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Breastfeeding mothers have criticised a hospital for placing posters in its neonatal unit that urged parents to look at their babies while feeding as opposed to their phones.
The posters, in place at Yeovil District Hospital, read: “Mummy & Daddy... Please look at ME when I am feeding, I am much more interesting than your phone!! Thank you xxxxxx”.
The poster showed a photo of a smartphone circled with a red line and a line struck through on one side, and a baby on the other side.
A photograph of the poster was shared on Twitter by the father of a newborn baby, Ash Cottrell, who tweeted : “I’m on SCBU with my five-day-old. This poster makes me sad...”
The hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit is dedicated to supporting infants who need an extra level of care, like those who have been born prematurely.
Show all 50 1 /5050 Best Family Days Out 50 Best Family Days Out The Forbidden Corner, North Yorkshire An extraordinary concept; the Forbidden Corner has something of the surreal about it. It started as a folly - part of private property in the Yorkshire Dales - and it is a now a sprawling four-acre wonderland garden of curiosities, including underground worlds, tunnels and gateways. It’s odd, quirky and fun, perfect for anyone with an inquiring mind and a thirst for adventure. There’s a lovely picnic area, too.
The Forbidden Corner
50 Best Family Days Out Chatsworth, Derbyshire One of the most beautiful houses in the country, Chatsworth is a brilliant place for families to spend the day. While the house itself is definitely worth a good look, it’s the outdoor areas which are best for kids. The giant rockery is a total hit, as is the yew maze. You must visit the farmyard – aside from the milking demonstrations, Seamus the donkey and Custard the Guinea pig are both most welcoming.
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50 Best Family Days Out Dreamland, Margate This fairground on the seafront in Margate features vintage rides and really conjures up the spirit of summer from yesteryear. Whether you’re a fan of the waltzers or a sucker for a big wheel, there is much to keep everyone entertained. Expect to let your kids gorge on candyfloss and fish and chips, but adults will be pleased to tuck into a cocktail or two. There’s even a family-friendly retro roller disco. If the weather is inclement, head directly to the Octopus’s Garden, an indoor play area for children under eight-years-old, featuring sandpits and climbing frames.
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50 Best Family Days Out National Botanic Garden of Wales, Camarthen While the flowers and plants found here are impressive – there are themed gardens including the Apothecary’s Garden and the Great Glasshouse there is more to this beautiful space set in a Regency landscape in Carmarthenshire than just flora. There is bee-keeping, birds of prey displays and an adventure playground for youngsters, but there must be a special shout out for the Fairy Wood in which you’ll find a toadstool village – and the remnants of a fairy tea party.
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50 Best Family Days Out Horniman Museum and Gardens, London There are some 350,000 objects and artefacts at this museum in South London’s Forest Hill. The gardens offer unusual treasures such as a collection of sundials, a Dutch barn and a lovely old Victorian conservatory. The butterfly house is a must-see given there are hundreds of them living in this gorgeous tropical garden. The natural history gallery is, we think, the jewel in the crown here. It’s packed with skeletons and taxidermy – most notably the walrus who sits in the centre of the space to thrill parents and children alike. Oh, and if you go on a Saturday morning, you’ll have the bonus of being able to browse the farmer’s market.
Horniman Museum and Gardens
50 Best Family Days Out Puffin Spotting on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire Skomer Island lies off the coast of Pembrokeshire and is full of wildlife – most notably puffins. Bring your camera or binoculars and take in the beauty of these wonderful creatures in their natural habitat. The best time of year to spot them are the summer months of May, June and July, but you’ll need to book your boat ride in advance to avoid disappointment – only 250 people can land on the island each day.
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50 Best Family Days Out Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland Originally built as a border to protect the Roman Empire’s north frontier, Hadrian’s Wall stretches 73 miles from coast to coast with much to see and do at various points along the way including Roman forts such as Housestead’s which gives visitors a visceral peek into history. We particularly recommend visiting the bathhouse at Chester’s Roman Fort – this was essentially a spa for exhausted soldiers. Children will gleefully relish considering the lavatory systems of the Romans, which were very sophisticated.
