Breast feeding in public... gross or okay?

[Bluestars]

You would think the person breast feeding in the OP's story would be more comfortable sitting down. If my child had to eat while I was shopping, I would find a place to sit or walk out to the car. It would be no different than feeding a 1 yr old. I wouldn't break out the baby food in the middle of the store. I would probably go out to the car and do it.

 

[quentina]

I may be the oddball here......I have NO problem with breastfeeding however, I do not think walking up and down the aisle of a grocery store is appropriate. There are plenty of benches to sit on. In my opinion, this is a personal bonding time between mom and baby......how do you gaze into babies eyes as you are price checking the soup???

Yes, baby does need to be fed and yes we all do eat in public however; I can't help but think some people would be embarrased by seeing this. My 12 year old son would be horrified if he saw this. Yes, it is nature, I just believe that there is a better place to do so.

And no before you ask, I did not breast feed. If I was in the store and my baby needed a bottle, I found a place to sit and gaze.....never did I shop while I did it.

This is my personal opinion..........

 

[C.Ann]

a bottle IS the way to feed a baby for those of us who CHOOSE to feed a baby that way !!

I agree - don't know how that comment slipped past me.. MY DD could not BF due to a very traumatic birth.. Not only did she have 63 stitches, but immediately was stricken with sciatica from the postion they had her in.. They had her on very heavy duty narcotics for quite some time - which would have passed to the baby and caused extremely serious respiratory issues..

And then there are those like me (I'm now 60 yrs. old), where it was not common at all when I had my first 2 children.. Very, very few mothers did it - basically only those who were poor and couldn't afford to make the formula (no canned stuff then); buy the bottles and nipples; etc..

As long as the baby gets fed, that's all that matters.. Sometimes it's a choice, sometimes it's a need, and sometimes there are medical reasons that make BFing impossible.. To each their own..

 

[rparmfamily]

For real? LOL Glad I already had popcorn at Target today!! Right after I nursed my baby haha!

 

[HelenePA]

Funny, I wasn't going to post on this thread, but DH reads here also. I was unable to breast feed my children but I have no problems with a woman doing so where ever/whenever. Come to find out it makes my DH very uncomfortable... You learn something new every day!

My dh hates when I bf in public do I care? Nope! I do it anyway


I must be a bad bfing mom because I don't gaze into my babies eyes everytime he eats I watch tv I dis I sleep

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The following is from the Florida Statutes:

800.03 Exposure of sexual organs. ---

It is unlawful to expose or exhibit one's sexual organs in public or on the private premises of another, or so near thereto as to be seen from such private premises, in a vulgar or indecent manner, or to be naked in public except in any place provided or set apart for that purpose. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A mother's breastfeeding of her baby does not under any circumstance violate this section.

(bolding added)

And I know that in some Disney training I have received, any attempt to have a breastfeeding mother to cover up or go to a different location is a disciplinary offense that could lead to termination.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You would think the person breast feeding in the OP's story would be more comfortable sitting down. If my child had to eat while I was shopping, I would find a place to sit or walk out to the car. It would be no different than feeding a 1 yr old. I wouldn't break out the baby food in the middle of the store. I would probably go out to the car and do it.

I suppose the OP and others like myself feel otherwise.

My kids pretty much nursed with their eyes closed.

You can choose how you feed your children based on what you are comfortable with, but don't presume you know what is more comfortable with other moms and their babies

There are many moms who bottle feed and can do so at the same time they are walking. I don't presume they would be any more comfortable in any position than what they have chosen.

 

[Stacerita]

I must be a bad bfing mom because I don't gaze into my babies eyes everytime he eats I watch tv I dis I sleep

I was thinking the same thing. I didn't have to gaze and bond every single time DD was hungry. Sure we had some great bonding moments. Other times she just was hungry and wanted to eat.

 

[Bluestars]

I suppose the OP and others like myself feel otherwise.

My kids pretty much nursed with their eyes closed.

You can choose how you feed your children based on what you are comfortable with, but don't presume you know what is more comfortable with other moms and their babies

There are many moms who bottle feed and can do so at the same time they are walking. I don't presume they would be any more comfortable in any position than what they have chosen.

