No it is not ok to Breast Feed ...

[beckmrk04]

My feeling about this is if a woman is brash enough to do this in plain view, I have no problem staring and trying to see as much as I can, even grabbing the camera if its handy...

1- disgusting.

2- Babies need to eat. They can't tell if you are in public or not. They really don't care. And this attitude is why there is so much controversy around it.

A *polite* person would look away, not OGLE a mom trying to feed her infant.

 

[mjkacmom]

I have no problem with women bf in public. I also see no need for a blanket. However, I have seen many, many women bf without covering the baby up, with little or no breast showing. I honestly can't understand why a woman has to expose her whole breast, instead of having her shirt cover it. When I see that, I am assuming the woman has an agenda.

 

[DVC Sadie]

But yes it is "natural", plenty of "natural" activities that we dont want to see while on vacation.

So, very true. Some of the most "natural" behavior is not for public viewing in my opinion.

This reminds me of the time I saw a poor lady breastfeeding her 5 year old son and the stares and remarks she received. I truly felt sorry for her.

 

[JonS99]

1- disgusting.

2- Babies need to eat. They can't tell if you are in public or not. They really don't care. And this attitude is why there is so much controversy around it.

A *polite* person would look away, not OGLE a mom trying to feed her infant.

Yes, I do think the way some women BF in public is disgusting.. I don't want to see it and I especially don't want my kids seeing it, so if they insist on making me feel uncomfortable I have no problem doing the same to them..

 

[AftertheSunset]

Yes, I do think the way some women BF in public is disgusting.. I don't want to see it and I especially don't want my kids seeing it, so if they insist on making me feel uncomfortable I have no problem doing the same to them..

So if your wife was breastfeeding (which I'm assuming she didn't) your child in a public place, you would think it fine that other men ogle her?

 

[Hoodie]

1- disgusting.

2- Babies need to eat. They can't tell if you are in public or not. They really don't care. And this attitude is why there is so much controversy around it.

A *polite* person would look away, not OGLE a mom trying to feed her infant.

The flip side of that is that a polite mom would try to be discreet about nursing and not flash everything in the middle of the park. And if she's at the point of removing half her shirt and sitting in the middle of an attraction, she's inviting the ogling.

The problem is it's the "flashers" that are going to get the attention. The vast majority of people who breast feed do it discreetly. I'd venture to say most people wouldn't even notice them doing it. Not hiding it, just being dicreet. The only women people are actually going to notice are the ones that flash it.

FWIW, I still have the image of one person's HUGE breasts that flash in my mind that I saw when I was about 8. This was about 25 years ago. My mother nursed my brother, all our neighbors nursed their kids and I remember being aware of it and that it was natural, but they were all also very discreet in public. I still remember this one woman in Girl Scouts who whipped her EE's out during a town-wide meeting she was leading to nurse her 2 year old - who had started unbuttoning her shirt while she was addressing the 100+ little girls and parents. As a kid, it was absolutely horrifying. I always felt bad for her daughter as her mother became the laughing stock of third grade!

 

[beckmrk04]

Yes, I do think the way some women BF in public is disgusting.. I don't want to see it and I especially don't want my kids seeing it, so if they insist on making me feel uncomfortable I have no problem doing the same to them..

I bolded this part because therein lies the problem. They aren't feeding their kid to MAKE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

YOU are responsible for making you feel uncomfortable. You can look away, or even, dare I say, change your attitude about women feeding their kids in public. Your kids could be taught that it's just another way babies get fed- it's nothing perverted or indecent, unless you make it out to be.

 

[JonS99]

Comparing apples to oranges. A breast is used for FEEDING purposes. The "other" is not.

I can grab a sandwich at Cosmos and find a spot where nobody could see my food while I am eating it...

 

[Laura]

If people would stop caring what other people think about how you feed your baby then nursing in public wouldn't be so taboo. More Mom's need to do it so it's more the norm instead of a freak thing.

My feeling about this is if a woman is brash enough to do this in plain view, I have no problem staring and trying to see as much as I can, even grabbing the camera if its handy...

And it's exactly because of pervy thoughts like that that will make me cover up. If you get too close, though, my 6'2" DH might deck you.

So if a man whipped out his private parts in front of your 8 year old daughter, you would be ok with it????

You can go topless at the beach, and no parent of an 8yo daughter would care.

 

[Vijoge]

I think it is a wonderful thing for a mother to nurse but there needs to be respect for others because no one wants to see that.

Bolded mine. Why? Is it ugly? Vulgar? Dirty? Nasty? Evil? It's a mother feeding her infant, for pete's sake. No more offensive than a mother bottle-feeding her baby in public. And certainly not disrepectful to anyone.

