Breastfeeding in public: Got a problem with it?

[phillybri]

I think people that object to breastfeeding in public are so narrow-minded and immature it just defies description.

But that might just be me...

[Goldmund]

1. I totally agree

with you.

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. I think she should charge a fee for anyone who watches

that's almost a free show right there...almost.

;)

[NewJeffCT]

6. well, it is unusual

Even if permitted... so, it's kind of hard not to look at first. Then, you have to consciously turn away from it.

[THUNDER HANDS]

22. yeah it is unusual

At first you're like "Woah, a boob!"

And you get all excited because at that moment your primal brain kicks into gear and you start thinking of great bosoms of yesteryear.

But then shortly thereafter you realize that the boob is attached to a baby's head and the primal part of your brain receeds to go back to thinking of football and your more evolved societal brain kicks into gear and you look away.

[JitterbugPerfume]

13. breast feeding in public

can be done discreetly . I know-- I breast fed my babies many years ago

as long as a womans breast is considered a sex object, instead of a means to feed an infant ,I think discretion is called for.

not a popular view I know but it is one learned by experience

[iamjoy]

3. Where Is She Supposed To Feed The Baby?

most public places don't have private areas for mothers to breastfeed. Do you really expect her to sit on a toilet and feed her baby? How unfair and vile.

as long as she is discreet about it...

[mac56]

10. I'm with you.

We had a thread about this yesterday. Feed a baby in a restroom? No way. Try asking someone to eat his sandwich in the john. And in a business that feeds people, no less.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. No problem for me. MrG used to have a problem with it and beg me

to go in a restroom or something. But I think it was because it was me, his wife, breastfeeding in public. :hi:

[tigereye]

16. I used to have a baby sling and some vests

when I would breastfeed in public. I just had the baby tucked under there. I felt pretty good about it... and you should about doing good for your kid... and I always think it is great when women do it where they feel comfortable. No one should have to feel weird about it, it is natural and good. It's too bad that we have all these hang-ups about breasts and the body in public. I think it is weird and provincial, puritanical, what have you.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. I bought a bunch of the tops from Mothercare and they worked out really

well, but the best shirt I ever had was just a giant t shirt. :hi:

[tigereye]

40. yeah some of those shirts I bought were more trouble

than they were worth. I liked the t-shirt and vest the best. :hi:

PS who would want to feed in a bathroom, right? Yuk. People's attitudes are so complex. I mean, it's not exhibitionism, it's feeding your kid. My husband thought the whole feeding thing was cool. And I had the pump and the whole nine yards for work, as well. It was an interesting time.

Nice to talk about this. It has been a while for me. :hi:

[mac56]

5. True that.

Some men are threatened by breast use that don't entertain/amuse/gratify them directly.

[JVS]

7. I'm offended that people would even bring a child out into public

First of all it is dangerous to the kid. There are lots of bad things out there and an infant should be safely in its crib.

Secondly infants tend to be loud and annoying. They also have no control of their bowels.

BTW this post is made with tongue firmly in cheek.

[CanuckAmok]

8. It's perfectly natural.. Like urinating.

I don't really mind, but some people are so "in your face" about it (no pun intended), that it starts to bother me. Yes, it's totally natural, but so is scratching your ass, picking lice of someone else, and peeing, but people usually don't do those things at the dinner table.

What I'm trying to say is "be discreet, and don't turn it into a political struggle"

[JVS]

11. I wish people didn't mind my public urination

Bunch of closed minded prudes.

[CanuckAmok]

12. Zactly!

n/t

[mac56]

14. You're really equating breastfeeding with public urination?!

nm

[CanuckAmok]

20. I'm replying to the argument "it's perfectly natural".

So is urination, but culturally it's not acceptable everywhere.

[mac56]

21. There are health risks with public urination.

Not so with public breastfeeding. Apples and oranges.

Banishing them to the john - there's some health risks there.

[JVS]

24. Making people use the john to pee has health risks

We need to be able to urinate freely, the way nature intended.

[mac56]

27. See?! THAT'S why you never get invited to parties!

nm

[JVS]

34. I thought it was from an established pattern of punching out the hosts...

or hostesses.

Well, you learn a new thing each day! :-)

[mac56]

36. Sometimes it takes a friend to tell you the unvarnished truth.

nm

[JVS]

39. Thanks friend

[CanuckAmok]

26. I'm not banishing anyone anywhere

But there's a time and a place for everything. "in public" is a pretty sweeping term. Some places, fine, others not fine.

