Mum told to stop breastfeeding in shoe shop

Venus Neda said she felt ashamed after the shop's owner told her to stop breastfeeding her two-year-old.

A mum has said she was left shocked after being told it was "unacceptable" to breastfeed her two-year-old daughter in a shoe shop.

Venus Neda was shopping with her family in Poole on Tuesday when she said her daughter became "hungry and unsettled" in Valentina Beautiful Shoes.

The 34-year-old said she found a spot that she felt "wasn't so in people's faces" but was asked to stop breastfeeding.

The shop apologised in a post on Facebook, adding that they wanted "everyone, including breastfeeding parents, to feel welcome and respected here".

Ms Neda said she left the shop feeling ashamed and embarrassed.

She said: "The shop owner came up to me, looked at me in disgust and said: 'I'm sorry this is unacceptable, can you not feed your baby in my shop, at least ask for permission'.

"I was really shocked because I've also got an eight-year-old son who I have breastfed as well and never heard anything like this."

She said her family left the shop and went to a coffee shop round the corner.

"I didn't understand how this could happen in 2025," Ms Neda said.

"Anyway I was covered up, and there were shelves covering the public, so it wasn't in anyone's face."

In a commented on a Facebook post that Venus shared in a local community group, the shop's account said: "Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

"I'm very sorry to hear that your visit left you feeling upset and uncomfortable - that is never how I want anyone to feel in my shop.

"I understand how important it is for parents to be able to feed their babies whenever they need to, and I appreciate you explaining how the situation felt from your perspective.

"I can see that the way the conversation came across caused distress, and for that I sincerely apologise."