No it is not ok to Breast Feed ...

[Mickey Fliers]

I don't have problems with breast feeding at all - in public or in private..

However, regardless of how "natural" it is - or how "nature intended it to be" -there is absolutely no reason why it can't be done discreetly.. Nowadays they even have clothing that is designed specifically for breast feeding in public..

When out in large crowds, you are encountering people with all different kinds of view points.. Some are more modest than others.. Some prefer that their children not witness a woman's bare breast.. Some have issues with it for religious reasons..

To expose yourself just because you "can" is no different than allowing your five year old to pee on a bush in WDW - just because he "can"..

There are numerous options available to breast feeding mom's so that it can be performed in a discreet manner.. If they "choose" not to use them, then yes - they're being rude and inconsiderate of others around them..

Again, I have yet to see anyone post otherwise. Most are saying "yes, we are discreet", but "no, we won't hide". KWIM?

 

[mjkacmom]

Again, I have yet to see anyone post otherwise. Most are saying "yes, we are discreet", but "no, we won't hide". KWIM?

And from the other camp, we're saying "don't hide, but be discreet." Seems like we're all in agreement...

 

[bunny]

I don't know how sitting in the front at Turtle Talk with your shirt pulled down and your whole breast exposed is discreet.

 

[C.Ann]

Again, I have yet to see anyone post otherwise. Most are saying "yes, we are discreet", but "no, we won't hide". KWIM?

-----------------------------

Sorry - I didn't read the prior posts.. Bad habit - just hit the response button..

I wouldn't expect anyone to "hide", but let me tell you, I have seen some real doozies and I'm sure their "motive" was not just "feeding" their baby.. KWIM??

 

[luvmy3]

I don't know how sitting in the front at Turtle Talk with your shirt pulled down and your whole breast exposed is discreet.

That may be true but a baby doesn't always wait for it to be possible for mom to be discreet. Of all the times someone has been out in public, just how many times have any of seen a nipple or full breast of a nursing mother. I have never in my entire life and I'm pretty sure that most of the time mother's are discreet but sometimes its just not possible.

 

[HelenePA]

I don't know how sitting in the front at Turtle Talk with your shirt pulled down and your whole breast exposed is discreet.

You don't know she isn't from someplace that is perfectly acceptable.. remember not all countries are hung up on breasts like the US is.. I really think most of us are saying exactly what Mickey Fliers said..

 

[komondorok]

WHAT?!?!? ****S BELONG IN HUSTLER, NOT MUSEUMS!

My mother, a child psychologist who does a lot of testing in her home, has a full size oil reproduction of Modigliani's Standing Nude - Elvira, hanging in a prominent spot in her living room where her clients come in to speak with her.

I am still waiting for a parent to drag their child out of the house in disgust, although I keep telling her it is only a matter of time. Luckily her reputation outweighs anybody's uncomfortableness with the artwork. But she is European, so she does not quite understand the American hang-up with the human body.

Needless to say, I have no problems with a woman nursing discreetly or even letting it all hang out.

 

[vt_disney_fan]

You can look, you can stare all you want. Do not, however send dirty looks or loud comments. THAT is rude, not the mom feeding her baby. Look all you want, maybe you'll see it's no big deal. It's eating.

I never said I would send dirty looks or comment loudly. I also never said it was a big deal. What I'm addressing is the fact that if a woman wants to BF her baby in public, fine, whatever, just if you're going to do it "publicly", i.e. uncovered, then be ready for the stares. One just isn't going to come without the other.

 

[randy0472]

I understand the whole don't expose the entire breast hang out thing and there are clothes designed to allow for breastfeeding, etc.

Sometimes a top has a low cut top area that allows for the child to be fed that way leaving the top of the breast (skin only) exposed. The area that is exposed is no different than some of the bikini tops and halter tops that are around.

The majority of women in the US are very discreet when it comes to breastfeeding. I still remember when my hubby's grandmother asked when I was going to give my baby "real food". She believed formula was the only type of food a baby should have and that I was "starving" the baby by nursing.

I have noticed in WDW some people aren't as discreet as others, but the majority of the women that have not been discreet, have had to deal with an infant that was looking around and was distracted at that time.

Again, I am a very modest person and I don't whip out my girls for everyone to see. If you come to my house I will tell you when I am about to nurse my child so you don't get a surprise when we are working on the latching. When I am in a restaurant, I ask for a table in the back so I don't "offend" anyone. However, I feel that I should not have to do this and I should be able to feed anywhere it is necessary.

Yes, my child gets pumped milk, but that is when I am away from her and she is at daycare. I do not "pump" and then go out with her and feed her from a bottle. I refuse to suffer in pain, because someone is offended by the way I feed my child.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I never said I would send dirty looks or comment loudly. I also never said it was a big deal. What I'm addressing is the fact that if a woman wants to BF her baby in public, fine, whatever, just if you're going to do it "publicly", i.e. uncovered, then be ready for the stares. One just isn't going to come without the other.

