Breast feeding in public... gross or okay?

[Mickey's Minion]

I don't have kids so I really don't know why some women expose themselves in public to breast feed their baby. Yesterday, I was at the grocery store and this woman was wearing one of those baby slings, one of those hammock type things. As she walked past me, I was shocked to see that she had her shirt open and the baby was having his/her supper. I'm okay with mothers breast feeding their kid with a blanket tent over the shoulder thing, but I've seen more cases of women breast feeding in full view with no cover ups. Is that the new norm now?

Not a problem at all. It is perfectly natural, just as natural as you showing the skin on your wrists and hands as you put the fork to your mouth.

Anyway, it doesn't really matter what anybody thinks, a woman has the legal right to breast feed their baby.

If the baby was in a sling, that means that he was turned toward the mom and the sling back came up over him, with the straps also providing some coverage.

You would really have to peer into the sling to see what was happening.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

BTW-- I must say that the only time I have been uncomfortable with somebody breastfeeding was that woman in England who breastfed her 7 1/2 year old daughter. I couldn't watch without it turning my stomach.

 

[MulanUSAF]

Well, I guess that IS the norm then. I was just a bit unsettled to encounter a woman who has her shirt wide open coming down the grocery isle with no bra on... the baby sling didn't really hide much. Perhaps I was just raised to be quite a bit more conservative.

 

[pennymom]

The mother is using her breasts for what nature intended them for. It is no more gross than you eating anything, a meal, snack, coffee, etc., out in public.

Although some of the people I have seen eating in public recently have such disgusting table manners that I wish there was a way to cover THEM up so the rest of us wouldn't have to see!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm perfectly okay with this and am pleased there are laws to protect this right that overrule anyone's opinions. The laws are in place due to folks who try to criminilize the activity as indecent when it simply is not.

My infant has as much right to eat in public as any other human being. I will do my best to make it as comfortable for me in regards to modesty while keeping my baby comfortable and nourished.

And no, a baby on a breast is not even in the same ball park as urinating, defecating, stripping, or having intercourse in public. It is not indecent and it is nothing that is to be ashamed of.

 

[tessiemez]

Pesonally, I enjoy eating all my meals with a blanket over my head. Better yet, in a bathroom stall!

I keed, I keed. Everyone's entitled to their own opinions. Really, though, you said you see more women who don't cover up than who DO cover up, and I'm wondering if that's really the case, or if maybe you just haven't noticed the women who do cover up. In any case, I say more power to women who BF in public. I find very few women who don't cover up properly when BFing--like most people said, they don't show any more skin than women in bikini tops, etc..

And don't even get me started on how it's not vulgar if men are topless ...

ETA: Wanna talk about eating in public being gross? I worked at Hardee's right when thickburgers came out, and for the first few months, our restaurant was PACKED with a local construction crew every lunch shift. Very few of those men knew how to eat without getting food all over them like Cookie Monster. Greasy handprints everywhere. Faces slathered in ketchup and mayonnaise. And very little handwashing going on. I'd rather see non-discreet BFing any day.

 

[BeenHereB4]

I don't like to eat with a towel over my head, nor do I like to eat in a public restroom (and FWIW, I got looks when I did it in their too - grown women are no less childish than children). Wherever my kids were hungry is where they were fed - at a restaurant table, in the car, the park, anywhere. I don't think anyone ever saw anything more than what you would see if I was wearing a tank top. When they pulled off, I quickly covered the nips before I moved their head away.

Side note - I'm super surprised this hasn't gotten uglier yet.

 

[Metsfan520]

You eat in public, right? What's the difference?

Exactly what I was going to say!

 

[My2Cinderellas]

That's the best thing about breastfeeding - super convenient and able to be done everywhere! Do you want to eat your dinner with a towel over your head? Neither did my kids... Most moms are super discreet when nursing in public - to me, using a blanket is a far more obvious "look what I'm doing" than just taking care of business.

I nursed my kids anytime anywhere - except in a public bathroom. Too nasty and dirty and smelly. Don't even think of suggesting that is an appropriate spot for a nursing mom/baby!!!

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

Just for fun...since everyone has remained calm... Does anyone think there is a certain age a child reaches where public breastfeeding may be starting to get innappropriate.... What if it were a 3 year old child instead of an infant?