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50 Best Family Days Out Holkham Hall, Norfolk This sprawling country estate in Norfolk has much to recommend it. The Fallow Deer safaris are particular thrill, as visitors are able to get close to the creatures who roam Holkham’s parkland. Children will want to explore the treehouse in the sky, accessed by high walkways and rope ladders but the bespoke scaled model of a combine harvester will win the day in terms of interest given that it boasts a slide, tunnels and a driving seat.
Holkham Estate
50 Best Family Days Out Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim Consisting of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, all hexagonal, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption, Giant’s Causeway is a world heritage site in County Antrim. While the science and geology behind the causeway can be explored by any visitor, children will be fascinated by the legend of Finn McCool, the giant whose wrath is behind the site! One of the most popular parts of any visit to the causeway is surely the Wishing Chair, a naturally evolved throne, so frequently sat on it has become exceedingly comfortable!
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50 Best Family Days Out Warner Bros Studio Tour, Watford You don’t even need to be a Hogwarts nut to enjoy visiting the studios where most of the Harry Potter movies were made. It’s fascinating to explore different sets, learn how the special effects team work and see a detailed model of Hogwarts Castle – painstakingly built for the first film. The latter deserves special mention, not least because if the man hours put into creating this were totted up it would come to 74 years!
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50 Best Family Days Out The Falls of Clyde, New Lanark Beautiful and dramatic, these falls are famous for their beauty. On your ascent, you’ll be taking in a series of stunning waterfalls from the winding pathway, while your descent is through gorgeous woodland and pasture. The wildlife is pretty special. Look out for badgers, otters and bats. Bird watching is pretty epic here, too; over 100 species have been spotted.
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50 Best Family Days Out Beamish Museum, County Durham At Beamish, visitors literally step back in time, arriving in the past. The 300-acre space contains villages, towns, farms, collieries and buildings from different historical eras all of which detail life in north east England. There are also ‘residents’ in full get-up from shop assistants to school teachers or miners. We have to give a special nod to the 1940s farm where a truly enormous pig is more than happy to say hello to adoring fans. You can walk around Beamish or hop on the tram which dates back to 1913.
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50 Best Family Days Out Museum of London, London Dedicated to all things London – there is something to delight everyone here. There are a range of permanent exhibitions covering various eras including Roman London and the Great Fire – as well as collections of more modern items from recent history including a wealth of toys. Beasts of London, an exhibition dedicated to telling the story of the relationship between animals and the UK’s capital city throughout history, has recently opened and will run until 2020. Expect to be wowed – especially given that the exhibition features talking animals.
Mark Allan
50 Best Family Days Out Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield This open-air gallery dedicated to sculpture is a truly special place. Pieces by the likes of Henry Moore and Anthony Gormley are found all over YSP. Inside there are galleries with changing exhibitions. You can also get some lovely cake in the café! This is a rare gem of something grownup, highbrow and cultured that small children will absolutely love. Best of all, it’s free, save for parking.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
50 Best Family Days Out Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Warwickshire This quaint little thatched cottage was home to Shakespeare’s wife. Adults with a passion for the bard and history are in for a treat, meanwhile little ones can roam the beautifully-kept gardens. Prepare to be charmed by The Love Settle, an outdoor lounger by artist-in-residence Lee Lapthorn which is found in the garden and is made of wood and fabric covered in tattoos similar to those found on sailors in Shakespeare’s era. It’s a beautiful, unique piece that will capture the curiosity of young and old minds.
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50 Best Family Days Out Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Dominating Scotland’s capital is Edinburgh Castle, an impossibly grand structure steeped in history. Children will be thrilled to discover that they are in the same place once visited by famous kings, queens and the occasional pirate. If you can, aim to be at the castle in time for the one o’clock gun which, as the name suggests is fired at 1pm every day (with the exception of Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day), a tradition which has been alive since 1861 and is a triumph where youngsters are concerned.
