Mother Asked to Stop Breastfeeding Infant at Haifa Cultural Venue

A mother of a two-month-old infant reported being asked to stop breastfeeding her son at a cultural institution in Haifa on Sunday. The mother, identified as A., stated she was sitting in a secluded area near the restrooms, using a cover, when a staff member approached and requested she cease breastfeeding, citing it was a public space. She recounted that the staff member then followed her as she searched for an alternative, private location to feed her baby. "I felt like a criminal while I just wanted to feed my son," she told N12. The situation escalated to the point where she left the venue with her baby showing signs of dehydration, unable to find a suitable place to nurse him.

According to A., she had been at the venue for a festival between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM. She initially chose a spot behind the hall's stairs, near the restrooms, which she described as relatively hidden and unoccupied. She emphasized her distress and confusion, prioritizing her baby's need for food. After being asked to stop, she attempted to find another spot within the building but felt she was being monitored by the staff member, leading her to leave the premises entirely.

In an email to the cultural institution following the incident, A. wrote that the staff member's continued surveillance while she sought another location was inappropriate. She suggested that the proper procedure would be to offer a designated nursing area or not to prohibit mothers from feeding their infants in public. She reiterated her feeling of being treated like a criminal simply for trying to provide nourishment to her child.

The cultural institution responded to the incident, calling it an "isolated and unfortunate event" involving a single staff member who had not fully understood the guidelines. They clarified that there is no policy against breastfeeding within the venue and cited an instance from the same week where another woman breastfed her infant in the same area without any interference. The institution stated that such an incident has never occurred before and is not current policy.