Banned from breastfeeding at hotel

[Newbie_hk]

Thank you everyone. I'm loving this whole Name & Shame business! I talked to LLL and the woman over the phone was surprised.

So write this down people: The hotel is Park Lane right above Ikea in Causeway Bay.

They will be feeling the wrath of a woman scorned!

 

[Frenchy]

I'm very surprised to read about this place, as I've been there many times, while breastfeeding... and even meeting there with some other bf mums ! It might be just one employee problem, but it's worth letting them know about it. I'm quite sure they have no problem with BF mums there. If you contact them I'd be interested to know what their answer is....

 

[thanka2]

Let 'em know and you can sign my name to that letter too. Total BS and that employee should be reprimanded as well. I will never go to that place--or any other that is not BF friendly. They need to evolve a bit.

And my reaction would have been at least as strong as yours. I just don't tolerate that sort of thing anymore now that I've been in HK awhile. My view is that they "work for me", not the other way around--as long as I'm the paying customer.

 

[ozmerc]

Good on you for standing up for yourself and doing what you know is right rather than slinking away in shame. I had a similar thing happen on government property no less (a museum) and I just ignored the security guard who was trying to shoo me away and eventually told her on no uncertain terms not to disturb my baby and I. She eventually backed down and left me alone.

If you fail to get a satisfactory response from hotel management, maybe organise a peaceful nurse-in?

 

[Gracey]

It could just be a young / inexperienced / ignorant staff person. It's worth it to find out if the hotel actually has a policy, or if it's just a fluke. Writing a letter to them will force them to bring up the issue.

Ozmerc -- Once I got in trouble at a government museum for taking notes in a notepad! So, yes, sometimes these mini-crackdowns are just random.

 

[Lali07]

Yeah lets organise a 'nurse-in' I'll be there for sure and can round up a few more BF mamas too! That'll show em (or just get us in a lot of trouble hehe).

Seriously though, this does make me really really sad. What has happened to the world? Why is it ok to show breasts in a sexual nature (TV, magazines, beaches etc.) but not for their natural purpose of nurturing a baby?

I would be so angry if this happened to my baby and I. He isn't really interested in solids yet so BM is his only food source. I'm not going to deprive my baby so my only option would be to leave

 

[Frenchy]

I don't bf anymore, but have been many times, in many places, and have never been told to leave, but if I had, I can tell you I would raise my voice loud enough to make the situation very embarrassing and would ask for the manager, but I would not leave !

 

[jvn]

I agree that it's worth finding out if this is an inexperienced member of staff or a hotel policy before going any further, you can email the hotel with a link to this thread to find out. If they don't know then they can't correct it. However, if it's a hotel policy then it's a whole 'nother issue...

 

[Koan]

Make a formal complaint to the hotel management. Personally I'd leave the word "discrete" out of it as it's culturally dependent, and focus on the rude staff member and how ridiculous the whole situation was.

 

[miran]

Completely agree with Name-and Shame suggestion here. I have exclusively bf for 11 months. And have bf everywhere in HK - restaurants, coffee houses, taxi, beach, malls. Even at "non-expat" places like coffee shop at Tung Chung mall. Have never been stopped or pointed at or anything.

The situation is totally appalling. I dont bf anymore but would definitely join any nurse-in gathering being planned.