Cannot Believe People's Reactions On Breastfeeding In Public

Tara - posted on 05/21/2009

My daughter is 2 years old and still breastfeeding....and I don't ever have a problem with nursing her in public. Most of my friends nurse their babies...so it's just something we DO...just like dressing or brushing teeth. It's just apart of parenting. It's a big part of how we parent. It's SO nice to be able to simmer down some toddler tantrums with some milkies! :)

During the long months where my DD would nurse for hours upon hours as an infant, I was always thankful to co sleep because all I had to do was roll over and she could latch herself on! :)

If my daughter needs to nurse in public even at age 2, I do it, even though I might be wondering what everyone is thinking, I push that aside because my breasts were given to me to nourish my children, period.

When she wants to stop nursing, or when I want to stop nursing, then we will.

I don't believe people "need to be covered" in order to nurse in public. I see more slutty girls walking around town on hot days with hardly any clothes on than the amount of skin I see from another breastfeeding mom who is nursing her child. I think it's up to the mother in how she nurses her child in public. I'd rather someone see my breasts than my flabby stomach! LOL!

Society puts this whole "breasts are for sexual purposes" facade on..when really...breasts are there to make milk for our children. Any sexual purposes or attractiveness men have towards our breasts is just bonus for them I think! ;) Lol!

Arwen - posted on 05/21/2009

Studies have shown that feces from the bathroom can go through the air to the other end of a building. Can you imagine what's in a bathroom? That the gross thing, Joanna.



I don't see a problem with breastfeeding in public, but there were a few times I have seen it in a bad way. One was a woman walking through Walmart. Half her shirt was off, and there she was nursing a baby and picking out some crackers. That sort of thing seems tacky. Not to even bother to sit down for the act?



The few times I had to go bf in the bathroom was because the restraunt we were at litterally had no room for me and the baby. I'm very large breasted, and I just couldn't fit my daughter's head between my boob and the table. I stole a chair from outside the place to bring in there. When I'm not in the bathroom, I'm pretty good at covering up. All you can really see is the baby's head.

Natasha - posted on 05/21/2009

Quoting Joanna:

i feel that if you are ina store or resturant go to the bathroom no one wants to see your boob or you breastfeeding your kid i dont care how natural it is i think it is gross.

i think that having to feed your baby in a public bathroom is pretty gross. can you imagine all the germs  (YUCK).  most moms including myself are pretty good at covering up while in public.  i think its a beautiful thing. 

?? - posted on 05/21/2009

Why are so many women choosing not to give their babies the best?  Perhaps it is because people are less than welcoming in their attitudes towards nursing. Perhaps they don't want to be labled as "indiscreet" or "immodest" or "disrespectful." 

Every single woman I know who has chosen to NOT breast feed, including myself, has been for 1 of 2 reasons.

1 - They couldn't keep up with baby and baby needed more more more. Or 2 - They had to go back to work and breast feeding wasn't an option - pumping and formula were in replacement.

It really bothers me that just as breast feeding mothers find it dispicable that people don't want to see breast feeding and then those women are also the ones who look down on mothers who don't breast feed - regardless of whether it's they are saying stuff or not.

I stopped breast feeding after 3 months because my son was up literally every 45 minutes wanting to feed, I couldn't keep up. I was exhausted. My body wasn't able to produce the milk my son needed EVERYTIME he needed it. There fore I started him on formula.

My friend didn't even start breast feeding because her milk NEVER came in.

Just because we bottle feed - does not mean we are all against breast feeding and I don't understand why breast feeding mothers just assume Iwe're looking at them like they're nasty. I never have, EXCEPT, for those women who I mentioned earlier. Who aren't breast feeding cause their child is hungry, but because they NEED the attention it brings them.

There are more women who go about their business, feeding their child as they need and not making a big deal out of it. And then there are the few women who make a huge deal of it and it's no longer breast feeding it's using that as an excuse to be in the spotlight.

Natalie - posted on 05/21/2009

my daughter is 6 months and i have only just started to breastfeed in public, i use a cover so no-one can see anything, but until now i have always felt uncomfortable. Isn't it typical that yet again as women are made to feel shameful about something so natural, here we are feeding our children and doing the best thing for them and yet we are still made to worry about the fact we might be offending people !!! my hubby is massivley supportive of me, but i know friends husbands who feel disgusted by it!!!!...needless to say these women tried breastfeeding and gave up very quickly......my brother in law grew up in italy and he really doesn't get it, he says women just breastfeed in public all the time there and men don't bat an eyelid .

Charlie - posted on 05/21/2009

This is only a problem in the westernised world where the breast has been turned into a tabboo sexual object , in many tribes not affected by the complictions of mass advertising using breasts as a sexual selling object , the breast is still seen as a milk producer , a life source for their children , women can still walk around toppless because their breasts havent been sexualised and hidden away in shame , !!!!

Hollie - posted on 05/21/2009

I say, if you don't like it don't look! do we ask people to cover their mounths while they are eating? no! its just wrong, the world is so backwards these days. I am pround to say that i feed my bub when ever and where ever she is hungry and i have never had a bad reaction, just approving smiles from other women. Boobs are made for babies and that is just the way it is.

Jamie - posted on 05/21/2009

I say "Whip Out the Boob" I shocked my brother the first time I did on my parents living room couch. Its just a boob. And like you said if woman flashed a man her boobs he would be excited not grossed out. I think they are jealous the dont get that bonding.

