Facebook fury over diner’s rant at mum who breastfed in pub
A MAN who complained about a woman breastfeeding her newborn baby in a pub was yesterday branded a ‘judgmental idiot’ by outraged mothers.
Sheldon Sparks, 49, asked on Facebook if it was appropriate for the 30-year- old to have two glasses of wine and ‘then flop a breast out’ at a Mother’s Day lunch.
He said she should have covered herself with a blanket or taken her baby to a more ‘acceptable’ place such as a park instead of ‘parading’ her child in the pub.
But his rant – after a visit to the Spotted Cow, a family gastropub in Bristol, on Sunday – caused fury online, prompting more than 300 comments in an hour. Mr Sparks wrote on a Facebook page for local residents: ‘When is it acceptable to take a five-week-old baby to one of the busiest pubs... then have two large glasses of wine... and then think it is appropriate to flop a breast out in the middle of a very busy pub and feed it.
‘Unfortunately I really don’t think it would be much milk ... more like 14 per cent Pinot Grigio.’
Yesterday the mother, who asked to remain anonymous, insisted she was only drinking a lemonade spritzer, adding: ‘I just can’t believe in this day and age breastfeeding is still a big problem ... It’s a natural thing. It was my first Mother’s Day and I haven’t been able to drink for nine months so we just wanted to enjoy the day. All the people in the area are families with babies. Maybe he should move and live in the middle of nowhere by himself.’
The retail manager added: ‘It’s ridiculous to say I can’t go to a pub. You should still be able to have a laugh if you have a baby.’ Dozens of mothers on the Facebook page were also angered by Mr Sparks’ post, which has now been deleted.
Kimberley Sarah said: ‘Who are you to determine what is acceptable? I’m assuming you’re not a parent? Judgmental idiot who clearly needs to get a life.’
Lauren Tobia wrote: ‘ Mind your own business and stop feeling you have a right to pass judgment on women.’
Lorna Cahill told other new mothers: ‘Please don’t ever feel embarrassed to feed your babies in public. The early days of motherhood are scary and many women assume they’ll receive a negative reaction for breastfeeding in public.’
Mr Sparks, who is unmarried, yesterday refused to apologise, saying: ‘I just don’t think it should be seen in the pub. People used to cover themselves with a blanket.’
Deb Watts, who works at The Steam Crane, a neighbouring pub, said pubs in the area are family-friendly and encourage breastfeeding. Bristol Council runs a scheme which ensures more than 300 businesses allow breastfeeding on their sites.
Britain has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. A study last week suggested nearly two-thirds of mothers were worried about breastfeeding in front of strangers. Less than half still give their babies breast milk at two months.
Breast milk contains antibodies passed on from the mother that boost a baby’s immune system.
‘No right to pass judgment on women’