Celebrating World Breastfeeding in Public Day 2026

World Breastfeeding in Public Day is celebrated annually on 22nd February to support women and birthing people to have the confidence to breastfeed in public places. NHS England reminds us that breastfeeding in public can mean breastfeeding in front of a relative or friend in one's own home, as well as out and about in public, including spaces such as cafes or shops. UK law protects breastfeeding in public via the 2010 Equality Act and the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2025. To find out more, Maternity Action provides helpful information to empower breastfeeding in public.

Research by Dr Aimee Grant has found that members of the public can sometimes make it challenging to breastfeed in public. To find out more about breastfeeding in public, perhaps dispel some myths and think about how we can all support and empower breastfeeding in public, please check out this engaging blog by Dr Aimee Grant and Prof Amy Brown What should you do if you see a baby eating in public? The Breastfeeding Network provides supportive resources for breastfeeding and expressing in public too. For an impactful reflection on breastfeeding in public (and why it's not OK to expect babies to be fed in toilets) why not watch poet Hollie McNish's powerful call to action in her performed poem 'Embarrassed' (contains strong language).

We'd like to thank staff and students for their contributions below to celebrate World Breastfeeding in Public Day 2026.

'I have breastfed all 5 of my children to different ages. From a tiny 3 month old to a nearly 4 year old. If there’s one thing I can confidently say, it’s this: breastfeeding is not easy… but it is absolutely one of my proudest achievements.

Let’s be honest — no one really prepares you for the reality of it. The mastitis (how many times? I’ve genuinely lost count). The biting. The pulling. The engorgement that makes you question all your life choices. The cluster feeding. The moments where you Google “is this normal?” at 2am for the hundredth time.

But then… there are other moments.

The quiet bubble where the world fades away and it’s just you and your baby. The way their little hand rests on you. The soft sigh when they drift off to sleep. Feeding in the middle of the woods on a family walk. On a sandy beach with salty air and rosy cheeks. On a park bench while the world rushes past. Those moments? Pure magic.

Breastfeeding has looked different with each of my children. Different challenges. Different personalities. Different journeys. And what I’ve learned most along the way is this: knowledge is power, and support is everything.

Finding the right support can completely change your experience. Midwives, lactation consultants, local breastfeeding groups, chatting with other mums who get it — it makes such a difference. Finding your people, your community (groups like Treasure Chest are amazing), can turn those “I can’t do this” days into “actually… I’ve got this.”

Yes, I could list all the benefits of breastfeeding — we all know there are plenty — but the real magic for me has always been the connection. The comfort. The way it fixes almost everything. Poorly toddler? Boob. Rough day? Boob. Gunky eye in the house? Yep… still boob. It’s basically a superpower.

Breastfeeding isn’t always smooth sailing. Sometimes it’s really hard. Sometimes it’s emotional. Sometimes it hurts. But it can also be beautiful, empowering, grounding and deeply bonding.

So to anyone breastfeeding right now, wanting to breastfeed, combi-feeding, pumping, figuring it out, you are amazing. It isn’t easy. And if you’re in the thick of it, wondering if it’s worth it, I see you.

The challenges are real. But for me? The reward has been unmatched.

Kylie Evans (Tired Mum of 5 & midwifery student)

"I felt honoured and privileged to breastfeed both my sons. My firstborn was born at 33 weeks and could not go more than 2 hours without feeding. I certainly wasn't going to stay at home to accommodate this when there were so many experiences outside to enjoy! I felt nervous initially as we were both learning, and I felt vulnerable trying to get the latch right in public. At first, I would cover my sons head with a muslin but eventually thought 'why am I doing this?!' I embraced the discomfort and eventually gained confidence. Before I knew it, I was a pro! It is such a normal and natural thing and was such a special part of raising my sons."

Amy, Student Midwife

'When I was pregnant with my first baby, I didn’t have strong feelings about breastfeeding. I remember telling my midwife that I’d like to try, but if it didn’t work, I wouldn’t be too bothered. How wrong I was.

Those early days were tough. We faced a late tongue‑tie diagnosis, pain, bleeding, and a lot of distress. But something in me shifted. I became fiercely determined to continue, and that determination carried me through some very long nights. With support from the wonderful Treasure Chest team, our journey continued until my daughter naturally weaned at 15 months, partway through my second pregnancy.

At first, the idea of feeding in public made me incredibly anxious. At the same time, staying indoors with a baby who couldn’t be put down wasn’t sustainable. A sling became my lifeline. I started feeding outside in quiet spots, hidden under a muslin while I worked on latch and positioning—something that took time with a tongue‑tie baby.

I was fortunate not to encounter negativity, or if I did, I didn’t notice it. I’d read so many stories of mums being challenged for feeding in public, and that only strengthened my resolve. I wasn’t going to let anyone stop me from meeting my baby’s needs.

I went on to breastfeed four more babies, including twins—which brought a whole new dimension to feeding in public. All four had food allergies (milk, egg, and soya), which added extra challenges. My twins eventually moved to prescription formula because I couldn’t manage a full elimination diet while caring for two newborns and a 20‑month‑old. We exclusively breastfed for 15 weeks, and although I still feel some guilt about that, I now recognise how much we achieved.

My fourth and fifth babies were exclusively breastfed. That familiar determination returned as I cut out dairy, eggs, and later soya to keep our journeys going. Both boys weaned themselves at 26 months and 15 months.

Over the years, I’ve breastfed in just about every setting imaginable—parks, cafés, shopping centres, a school nativity play, even my grandad’s funeral. I’ve only ever experienced positivity, and I’m incredibly grateful for that. I suspect that if I had faced negativity, my determination would only have grown stronger.

Feeding in public meant I could meet my babies’ needs wherever we were. It supported my postnatal mental wellbeing because I could care for my baby responsively while still staying connected to the world around me. There were challenges, and moments where the responsibility felt heavy, but with the support of my amazing family and friends, we navigated it together.

Positive public breastfeeding experiences build confidence and help families reach their natural feeding goals. If you’re just starting out, or feeling unsure, I’d encourage you to get out there, trust your instincts, and feed your baby wherever you need to.'

Becky

Midwifery student Claire reflects on taking part in the breastfeeding nurse-in in York :

'Unsurprisingly I don't think anyone really noticed us all - proud to live in breastfeeding friendly York :)'

'It was all the way back in 2014. You can just about make me out at the top of the photo with my son in his rainbow trousers. When I looked back on it, the nurse-in event was held in response to a woman in another city being called a “tramp” for feeding her child in public. It was more in solidarity for her that I attended because I only had good experiences with feeding all five of my children, which is quite remarkable really I think.'

If you have enjoyed viewing our contributions and want to see more, check out a national collection of stories from 2025 and photos from 2024, courtesy of the Breastfeeding Network.

If you would like to contribute to our departmental celebration of breastfeeding in public with your story and/or photo, please do get in touch as we would love to hear from you - email: helen.bedford@york.ac.uk