Really? Not where I live. There are people breastfeeding all the time - it would be weird for people to stare.

We were dining at a communal table restaurant - where people sit together with strangers - and the woman next to my husband was feeding her baby. I smiled (there is nothing sweeter than a baby feeding) and went back to dinner. My husband never even noticed! No stares, a little skin, but so what.

And I cannot believe that a grandma would be afraid for her grandson to see a breast. What the heck? Do you hide him from bottles too?

Please someone - anyone explain this weirdness some Dis'ers have with non-sexual nudity. Usually I try to see the other side of an argument - but this I cannot understand.

 

[Vijoge]

Really? Not where I live. There are people breastfeeding all the time - it would be weird for people to stare.

We were dining at a communal table restaurant - where people sit together with strangers - and the woman next to my husband was feeding her baby. I smiled (there is nothing sweeter than a baby feeding) and went back to dinner. My husband never even noticed! No stares, a little skin, but so what.

And I cannot believe that a grandma would be afraid for her grandson to see a breast. What the heck? Do you hide him from bottles too?

Please someone - anyone explain this weirdness some Dis'ers have with non-sexual nudity. Usually I try to see the other side of an argument - but this I cannot understand.

Yeah, that's what I've experienced also. No one really pays any attention and most don't even notice. Certainly no looks of shock, disapproval, or disgust.

 

[Nik's Mom]

do bfeeding moms put their babies on a schedule? It seems most here feed on demand?

I fed my sons on a schedule. It's been awhile, but I think they were fed every few hours. I mostly fed them in the privacy of our home. There were a few trips to DL, but they have the best nursing room there. The only public breast feeding I ever had to do was once at DL when we were watching a show and ds got hungry a little early. There was one time at Costco where there was a long line, so we got stuck there.

Just like bottle fed babies, there are times when the baby would get hungry a little earlier than normal.

 

[Disneyland Princess]

I personally don’t see a problem with it especial because it was at a family oriented place like Disneyworld. There’s nothing really sexual about it, its just a way to feed a baby.

 

[tinker&belle]

those little things aren't cheap either. I must have spent at least 30$ on pacifiers he wont take...

OT- You mentioned blue/green...I don't know if you ment Gerber Natural Lock. If you haven't tried those, they may work, they were the only ones my BF daughter would take (that was a happy day in our house!). They're supposed to be the most like nursing (although several probably claim that).

I found them at Target.

 

[MommyPoppins]

nothing got done around here the first few weeks.. now he's a little older he doesn't use me quite as much. it is very time consuming. I use to wear him in the snugli alot that helped. Right now he's hanging out on my shoulder.. Thankfully the 3 others are pretty self sufficient. If they were younger I honestly dont think I would have stuck with it.

Not to be completely off topic or anything. But you should get a sling. Much more comfy for you and better for them. Easy to nurse hands free and discreetly anywhere. I love them so much I started making them so I could afford having tons of different colors.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

And from the other camp, we're saying "don't hide, but be discreet." Seems like we're all in agreement...

Funny how that happens

 

[Accentuate+]

The answer to that is simple. Urine carries bacteria and can cause sickness. We don't pee in public because of the possibility of disease.

Breastmilk on the other hand.......is just that. And the last time I looked no one was watering the lawn with it.

Not on the BF = urinating bandwagon but urine is generally sterile or close to it.


I always click on the breast feeding threads because they are always such trainwrecks. As best I can tell 90-95% of the people here agree that while breastfeeding you shouldn't be able to see more than a side/top of the breast, if you get a nip shot it's brief and for mom/baby's and everyone's comfort it's nice to have a quiet, off to the side place if possible. Aside from the trolls who, honestly, are baiting and goading you into a frenzy for kicks (lookin at you Jon) most of you agree and still manage to argue vehemently about it.

Someone's already tried to say it 100 times but it's about mutual respect. Most people are respectful nursers and most people are respectful non-starers. Just because someone has witnessed a disrespectful nurser letting it all hang out doesn't mean they are trying to snatch your baby from your breast or they are anti-nursing.

It's because of threads like this that when I ended up on a bench in EPCOT next to a lady who was nursing (Discreetly covered with some gauzy thing, It was several minutes before I even realized what was going on) I didn't know whether to look/comment to show my support of nursing, go somewhere else to give her privacy or just pretend I hadn't noticed.

 

[okeydokey]

It's way too hot in FL most months of the year to feed a baby under a blanket. I nursed both of mine anyplace they needed to be nursed. It's my right under the law and just the right thing to do. Once the baby latches on and the shirt comes down a bit you cannot see a thing at all unless you are really looking. So, don't look.

 

[DVC Sadie]

What is a banana hammock? TIA

 

[randy0472]

banana hammock = speedo - very little material covering the nether regions of a man.