Holly - posted on 05/21/2009

I breastfed my son- whom is 4 1/2 months. At first i was nervous but i got very comfortable with my husband's encouragement. i have a wrap and will feed my son when he is hungry. i have had some looks but no one has said anything and i pity the person who does. they obviously have problems.- and i am not gonna go to the bathroom to feed my child- that is disgusting and so unsanitary.

Guggie - posted on 05/21/2009

Quoting Joanna:

I breastfed my first child, the first time i did it in public was nerve racking, as i was at the seaside sat on a bench at the height of summer - i got a few dirty looks!! it inspired me to do a research study the year after on attitudes to breastfeeding, i asked about 50 people all between the ages of 20 and 35 what they thought of breatfeeding in public and the majority some with kids thought it should not be done in public, some even saying if you were out and about and the baby needed feeding then the best thing would be to find a public toilet!!! i was so shocked.
almost everybody questioned believed a child should not be breastfed past the age of 1.

i breastfed my first child for 8 months and bottle fed my second. My bottle fed baby has always slept better, but that is the only plus. i do think breast is best.

i loved the closeness of breastfeeding and the public thing is everybody elses problem not yours or your child.

If somebody pisses you off by being rude to you, unlatch your child and squirt the rude person in the face. Boobs are amazing things and being able to produce food for your baby is something no one should hide away from.

That really leads us into a deeper discussion here! Just think about what this situation is really saying:

-a woman's body is shameful

-a woman's body is purely for man's sexual pleasure

-a woman's body is ugly

-a baby's right to eat is lower than an adult's right to eat

-an adult has the right to be comfortable (e.g. no blankets) and has the right to be safe (e.g. no nasty bathrooms) but babies don't

The implicative meaning is so strong! It is alarming how patriarchal and discriminatory we are for being in the West!

Joanna - posted on 05/21/2009

I breastfed my first child, the first time i did it in public was nerve racking, as i was at the seaside sat on a bench at the height of summer - i got a few dirty looks!! it inspired me to do a research study the year after on attitudes to breastfeeding, i asked about 50 people all between the ages of 20 and 35 what they thought of breatfeeding in public and the majority some with kids thought it should not be done in public, some even saying if you were out and about and the baby needed feeding then the best thing would be to find a public toilet!!! i was so shocked.

almost everybody questioned believed a child should not be breastfed past the age of 1.



i breastfed my first child for 8 months and bottle fed my second. My bottle fed baby has always slept better, but that is the only plus. i do think breast is best.



i loved the closeness of breastfeeding and the public thing is everybody elses problem not yours or your child.



If somebody pisses you off by being rude to you, unlatch your child and squirt the rude person in the face. Boobs are amazing things and being able to produce food for your baby is something no one should hide away from.

Lyndsay - posted on 05/21/2009

I used to be so self concious and would go through so much trouble to cover myself up. I wish it were more accepted. I would even go to my car and sit in the back seat for a break so that I wouldn't have to be so worried about people seeing my breast. It was my husband that encouraged me to not leave for that and helped me with the blanket. :)

Ashleigh - posted on 05/21/2009

Haha! I love how you said, "Or maybe we should start wearing those burka things they wear in the middle east. At least then we don't have to go sit in the corner." I totally agree with you!

Barbara - posted on 05/21/2009

Quoting Sarah:

Quoting Guggie:

Quoting Kari:

I myself don't really mind breastfeeding in public, as long as it's done respectfully. I think breastfeeding is a natural thing to do, and you should be able to do it where ever you want, within reason. What bugs me is when I see women who take maybe 5 minutes or so just to get the baby to the boob, and they're just letting everything hang out in the meantime. If I wanted to see boobies, I would google them. I breastfed my son as long as I could, and did so in public only a handful of times simply because I wasn't comfortable with it. I would go to a dressing room and ask if I could borrow a stall usually and they didn't mind a bit. To me, breastfeeding is a private bonding time between mom and baby, and I didn't want to share that with anyone else, except maybe daddy. But if you're happy with doing all that in public, more power to you. One last thought, to those who argue that it's natural and singlemindedly tell everyone that: it's natural for us all to poop, but do you really want to see us do that in front of everyone? Just because it's natural doesn't mean that everyone wants to see it....
Just my opinion though.

Wow I think that beats the whole "penis and vagina" analogy for level of offensive BS.

 

I seriously recommend a little introspective meditation on why you think it's proper to talk about a woman's body working properly to feed an infant is comparable to an organism excreting waste.

 

Just.wow.

How is not comparable???  Both are natural functions of our bodies.  I completely agree with Kari.  If an individual uses the bathroom in public they can get arrested for a sex offense (at least in the US), yet women feel it is okay to whip out their breasts in public?

I have absolutely no problem with breast feeding, in fact my son was breast fed, but there are ways to be discreet in public.  No, I don't feel that you should have to go to a bathroom to feed your child, but you should have to use a blanket or cover of some sort to make sure that you are being respectful of those around you.  Breastfeeding is supposed to be an intimate bonding time between mother and child, not between mother, child, and whoever else happens to be nearby!  Find a quiet corner and feed your child where you aren't right in the middle of things.

Sarah,

There is one unfortunate side effect to your way of thinking.  Though it is a known fact that breastfeeding is best for babies, and that the AMA reccommends that women breastfeed for AT LEAST a year, (WHO says at least two years,) half of the babies in the western world are still not being breastfed.  If they are they typically don't even get six months.

