Oxford branch of Debenhams apologises for staff who told a new mum to stop breastfeeding in the store
Mums are allowed to breastfeeding in public by law
Debenhams has apologised to a new mum after staff ordered her to stop breastfeeding her four-week-old baby in the Oxford branch of the chain.
Mum-of-two Emily John was told by the store’s manager that she was being “inappropriate” and was asked to stop breastfeeding her.
Knowing her rights, Emily reminded the manager that mums are legally allowed to breastfeeding in public. Sherefused to move until her baby had finished. When Emily threatened to make a written complaint, the manager was joined by a second member of staff who backed up requests for her to stop breastfeeding.
Emily has since set up a Facebook group and is attempting to organise a flash mob-style “nurse in” at the store.
But Debenhams have been quick to respond to Emily’s complaint.
“We are very proud of the fact that we are supportive of breastfeeding mums in Debenhams,” it said in a statement. “It appears that with this isolated incident the staff in our Oxford store got our policy wrong.”
The statement added that the store has contacted and apologised to Emily and her family and is “immediately reminding and reinforcing out breastfeeding stance with staff.”
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