Some news...

[gary1979666]

I just fed her while we were out

Yes it was a quiet pub and yes only the guy bringing our food had the potential to see anything but still, I'm proud of myself!

I also changed her bum on the floor as there were no baby changing facilities. Is that what you do in that situation?? Or should I have taken her into the ladies and done it on cold hard floor in there? I wasn't sure :/

Not sure what would be best there, but you can get portable changing mats, so if it's a quiet pub, then shouldn't be an issue on the seat.

Although different age - we were stood outside our hotel in Menorca in Sept, waiting for the transfer bus. Just as it arrived, out 20month old cacked his nappy, so changed him outside on the front steps of the hotel in double time!

[bunique]

I would've changed her where you did Kat - and great news on the feed, another hurdle jumped!

[Katster]

I suppose I should just have asked lol.

[midnight]

Very good, and glad to hear they let you into the pub!

Summer 2008 I wandered down mega trendy Stoke Newington Church Street one sunny afternoon, with the 2 or 3 month old baby strapped to my chest in one of those slings and the proud father by my side. As we passed a pub that I remembered to have a nice garden at the back, I foolishly suggested that we could sit down there for a drink. We had not been out much, after all. So in we went, the place was empty (it was an early afternoon on a week day), and whilst I was till making my mind up where to sit, the young bartender came up to us and told us that we could not stop there, as the pub had a "no under 18s" policy.

We left. I thought that the guy was just being a bit weird, but the same thing happened in another pub in Crouch End a few months later. I gave up on pubs with baby after that.

I've fed (& changed) the nipper in all sorts of places (London Underground being one of the more unusual ones), with an old sarong wrapped around my shoulders for discretion, and no-one ever seemed bothered by it, I think most people did not even notice. Took some getting used to, but not much.

Btw, I was told that for the first 3 months of its life a baby pretty much shares its mother's immune system (comes through the blood supply in the womb), and is actually less at risk of a range of infections than older infants for that reason. My son developed really bad baby acne when he was about 2 weeks old. I'd read about this and wasn't worried (looked awful, though), but a visiting mid-wife told me to take him to the doctor's and have him checked for measles. Odd, as he had no temperature and seemed fit and lively, but I took him anyway. The GP just looked at him, asked me how old baby was and said that it couldn't be measles, because of the above - newborns don't get them. Don't know whether that helps with the worry of taking Willow out and about.

[Katster]

It did feel wrong Barry but at least I didn't plonk her on the table or seats lol. It was done on the floor where people's muddy feet walk...

[bunique]

Really ? Don't you not think that is incredibly selfish for the other customers?

On the floor behind a chair on a mat out of eye line on a quiet pub? No, no more selfish than laying a 3 week old baby on a toilet floor if it was an absolute blow out, I'd probably go out to the car

[feral chile]

regarding breastfeeding in public, this is interesting...

http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2011/apr/flash-mob-threat-after-breastfeeding-mum-was-told-leave-king-william-iv-pub

it might be worth checking with the EASS helpline to see if the pub would be guilty of indirect discrimination for turning you away.

[Katster]

There were no other customers, just us. However, I knew it wasn't where I should do it I just didn't know what else to do. In hindsight I should have just asked. We are still learning - I'd also gone out completely prepared for her but hadn't taken a coat for me because it was warm when I set off out. I've spent 34 years of my life not really having to plan or think about much. It's taking some adjusting. In the car is a good idea for next time however my partner has the car a lot if the time so I could well have gone out on the bus or on foot. I'm still learning.

[bunique]

The smell travels from a baby regardless of whether their nappy is on or off A thirty second change on a mat out of sight is infinitely preferable to a screaming baby. Although I can't think of an instance when I've needed to do it - everywhere here has changing facilities, including the pubs.

[bunique]

Anyway, my baby's poo will smell like roses; at least that's what I've tried to convince myself with 10.5 weeks to go

Edited November 4, 2014 by bunique

[Katster]

Everywhere should have baby changing facilities though, I was a bit surprised the pub we were in didn't. It's one of those things you never think of until you are a parent...oh yeah, where are the little people supposed to go pee pee.

[midnight]

The smell doesn't go far if you get of your selfish arse and change your baby in a more appropriate location...

Your clearly part of the me me me crowd....

When it comes to breastfeeding a mother and child have a right to feed where everyone else is feeding... In the dinning room and not the toilet...

Likewise when the babies shit needs dealing with you have the right to go and use the toilet facilities like the rest of us.... Instead of the dinning room...

