UK Views toward Breastfeeding in Public An Analysis of the Public’s Response to the Claridge’s Incident

Background:The embarrassment that UK mothers experience when breastfeeding in public has often been cited as a key factor in the decision of the mother to discontinue breastfeeding. There is convincing evidence that many UK residents are not comfortable with women breastfeeding in public; however, little is known about the underlying reasons for this discomfort.Objective:This study aimed to assess views on breastfeeding in public in the United Kingdom and to understand why some UK residents object to this practice.Methods:The comments sections of news media websites and parenting forums were systematically identified and reviewed for statements made in response to an incident widely reported in the British press: a woman was asked to cover up while breastfeeding in public at Claridge’s, a London luxury hotel. Of these, 805 comments (73 108 words) met the inclusion criteria and were thematically analyzed.Results:The majority of commenters were supportive of “discreet” breastfeeding in public, but a signifi...