Mum told to remove bottle from son's mouth in local boutique

A mum in Australia was left outraged earlier this week when she was asked to remove her baby’s bottle from his mouth over a store’s ‘no food or drink policy’.

The mother, who has only been identified as Alissa, took to Facebook to criticise a local boutique for the move, which has been widely condemned on social media.

Posting a photo of her baby inside his buggy on her page, Alissa wrote: “I went to [name of store] Banbury today and got asked to take the bottle out of my son’s mouth as they have a no food/ drink policy. He was in the pram as [in] the picture below – with the hood all the way over. I’m shaking with anger over this…He’s just a baby!!”

Speaking after the incident, Alissa told the Banbury Mail: “I was shaking with rage that someone could have the power to request that I either remove the bottle from my son’s mouth or leave the store altogether.

“It is first and foremost a mother’s instinct to protect their child – in this instance removing the bottle would have caused him great distress and possibly result in a crying tantrum,” she added.

Despite parents in the area voicing their support for Alissa, the boutique owner responsible has declined to comment beyond reiterating the store’s strict policy.