Skip to content

WE ARE PROUDLY B CORP - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

Cart

Your cart is empty

Article: 'Breastfeed Here with Confidence' at 34 Dobbies Centres across UK

'Breastfeed Here with Confidence' at 34 Dobbies Centres across UK

'Breastfeed Here with Confidence' at 34 Dobbies Centres across UK

UK’s leading garden centre becomes first nationwide supporter of ‘Breastfeed Here with Confidence’ scheme, launching in National Breastfeeding Week

Dobbies Breastfeed with Confidence

Dobbies Garden Centres is delighted to announce its support of the ‘Breastfeed Here with Confidence’ scheme across its 34 garden centres, championing mums to breastfeed little ones with confidence.

Launching on the first day of National Breastfeeding Week (20th - 26th June), Dobbies invited local mums to a complimentary coffee morning at its flagship garden centre in Edinburgh to celebrate. As the first national retailer and garden centre to display the badge, it will be a permanent fixture in all 34 centres throughout the UK.

Free coffee for Mums!

Already firmly established as a family friendly destination, Dobbies welcomed the new arrival. Nick Anderson, Retail Director at Dobbies Garden Centres, said:

“We always do our upmost to ensure our cafes and venues are as welcoming as possible for everyone and continue to listen to what our customers and local communities are saying. Time and time again we are happy to hear that the Dobbies café and restaurant is a regular meeting spot for mums.

“Our all day opening hours, free parking and easy access for buggies make it a firm favourite with parents for morning coffee through to teatime. The ‘Breastfeed Here with Confidence’ badge is a welcome addition to our centres and makes perfect sense to highlight Dobbies as a space for mums to feel at ease whilst breastfeeding.”

Mum at Dobbies

Breastfeed here with confidence badgeThe Bshirt ‘Breastfeed Here with Confidence’ badge has been commended by leading breastfeeding specialist, trained nurse and midwife, Clare Byam-Cook. Author of the top breastfeeding guide 'What to Expect When You're Breastfeeding and What If You Can't?', Clare is a regular main speaker at The Baby Show and an expert on many sites including Annabel Karmel. Commenting ahead of the official launch, Clare said:

“It is well-documented that many mothers feel apprehensive about breastfeeding in public. I am delighted to support this initiative, which I hope will encourage more mothers to feel confident that, whenever they see this badge they can be assured that breastfeeding is encouraged and they will receive a warm welcome. I hope this idea takes off and that many businesses will display this badge.”

 

The breastfeeding badge scheme has been created by mumpreneurs and co-founders of award-winning breastfeeding brand and social venture, The Bshirt. Initially launched in Devon in March 2018, the scheme was given an immediate green light from many local establishments.

Working mums Lisa Lessware and Philippa Doyle are making it their mission to improve breastfeeding rates in the UK, which according to a recent UNICEF report has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the World. Both the NHS and UNICEF list embarrassment at feeding in public as a major barrier to breastfeeding and Lisa and Philippa wanted to do more to minimise this, helping mums be safe in the knowledge that they can do so with confidence.

Thrilled that the badge has been launched nationally through Dobbies, they commented: “As mums with many years of breastfeeding experience between us, we are passionate about normalising breastfeeding. The nationwide launch of our ‘Breastfeed Here with Confidence’ badge through Dobbies is a huge step to helping mums feel welcomed and supported when breastfeeding in public. The badge scheme is important not just for mums – it's for everyone who walks through the door of the venue - so that everyone knows it is a breastfeeding friendly space. The more women who feel able to breastfeed confidently in public, the more normal it will become.”

Mums love the badge

Local mum and blogger Emma Chicarella recently welcomed her first baby in March. Attending the launch on the 20th with fellow mums, she said: "I think it's great about the 'Breastfeed here with Confidence' badge, you totally don’t take these situations into consideration until it’s you looking for a friendly spot to feed without feeling like the whole room is looking at you, go Dobbies!"

Dobbies proudly celebrates its family friendly credentials, with a spacious restaurant and cafes offering something for all ages. Recently launching soft play areas in several stores and hosting kid’s parties, the Dobbies Little Seedlings Club, the garden centre’s popular free to attend gardening club, sees more than 13,000 visitors each year. To find your local centre, visit Dobbies.com.

Read more about the Bshirt’s ‘Breastfeed Here with Confidence’ scheme, register interest or nominate a venue to display the badge, visit www.thebshirt.co.uk/badge.

Thank you very much to Monkey Music, who provided an amazing, fun and invigorating music session on the day. 

#NationalBreastfeedingWeek @dobbiesgardencentres

Read more

How to make Breastfeeding more comfortable

How to make Breastfeeding more comfortable

We have teamed up with midwife Jane from the Natural Birthing Company, who has put together top advice for breastfeeding comfortably in the blog post below.  Breastfeeding can be beautiful and eas...

Read more
Female First Features Bshirt in "Top Summer Tips for New Mums"

Female First Features Bshirt in "Top Summer Tips for New Mums"

Top summer tips for new mums Co-founders of the Bshirt Lisa and Philippa have put together their essential summer tips to help make this season a breeze for mum and baby. World Breastfeedin...

Read more