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50 Best Family Days Out Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, Edinburgh Dedicated to the wonder of imagery, this brilliant museum in Edinburgh is the perfect rainy day destination. The camera obscura is a pinhole camera – a Victorian invention of great wonder. Visitors will be able to enter the viewing chamber here where a metal tube, a hole in the roof, a tiny window and a mirror will join forces to project a shot of Edinburgh onto a table. There are a whole host of other illusory treats on offer – 100 to be precise. A highlight is surely the chance to ‘swap’ your nose with someone else…
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50 Best Family Days Out Monkey Forest, Trentham As the name suggests, this pocket of woodland is home to some 140 free-ranging monkeys. Visitors can walk the pathway through the forest observing Barbary macaques live as they would in the wild. As well as the cheeky monkeys, there are plenty of guides dotted throughout the forest, all of whom have a wealth of knowledge that they’re happy to share.
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50 Best Family Days Out Cadbury World, Birmingham A real-life chocolate factory? Who could resist? You’ll know you’re near to Cadbury World before you’ve even seen the place – the atmosphere is heady with the smell of molten chocolate. Inside, you’ll be transported back some 1,000 years to Mexico where Mayan Indians treated cocoa beans with great reverence – not only enjoying them as a drink but also as currency. You can learn traditional chocolate making techniques as a family – and of course treat yourself liberally!
Cadbury World
50 Best Family Days Out Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire Longleat, a magnificent Elizabethan stately home, gardens and estate, is also where a selection of lions, elephants and other animals dwell; it was the first safari park in the world outside of Africa in 1966. You can either drive your own car (beware the windscreen-wiper obsessed monkeys) or book a VIP safari truck which is driven by a ranger who will not only give you the expert low down on the animals but accompany you off the beaten track, allowing you to get even closer. The whole family will be delighted.
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50 Best Family Days Out River Cottage Cookery Course, Devon and Dorset border Where better to introduce your kids to the joy of cooking than the original River Cottage, on the border which divides Devon and Dorset? Children can enrol in a cookery course here where they’ll jump right in and learn to prepare a menu of foods. Once the fledgling chefs have finished, families will enjoy a meal together.
River Cottage
50 Best Family Days Out Highland Wildlife Park, Highland Home to over 200 animals including arctic foxes, red pandas and amur tigers, this park in the west of the Cairngorms National Park is a real treat for animal lovers. Be sure to check out the timetable of talks before you arrive as you won’t want to miss the opportunity to join in the scattering of food for the snow monkeys or watch polar bears having a bite to eat from a special viewing platform.
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50 Best Family Days Out Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey This was the last of King Edward I’s 13th century building programme in North Wales; he built many fortresses and castles in a bid to demonstrate his status and power. Beaumaris Castle on Anglesey is a ‘walls within walls’ structure, a clever and technically excellent design that can be admired and explored fully today. There are no fewer than 14 obstacles that a potential attacker would have had to overcome in order to access the castle, including a wide and murky moat. A real imagination enhancing place.
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50 Best Family Days Out Carrowmena Activity Centre, Kincraig Families passionate about the great outdoors will be in heaven at Carrowmena Activity Centre. From classic pursuits like canoeing or archery to more niche pastimes such as crate stacking and raft building, we defy anyone to not engage with all of the adrenaline and excitement. There are a bunch of different family packages available to suit different ages and abilities. Also, if you think a day won’t be enough there is plenty of accommodation available including ‘glamping’ in gorgeous bell tents.
Carrowmena Activity Centre
50 Best Family Days Out Pennywell Farm, Devon If you’ve ever wanted to watch pigs racing or practice yoga with goats head directly to Pennywell Farm in Devon where both quirky pastimes are not only possible but encouraged! The pigs leap at speed over miniature fences to secure victory in their races, while in the yoga classes goats roam free. And that’s not all. Youngsters can collect eggs, feed pets and even plant seeds in their very own pot to take home and watch grow.