My thoughts are that a store is meant for shopping and not for feeding children. A restaurant is meant for feeding children, so it would not seem out of place there. It seems like it shouldn't matter that the breast feeding person doesn't care, it should matter that the place is appropriate for breast feeding. You might be comfortable breast feeding your child on IASW, but it would not be an appropriate place to do it. All I'm saying is find an appropriate place to do it, not hide in a corner.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

My dh hates when I bf in public do I care? Nope! I do it anyway


I must be a bad bfing mom because I don't gaze into my babies eyes everytime he eats I watch tv I dis I sleep

I totally agree with you and was very surprised at DH's response. Actually we had a riff, he's sleeping now and I am Dis'ing. Oh, and I bottle fed, and though I didn't bring it up, can't remember gazing either. I think I was asleep most of the time!

 

[ontariomonkey]

a bottle IS the way to feed a baby for those of us who CHOOSE to feed a baby that way !!

That's my point. Less women would chose to bottle feed if it was a societal norm to breastfeed. And discussions like this just prove that it is not completely acceptable so we still have work to do.

 

[luvmy3]

I was thinking the same thing. I didn't have to gaze and bond every single time DD was hungry. Sure we had some great bonding moments. Other times she just was hungry and wanted to eat.

Me either, half the time I was just trying to keep my eyes open, and failing

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My thoughts are that a store is meant for shopping and not for feeding children. A restaurant is meant for feeding children, so it would not seem out of place there. It seems like it shouldn't matter that the breast feeding person doesn't care, it should matter that the place is appropriate for breast feeding. You might be comfortable breast feeding your child on IASW, but it would not be an appropriate place to do it. All I'm saying is find an appropriate place to do it, not hide in a corner.

What is so wonderful is that the law states that an appropriate place (at least in Florida where I am familiar with the language) is any place where mom is allowed to be.

The general public doesn't get to dictate the appropriate place. The needs of a baby.

So yes--It's a Small World, in the state of Florida--is a perfectly approriate place whether you like it or not.

It has nothing to do with not caring what others think. It has to do with meeting the needs of the baby and the fact that the law allows that.

The law does not make exceptions for perceptions of your comfort. B/c you do not get to interfere with the infants right to be nourished.

And my children have known what BFing is all their lives and they aren't disgusted or embarrassed and don't really give it a second thought if they happen to notice someone bfing in public.

It is NOT a shameful act and the fact that people treat it in that manner is their own personal problem.

(And no, I'm not talking about the random militant let it all hang out NIP mother. I'm talking about a basic right that men and a few women in the 1993 legislature passed realizing that "oh yeah, babies have the right to eat and moms have the right to use their breast to feed them if that is their choice wherever they happen to be".)

Fla. Stat. Ann. § 383.015
1993 Fl. ALS 4; 1993 Fla. Laws ch. 4; 1993 Fla. HB 231

The breast feeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which must be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health and family values. A mother may breast feed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether or not the nipple of the mother's breast is covered during or incidental to the breast feeding.

So I don't care if you don't want a mom nursing on IASW. You don't have the right to dictate what is appropriate and what is not.

You may have your opinion, but thankfully a bunch of people in our Florida legislature disagreed with you that allowed this very basic human right to be exercised.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That's my point. Less women would chose to bottle feed if it was a societal norm to breastfeed. And discussions like this just prove that it is not completely acceptable so we still have work to do.

I actually agree with your premise.

BFing in many ways is not considered normal.

I don't have an issue with women choosing to FF. I do have an issue with women not realizing their are 2 choices and that doesn't mean Enfamil or Similac.

I didn't take your comment to mean that women shouldn't choose. But ewwwww, a nursing human. There's a reason we are mammals!

But when adults are still "grossed out" by a breast feeding woman, that is a problem.

We think nothing of nursing kittens or puppies and those animals only get formula in very serious cases.

 

[Bluestars]

Lisa, I don't think breast feeding is a shameful act at all. In fact, most of the women in my family have chosen to breast feed their children. Just because I have an opinion that a woman shouldn't walk around a store breast feeding, doesn't mean I don't think a woman has a right to breast feed in public.

I know the law states a woman can do it anywhere, but to me, that doesn't mean a woman should. I see no reason why someone can't find a bench or some out of the way place, instead of walking around a store. I wouldn't walk around the store and feed any age child.

When I went to WDW with my SIL and her baby was ready to nurse, she found a bench and nursed her. It was great. She didn't walk around the park with her top down and do it. I thought the way she did it was respectful of those around her and accomplished the purpose of feeding her child.

