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Mum slams a lifeguard after being asked to leave a public pool while breastfeeding her 10-month-old baby.

The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, was nursing her child at the edge of the pool while supervising her three-year-old son, who was swimming in front of her.

‘The lifeguard, a young female, asked me to leave because they don’t want milk getting in the pool and because my 10-month-old son might vomit in the pool,’ she told Yahoo 7 News.

The mother was also told that food and drinks were not allowed in the pool and that getting milk in the water would be a hygiene risk.

The mother explained that it was the centre’s policy for her to supervise her three-year-old boy while he was swimming the water.

Her solution was to nurse her baby by the edge of the pool while supervising her son at the Lakeside Leisure Centre in Raymond Terrace, two hours north of Sydney.

‘I asked to see the pool’s policy on this and she informed me there is no policy about breastfeeding but that they don’t allow food and drink in the pool and if my kid vomits in the pool then everyone has to get out,’ she said.

‘I told her that I can’t stop the milk coming out when I have a let down, and that asking me to leave the pool because I’m breastfeeding is illegal.’

The woman added that it was the second time she was asked to leave the centre while breastfeeding.

She said the lifeguard’s reasons were ‘pathetic’ and showed ‘ignorance’ on the matter.

Not everyone supported the mums reaction

She complained about the matter on a Newcastle Mums Facebook group, but received mixed reactions.

‘There is a time and place for everything and feeding in the pool is not okay,’ wrote one man.

‘As much as I support breast feeding in public, we don’t eat food while we are in the pool,’ added another.

‘Leaving aside the issue of breastfeeding in the pool, how can she possibly supervise her 3 year old, especially if the child got into difficulty, while having a baby attached to her breast?’ pointed out a third.

Lake Leisure Centre management confirmed they were investigating the complaint.

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  • I would want ask a few questions here before making up my mind who to support.
    Was the Mum asked not to feed in the pool or was she asked not to feed the child in the facility at all? If they were simply saying ‘not in the pool’ then I agree. Often us Mums use the excuse that we dont want to feed our kids in a public toilet because others are not expected to eat their lunch there, and we use other arguements like that such as how when we are at a cafe where everyone else is eating it should be ok for us to feed our babies. NO ONE is allowed to have food or drink in the pool and that includes your baby. You remove your older child from the water and he can sit and have a drink or something to eat while you feed the bub and then you can all go back into the pool.

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  • How can she supervise her 3 year old in the pool and breastfeed at the same time?

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  • At that age I thought you had to be an arms reach from your child. I am actually embarrassed to be part of this generation. People seem to only think their opinions and needs matter. Being told “No” or being disciplined for something that I hope most would think is common sense is grounds for people to cry that they are being treated poorly

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  • Cannot see that she is adequately supervising her three year old if she is breast feeding – if the 3 yo got into trouble she has little time to unlatch the baby to help the other son.

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  • So long as she wasn’t in the water while feeding it shouldn’t be an issue otherwise it’s a safety risk as well as hygiene.

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  • She should be allowed to breastfeed however it would be wise to do it out of the water.

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  • My first thought was that breastfeeding her bub would be a distraction whilst supervising her 3 year old. I understand the rules that she must supervise her child, so I think she needs to do one or the other. If feeding is the priority (probably), her 3 year old would need to be out of the pool.

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  • I would breastfeed away from the water in case I drop my baby.
    And get my toddler out of the pool for a little bit.
    10 month old babies are quick feeders by this stage so it shouldn’t take too long, maybe 10 mins.

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  • How simple would it be for her to get out of the pool, give her toddler a snack too whilst breastfeeding. She just sounds like a complainer. I think it’s fair enough.


    • It would seem safer and sensible to me to feed away from the pool.

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  • She wasn’t told to leave, just to simply nurse her child out of the pool. She is obviously a brat who thinks she can do as she pleases and her treatment towards the lifeguards that day was nothing short of disgusting. Her lack of common decency is disturbing considering she is raising 2 small children.

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  • I would feed with both children out of/away from the pool. Both feeding and supervision need full attention. Pool time once feeding is finished.

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  • I’m all for breastfeeding, but I agree with the lifeguard, I don’t think she should feed IN the water. She could ask her 3yr old to come for a moment out of the water while the baby is nursing and when baby is finished, the brother could go in the water again.
    As for the chance of vomiting; everybody can get sick and suddenly start vomiting or get diarrhea, not just babies.

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  • Clearly the mother has over reacted not actually listening to the life guard it cost people money to go to the pool and people don’t want to be asked to get out of the water because it has been contaminated I’m sure she wouldn’t like it usually if you time it right do a top up or work around feeding times then go to the pool surely with a 3 year old you wouldn’t be there any longer than 2 hours
    Over reaction by the mother the poor life guard

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  • She wasn’t asked to leave the complex just the water. The poor life guard was probably just trying to prevent an incident.

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  • I feel for the mum,she must have felt very uncomfortable told to leave!

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