Well, I for one always moved my "selfish arse" to the toilets to change baby, partially because I liked to be close to a source of running water when I had to do this.

This is NO reason or excuse to refuse people with babies entry to pubs. The staff could ask people to take their kids to the appropriate facilities to change them, if there was a problem. The "under 18s" rule is generally used to keep unsupervised teens out who shouldn't get sloshed on their own (or at all), to apply it to babies is just silly.

And as Katster says, all such public places should have a corner to deal with this in their toilet areas. It isn't a massive adjustment and can be done in very small spaces.

[gary1979666]

I dunno about that. Pubs tend to make more money from food than drinks now - or 50/50 at least. So they are chasing the family market. If they chase away mothers with babies, they're on a hiding to nothing. I could understand a 'boozer' enforcing an over 18 policy, but I think they're dying out.

I think in the circumstances Kat did the right thing. Had there been other customers there, it might have been different. Also little baby poop is far less smelly than when they are older, so probably didn't linger. Take your point had it had more people though.

[feral chile]

Everywhere should have baby changing facilities though, I was a bit surprised the pub we were in didn't. It's one of those things you never think of until you are a parent...oh yeah, where are the little people supposed to go pee pee.

well on the one hand, pubs can turn anyone they want away. But on the other the Equality Act classes you as a protected group (maternity) and the pub could therefore be guilty of indirect discrimination, because a policy that applies to everyone would put you at a disadvantage.

https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights/types-of-discrimination

It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of:

age

being or becoming a transsexual person

being married or in a civil partnership

being pregnant or having a child

disability

race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin

religion, belief or lack of religion/belief

sex

sexual orientation

indirect discrimination - putting rules or arrangements in place that apply to everyone, but that put someone with a protected characteristic at an unfair disadvantage

[Katster]

The pub we were in is very child appropriate, it's just small.

I'm not sure I will ever want to get 'drunk' again. I've had a lovely time discovering my sober self and I'm alreet I am.

[Katster]

Lol, sorry, went off on a tangent there - was in response to Barry's Wetherspoons comment limiting parents to two pints.

[feral chile]

Is it discrimination to stop a parent going to the cinema to watch a 18 certificate with a child ?

Is it discrimination to stop a parent going into a licensed sex shop with a child ?

Almost all the discrimination laws are cascaded down from the Human Rights act. The human rights act is imposed upon the government to protect its peoples human rights. The act doesn't directly apply to individuals and companies it applies to the government. The government's then digest these rules into law but its mixed up with the licensing of certain activities and products.

Film certification, Alcohol licensing, Sex shops, Tattooists and so on...

yes I realise this, that's why I wasn't altogether sure how it would work with some pubs, it has to be reasonable. It's not illegal for children under 16 to enter a pub as long as they're accompanied by an adult, but the local council may prohibit certain pubs from allowing this.

https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-young-people-law

If you’re 16 or under, you may be able to go to a pub (or premises primarily used to sell alcohol) if you’re accompanied by an adult. However, this isn’t always the case. It can also depend on the specific conditions for that premises.

Edited November 5, 2014 by feral chile

[bunique]

I had a job interview today - madness when I leave work in 6 weeks but too good an opportunity to pass up! They didn't ask about the bump!

[feral chile]

I had a job interview today - madness when I leave work in 6 weeks but too good an opportunity to pass up! They didn't ask about the bump!

they're not allowed to discriminate on the grounds of pregnancy. Congratulations on the interview

[bunique]

Thank you I know they can't, but i feel a bit bad! Getting the job throws up so many problems, but long term it's a fantastic job (in terms of pay but also opening doors and is back in the town we live in). Timing is just terrible! Ah well, I'm waiting on the call (whilst thinking about a nap...)

[Katster]

Ooooo good luck with the job!

I fed her again in another pub today, a busier pub at that. I also changed her, using baby changing facilities. I'm slowly getting the hang of all this...we also went for a walk, in the rain.

[feral chile]

Ooooo good luck with the job!

I fed her again in another pub today, a busier pub at that. I also changed her, using baby changing facilities. I'm slowly getting the hang of all this...we also went for a walk, in the rain.

I think the most difficult thing to adapt to, is having to assess everywhere you go for child-friendliness.

[Katster]

Growth spurt

She's been on and off me since 6pm...it sounds painful bless her.

[bunique]

How old is she now Kat? They do pass in just a day or two at this stage

[Katster]

She will be 4 week on Sunday - she had a growth spurt before at about 10 days. She really does sound in pain