And urine is sterile, by the way. If we wanted to pursue this analogy, I could argue that any good restaurant which encourages breastfeeding at the table should also have a crystal urine bucket which you can have brough to your table, and emptied by the busboy. No public health risk.

[mac56]

28. Good luck with that.

nm

[JVS]

32. BLADDER LIBERATION NOW!

[tigereye]

42. I breastfed at quite a few restaurants

I was discreet, no one could see anything. What's the big deal?

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. Sorry, but if my baby is hungry at the dinner table, he's getting breast

fed at the dinner table. When you are hungry, you eat. So should my child (who is weaned now, but was always fed in public restaurants when he was hungry, because that is what nature intended to have happen.) Easy for a person who has never had milk gushing out of them at the sight of their hungry baby to say. That and when they ache because I'm trying hard not to make it a "political struggle".

[JVS]

29. And when CanuckAmok has had 8 pints of beer and is waiting for the bus...

and has to pee, it is as important and undeniable a bodily need as that of a hungry child.

And don't say he should have peed before he left the bar, because even when you do that there are often times that you'll need to pee again.

[CanuckAmok]

30. That's right. Plus I'm a lightweight, so one pint is enough...

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. and I assume that, as a grown up, your mamma never taught you how

to excuse yourself and get up and walk to the restroom? :shrug:

[CanuckAmok]

49. what's a 'restroom'?

n/t

[JVS]

53. Those are for customers only. As a person waiting for the bus...

he's no longer a customer.

[ScreamingMeemie]

59. Not where I live in America. I use a restroom when I need a restroom.

No pass.

[JVS]

61. Where is this? Most places are real assholes about letting people...

use the bathroom

[mac56]

66. Maybe one has to do it "discreetly"!

;)

[JVS]

70. I guess it depends on the type of business

[ScreamingMeemie]

71. Michigan. It's either let me, or my child use your restroom...or we

ARE going to pee in public on your floor. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

44. Sorry. Completely different JVS. I have had to pee and as a grown up

I am able to get up and walk to a restaurant. Do you want to explain to screaming newborn baby that he can't eat like the rest of us are because some idiot's going to be offended. Apples and oranges, grownups and children. There is your answer. I'm still gonna feed my baby.

[JVS]

55. What is the baby doing in a restaurant it can't eat proper food.

Loitering, that's what! ;-)

[ScreamingMeemie]

60. Hehehehehe. Oh, you!

:P

[tigereye]

76. you go Mrs. Grumpy!

allright! a contented and fed baby is a happy baby!

[mac56]

45. Then he should do it and take his chances.

Go ahead! Take a squirt on the bus stop sign. Make a test case out of it. It'll be a media event.

Is that really the hill you want to die on?!

Infant health seems like much more of a noble cause.

[JVS]

58. He should be able to excuse himself to the closest wall and let it rip

and not have to worry about John Law coming down on him.

It is way easier to wait to eat than to wait to urinate when one really has to go.

[mac56]

64. As I said - go for it!

I'm sure I'll be seeing it all on Court TV.

[JVS]

65. You say go for it, but are unwilling to fight the injustice!

[mac56]

69. Organize the Million Man Whiz, and I'll be there!

nm

[JVS]

72. Sweet! A torrent of change and urine is sweeping our nation.

[stellanoir]

9. there are ways to do it discreetly

with very large shirts, moving to a place of less visibility, etc. . Yet some women can be exhibitionists and almost seem to enjoy being provocative. "Look at me! look at me! look at me!!!"

[calico1]

18. My feelings exactly.

[fudge stripe cookays]

31. Bingo.

I have friends who do it discreetly, and I don't mind a bit. I'm happy for them and glad that they find breastfeeding rewarding as mothers.

But you pop that big ole thing out in front of strangers and display it proudly like a trophy and wave your kid around, I'm sorry, but it's rude.

I'm happily childfree, and I have no intention of enthusiastically goo-gooing at your kid. Feed away, but stop flaunting it. Believe it or not, some people NOTICE that you're a mother, but we don't care one way or another.

