'Humiliated' mum ordered out of swimming pool for breastfeeding baby

A mum was left ‘humiliated’ after she was ordered out of a swimming pool for breastfeeding her five-month-old baby.

Sarah Lappin, 31, had just finished a parent and toddler swimming session when she started feeding son Kalel at the side of the pool. Just moments later, a lifeguard asked her to leave the pool if she wanted to continue - despite it being legal to breastfeed in public places.

Furious mum-of-five Sarah has now won an apology from bosses at the swimming pool in Rhyl, North Wales, who have since promised to review their training. Keen swimmer Sarah has breastfed all of her children in the same pool at Rhyl Leisure Centre and was shocked to be told to stop as she sat on the pool edge.

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Sarah said: “I’m stood up so my baby is away from water, of course, and I'm soothing him as he was upset, and it’s the way I know best to stop him crying and make him feel safe. But I was told to stop by the lifeguard. He said: ‘It’s the rules’.

“I carried on feeding my baby as I know there's no such rule, and have done it with five children now for nearly a decade in that same pool. Moments after, he whistled at me again, and said I will have to leave if I carry on breastfeeding in the pool.

“I kept my calm and replied that I can't stop him once he’s on. Everyone was looking now. I did complain to the deputy manager. She did say she didn't see a problem and she would pull the young lifeguard about it and was very kind to me. I know there’s no such rule. I felt so humiliated.”

Sarah said she felt the ‘negative’ reaction was part of the judgement that many mums face when breastfeeding in public. She explained: “I am a very