Breast Feeding At A Private Venue

[Balfron]

I understand most of the breast feeding legislation (Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005) but Subject to section 1 subsection (2), it is an offence deliberately to prevent or stop a person in charge of a child from feeding milk to that child in a public place or on licensed premises.

However for me the definition of Public Place and Licensed premises, does not cover a private function such as a wedding. So my question is - is it still against the law to ask an individual to to stop breast feeding in public sight at a private event. I.E the top table of a wedding

Is their any case law on this ?

[EcclesCake]

In this situation I'm not sure that there will be a legal precedent.

If 'this person' is sat at the top table they are clearly family. For you to refer to them as 'this person' you already have a difficult relationship.

Quite why you think the baby is going to disrupt the proceeding and demand feeding in the middle of your speeches is a curiosity. Why can't the mother discretely shroud herself and feed the baby if required and has she said that she refuses to leave the top table should her child require feeding? It is unlikely that the photographer is going to focus on this event should that be your concern.

It is your wedding or possibly your childs wedding but I do think you are being unreasonable. There may be a precedent to support your position but I hope not. Should you have children in the near future you might understand where your guest is coming from. By and large most people are quite relaxed about breast feeding in public and most mothers are suitably discrete, especially when they are on the top table at a wedding and consequently the focus of attention.

I can understand, to some extent, your discomfort but to be seeking advice on the law is extreme.

[Balfron]

bridesmaid and sister of the bride

[EcclesCake]

And what does your future wife have to say? Or does she not have a say given that 'you are the man'?

[craft1948]

On this one occasion can't she express some milk and bottle feed the baby if needed?

[Balfron]

thanks eccles cake, i understand that. I actually dont have have harsh feeling about this individual at all, I get on very well with her. Its my other half that is having an issue with it as her sister is refusing to wait 15 minutes or move away from a very small top table just whilst the speeches are going on. I dont believe that is being unreasonable. Its all stems from this point of her saying it is illegal for us to ask that.

[Balfron]

she is refusing to express for this day as she says its not her problem, i dont expect her not to breastfeed during the day, just not whilst the speeches are going on.

To be clear i have no problems about breast feeding i just want my wife to be to be happy and have all eyes on her during the speeches.

Plus my back is up over the "its illegal to ask that"

[ummmm]

Can you not explain this to her?

I can understand, in this scenario, why either of you wouldn't be keen on the idea.

[EcclesCake]

I'm so glad you've given us more of the background as you were close to being labelled as a massive tit......it now seems your future sister in law is heading for that title.

She might be taking the legal route but I think you should back away from that route. To be batting back and forth legal quotes is not going to move the problem forward, only send the wedge between you deeper. Is there not a parent that could mediate?

[ummmm]

Problem is you could get her to agree that she'll express 'just in case' baby needs feeding during the speeches. Nothing you can do if she whips her booby out instead though.

When is the wedding?

[Cmitchell]

The woman is clearly bonkers!
I hate to say it but I think she's going to "whip one out" albeit discreetly, just to prove a point.
You have a few options open to you.
1) politely point out that she was right, it would be illegal to ask her not to, blah, blah, blah but out of love and respect for her sister could she abstain from doing it, express before hand, or not bring the dear little darling?
2) uninvited her? Me thinks not really practical.
3) if you've tried suggestion one then have her sit on a different table, and tell her exactly why... You after all want all eyes on your new wife.
4) bowl her over with flattery by saying something like you know everyone will be comparing how beautiful the two sisters are and you wouldn't want to outshine your sister (maybe with this one not even mentioning the sprog

[craft1948]

Make sure the bride orders her a dress with a high neckline that buttons right up the back...................

[Balfron]

Well I am glad you dont see me like a tit anymore :) .

I dont want to go back and forth but if i have to get involved i want to have a defense for this point. We have already changed the bridesmaid dresses so it would be easier for her to breast feed in it. I am just asking for a 15 to 30 minutes period when she could refrain if the situation arises. The parents have tried and i have stayed out of it. but its starting to get to my other half and she has not be stressed over one thing apart from this, so i am going to have to get involved for her benifit.

[Sammy48]

sounds like the woman in question is just being pig headed and wants the attention on her lobbing her boobs out.

I for one would feel happier if I moved away to a table, and fed my baby out of sight of everybody.

[ummmm]

Have a word with her husband. How old is the baby or how old will it be on the day?

[Balfron]

cmitchell, i agree, i think she will do it to prove a point.
1) we have tried - no good
We have even came from the perspective of dropping her as a bridemaid and just asking her to come as a guess so she only has to concentrate on the child and good breast feed as much as she wants as its not a the top table, but then she starts lectures on how thats not right that she cant be bridemaid just becuase of her breastfeeding and goes off on one.

[Balfron]

The husband stays out of this kind of stuff.

[Sammy48]

she sounds a nightmare, how old is she for gods sake ?

[Mamyalynne]

I am more than a little perplexed at how everyone seems to know almost to the minute when this baby is going to require a breast feed (and yes I have,fed both of mine)

[EcclesCake]

Is the sister/bridesmaid/breastfeeder younger or older than the bride to be?

[EcclesCake]

I touched on that point earlier Mamya, as things have developed it looks as if the mother/bridesmaid is taking a stubborn 'what if?' position. Also, there is nothing to stop her whipping out a boob and latching the baby on just to make a point.......