Often when parents come to Baby Café Bromley, they’re not sure what to expect. They don’t know whether it’s ok to arrive late. Or leave early. Or if their partner can come too.
They’re not certain if it’s ok to breastfeed their baby while they’re there. And very unsure whether it’s frowned up on to give their baby expressed milk or formula milk in a bottle.
All of these things are ok.
What time should I arrive?
Baby Café Bromley runs as a drop-in from 10am to12pm which means you don’t need to book an appointment. You don’t need to arrive ‘on time’. Just arrive when you can.
Though if you want to talk to the breastfeeding counsellor, best try and get there before 11.30am in case it’s busy.
You don’t have to stay for the whole session. Some parents do, some parents don’t. It’s entirely up to you.
Is it ok to feed my baby at Baby Café Bromley?
Yes, absolutely.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding.
It doesn’t matter that bottle contains expressed breast milk or formula milk. We really truly and honestly don’t mind how you’re feeding your baby.
The NCT trained breastfeeding counsellor has years of experience and is there to support you with feeding your baby.
What help can I get at Baby Café Bromley?
We are there to support you with all aspects of feeding your baby.
Some of the common topics that get discussed at Baby Café Bromley:
- Painful breastfeeding
- Am I producing enough milk
- Is my baby getting enough milk
- How do I know if feeding is going ok
- Night time feeding
- Feeding patterns
- Suspected tongue tie, mastitis or thrush
- Weaning the baby off breastfeeding
- Best time to express milk
- How to combine formula milk with breastfeeding
What happens when I arrive?
When you arrive, you’ll be invited to take a seat and get yourself a hot drink plus a cake or biscuit. Sometimes we have a volunteer serving from the kitchen. Other weeks, you might need to serve yourself if the NCT breastfeeding counsellor is already talking to another parent.
The NCT breastfeeding counsellor talks to each parent / couple in turn. Occasionally if she notices that a mum is tearfully struggling to get her baby latched on and the baby is really upset, she might tend to that mum first.
You’ll be asked for your first name, the first 3 letters of your postcode and your baby’s date of birth. We gather this data so that we can support our next grant application.
You are very welcome whether or not you have a question or a problem. For example if you want to try feeding your baby in public for the first time, or you simply want to get out of the house for social support.
When and where is Baby Café Bromley?
Baby Café Bromley is on Mondays from 10am to 12pm at St Augustine’s Church on Southborough Lane, Bromley, BR2 8AT.
We are closed on 4 Mondays every year. Closures are publicised on our Facebook page and on Instagram.
We will not be open:
- Monday 7 July 2025
- Monday 25 August 2025
Baby Café Bromley gets its funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, however donations are also very welcome.
What about parking?
There’s some free parking at the church. If those spaces are full, there’s free on street parking on Homemead Road or The Fairway.
If you’re coming on the bus, the 208 stops at The Fairway and it’s a 2 minute walk to the church.
I’ve got a different question
If you have a different question, come over to our Facebook page or Instagram and message us there.
Where to get support
NCT Infant Feeding Line open 8am to midnight, every day of the year: 0300 330 0700
National Breastfeeding Line available 24 hours a day, every day of the year: 0300 100 0212.
Find local expert support in the UK Breastfeeding Directory.
If you’re local to Bromley, pop in and see me at Baby Cafe Bromley on Monday mornings. Or book a private 1:1 home visit.
Read Sherry’s book The Confident Mother.
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