Why are so many women choosing not to give their babies the best?  Perhaps it is because people are less than welcoming in their attitudes towards nursing. Perhaps they don't want to be labled as "indiscreet" or "immodest" or "disrespectful." 

I don't see how people can say "breast is best " in one breath, and "but not around me" in the other.  What is a girl to do?  Hide in her house I guess.  Or maybe we should start wearing those burka things they wear in the middle east.  At least then we don't have to go sit in the corner.

Chrystal - posted on 05/21/2009

I feel this way, if you need to feed your child then do so in a proper manor, many people are ignorant to this.. I have a sis in law who does it only in front of the family, and if in public she goes to the bathroom to set up and then casually comes out.
I see nothing wrong with it, unless the child is older then maybe then you should go to a private area,

Charlotte - posted on 05/21/2009

Haha, I love your point! It's true, I breast fed my daughter for 5 weeks. I remember being in Tesco's and needing to feed my daughter, I had a baba sling so it was easy enough to continue shopping whilst feeding. This shop assistant approached me and asked if i'd mind not feeding on the "shop floor." I was not only peeved, but frustrated. Instead she asked me to go to the Cafe and feed her... what a joke. For hundreds of years children have been breastfed... where were they going to heat SMA in the 1600's? People will moan about ANYTHING... serial complainers are the worlds worst! What's good for you is good for baby. Page 3= boobs= OK. Mother feeding child=virtually no boob on show=WRONG. People are shrewd and single minded. Do what you want and be happy! ;)

Marie - posted on 05/21/2009

Such a hot topic..I love reading the responses. When I was pregnant I thought I would be too comfortable to breastfeed in public, but boy did I learn fast: either breastfeed in public or stay home. Who wants to be tied down at home all the time. Plus no one bats an eye at a baby getting a bottle. I agree with you ladies that say a bathroom is a gross place to nurse. We don't eat in the bathroom so why should our babies have to? I've breastfed in the mall, restraunts, movies, airports, on the plane etc. I keep covered up and take confidence in knowing that I'm doing what is best for my baby. If people have a problem with it, it's their problem not mine. I like to see moms breastfeedin their babies in public..it's natural!

?? - posted on 05/21/2009

Quoting Kath:

The only people that make a specticle of it are members of the public!

That's not true. Like I said previously, I worked in a mall and the store I worked in was right on the corner of the food court which is right next to the entrance which is directly in the middle of the mall. There were (off the top of my head that I can vividly remember) 6 different women who would come to the mall at different times nearly on a daily basis and make a point of letting people know that she was breast feeding her child. She would purposely sit on the outter part of the food court, purposefully facing outward towards the people walking by and anytime, nearly every time, anyone would even glance her way, she would make it known what she was doing. The reason I say purposefully is because watching her. She would look around and pick out certain spots. Another woman would literally have her boobs hanging out. Another woman would talk to anyone that walked by about how she knows best for her baby and she didn't care what people thought while the boob that the kid wasn't even nursing on was hanging out too.

I recently went to a memorial. A very family oriented woman passed away and even the minister there commented about how amazing it was to see so many babies, so many beautiful new lives there. There had to be a good dozen or more babies under 6 months, 3 of which were directly related to the woman who passed away, neices or nephews. The memorial and brunch afterwards was approximately 4 hours long - plenty of time to have your child need to nurse more than once. There was one woman who walked around during this entire time, constantly lifting up her shirt and putting her child on her breast. And I could tell the child was not having it, as soon as she sat down though, the child latched on and ate. But she kept getting up and walking around, repeatedly. I somewhat knew this woman through the family and she is very much an "attention whore". And there were quite a few comments made by family members, that they couldn't believe that this woman had the nerve to make a spectacle of breast feedling, let alone at a memorial.

Being decent in public is not a bad thing. You can have decency while your body is doing it's natural duty to your child, without the use of blankets or covering babes head. I don't understand why so many women are being so outraged at people wanting decency from other people in public. Are you that self absorbed that you would actually take the stance of being indecent to other people just because you can? The world doesn't revolve around your boob, it might for your child, but it doesn't for anyone else. So long as you don't draw attention to yourself and you won't even see the dirty looks or hear the snide remarks. Unless of course, you are purposefully looking and listening for them. And if people make those remarks and give you those looks anyways, ignore it, you know what you're doing is best for your baby.

The majority of the public is understanding and couldn't care less if you're breast feeding. The only time I have an issue with it is if you're drawing attention to yourself because of it.

Jessica - posted on 05/21/2009

Its very important for a childs health and growth, specially the first 6 weeks for a mother to breastfeed if she is able. It is proven scientific fact that is makes you kids more healthy and smarter. Now once the child gets to a certain age I really dont think he should be breastfed anymore but if you are still breastfeeding your child at 8 thats your business. Personally I cut my son off at 4 months but that is only because I went back to work. I would have liked to have gone a little longer but going until the child is 8 is wrong too. Most will start to ween themselves when they are ready.

Charlie - posted on 05/21/2009

I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND EITHER. THESE ARE SOMETIMES THE SAME PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD BREASTFEED. WHERE EVER YOU ARE IF YO ARE HUNGRY OR YOUR CHILD IS HUNGRY YOU OPEN A BAG OR SOMETHING AND EAT SO WHY SHOULD AN INFANT BE ANY DIFFERENT. IT IS A NATURAL THING AND TO ME ONE OF THE PUREST IN HEART. ADN YOU ARE RIGHT MEN HAVE NO PROBLEM LOOKING AT STRIPPERS AND THEY LET IT ALL HANG OUT.NOW IF THEY WOULD MAKE AN AREA FOR BREASTFEEDING IN MALLS OR EVEN RESTAURANTS NOT TO BE PREDJUDICE BUT TO GIVE MOMS A PLACE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BABIES WE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION. AND AT 8 YEARS OLD I DON'T THINK BREATFEEDING IS AN OPTION

Jes - posted on 05/21/2009

Breastfeeding is natural, cheaper, and a better way to bond with your child. If my son is hungry I feed him. Plain and Simple doesn't matter where I am. Granted I try to be discreet about it, but if someone is staring then that's what they will see. That's my thoughts at least.

