London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Aug 28, 2025

Breastfeeding mum told to leave Rhyl swimming pool

Breastfeeding mum told to leave Rhyl swimming pool

A woman said she was left feeling humiliated after she was ordered from a swimming pool for breastfeeding.

Sarah Lappin was attending a parent-and-toddler swimming session at the pool in Rhyl, Denbighshire, when she began feeding five-month-old son Kalel.

But a lifeguard asked the 31-year-old to leave the pool if she wished to continue, even though it is legal to breastfeed in public.

Rhyl Leisure Centre bosses have apologised for causing offence.

Keen swimmer Ms Lappin said it was baby Kalel's first time swimming.

"Kalel started getting quite upset, it being his first time. So straightaway, being a mother, I feed him," she said.

She added she had breastfed all five of her children in the same pool and was shocked to be told to stop by the lifeguard, who told her: "It's the rules."

Ms Lappin carried on feeding Kalel as she felt "there's no such rule".

"He whistled at me again, and said I will have to leave if I carry on breastfeeding in the pool," she said.

"I kept my calm and replied that I can't stop him once he's on. Everyone was looking now."

Ms Lappin lodged a complaint with the deputy manager who, she said, told her she would speak with the lifeguard.

She said: "I felt so humiliated. I am a very proud breastfeeding mother and have been feeding for almost a decade now with five children.

"I have never come across such negative behaviour towards a mother breastfeeding her infant."

Denbighshire Leisure apologised for causing any offence


She worried some mothers could have had their confidence knocked by being spoken to in such a manner.

"There are people who think it's nudity, or that it should be done in private or at least covered with a blanket or in a breastfeeding room, hidden away," she said.

"It's wrong to think a mother has to hide to do a perfectly natural thing. It's our right as women to feed our babies where we want, as it's not just a source of food, it's their comfort and makes them feel safe."

She added: "As confident as I am feeding out and about, I did feel a bit embarrassed when everyone started looking... if that was a new mum, it could really upset her and spoil her breastfeeding journey."

She dismissed fears breastfeeding in a pool could be a health hazard.

Denbighshire Leisure, which runs Rhyl Leisure Centre, said the company supported breastfeeding.

A spokesman said: "We do not prevent any person from breastfeeding in our facilities, but on this occasion, the breastfeeding was taking place in the water.

"It is very unclear whether or not a baby should or should not be fed in the water due to conflicting views on the health risks and the heightened risk of vomiting in the pool, which would result in a pool closure."

They said they would seek advice from health professionals and make changes as required.

"We apologise for any offence this may have caused," the spokesman said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Bruce Willis Relocated Due to Advanced Dementia
French and Korean Nuclear Majors Clash As EU Launches Foreign Subsidy Probe
EU Stands Firm on Digital Rules as Trump Warns of Retaliation
Getting Ready for the 3rd Time in Its History, Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for Teenagers
Argentine President Javier Milei Evacuated After Stones Thrown During Campaign Event
Denmark Confronts U.S. Diplomat Over Covert Trump-Linked Influence in Greenland
Starmer Should Back Away from ECHR, Says Jack Straw
Trump Demands RICO Charges Against George Soros and Son for Funding Violent Protests
Taylor Swift Announces Engagement to NFL Star Travis Kelce
France May Need IMF Bailout, Warns Finance Minister
Chinese AI Chipmaker Cambricon Posts Record Profit as Beijing Pushes Pivot from Nvidia
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
Ukraine Finally Allows Young Men Aged Eighteen to Twenty-Two to Leave the Country
The Porn Remains, Privacy Disappears: How Britain Broke the Internet in Ten Days
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Welcome to The Definition of Insanity: Germany Edition
Just a reminder, this is Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris.
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
×