Pennywell Farm
50 Best Family Days Out Bolton Castle, Leyburn In the heart of the Yorkshire Dales lies Bolton Castle, a 14th century fortress which is partially in ruin although almost all of it is fully accessible to visitors. It’s not hard to imagine the life of those who lived here centuries ago; whether you’re in the Great Chamber or down in the dungeons the castle is a visceral gateway into the past. Young visitors will especially enjoy the maze outside. There are also a host of birds of prey who live here – enjoy the Hawk Walks at 10am daily (but don’t forget to book!).
Bolton Castle
50 Best Family Days Out The Heights of Abraham, Peak District With its caves, cliffs, towers and summits – the Heights of Abraham has been attracting visitors since the 1780s, when it opened as a Georgian ‘savage garden’. These days, it has retained its natural beauty but now includes cable cars which carry people up to the summit of Masson Hill to take in vistas across the Peak District. However, anyone energetic and game enough can follow the original winding paths to the top.
The Heights of Abraham
50 Best Family Days Out Wolds Way Lavender, North Yorkshire Boasting five acres covered in lavender, this lovely spot not only looks dazzling but smells divine too. As well as the natural beauty to admire there is plenty for families to enjoy, namely a huge willow maze which continues to grow. Within the maze a number of giant games are hidden including Jenga, Limbo and Chess. There’s also a fantastic timber trail for kids to follow. This place is the definition of hidden gem.
Wolds Way Lavender
50 Best Family Days Out Anglesey Sea Zoo, Anglesey Seahorses, jelly fish and conger eels will jostle for your attention here at this fabulous aquarium boasting over 40 tanks which allow visitors to get up close and personal with all sorts of sea creatures. We love that you can even pick your own pearl – and watch as it is removed from the oyster and cleaned. Older children and adults can learn about the conservation efforts made by the zoo to protect marine life.
Anglesey Sea Zoo
50 Best Family Days Out Rathlin Island, Ballycastle Your visit to Rathlin Island - Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island which has a population of just 100 -begins on the ferry from Ballycastle on the North Antrim coast, where the whole family can engage in an epic game of I Spy. Keep your eyes peeled for puffins and guillemots. The island itself offers walking tours and cycle hire. Highlights include the ‘upside down’ West Lighthouse which is supremely charming and fully functioning. A dramatic, beautiful place that promises a day for the whole family to be at one with nature in all of its wild glory.
Rathlin Bally Castle Ferry
50 Best Family Days Out Marble Arch Caves, County Femanagh This geopark takes visitors back 650 million years into a natural underground network of caves where passages weave and wind, passing rivers and waterfalls. This underworld is beautiful and eerie – a brilliant cross section of geology, science and history just waiting to be explored. Outside in the open air, we’d definitely recommend a stroll along the Cladagh River although cycling, fishing and canoeing are all available. You can explore forests or reach mountain summits to survey extraordinary vistas.
Marble Arch Caves
50 Best Family Days Out St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall It’s hard to conceive of a more romantic or magical place than this island off the south Cornwall coast, which is accessed either by walkway or by boat depending on where the tide’s at! The island is dominated by a castle which perches dramatically on rocks. There are gardens to explore – there’s a microclimate here so you’ll see plants not typical of the UK, like cacti and historical curiosities – such as ‘murder holes’ which were once used to shoot intruders.
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50 Best Family Days Out The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London The site of the 2012 Olympics, this park is a lovely open space where families can make a day of it, for free. For those with smaller children, we’d recommend spending the majority of your time at Tumbling Bay, a playground teeming with action that complements the natural landscape of the park. From digging in the sandpit to scaling up to the treehouses there’s a lot going on here. On hot days the fountain, with just short of 200 jets of water, will be your new best friend.
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50 Best Family Days Out Greenwood Family Park, Gwynedd This glorious eco-friendly park has pretty much everything a family needs to have a day of action packed fun. Whether your little ones want to bounce on a vast inflatable pillow, scream themselves silly on the waterslide – they won’t be bored. There’s the perfect opportunity for family teamwork thanks to the Enchanted River Ride which requires you all to move along a canal using just ropes and a paddle. Whatever you do, you must take a ride on the Green Dragon Roller Coaster – the world’s only people powered ride of its kind.