Jessica - posted on 05/21/2009

People... how many men are running around with man boobs and conveniently no shirts do we enjoy watching that??? Not to mention the fact that we were all babies at some stage in our lives that were probably breast fed or attempted to. I think people are a bit too hung up on how THEY are feeling and less concerned with how others are feeling and what they are going through. I think people may need to start considering others feelings instead of being so self centred.

Teresa - posted on 05/21/2009

OK as for the whole bathroom thing. If you are in a public place and eating a meal, are you going to take your plate and go sit in a public toilet stall to eat. No because you know that is not a clean environment in which to eat. Why should I have to take my child to this environment to eat. Do you hide in a corner to eat because you don't want to make someone uncomfortable that might be hungry but does not have food, no, so why should I have to hide that my child is hungry and needs to be fed. My oldest daughter did not like to be covered while nursing. In fact, she would scream bloody murder and take the blanket off her head. The only person I have ever covered up in front of was my father in law and my uncle because it made them very uncomfortable. I even breastfed my daughter with my husband's sergeant in the room, he was in the Air Force when she was born. This is what god made my breasts for. If you don't like it don't look!!!!

Charlie - posted on 05/21/2009

i agree kath its unbeleivable ! if it wasnt for peoples deluded sexual hangups that a breast should only be seen in the bedroom as a sexual play thing , then the breast would be seen for what it really is a milk gland , if people could relise that then there wouldnt be a problem ,

Kath - posted on 05/21/2009

The only people that make a specticle of it are members of the public! If people just left BF mums to get on with it then there wouldn't be a problem!

Sarah - posted on 05/21/2009

And you can also be considerate of others around which includes children whose parents may not want to see a bf mother with her breast hanging out! If you are in public you should be considerate of those around you, it is that simple. You can still feed your child, but there is no reason to make a spectacle of it which some (NOT all by any means, but some) women do!

Kath - posted on 05/21/2009

Quoting Guggie:

Quoting Sarah:

Quoting Guggie:

Quoting Kari:

I myself don't really mind breastfeeding in public, as long as it's done respectfully. I think breastfeeding is a natural thing to do, and you should be able to do it where ever you want, within reason. What bugs me is when I see women who take maybe 5 minutes or so just to get the baby to the boob, and they're just letting everything hang out in the meantime. If I wanted to see boobies, I would google them. I breastfed my son as long as I could, and did so in public only a handful of times simply because I wasn't comfortable with it. I would go to a dressing room and ask if I could borrow a stall usually and they didn't mind a bit. To me, breastfeeding is a private bonding time between mom and baby, and I didn't want to share that with anyone else, except maybe daddy. But if you're happy with doing all that in public, more power to you. One last thought, to those who argue that it's natural and singlemindedly tell everyone that: it's natural for us all to poop, but do you really want to see us do that in front of everyone? Just because it's natural doesn't mean that everyone wants to see it....
Just my opinion though.

Wow I think that beats the whole "penis and vagina" analogy for level of offensive BS.

 

I seriously recommend a little introspective meditation on why you think it's proper to talk about a woman's body working properly to feed an infant is comparable to an organism excreting waste.

 

Just.wow.

How is not comparable???  Both are natural functions of our bodies.  I completely agree with Kari.  If an individual uses the bathroom in public they can get arrested for a sex offense (at least in the US), yet women feel it is okay to whip out their breasts in public?

I have absolutely no problem with breast feeding, in fact my son was breast fed, but there are ways to be discreet in public.  No, I don't feel that you should have to go to a bathroom to feed your child, but you should have to use a blanket or cover of some sort to make sure that you are being respectful of those around you.  Breastfeeding is supposed to be an intimate bonding time between mother and child, not between mother, child, and whoever else happens to be nearby!  Find a quiet corner and feed your child where you aren't right in the middle of things.

P.s. I'd rather you put a blanket over your head when you ate. My innocent daughter doesn't need to be covered up b/c of your hangups.

Although most mums and health care professionals look upon BF as a fab time to bond with your baby, it is also that baby's food. So for those of you that think BF mums chose to BF their child in public so they can have a bonding session are wrong! You would fed your child regardless of where you are,.....oh sorry to BF you must tuck yourself away into a corner and hide to appease everyone else because it's an "intimate bonding time between mother and child"......uh NO! It is that baby's feeding time, that is why they are fed in public, you can't say to a baby " sorry you're going to have to wait so we don't make these people feel uncomfortable" . How pathetic!

Kath - posted on 05/21/2009

I had my first baby at 20 and I struggled with BF because I feel people thought it was odd as I was so young. I managed 3 months before I stopped but second time (aged 24) around I couldn't have cared less! I BF Max until he was 10 months old then I had a car accident which threw me off for a couple of days and I couldn't adjust again. I was devastated!! I miss that close bond we had, theres no other feeling like it!

