Mum challenged over breastfeeding baby in Eastbourne school

Lisa Bailey, 32, said she felt embarrassed after being told by the headteacher to stop breastfeeding in a school hall “as there were young boys here”.

On Monday morning (May 18), Lisa was seeing her Year 6 daughter off on a five-day camping trip from Langney Primary School.

Parents and schoolchildren were waiting in the school hall on Monday morning, after the coach was running late.

Ms Bailey said she and a couple of friends went to the back of the hall,so she could discreetly feed her one-year-old son Kayden-Jay.

“He kept crying,” said Ms Bailey. “He was also three months early which is why I chose to breastfeed him. He kept crying so I went to sit at the back, out of the way. I knew he would need feeding.”

She said she was being discreet, and covered herself when feeding the baby.

“The headteacher kept looking over at me,” said Ms Bailey. “She came and sat next to me and she said “Can I move you to my office”.

“She was quite abrupt about it. She said “young boys are in here, they are going to start asking questions, we do not want anyone feeling uncomfortable”.

“I said “I am not moving I am feeding my baby”. She had the push chair and was trying to push it away. She said, “Well you’re going to have to take him off.” I stopped, as I felt like I had to. I felt so embarrassed. It made me feel dirty.

“A few of the parents asked if I was okay and said it was disgusting.

“The kids are in Year 6, they know what breastfeeding is for. She seemed quite embarrassed as well . But I was doing the most natural thing in the world.

“There should not be any discrimination. If a boy saw me being told off that is going to change their attitude.

“I am speaking out for breast feeding mums who have a right to feed their babies anytime, anywhere, any place, without any discrimination, whether it’s breast or bottle, a baby has a right to be fed anywhere.

“And it is for the school to get a bit more education on breastfeeding.

“If a baby needs feeding, they need feeding.”

She said the school had broken the law, as under the Equality Act 2010,a business cannot discriminate against mothers who are breastfeeding a child of any age. After conveying her experience on social media groups for breastfeeding mums, she has now taken legal advice and said she will be removing her children from the school.

However, Langney Primary School headteacher Julie Prentice said she had not behaved inappropriately.

Mrs Prentice said, “We always have and always will allow breastfeeding on the school site.

“I believe that I acted appropriately in this instance and was simply giving the option of a private room for the parent to breastfeed her child, should she find this more comfortable.”

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