[tigereye]

43. I have never seen anyone just whip it out

I never did. I mean there is a line. And I agree, not everyone likes to see the babies. But I think people also have to remember that at one time we were all babies/kids/whatever.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

52. Clearly you never met my sister...

:)

She was the Queen of Whip-it-out. Anywhere.

[fudge stripe cookays]

67. Unfortunately, I have.

And that has colored my judgement for awhile. To me, it's just tasteless.

I'm not a big baby fan, and I try to be sensitive (as you mentioned), but as I said, I'm not having any.

There's nothing worse for me than having a nice quiet dinner out and then having to listen to someone's screaming baby.

I love being able to do whatever I want when I want it.

[tigereye]

75. yep it's a great thing to have that freedom

I miss that. But then there are other cool things about kids that make up for it. To each their own. :)

[CanuckAmok]

33. DINGDINGDING! Winnah!

that's it...I wish I was as elloquent.

[ScreamingMeemie]

48. and then there are some people who get offended over women doing it

discreetly as well.

[mac56]

51. I agree.

People get offended by lots of things. Doesn't mean they should be banished. Someone's personal discomfort isn't a good basis for legislation.

Some people are offended by gay men holding hands in public. Doesn't mean that should be banned, does it? (Not a question directed to you, Ms. G. We're on the same side here.)

[CanuckAmok]

56. I dunno...legislation is based on the 'discomfort' of the majority,

at least in theory.

[mac56]

62. And look where that has gotten us.

nm

[CanuckAmok]

54. No problem with discretion...

I mean, in China, it's complimentary to belch loudly at the table after eating.

Culturally, we're not all ready to share your motherhood with you, right or wrong. When I'm having dinner with someone, for example, I don't really want to see a child breastfeeding (and, yes, I'm aware of the irony of that statement). If I can be sensitive enough to acknowledge that the child must be fed, and have a place to be fed discreetly, the mother should be sensitive enough to consider the sensibilities of those around her, too.

Yeah, yeah, society only changes when it becomes accustomed to new ideas/practices, but there's a time and a place for everything. That's all I'm saying.


Footnote: I was at an art gallery a few months ago, and a mother was breastfeeding her baby. The gallery has a no food/no drink policy. How come the kid gets to eat in there and I don't? Huh?

[ScreamingMeemie]

57. Because again...who is going to reason with a hungry screaming infant

who doesn't know any better? Grown ups know better.

[CanuckAmok]

63. The mother is in charge, not the baby.

And you seem to put alot of faith in 'grown-ups'. Don't you watch the news?!

[ScreamingMeemie]

68. Stopped watching the news a long time ago. I'm still putting a boob

in my baby's mouth in front of you, whether you like it or not. Why? Because he's hungry.

[CanuckAmok]

73. well, see, you wouldn't, because...

...if I knew you were going to be so insensitive, I wouldn't invite you to dinner, because that's MY right.

But you are invited, anytime :)

[freetobegay]

15. I find this thread highly suspect

Are you working for Janet Jackson?

[phillybri]

35. Nope. I just heard a yuk-a-puk on XM radio bitching about this...

He was really immature about the whole thing.

[freetobegay]

38. Sorry for the joke, I thought it was funny!

Of course I do believe that women should be ble to do this.

[eleny]

17. Babies should always decide this one

Voted yes, of course!

[Blue-Jay]

23. Just as long as the mom doesn't squirt me as I walk by,

I'm cool with it.

[tigereye]

46. ahhh she got me in the eye, ahhh!

sorry couldn't resist.

[JVS]

37. As long as there is enough for everyone

;-)

[LWolf]

41. Breasts are for feeding babies.

That's their function. Feeding a baby is not pornographic, or private in any way. It's not like urinating in public. Women feed bottles to babies publicly without a problem. We all eat in public without the fuss. Men can appear in public without a shirt. It's not the feeding that needs to be hidden; it's the dysfunctional attitudes toward the human body, especially the female, that need to be exposed.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

50. It's all in how it's done...

My own sister is a great example of this.

When she had her kids back in the 70s, she would sit there in a restaurant with her shirt open or up entirely, both breast hanging out of her feeding bra.

And seeing that over Chinese wasn't exactly appetizing, sorry.

Decades later, she herself cringes when she thinks back on this.

I have seen many, many women breastfeeding in public, including in restaurants, over the years and mosts of them manage to do this in a way that only the most uptight could object to.

[slutticus]

74. I don't see the problem with...

...whippin' it out.