I hope you get the support you need to successfully BF, and I wish you all the luck going, don't worry about what other people think.



As far as the whole BF in public goes, there was an outrage here about 12 months ago. A lady was feeding her 11 month old in the arcade (mall) and was actually asked to leave! The response to the news article on the local papers website was outrageous! One women even suggested only going out when your baby didn't need feeding! Could you imagine trying to plan your day around that!!

I just wish BF was more socially accepted, if it was I think so many more people would try it.

I will say there is one plus side to the celebrity world.......so many more celeb mums are openly talking about they're love of BF their babies that it is more in the public eye. Hopefully that will encourage more people to try it.......

Sarah - posted on 05/21/2009

Ahh that explains why I've never seen it or heard of it as i live in the US...

Charlie - posted on 05/21/2009

No its a public beach on the main st in sydney australia its unmissable ! its even on TV live once a week !!

Sarah - posted on 05/21/2009

i don't know where Bondi beach is, but if it is a topless beach, I would not go there...but thats just me

Charlie - posted on 05/21/2009

i find it strange that people find it disgusting that a human being is drinking milk from their own mothers breast yet they happily drink the breastmilk from a cow WTF !! its natural its a breast designed for feeding a human child , people are so hung up on sexual tabboos and THAT is why they are uncomfortable , no one seems to have a problem with the hundreds of toppless sunbakers at Bondi beach yet if that same woman sunbaking started feeding her child everyone has a whinge about it , i guess some people dont want to be reminded its a milk gland not just a play thing.

Sarah - posted on 05/21/2009

Quoting Becky:

Perspective is the key here:
If I'm breastfeeding my baby in a public, but captive audience, like a plane or other place where one could not choose to relocate (and I'd better be decently covered!), and a parent politely asks that I cover up a little more or turn another direction since their 7-year-old is asking questions, I think that's very reasonable, and I would happily comply. While I'm doing what's best for my baby, another parent is simply trying to do what they believe is best for their child. Okay.

When a group of adults finds it inappropriate, however (keeping in mind that I am properly covered), I believe that they, as adults should simply exercise another perfectly natural function of our amazing bodies...called "averting your eyes." If you have kids, you know that when an infant is hungry, it will loudly let every person and animal with ears in a three-block radius know it until it has been fed. Moms have enough hassle trying to lug around baby gear, carseats, etc., without someone telling them they have to just let their baby scream until they can find a private area to nurse. How inconsiderate! When a mom feeds her baby, she should cover appropriately, but should not be subject to ridicule or criticism for letting her infant child have lunch.

I tend to agree with the mom who said that, for some reason, a woman's breast is just fine completely uncovered in a strip club (REPULSIVE!) or even in a jam-packed movie theater on a larger-than-life screen, but when there's a baby attached to it, eating dinner, it's inappropriate. Maybe we get rid of strip clubs, dirty movies, and porn, and let the nursing moms stay. Sounds quite a bit more civilized, don't you think?!

Oh, and about the mom breastfeeding until the child's 8 - I hope she can pay for some serious professional psychological care for that kid (and she might need some, herself). When the kid's old enough to say, "boobie," the breastfeeding should have long since come to a screeching halt. It's wrong, destructive, and almost incestuous. Please.

I think this is very well said...my point all along, you are properly covered!  THere is nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public IF you are being respectful of others around you.

Just one thing though, all the things that you listed as being repulsive take place in a private area...yes anyone of age can enter a strip club, watch dirty movies, etc, but it is a choice that those individuals make.  These activities are NOT occurring in the middle of a park or a shopping mall.  Those of us who find these things offensive can choose not to be exposed to them...we know what will be occuring at these locations.

Again, I am not saying moms shouldn't breastfeed in public, just please use some method of covering up...most moms are great about this, but there always has to be the exception unfortunately.

Becky - posted on 05/21/2009

Perspective is the key here:
If I'm breastfeeding my baby in a public, but captive audience, like a plane or other place where one could not choose to relocate (and I'd better be decently covered!), and a parent politely asks that I cover up a little more or turn another direction since their 7-year-old is asking questions, I think that's very reasonable, and I would happily comply. While I'm doing what's best for my baby, another parent is simply trying to do what they believe is best for their child. Okay.

When a group of adults finds it inappropriate, however (keeping in mind that I am properly covered), I believe that they, as adults should simply exercise another perfectly natural function of our amazing bodies...called "averting your eyes." If you have kids, you know that when an infant is hungry, it will loudly let every person and animal with ears in a three-block radius know it until it has been fed. Moms have enough hassle trying to lug around baby gear, carseats, etc., without someone telling them they have to just let their baby scream until they can find a private area to nurse. How inconsiderate! When a mom feeds her baby, she should cover appropriately, but should not be subject to ridicule or criticism for letting her infant child have lunch.

I tend to agree with the mom who said that, for some reason, a woman's breast is just fine completely uncovered in a strip club (REPULSIVE!) or even in a jam-packed movie theater on a larger-than-life screen, but when there's a baby attached to it, eating dinner, it's inappropriate. Maybe we get rid of strip clubs, dirty movies, and porn, and let the nursing moms stay. Sounds quite a bit more civilized, don't you think?!

Oh, and about the mom breastfeeding until the child's 8 - I hope she can pay for some serious professional psychological care for that kid (and she might need some, herself). When the kid's old enough to say, "boobie," the breastfeeding should have long since come to a screeching halt. It's wrong, destructive, and almost incestuous. Please.