 

[JonS99]

I bolded this part because therein lies the problem. They aren't feeding their kid to MAKE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

YOU are responsible for making you feel uncomfortable. You can look away, or even, dare I say, change your attitude about women feeding their kids in public. Your kids could be taught that it's just another way babies get fed- it's nothing perverted or indecent, unless you make it out to be.

So if my wife and I want to have sex at one of the parks, the other people should change their thinking so they aren't uncomfortable or just simply look away???? And then teach their kids that its how people make babies, its not perverted or indecent...

 

[luvmy3]

I guess for me what it comes down to is common courtesy. I'm not going to say anything to you about breastfeeding or sit and stare at you so you feel uncomfortable. It would be nice if you could recognize that not everybody is comfortable seeing other people's naked bodies and at least be discrete about it.

I am coming to this thread late and have not read the whole thing so I'm sorry if this is a repeat.
I think there is quite a big difference in exposing oneself while breast feeding and just plain exposing onseself. Ususally a breastfeeding mother is not walking around with her breasts hanging out, drawing attention to herself for all to see, she's most likely sitting somewhere trying to figure out the most comfortable position to feed her child in. Contrary to what many non breast feeders think, its not always that easy to hold a hungry baby and get your breast out in a discreet manner. If she happens to expose herself while doing so, I don't see it as a big deal or as a deliberate "show". As a mother who breastfed my 3 kids, the last thing I was concerned with was how uncomfortable a person may be if they catch a glimpse of my nipple, I was more concerned with feeding my baby. Nobody forces anyone to stare at it, and if a split second glance (anything longer than that would be staring by choice) makes someone so uncomfortable that is not a problem with the breastfeeding mother, that is a problem within the "starer"

 

[Laura]

So if my wife and I want to have sex at one of the parks, the other people should change their thinking so they aren't uncomfortable or just simply look away???? And then teach their kids that its how people make babies, its not perverted or indecent...

Feeding a baby is not sexual, silly. Eating isn't gross unless you chew with your mouth open.

 

[designermv]

So if my wife and I want to have sex at one of the parks, the other people should change their thinking so they aren't uncomfortable or just simply look away???? And then teach their kids that its how people make babies, its not perverted or indecent...

Comparing feeding a hungry baby and having sex in a park is ludicrous. Do you really think breastfeeding is perverted? Wow.

 

[JonS99]

And it's exactly because of pervy thoughts like that that will make me cover up. If you get too close, though, my 6'2" DH might deck you.

And my 6'6" frame would be having your husband arrested after I did a little self defense on him...

 

[AftertheSunset]

So if my wife and I want to have sex at one of the parks, the other people should change their thinking so they aren't uncomfortable or just simply look away???? And then teach their kids that its how people make babies, its not perverted or indecent...

You keep comparing 2 things that really you can't compare.

Why such the brash attitude towards breastfeeding? Were you not breastfed yourself as a child? Wanted your wife to, but she refused?

Goodness, it's a mother doing what's best for her baby. What parent wouldn't want that? What parent would *stare*?

 

[clgwli]

As a mom who both breastfed and bottle fed I have to say I hate it when I see a mom just whip out her breast like it is nothing. I'm sorry it isn't "nothing" It's rude to show nudity in public with out attempting to cover it up a little.

Go ahead and flame me too. Yes it is natural to breastfeed but I do not get why people don't understand the idea of modesty. Get a blanket or go to a quiet corner away from people and do it.

I have had many friends breastfeed in public and only once when the baby pulled the cover off did I actually see any breast.

Obviously I am not against breastfeeding just the idea that people think that everyone should be okay with it and don't care if they flash the world.

It's about as appealing as seein a butt crack to me.

Sorry but that is how I feel and if you can't understand that it can be a bit offensive to some then we will never agree.

Get a blanket and cover up or do it in a corner where no one can see. There are plenty of quiet areas in Disney World that people can do this without flashing. I know because I've had to feed a baby there myself and did it without disturbing the public

And no I am not talking about bathrooms either. That's disgusting for the baby and mom.

Not everyone likes to see breasts of uknown women. Just think about that before flaunting it in public.

 

[Laura]

And my 6'6" frame would be having your husband arrested after I did a little self defense on him...

Yeah, right. I bet you're really 5'7". But if not, my 6'7" step-FIL might come finish you off. And then there's my 5'11" dad with a shotgun.

 

[ConcKahuna]

*Gratuitous breast photographs incomming!*

We are mammals. Mammals are named for the mammary glands, located in the breast. The sole purpose of the breast is to feed offspring.

Just because some sexual deviants have a distorted view of the breast does not mean it's use has changed.

 

[castleview]

I got uncomfortable looks a few times and I used a blanket! It was usually from women a little younger than my own parents. I understand that nursing wasn't as common back when they had babies.