Breast feeding in public bans?

1. 70

   danielleantoszposted 13 years ago

   Breast feeding in public bans?
   
   What do you think about breast feeding bans?  I think mothers should cover themselves, but not be banned or forced to go to restrooms (gross-would you want to eat sitting on a public toilet?)

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2. 65

   nasus loopsposted 13 years ago

   I agree.  I myself only breast fed for a few weeks, but had I done it for longer I would not have been happy if I had been forced to a rest room.  If places do not want women to breast feed then they should provide comfortable rooms for mum and baby to do it in.

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3. 85

   CyclingFitnessposted 13 years ago

   I can't see why there is the need to do it in public!
   
   There is a time and a place for everything- however I don't feel that a woman bearing her breasts in public is right.
   
   I don't agree with banning however- a simple word from the proprietor should be all that's required

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4. 61

   mudassirikramposted 13 years ago

   i totally agree agree
   breast feeding has nothing to  be banned

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5. 0

   .josh.posted 13 years ago

   I'm with you, Danielle. I understand the argument that women should try to do it in the privacy of their own home, but it's not that easy -- newborn babies want to be fed on demand, and it can be very regular. I don't think it's reasonable to expect a woman to run home every time her child needs to be breastfed, and she certainly shouldn't be expected to stay at home. (Or go into the bathroom -- that's gross.)
   
   At the same time, women should be discreet about it (i.e., cover themselves), and there are certain environments where it would be a bit awkward (e.g., at a table in a fine dining restaurant). I think there's a level of common sense required here, but there's no way breastfeeding should be altogether banned in public.

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6. 79

   jacqui2011posted 13 years ago

   I totally agree with you Danielle. I have two daughters and didn't breastfeed either of them. My friend was asked to leave an empty coffee bar last winter while she was breastfeeding, it was horrible and the attitude of the owner was shocking. I think it is disgusting to expect a mother to breastfeed their baby in a restroom.
   
   I think that there is no need to ban mothers, a quiet word is all that is needed. I do feel though that mums should cover themselves whilst they are breastfeeding as it isn't nice to watch when you are trying to eat or have a drink. In this day and age, a comfortable designated room should be available for moms who wish to breastfeed their babies without them feeling that they are doing something wrong.

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7. 72

   R.S. Hutchinsonposted 13 years ago

   American's are so uptight about nudity.
   
   Breast feeding is natural and is a beautiful thing. It isn't sexual, it isn't gross.. it's an infant receiveing nurishment. It shoudln't be banned or frowned upon or even necessary to cover up (that should be up to the mother). It should be welcome anywhere at any time.
   
   People need to get a grip and grow up. I'm sure mothers don't purposely WANT to breast feed in public, but if the baby needs to eat then the baby needs to eat!! The alternative is to let a baby go hungry and how humane is that?

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8. 60

   renegadetoryposted 13 years ago

   As a mother who breastfed one of her children and plans on doing the same with my next, I have no issue whatsoever with a woman breastfeeding in public, covered or not. 
   
   What I do take issue is with our society sexualizing everything.  Sure, breasts can be sexual, but they also serve a very important purpose.
   
   Here in the province of Ontario a woman can walk around topless and it is 100% legal.  Any establishment that has tried to tell breastfeeding women to leave or cover-up has faced consequences as a result from the public, human rights groups and breastfeeding mothers.
   
   I think people just need to get over themselves and realize that breastfeeding is natural, and here in Ontario if a mother doesn't want to cover up, she has every right not to do so.

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9. 59

   Madeposted 13 years ago

   I agree with you Danielle. A baby is hungry when a baby is hungry. Then it needs to eat. I know some places in Stockholm and maybe in other cities too, where there are rooms, where you can breast feed your baby. It's often a room next to the toilets, but totally separate from the toilets, I have breast fed my babies in many different places.

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10. 61

    cbl2988posted 13 years ago

    Unfortunately, people are both obsessed with and afraid of boobies! I am so tired of people either over-sexualizing or tabooing things where it isn't called for. Breastfeeding is one of them and a ban is just plain idiocy.

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11. 0

    Giselle Maineposted 13 years ago

    As far as I know it's legal in most states to breastfeed in public - some states even have laws protecting the woman's right to breastfeed.  I think it's quite OK to do it. It wouldn't bother me if someone was doing it in a restaurant.  Remember, most breastfeeding moms actually want to be discreet and will usually face away from people to do it. 
    
    Those who are sceptical, believe me - no breastfeeding mom whips out her boob & waves it around for everyone to see before putting baby on! It's quick and discreet.  Once baby is on, baby's head covers up a lot... and even if not using a privacy cape, mom's normal clothing will cover most of the rest of the breast that baby's head doesn't cover. I don't have a problem with it, that's for sure.  Newborn babies honestly do need eat with very little warning - even taking 30 seconds to move to another area can make all the difference from a quiet but eagerly hungry baby to a noisy screaming one who is too upset to easily get on the breast!

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12. 60

    lmarsh1203posted 13 years ago

    Breastfeeding bans are completely ridiculous. I do agree women should cover up out of respect to other people, but a woman has a right to feed her child wherever she wants. She should have to lock herself in her house for a year. Plus it's not hurting anyone as long as she's covered. It really gets me fired up when people give me nasty looks when I'm feeding my baby in public.

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13. 87

    Patty Inglish, MSposted 13 years ago

    Other end of the spectrum - A breastfeeding teacher here went to a restaurant with husband and baby, became very drunk, hit her husband, and the sheriff was called. The deputy took the family outside, she was disorderly, resisted arrest, then opened her blouse and sprayed milk onto the deputy while screaming. She was arrested, charged, and the school system fired her.
    
    Because of another few incidents where breast milk went where it was not wanted and because of some problems with drastically loud and untruly kids, some restaurants, theaters, movie houses, and other public places here are banning all children under age 18.
    
    I think only the unruly/destructive should be asked to leave a place.

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14. 60

    cubeszposted 13 years ago

    It's part of nature, what are they ganna do, arrest you for trying to calm your screaming baby down?

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15. 70

    onegoodwomanposted 13 years ago

    Let the mothers feed their young!
    
    
    Would you "cover" a cow, a horse, a goat?
    
    
    Would you cover an " attractive" breast on a magazine cover?
    
    
    I see more "nakedness" in the   Wal-Mart check out line!

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16. 73

    LadyFaeposted 13 years ago

    I'm from Europe, Holland to be specific and I think it's completely ridiculous that this is an issue to begin with. Of course mothers should be able to breastfeed anywhere they choose to. If people have a problem with it they should simply look the other way.

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