Debated for many years, it looks like finally mothers will be allowed to breast feed their children in any public place, including trains, bars and restaurants.
Later this year, laws will be introduced in parliament that will make it an offence to top a woman from breast-feeding a baby aged up to six months. At the moment, women could face charges of public indecency if reported. The change in the law comes after an outcry from women who have been made to feel embarrassed for breast-feeding in public.
Just last week a 23-year-old mother was ordered not to feed her three-month-old baby in a doctor’s surgery because it breached health and safety rules.
In one hilarious example of stuffiness, the National Gallery ordered a woman to stop feeding her baby daughter near the famous Tintoretto painting Origin of the Milky Way. It shows Juno breast-feeding Hercules. They later apologised.
The UK has one of the lowest breast-feeding rates in Europe. Many mothers give up soon after birth. A study found that while 75 percent of women breast-feed their newborns, this drops to 25 percent for six-month-olds.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “Final decisions have yet to be made, but the government is keen to give new mothers complete confidence to breast-feed while going about their normal business, for example while on the bus or in a cafe.”
Although the Scottish law’s were changed four years ago with no age limit on the child, ministers have not yet decided whether to extend the right to women with babies older than six months in the rest of the UK.
Even though the change to the law is being championed by women MPs, they will not get the same right to breast-feed in committee rooms or the chamber of the Commons. The Houses of Parliament are recognised as a Royal Palace and exempt from the law.
At present MPs are allowed to breast-feed in designated areas in the Commons; after consultation with MPs, Michael Martin, the Speaker, refused to overturn the ban on breast-feeding in committees and during debates.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 am
My daughters will be 21 and 18 this summer. In 1987 and 1990 I breastfed them each for 8 months, in pubs, restaurants, shops, National Trust properties, on the beach and even walking around the Monet in the 90s exhibition at the Royal Academy in London. It is perfectly possible to feed without exposing acres of flesh!
September 11th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Seeing as the WHO recommends breastfeeding until 2 years of age and as the international average age of a child/infant self-weaning is 4 and a half YEARS - it is patently ridiculous that the law in the UK should be changed to only cover the feeding of babies in public up to the age of six months. Women should be encouraged to feed any pre-school child this natural, pure food. It is public attitudes towards this that need to change. It is NOT natural to feed children the milk of another species.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
the UNICEF rights of the child really ought to be observed to the max.
i am horrified that a so called leading nation is so far behind with the times. well, not really the times. THEY KEEP GETTING IT WRONG.
they keep making their people ill.
not promoting breast feeding is a crime againts all humans.
no wonder the NHS is in such a bad way!
i am glad i am no longer a british national.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
It is a national disgrace that mothers are regarded with such distain. Families are imperitive for society to flourish - positive regard for motherhood is fundamental in pushing family and society forward. It is no great surprise that we have some of the most unhappy children in the developed world. It makes me ashamed to be British - no strike that, it makes me wish I was scotish!!