Greenwood Family Park
50 Best Family Days Out The Wave, Bristol Surfing can only be done in the sea, right? Wrong. The Wave is lagoon which generates artificial waves and gives anyone – from children and complete beginners through to accomplished surfers – the opportunity to ride a few waves, whatever the weather. You won’t need to wait around for a wave – they’ll come at you thick and fast. Your experience can last an hour, a day or even longer depending on how you feel. A thrilling dose of the great outdoors, due to open in Autumn 2019.
The Wave
50 Best Family Days Out Kidzania, London This is essentially a parallel universe run by children aged between four and 14 years old; an indoor city which features 60 different ‘real life’ activities to explore and master including firefighting, meeting deadlines as a newspaper journalist and graduating from university. Parents can observe from afar, but not get involved. Instead they can go and put their feet up in an adults only sitting area and wait for their little ones to finish work!
Kidzania
50 Best Family Days Out West Wittering Beach, Sussex One of the premier ‘Blue Flag’ beaches in the UK, the beach at West Wittering is clean, pretty and a firm favourite for family fun. Little ones can paddle and build sandcastles while older children might want to try their hand at wind or kitesurfing. Settle down to a good old summer picnic at lunchtime – you can even barbeque as long as you do so safely and are vigilant about putting it out and clearing up afterwards.
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50 Best Family Days Out Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew The children’s garden, for youngsters aged two to 12 years old has just opened is dedicated to the elements. Children can crawl through a tunnel of bamboo, enjoy various water features and generally let off steam. In the main garden, the treetop walkway and the pagoda are must-sees for any family, the latter having just undergone a major restoration project which has seen it returned to the splendour it boasted in 1762, when it was first built.
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50 Best Family Days Out Tower of London, London A medieval castle-turned prison, the Tower of London has been the location for many a gory execution. It is also here that you can take a peek at the Crown Jewels, but for families we think that meeting the six ravens, known as the guardians of the Tower, as well as their ravenmaster is essential. The White Tower is full of things to leave children awestruck – including King Henry VIII’s armours and an executioner’s block and axe.
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50 Best Family Days Out Bobcat Alpacas, Edinburgh Walking through the Scottish countryside with a herd of alpacas is the kind of life-enhancing experience you never knew you needed. During the summer months, visitors to this alpaca farm south of Edinburgh can take these fluffy creatures on long walks in the Pentland Hills Regional Park. On your return, you can meet new alpaca babies (time of year dependent) and help with feeding time.
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50 Best Family Days Out The World of Beatrix Potter, Lake District This gorgeous attraction is found in the bucolic surroundings of the Lake District, not far from Hilltop – the house where Beatrix Potter herself once lived. Families will find themselves instantly immersed into a world of woodland creatures and the mischief they make. Favourite characters including Jemima Puddleduck and Peter Rabbit are found in the main exhibition as their famous stories can be seen and heard. We know many a grown-up who has stayed admiring Mrs Tiggywinkle’s laundry prowess long after the children have escaped to Mr McGregor’s garden.
The World of Beatrix Potter
50 Best Family Days Out Science Museum, London This museum is truly huge and its focus is far reaching, from planets and space to transport and machinery. The giant telescope is a hit with visitors across the board while the Wonderlab is an absolute must-see for children of all ages (we defy parents not to be pretty hooked too). The Chemistry Bar with bubbling vats and steaming test tubes is where older kids beeline, while little ones can join earth orbiting the sun.
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50 Best Family Days Out Glasgow Riverside Museum of Transport , Glasgow The building itself, designed by Zaha Hadid, is worth a special mention – a futuristic beauty with an uneven roof and an abundance of glass. Inside there are over 3,000 objects to discover from prams to an enormous South African locomotive, each telling a completely unique story and giving visitors an insight into yesteryear. Children will love ‘riding’ in vintage buses and trams, not to mention ‘putting out a fire’ with an interactive fire engine.
