Debenhams Order Mum To Stop Breastfeeding Four-Week-Old Baby

Debenhams Order Mum To Stop Breastfeeding Four-Week-Old Baby

PA

Department store Debenhams has apologised to a mum after its staff ordered her to stop breastfeeding in its Oxford branch.

Emily John was feeding her four-week-old son when a manager approached her in the shoe department of the store and told her she was being 'inappropriate'.

Mrs John, who has two children, says she was feeding her son 'discreetly' and told the female manager that she would not move until her baby had finished. She also informed the woman that there was a law in place to protect her right to breastfeed.

After telling the manager she wished to make a written complaint, a second manager told her to stop feeding.

Outraged Mrs John set up a page on Facebook about her experience and urged other mums to join her in a 'nurse-in' in the store.

Repentant Debenhams has now apologised to her and offered to throw a party in celebration of breastfeeding for any mums who want to feed in store this coming Saturday.

In a statement, Debenhams said: "We are very proud of the fact that we are supportive of breastfeeding mums at Debenhams.

"It appears that with this isolated incident the staff in our Oxford store got our policy wrong.

"As a matter of urgency we are immediately reminding and reinforcing our breastfeeding stance with our staff.

"We have spoken to Emily and apologised to her and her family and do so again now."

What is 'inappropriate' about feeding your baby discreetly?

What do you think about breastfeeding in public? Have you ever been asked to stop?

Close