Becky - posted on 05/21/2009

Perspective is the key here:
If I'm breastfeeding my baby in a public, but captive audience, like a plane or other place where one could not choose to relocate (and I'd better be decently covered!), and a parent politely asks that I cover up a little more or turn another direction since their 7-year-old is asking questions, I think that's very reasonable, and I would happily comply. While I'm doing what's best for my baby, another parent is simply trying to do what they believe is best for their child. Okay.

When a group of adults finds it inappropriate, however (keeping in mind that I am properly covered), I believe that they, as adults should simply exercise another perfectly natural function of our amazing bodies...called "averting your eyes." If you have kids, you know that when an infant is hungry, it will loudly let every person and animal with ears in a three-block radius know it until it has been fed. Moms have enough hassle trying to lug around baby gear, carseats, etc., without someone telling them they have to just let their baby scream until they can find a private area to nurse. How inconsiderate! When a mom feeds her baby, she should cover appropriately, but should not be subject to ridicule or criticism for letting her infant child have lunch.

I tend to agree with the mom who said that, for some reason, a woman's breast is just fine completely uncovered in a strip club (REPULSIVE!) or even in a jam-packed movie theater on a larger-than-life screen, but when there's a baby attached to it, eating dinner, it's inappropriate. Maybe we get rid of strip clubs, dirty movies, and porn, and let the nursing moms stay. Sounds quite a bit more civilized, don't you think?!

Oh, and about the mom breastfeeding until the child's 8 - I hope she can pay for some serious professional psychological care for that kid (and she might need some, herself). When the kid's old enough to say, "boobie," the breastfeeding should have long since come to a screeching halt. It's wrong, destructive, and almost incestuous. Please.

Kathleen - posted on 05/20/2009

i work in a restaurant and a lady was in there breastfeeding her child, discretely behind a blanket mind you. and the majority of my coworkers begin talking of their digust and how it should be "illegal to breastfeed in public" other wise " girls should just be able to walk around topless then" and " this is not a third world country" i was so angered and hurt by these statements, not only because i am a nursing mother.. but because these statements were just so ignorant! i am 20 years old and these people were in there fortys and fiftys. who have kids! how can they not see that the woman is doing no harm but feeding her thriving newborn. how can they find anything dirty or perverted out of the most natural act of survival.. what is happening to us?

Ashleigh - posted on 05/20/2009

Yay for you!!!!!! I breastfed my daughters til they were around a year old and completely plan on doing the same for my son! I think its the best thing possible and completely normal and great. Maybe breastfeeding needs to become more of the normal thing to do instead of so many people feeling pushed out of shape about it. It's the best thing for your baby!

Guggie - posted on 05/20/2009

Quoting Sarah:

Quoting Guggie:

Quoting Kari:

I myself don't really mind breastfeeding in public, as long as it's done respectfully. I think breastfeeding is a natural thing to do, and you should be able to do it where ever you want, within reason. What bugs me is when I see women who take maybe 5 minutes or so just to get the baby to the boob, and they're just letting everything hang out in the meantime. If I wanted to see boobies, I would google them. I breastfed my son as long as I could, and did so in public only a handful of times simply because I wasn't comfortable with it. I would go to a dressing room and ask if I could borrow a stall usually and they didn't mind a bit. To me, breastfeeding is a private bonding time between mom and baby, and I didn't want to share that with anyone else, except maybe daddy. But if you're happy with doing all that in public, more power to you. One last thought, to those who argue that it's natural and singlemindedly tell everyone that: it's natural for us all to poop, but do you really want to see us do that in front of everyone? Just because it's natural doesn't mean that everyone wants to see it....
Just my opinion though.

Wow I think that beats the whole "penis and vagina" analogy for level of offensive BS.

 

I seriously recommend a little introspective meditation on why you think it's proper to talk about a woman's body working properly to feed an infant is comparable to an organism excreting waste.

 

Just.wow.

How is not comparable???  Both are natural functions of our bodies.  I completely agree with Kari.  If an individual uses the bathroom in public they can get arrested for a sex offense (at least in the US), yet women feel it is okay to whip out their breasts in public?

I have absolutely no problem with breast feeding, in fact my son was breast fed, but there are ways to be discreet in public.  No, I don't feel that you should have to go to a bathroom to feed your child, but you should have to use a blanket or cover of some sort to make sure that you are being respectful of those around you.  Breastfeeding is supposed to be an intimate bonding time between mother and child, not between mother, child, and whoever else happens to be nearby!  Find a quiet corner and feed your child where you aren't right in the middle of things.

P.s. I'd rather you put a blanket over your head when you ate. My innocent daughter doesn't need to be covered up b/c of your hangups.

Guggie - posted on 05/20/2009

Quoting Sarah:

Quoting Guggie:

Quoting Kari:

I myself don't really mind breastfeeding in public, as long as it's done respectfully. I think breastfeeding is a natural thing to do, and you should be able to do it where ever you want, within reason. What bugs me is when I see women who take maybe 5 minutes or so just to get the baby to the boob, and they're just letting everything hang out in the meantime. If I wanted to see boobies, I would google them. I breastfed my son as long as I could, and did so in public only a handful of times simply because I wasn't comfortable with it. I would go to a dressing room and ask if I could borrow a stall usually and they didn't mind a bit. To me, breastfeeding is a private bonding time between mom and baby, and I didn't want to share that with anyone else, except maybe daddy. But if you're happy with doing all that in public, more power to you. One last thought, to those who argue that it's natural and singlemindedly tell everyone that: it's natural for us all to poop, but do you really want to see us do that in front of everyone? Just because it's natural doesn't mean that everyone wants to see it....
Just my opinion though.

