Laws regarding public breastfeeding

[aristocatz]

This is a local establishment & the story is all over FB & I guess is also receiving some national exposure:
http://www.masslive.com/news/index....ere_to_breastfeed.html#incart_related_stories

Apparently, I live in a state that has a law that protects breastfeeding women to be able to do so in public or private. I don't breastfeed my children, but I am not bothered by anyone that does in public or private.

I've never been to this place & know nothing about the owner but from what I read, I personally think the owner of this place just put her foot in her mouth & was reacting to some customers who had complained that women were openly breastfeeding in the middle of a busy play area.

Just wondering...if the owner had instituted a different policy that stated ALL feeding (whether it be breast, bottle, or snacks) need to happen in a designated open area, would this have met legal requirements? This way, it does not discriminate against anyone? Apparently, a bunch of customers are going to file lawsuits.

 

[low-key]

I dont think anyone loves boobs more then me, but if you get off, or get mad when mom is breast feeding her baby you got problems

 

[perditax]

I'm not a mom, so I'm probably lacking some insight here, but I thought all the "public breastfeeding" debate had to do with the baby being under a blanket or something. I didn't realize women actively wanted to pop out their boob in public.

I suppose that's their business, but I think it will mean that everyone has to be allowed to be topless at will, doesn't it?

And as an aside, I hate to see small businesses get taken down by one of those Facebook or Yelp dogpiles. The owner was obviously responding to complaints.

 

[aaarcher86]

Probably would have been fine if it was for all feeding types.

I'm all for breast feeding in public, but is a little discretion unreasonable? The only people I know that whip a whole boob out in massively public areas tend to be the types who want to flaunt something - I'm doing this and you can't stop me types.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

As a former breast-feeding mom, I've fed my kids when they were hungry, wherever it was. Yes, even in the local Denny's restaurant.

That being said, I doubt that anyone in the restaurant at the time knew I was doing it. I'm in the "cover it up" club. Baby didn't suffocate, get hot, fight the cover. He was only interested in eating.

I think that women should be able to feed their child if necessary. But I don't agree with those militantly pro-breastfeeding women who sit down in the middle of a public area and basically "whip" out their breast for all to see.

I think, in response to OPs question, that if the policy was stated that all feeding/eating must be done in a designated area, I don't see that as discriminatory.

JMO

 

[SweetieinVT]

Most women who breast feed in public, whether under a cover or not, don't just "wip it out" or "flash their boobs". I don't think being discreet requires a woman to keep baby under a blanket, which frankly, after the first few months doesn't work anyways. A business that caters to young families, likely often nursing moms with multiple kids, should have known better than to ban breastfeeding in their public spaces.

 

[aristocatz]

I should add that I live in a very liberal area-very "earthy crunchy". Never taken my kids there, but I'm guessing maybe the moms are ok with open exposure because they are surrounded by other moms and their infants & toddlers.

 

[JanaDee]

Probably would have been fine if it was for all feeding types.

I'm all for breast feeding in public, but is a little discretion unreasonable? The only people I know that whip a whole boob out in massively public areas tend to be the types who want to flaunt something - I'm doing this and you can't stop me types.

Yup, this exactly. Have some class and use some discretion.

 

[tvguy]

My wife always felt breastfeeding was a private thing, and my employer has always made an unused office available to moms who were breastfeeding or needed to pump so it has never been an issue in my world. Now, I fully understand a mom not wanting to breastfeed in a public restroom, but I don't think asking a mom to cover up with a blanket is unreasonable.

 

[aristocatz]

My wife always felt breastfeeding was a private thing, and my employer has always made an unused office available to moms who were breastfeeding or needed to pump so it has never been an issue in my world. Now, I fully understand a mom not wanting to breastfeed in a public restroom, but I don't think asking a mom to cover up with a blanket is unreasonable.

In my state, its a legal requirement for an employer to provide this for a minimum of one year for new mothers who are breastfeeding.

 

[SweetieinVT]

My wife always felt breastfeeding was a private thing, and my employer has always made an unused office available to moms who were breastfeeding or needed to pump so it has never been an issue in my world. Now, I fully understand a mom not wanting to breastfeed in a public restroom, but I don't think asking a mom to cover up with a blanket is unreasonable.

When was the last time you ate a meal in a public bathroom? I'm not about to feed my child there either. And while I preferred to feed them under a cover, that was not always an option. People need to stop responding to public breastfeeding as if it were akin to filming porn in a public space, it is feeding a child, and most women do it as discreetly as possible.