It seems like some people who choose breast feeding think that any disagreement with the time or place a woman chooses to breast feed means they are anti-breast feeding. That isn't the case at all. Since it really serves to purpose to argue about it, I will back away because I know this is a very controversial topic and it's not my intention to make comments that others might find hurtful.

 

[Stacerita]

You would think the person breast feeding in the OP's story would be more comfortable sitting down. If my child had to eat while I was shopping, I would find a place to sit or walk out to the car. It would be no different than feeding a 1 yr old. I wouldn't break out the baby food in the middle of the store. I would probably go out to the car and do it.

Not exactly the place I would choose to eat, let alone feed my child unless I had to. Which thankfully, breastfeeding mothers don't.

My thoughts are that a store is meant for shopping and not for feeding children. A restaurant is meant for feeding children, so it would not seem out of place there. It seems like it shouldn't matter that the breast feeding person doesn't care, it should matter that the place is appropriate for breast feeding. You might be comfortable breast feeding your child on IASW, but it would not be an appropriate place to do it. All I'm saying is find an appropriate place to do it, not hide in a corner.

That is a wonderful place to do it. 15 mins of uninterrupted time to sit and feed. Plus, most are so worried about seeing a breast flashed, that they shouldn't worry on IASW. Everyone will be preoccupied with the ride to notice.

The appropriate place is where I feel comfortable and where my child feels comfortable.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I know the law states a woman can do it anywhere, but to me, that doesn't mean a woman should. I see no reason why someone can't find a bench or some out of the way place, instead of walking around a store. I wouldn't walk around the store and feed any age child.

When I went to WDW with my SIL and her baby was ready to nurse, she found a bench and nursed her. It was great. She didn't walk around the park with her top down and do it. I thought the way she did it was respectful of those around her and accomplished the purpose of feeding her child.

Before you step away--you presume that women who walk and nurse can only do so with their top down?

I nurse respectfully to those around me. There is no difference between sitting and moving about. My top isn't "down" in either case.

 

[luvmy3]

I may be the oddball here......I have NO problem with breastfeeding however, I do not think walking up and down the aisle of a grocery store is appropriate. There are plenty of benches to sit on. In my opinion, this is a personal bonding time between mom and baby......how do you gaze into babies eyes as you are price checking the soup???

Yes, baby does need to be fed and yes we all do eat in public however; I can't help but think some people would be embarrased by seeing this. My 12 year old son would be horrified if he saw this. Yes, it is nature, I just believe that there is a better place to do so.

And no before you ask, I did not breast feed. If I was in the store and my baby needed a bottle, I found a place to sit and gaze.....never did I shop while I did it.

This is my personal opinion..........

If your ds would be horrified by seeing that, then maybe he should have a biology lesson and be taught why women have mammory glands
All I can say about people who would be embarrassed, that really has nothing to do with the nursing mother, but more to do with their own issues.

As far as nursing in store, walking up and down the aisles, I can say that in all my years of shopping I have never once seen a woman nursing her baby doing this. However I have seen my share of infants and toddlers sucking on their bottles, and eating their little snacks while mom is happily shopping. So if its OK for those children to have their food while shopping then there is no reason a baby who nurses shouldn't be able to have theirs.

 

[Bluestars]

Before you step away--you presume that women who walk and nurse can only do so with their top down?

I nurse respectfully to those around me. There is no difference between sitting and moving about. My top isn't "down" in either case.

Sigh. Ok, since you asked. You picked two words in the entire response to focus on? I have a feeling that nothing I say will be what you want to hear, so seriously, I will walk away. I really don't intend to offend you.

 

[DMRick]

You wouldn't have known I was doing it if I was..I was a great cover upper. It only failed me once, when someone walked up to to me and grabbed my blanket and said..hey, do you have a baby under there LOL. He backed off fast, and I bet he never pulled a blanket off the front of someone again. My baby is 33 and I could walk, vaccuum, do dishes, rake, be in church listening to a sermon, sleep and fstill eed LOL. Everyone I knew was BFeeding and we were all good at it. Most people didn't know we were doing it.

However, I do realize it makes some uncomfortable, and I always tried to be extra careful when out in public.

As far as nursing in store, walking up and down the aisles, I can say that in all my years of shopping I have never once seen a woman nursing her baby doing this. However I have seen my share of infants and toddlers sucking on their bottles, and eating their little snacks while mom is happily shopping. So if its OK for those children to have their food while shopping then there is no reason a baby who nurses shouldn't be able to have theirs.