Glasgow Riverside Museum of Transport
50 Best Family Days Out Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall These 200 acres of beautiful gardens were, until fairly recently, entirely hidden under tall, thick weeds which entirely disguised the one glorious aesthetic of the estate. Today, the gardens are a wonder. Be sure to cross the 100 foot Burmese rope bridge in the jungle garden and definitely pop up to the farm – the pigs are adorable. Children will love hammering their own tender into the coin log and see the guests at the insect hotel.
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50 Best Family Days Out Jacobite Steam Train, Fort William Dubbed the greatest railway journey in the world, this 84-mile trip begins in Fort William, in the foothills of Ben Nevis. From there you’ll pass lochs and rivers and mountains and cross the magnificent 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct. Passengers will sit in refurnished vintage coaches – the standard class is perfectly smart and comfortable but if you want a real treat – make it First Class. Be sure to pre-order a cream tea – the food envy will be unbearable if you don’t.
David & Ben Collier
50 Best Family Days Out Hampstead Heath, London One of the most beautiful and exciting open spaces in the capital, Hampstead Heath, which covers some 800 acres, has much to recommend it to families. When the temperature rises the ponds are the perfect place to swim – but only for children over the age of eight. Pack a picnic, a bat and ball and a rug, find a shady spot and you’re all set for a lazy – and cheap – day.
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50 Best Family Days Out Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven Perched on its own islet overlooking the North Sea, Dunnottar Castle is the stuff of fantasy: it looks like a cliché of a castle from the pages of a fairy tale. But this place is very real. The likes of William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots have both visited. We recommend a bracing walk on the beach followed by some hide and seek in the ruin.
Scott Sim
50 Best Family Days Out The Helix, Falkirk If you and your family like walking, cycling, water sports and fantastic feats of engineering, The Helix near Falkirk is for you! This community parkland includes 1,500km of cycle and walking paths, a splash play area and adventure playground. But the stars of the show are the Kelpies, a pair of 100ft tall horses which each weigh in at over 300 tonnes each and are a symbol of the importance of the Clydesdale breed to the history and heritage of Scotland. You can admire The Kelpies for free, even going inside to admire the wonder of the workmanship.
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50 Best Family Days Out Mount Stewart House, County Down This beautiful Georgian property on the Ards Peninsula in County Down sits at the heart of a glorious garden bursting with secrets and treasure. The vegetation is dense – throughout the summer the greenery and flora are overwhelmingly lovely. You’ll smell the Rose Garden before you see it! Children especially will love the Dodo Terrace, home to a menagerie of stone creatures including monkeys and warthogs. Be sure to have a look inside the Temple of the Winds – a truly fabulous folly.
National Trust
50 Best Family Days Out Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire Perched dramatically on the crest of a hill in rural Leicestershire, this honey-coloured castle is the stuff of wildest dreams. But families are most welcome to visit – the interiors are eye-poppingly grand while the gardens are as bountiful as you might expect from a stately. It’s worth setting aside a few hours to fully explore the gardens, replete as they are with statues, grottoes and lakes. The Engine Yard is also recently opened, a miniature shopping village selling all sorts of unique, rare or handmade luxury items including artisanal food and creative toys for children.
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Hundreds of parents responded to Cottrell’s tweet, most of whom ardently defended the use of mobile phones while breastfeeding, particularly during hospital visits.
“Yea babies are much more interesting than our phones but we also need advice or support or connect with other people when feeling very lonely in hospital,” tweeted one person.
“Babies are super cute but not great conversationalists and the middle of the night can feel very overwhelming.”
Another concurred: “When your baby is in SCBU you have no option than to sit and look at your baby. All day. For hours.
“You can’t take them home and cuddle and snuggle and be mum. If, for some of those hours, you look at your phone to relieve the tedium of hours on the ward, nobody should tell you off.”
Yeovil Hospital has defended its posters, saying they were created by its special care baby unit and had been on display for the last few months.
“They are intended to be used only within the context of the unit, where we support mums of premature or very poorly babies in building a healthy connection,” it said in a statement given to The Times
“They have very successfully worked as a conversation starter for our team and feedback has been very positive. Being separated from your baby is very difficult for many of our new mums and our advice is all about encouraging bonding as well as strengthening milk flow.”
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