowed to ask you to leave, move or use separate facilities.
- If you inform the staff that you are being harassed by another customer for breastfeeding, they have a duty to protect you from this.
Breastfeeding makes it easy to go anywhere with your baby particularly when you are travelling by car, bus, train or by air. It is the ideal convenience food for babies. You don’t have to carry feeding equipment or worry about keeping bottles fresh and as germ free as possible. You just have to grab a nappy and some wipes and go!
As a frequent traveller, the ease and convenience of breastfeeding was a real bonus for Sonia O’Sullivan, one of our finest athletes and Olympic silver medalist, who breastfed both her children. Once Sonia and Nic had read about the health advantages of breastfeeding they never considered any other option for their daughters.