 

[Metsfan520]

The mother is using her breasts for what nature intended them for. It is no more gross than you eating anything, a meal, snack, coffee, etc., out in public.

Although some of the people I have seen eating in public recently have such disgusting table manners that I wish there was a way to cover THEM up so the rest of us wouldn't have to see!

good point!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well, I guess that IS the norm then. I was just a bit unsettled to encounter a woman who has her shirt wide open coming down the grocery isle with no bra on... the baby sling didn't really hide much. Perhaps I was just raised to be quite a bit more conservative.

How did you know she wasn't wearing a bra? (HINT HINT--just b/c you saw some portion of her breast exposed while she was nursing, you cannot say she wasn't wearing a bra...)

 

[clarabelle]

Okay

 

[FireDancer]

We are such prudes in the country. It is a breast, who cares? Breastfeeding is a completely natural part of life so I say go right ahead. Nudity doesn't always have sexuality attached to it. Most of the world isn't nearly as caught up on nudity as we are, especially in Europe.

The only time I am annoyed by it is when it is obvious that the mother is trying to make a point. At that point it stops being about feeding the baby and starts being about making some kind of public stance and those are generally annoying in any situation.

Just for fun...since everyone has remained calm... Does anyone think there is a certain age a child reaches where public breastfeeding may be starting to get inappropriate

Once they can jsut walk up and help themselves I think it might be a problem.

 

[pearlieq]

I have no issue with nursing in public, but what I don't understand are the small handful of moms who insist on totally uncovered nursing in public. Are they clueless, exhibitionists, or spoiling for a fight?

I can think of 10 different ways off the top of my head to nurse discreetly in public. Even if a kid doesn't like a blanket over its face, nursing tops (or even a tank and a button down) provide plenty of coverage while still allowing for nursing.

I know nursing mothers can't help that breasts have been sexualized, but neither can I. Any attempt at modesty or discretion can go a long way.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

This is a very touchy subject. When I had my children, I was not comfortable w/BF in public because I saw the looks people gave other women. There are not too many private places for women to do this while out. For example, at the mall I go to, there is only one store that has a women's lounge outside of the restroom. It is a nice, clean area with couches & an area to put on make-up. I didn't mind sitting there to bf & lots of other women were in there doing the same thing. But there is no other place in that entire huge mall to do so. Please don't say "go into the ladies room", would you eat in the restroom? I wouldn't & didn't feel my babies should either. So as not to offend others, I put a blanket over my babies to feed them. I think women should be able to bf is public, it isn't like they are walking around without a shirt on.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

We are such prudes in the country. It is a breast, who cares? Breastfeeding is a completely natural part of life so I say go right ahead. Nudity doesn't always have sexuality attached to it. Most of the world isn't nearly as caught up on nudity as we are, especially in Europe.

The only time I am annoyed by it is when it is obvious that the mother is trying to make a point. At that point it stops being about feeding the baby and starts being about making some kind of public stance and those are generally annoying in any situation.

good point

 

[Nik's Mom]

Well, I guess that IS the norm then. I was just a bit unsettled to encounter a woman who has her shirt wide open coming down the grocery isle with no bra on... the baby sling didn't really hide much. Perhaps I was just raised to be quite a bit more conservative.

There are special nursing bras that allow a woman to open the cup area so the baby can nurse. So this mother was most likely wearing a bra.

I don't see anything wrong with a woman using her breasts for what nature intended. What you described seems perfectly acceptable to me. And I am someone who dresses conservatively.

 

[MizTink]

I don't have kids so I really don't know why some women expose themselves in public to breast feed their baby. Yesterday, I was at the grocery store and this woman was wearing one of those baby slings, one of those hammock type things. As she walked past me, I was shocked to see that she had her shirt open and the baby was having his/her supper. I'm okay with mothers breast feeding their kid with a blanket tent over the shoulder thing, but I've seen more cases of women breast feeding in full view with no cover ups. Is that the new norm now?

the NEW norm???
no, breast feeding has been going on for a few years now.
(but what i really hate to see is a fat person eating in public )
LOL
grow up......

 

[AndreaDM]

Wow! I can't believe someone would even ask if it was gross! I have walked around a store more than once bf-ing my child, and don't even suggest going into a bathroom. Would you eat your lunch in there?? Why o why are so many Americans so uptight about the human body?? Ugh, get over it already.