Fury after mum who breastfed in pub is ‘shamed’ by diner
A MAN who complained about a woman breastfeeding her newborn in a pub was yesterday branded a ‘judgmental idiot’ by furious mothers.
Sheldon Sparks asked on Facebook if it was appropriate for the 30-year-old to have two glasses of wine ‘then flop a breast out’ at a Mother’s Day lunch.
He said she should have covered herself with a blanket or moved to a more ‘acceptable’ place such as a park instead of ‘parading’ her child.
But his rant – after a visit to The Spotted Cow, a family gastropub in Bristol, on Sunday – caused fury, with more than 300 comments in an hour.
Mr Sparks, 49, 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.’
The mother, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had been drinking a lemonade spritzer, adding: ‘I 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 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 were also angered by Mr Sparks’s 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 told him to ‘mind your own business and stop feeling you have a right to pass judgment on women’, while Lorna Cahill said: ‘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 not married, refused to apologise, saying: ‘I just don’t think it should be seen in the pub.’
Deb Watts, who works at neighbouring pub The Steam Crane, said pubs in the area were family-friendly and encouraged breastfeeding.
Bristol Council operates a scheme which ensures more than 300 businesses allow breastfeeding.