Wow I think that beats the whole "penis and vagina" analogy for level of offensive BS.

 

I seriously recommend a little introspective meditation on why you think it's proper to talk about a woman's body working properly to feed an infant is comparable to an organism excreting waste.

 

Just.wow.

How is not comparable???  Both are natural functions of our bodies.  I completely agree with Kari.  If an individual uses the bathroom in public they can get arrested for a sex offense (at least in the US), yet women feel it is okay to whip out their breasts in public?

I have absolutely no problem with breast feeding, in fact my son was breast fed, but there are ways to be discreet in public.  No, I don't feel that you should have to go to a bathroom to feed your child, but you should have to use a blanket or cover of some sort to make sure that you are being respectful of those around you.  Breastfeeding is supposed to be an intimate bonding time between mother and child, not between mother, child, and whoever else happens to be nearby!  Find a quiet corner and feed your child where you aren't right in the middle of things.

I suppose if you admit that you believe men must never be topless in public then at least you can claim to be consistent. I suspect you won't though.

Casey - posted on 05/20/2009

I'm all for it! My second child is 3 months old and I feed him whenever and wherever he needs to be fed. I do use my nursing cape if it is available, otherwise I use a blanket. I have not had anyone say anything to me when I nurse in public. Most people comment on how nice my nursing cape is. With my first child, who is almost 6, I thought I would be too shy to nurse in public but once I had her I again, just fed her whenever and wherever. I did have a few funny looks from male waiters, even though I was completely covered. At least in my life, I am so glad that people no longer expect us to nurse in a bathroom. I mean, I wouldnt eat my dinner sitting on a toilet, so why should my baby have to!

Sarah - posted on 05/20/2009

Quoting Guggie:

Quoting Kari:

I myself don't really mind breastfeeding in public, as long as it's done respectfully. I think breastfeeding is a natural thing to do, and you should be able to do it where ever you want, within reason. What bugs me is when I see women who take maybe 5 minutes or so just to get the baby to the boob, and they're just letting everything hang out in the meantime. If I wanted to see boobies, I would google them. I breastfed my son as long as I could, and did so in public only a handful of times simply because I wasn't comfortable with it. I would go to a dressing room and ask if I could borrow a stall usually and they didn't mind a bit. To me, breastfeeding is a private bonding time between mom and baby, and I didn't want to share that with anyone else, except maybe daddy. But if you're happy with doing all that in public, more power to you. One last thought, to those who argue that it's natural and singlemindedly tell everyone that: it's natural for us all to poop, but do you really want to see us do that in front of everyone? Just because it's natural doesn't mean that everyone wants to see it....
Just my opinion though.

Wow I think that beats the whole "penis and vagina" analogy for level of offensive BS.

 

I seriously recommend a little introspective meditation on why you think it's proper to talk about a woman's body working properly to feed an infant is comparable to an organism excreting waste.

 

Just.wow.

How is not comparable???  Both are natural functions of our bodies.  I completely agree with Kari.  If an individual uses the bathroom in public they can get arrested for a sex offense (at least in the US), yet women feel it is okay to whip out their breasts in public?

I have absolutely no problem with breast feeding, in fact my son was breast fed, but there are ways to be discreet in public.  No, I don't feel that you should have to go to a bathroom to feed your child, but you should have to use a blanket or cover of some sort to make sure that you are being respectful of those around you.  Breastfeeding is supposed to be an intimate bonding time between mother and child, not between mother, child, and whoever else happens to be nearby!  Find a quiet corner and feed your child where you aren't right in the middle of things.

Guggie - posted on 05/20/2009

Quoting Kari:

I myself don't really mind breastfeeding in public, as long as it's done respectfully. I think breastfeeding is a natural thing to do, and you should be able to do it where ever you want, within reason. What bugs me is when I see women who take maybe 5 minutes or so just to get the baby to the boob, and they're just letting everything hang out in the meantime. If I wanted to see boobies, I would google them. I breastfed my son as long as I could, and did so in public only a handful of times simply because I wasn't comfortable with it. I would go to a dressing room and ask if I could borrow a stall usually and they didn't mind a bit. To me, breastfeeding is a private bonding time between mom and baby, and I didn't want to share that with anyone else, except maybe daddy. But if you're happy with doing all that in public, more power to you. One last thought, to those who argue that it's natural and singlemindedly tell everyone that: it's natural for us all to poop, but do you really want to see us do that in front of everyone? Just because it's natural doesn't mean that everyone wants to see it....
Just my opinion though.

Wow I think that beats the whole "penis and vagina" analogy for level of offensive BS.

I seriously recommend a little introspective meditation on why you think it's proper to talk about a woman's body working properly to feed an infant is comparable to an organism excreting waste.

Just.wow.

Kari - posted on 05/20/2009

I myself don't really mind breastfeeding in public, as long as it's done respectfully. I think breastfeeding is a natural thing to do, and you should be able to do it where ever you want, within reason. What bugs me is when I see women who take maybe 5 minutes or so just to get the baby to the boob, and they're just letting everything hang out in the meantime. If I wanted to see boobies, I would google them. I breastfed my son as long as I could, and did so in public only a handful of times simply because I wasn't comfortable with it. I would go to a dressing room and ask if I could borrow a stall usually and they didn't mind a bit. To me, breastfeeding is a private bonding time between mom and baby, and I didn't want to share that with anyone else, except maybe daddy. But if you're happy with doing all that in public, more power to you. One last thought, to those who argue that it's natural and singlemindedly tell everyone that: it's natural for us all to poop, but do you really want to see us do that in front of everyone? Just because it's natural doesn't mean that everyone wants to see it....