 

[LBIJim]

My wife always felt breastfeeding was a private thing, and my employer has always made an unused office available to moms who were breastfeeding or needed to pump so it has never been an issue in my world. Now, I fully understand a mom not wanting to breastfeed in a public restroom, but I don't think asking a mom to cover up with a blanket is unreasonable.

In my state, its a legal requirement for an employer to provide this for a minimum of one year for new mothers who are breastfeeding.

The kids being breastfed are physically at the workplace? Where are they when not being fed?

 

[aristocatz]

The kids being breastfed are physically at the workplace? Where are they when not being fed?

Sorry, I worded that wrong. I was talking about pumping milk.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When was the last time you ate a meal in a public bathroom? I'm not about to feed my child there either. And while I preferred to feed them under a cover, that was not always an option. People need to stop responding to public breastfeeding as if it were akin to filming porn in a public space, it is feeding a child, and most women do it as discreetly as possible.

Unfortunately, the ones that seem to make the news are the ones who aren't so "discreet". Yes, I've seen women sit down, fully open their blouse and bring out their breast in the middle of a busy public space. Mostly with the "come and say something to me" look on their face.

 

[aaarcher86]

When was the last time you ate a meal in a public bathroom? I'm not about to feed my child there either. And while I preferred to feed them under a cover, that was not always an option. People need to stop responding to public breastfeeding as if it were akin to filming porn in a public space, it is feeding a child, and most women do it as discreetly as possible.

He said he understood NOT wanting to use a public restroom.

People are pretty clearly not talking about women breast feeding discreetly. I don't think it's akin to porn, but if I wanted to see a strangers nipples flopping about that's probably what I'd turn to.

 

[aristocatz]

I'm not a mom, so I'm probably lacking some insight here, but I thought all the "public breastfeeding" debate had to do with the baby being under a blanket or something. I didn't realize women actively wanted to pop out their boob in public.

I suppose that's their business, but I think it will mean that everyone has to be allowed to be topless at will, doesn't it?

And as an aside, I hate to see small businesses get taken down by one of those Facebook or Yelp dogpiles. The owner was obviously responding to complaints.

The business's FB page was taken down today-I guess it was bombarded with angry posts & the owner lost her professionalism & was angrily firing back which led to a full on words war.

 

[OZMom]

Myself and 90% of my friends breastfed our children. I don't know a single person who uses a cover and not a single one of us has ever "whipped a boob out". I have a very large chest, and even with a newborn in a football hold, you would see less skin from a breastfeeding mother than you would see on a young woman on any public beach beach. The whole "have some class" argument is old.

Not all babies will eat under a cover, not all women can pump and put it in a bottle.

Everyone agrees that breastmilk is best for babies (when possible, not hating on formula moms. My preemie needed formula so I get it)

Putting restrictions on where / when / how a mother can breastfeed her child makes it inconvenient. Every time we tell a mother, who may already be struggling to breast feed, to cover up, go to the bathroom or give their kid a bottle, we are discouraging their efforts to do what is best for their child.

Also it's illegal in most states.

 

[perditax]

The business's FB page was taken down today-I guess it was bombarded with angry posts & the owner lost her professionalism & was angrily firing back which led to a full on words war.

It's funny how often that happens when ten thousand people target a small business. Most people's temper will crack under that kind of onslaught.

That said, I had no idea how far the "middle" had shifted in this debate, so I'm going to back out quietly now.

 

[lizabu]

They passed a law where I live making it legal for women to go topless if they choose and do you know what happened? Nothing. I've never seen a single woman out and about topless, not even at the beach even though legally she could. I think the people who fought for the law just wanted equality with men and once they got it on the books it was enough. This breastfeeding thing could be solved by making it a non issue. Women should be able to breastfeed wherever and however they want. In the end I'm sure the majority of women will choose to nurse discreetly.

 

[JanaDee]

Myself and 90% of my friends breastfed our children. I don't know a single person who uses a cover and not a single one of us has ever "whipped a boob out". I have a very large chest, and even with a newborn in a football hold, you would see less skin from a breastfeeding mother than you would see on a young woman on any public beach beach. The whole "have some class" argument is old.

Not all babies will eat under a cover, not all women can pump and put it in a bottle.

Everyone agrees that breastmilk is best for babies (when possible, not hating on formula moms. My preemie needed formula so I get it)

Putting restrictions on where / when / how a mother can breastfeed her child makes it inconvenient. Every time we tell a mother, who may already be struggling to breast feed, to cover up, go to the bathroom or give their kid a bottle, we are discouraging their efforts to do what is best for their child.

Also it's illegal in most states.

I breastfed both my babies and also have a large chest. The middle of a restaurant or mall is not your living room couch. I managed to feed my babies in public as needed by being discreet.