Just my opinion though.

Guggie - posted on 05/20/2009

Quoting Jodi:


I don't know which women said it - but whoever said the breast has been sexualized by society and breast feeding is natural - the penis and vagina are sexual, but they're natural as well. The female breast isn't PRIMARILY sexual but it is viewed as a sexual body part, and that's a fact. You can't just ignore that fact.

 

I don't know which women said it - but whoever said the breast has been sexualized by society and breast feeding is natural - the lips and hands are sexual, but they're natural as well. The female hand isn't PRIMARILY sexual but it is viewed as a sexual body part, and that's a fact. You can't just ignore that fact.

Seriously. *rolls eyes*

Erin - posted on 05/20/2009

I breastfed my daughter in public whenever necessary and NEVER felt bad about it. I was discreet, without being self-conscious, and truthfully can't recall any dirty looks or remarks. I live in Australia and maybe our easy-going nature carries over to this issue :) Just yesterday I was at the shopping mall and about a dozen new mums and bubs (mother's group I presume) sat around a table. Probably half of them were breastfeeding as we walked past. Nobody seemed to bat an eyelid....

?? - posted on 05/20/2009

It's not disgusting, it's not wrong, it's perfectly natural to breast feed. I don't think any woman should be told to do it privately. I don't think women should be refined to breast feeding in a bathroom.



I think that women need to be respectful of those around them though. We would be shocked to find a young boy playing with his penis in the middle of the shopping center. But, that's natural for young boys, who are just learning their private parts.



There is a limit, a line, a common sense factor that you need to take into consideration when you are out there. 8 years old and breast feeding - that's not acceptable in the eyes of nature let alone the public... walking around with your breasts hanging out and a child hanging off it - that's not appropriate... A boy playing with his penis in the middle of a shopping center - that's not appropriate...



I don't know which women said it - but whoever said the breast has been sexualized by society and breast feeding is natural - the penis and vagina are sexual, but they're natural as well. The female breast isn't PRIMARILY sexual but it is viewed as a sexual body part, and that's a fact. You can't just ignore that fact.



If you aren't breast feeding, do you take your breast out when you're sitting in the shopping center? No, you don't. So it's kind of silly to completely ignore the fact that it is ALSO a private body part.



I used to work in a shopping mall, and there are some mothers I would love to slap solely for the fact that they would purposefully make a spectical of breast feeding. Women that bottle feed don't go out of their way to make sure people know they are feeding their child. That is the only time breast feeding in public bugs me - when the mother makes sure everyone knows she is feeding. And then those same mothers would say "I love breast feeding it's such an intimate bond between me and my child." And yet, everytime they are out in public they make sure everyone that walks by shares that bond with them as well.



You can't have it both ways. If your breast isn't a private part, don't bitch when some guy oogles your boobs. If your breast is a private part, don't make a spectacle of breast feeding.



You can be proud of breast feeding, good for you. Good on you for breast feeding. What a wonderful bond you have with your child. I don't want to share that bond with you though. I don't need to share that with you. That's a natural bond between mother and child. Not mother, child & anybody that walks by.



If everything worked on that "it's natural" logic - we'd be having sex in the streets and giving birth on the corner... we'd all be running around naked and the world would be living a gloriously natural existence.

Siobhan - posted on 05/20/2009

Quoting Melanie:

ive never personaly bf in public. i dont know what places u can go that wouldnt kick u out for bf in public. i live in canada ontario and ive heard of a few stories so im kinda wondering if yr allowed 2.

I'm not sure how long you've lived in ontario...but of course you can.  They cannot kick you out for BF in public or you could call the police on them.  They wouldn't kick out a mom who was bottle feeding....there is no difference...babies gotta eat, when they gotta eat.  Besides, their mouth is over your breast and most of your areola...there is less to see than most bikini tops.

Shameron - posted on 05/20/2009

I honestly see no problem with breast feeding in public. Most women who do are very discreet about it, and never even show a breast. It makes more sense to feed the baby there, when the baby is hungry than to wait until you get home or to go to a bathroom. I have heard the "go to the bathroom" argument way too often, and my question to those people is, "would you eat in the bathroom?" Why is it okay for an infant with a weaker immune system than you to eat in a fecal depository?

Guggie - posted on 05/20/2009

I will breastfeed in a bathroom when women who bottlefeed are confined to the bathroom as well.



I will STOP breastfeeding in public when MEN are required to cover their nipples!



Has anyone really stopped to think about how amazingly discriminatory this is? Breasts are sexualized therefore they should be hidden? What about HANDS? Women have to hold the bottle in their hand (unless they bottle prop). Maybe they should wear gloves! Or did I miss out on a new movement called "we have sex without touching"? Seriously.

Amanda - posted on 05/20/2009

Ok there are 2 diferent things to think about here. 1 yes it is ok for a mom to breast feed their infant in public, most moms who breast feed in public do know how to cover up.

2)It is disgusting, revolting and wrong for a Northamerican or European woman to be breast feeding an 8 year old in a shopping center or anywhere at all for that matter.

Why is she doing this? Yes breast milk is good for children and infant but god where is the cut off line? I think this child would have some issues to deal with. breast feeding an 8 yr old is wrong.