Is it ok to breastfed in public? Why or why not?

1. 63

   alexandriaruthkposted 12 years ago

   Is it ok to breastfed in public? Why or why not?
   
   A woman in Applebees was told to breastfed in the bathroom and another one, a college professor was the talk of the whole campus when she breastfed while in the class.

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2. 82

   Attikosposted 12 years ago

   It's poor etiquette, and doing it around young, adolescent boy-men is most inconsiderate of their reaction. One may argue that values training in our society is the place to counter those considerations, but we do have an established set of expectations, mores and practices violated by public breast feeding. Defying them is quite selfish, even arrogant. I would support any restaurateur or college administrator who frowned upon it within the precincts.

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3. 37

   ChristinSposted 12 years ago

   breastfeeding is natural and normal and has been how humanity has become as prolific as it is.  There is nothing "icky" or abnormal about breastfeeding except for people and their own hangups about it.  Feeding my child is more important than anyone's hangups about it.  That being said, I am happy to be discreet and not let it all hang out, but would you want to eat in a restroom? Neither would I and neither would my children.

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4. 82

   junksellerposted 12 years ago

   If anyone in a restaurant is uncomfortable with seeing a woman breastfeed than they should set up a table for them in the bathroom and leave the lady alone. Not only is it legal to breastfeed ANYWHERE in the US, it is in some places a violation of a woman's civil rights to ask her to stop or move.
   
   Breastfeeding is one of the best things you can do for a child and therefore, I believe, that any real man would absolutely support the right of a woman to do so. As a man, and as far as I am concerned, a woman should breastfeed anytime, anyplace she likes, and I don't care if she has to take off half her clothes to do so. Heck, I don't care if she accidentally sprays me with milk. Grow up already. It's really not that big of a deal.
   
   I'm really not sure how these I-can't-stand-to-see-a-breast people even function in an adult world. If I ever see a business owner treat a woman in such a way, they are going to be subjected to a very loud protest from me, followed by complaints with the BBB (and others) and a complete loss of my business forever. I have zero tolerance for barbarians.

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   1. 37

      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Bravo junkseller - the world needs more men like you I can't understand the logic that a woman doing something completely natural should have to stop to appease hyper-sensitive people who apparently don't know what breasts were designed for.

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5. 72

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   I don't think it is ok. Growing up, I was taught that breasts were special and supposed to be hidden. Then I saw two women in different states and different years breastfeeding their babies in public. From my perspective, it is like stripping down and walking around nude in front of everyone. And if my professor started breastfeeding her child, I would walk right out of class.

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   1. 82

      Attikosposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Careful, there. Progressives believe everyone has to goosestep to their views, and they'll make dismissive remarks about how socially dysfunctional and personally inferior you are if you keep this up.

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   2. 72

      lburmasterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Define progressives. With all humans have done, there must be a point where we cannot progress anymore. I'm not saying that time is soon, but sometimes there is nothing you can do. The word "inferior" makes me smile. There are always other ways.

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6. 61

   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   Breast feeding is a natural and normal, yes - between mother and child.  Because it makes people uncomfortable, why not do it in private. Sex is natural, using the bathroom is natural, but we choose to do those things in private (hopefully) because not every act is for public consumption.
   
   Just because something is natural, does not mean it is a group activity.  There are ways to breast feed privately, keeping covered. Yes, I breast fed my children but I as also aware that I did not want to make anyone uncomfortable. So I stayed covered and did it privately if possible.  I was not ashamed, nor did I feel it was anything other than natural and a wonderful experience for me and for my child - not for everyone.

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      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It's a big leap from a sex act to feeding a child.  If one is discreet there is no reason she should feel shame around feeding a child.  Do you not eat in public? Eating is a natural thing most of us do in public.

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   2. 61

      duffsmomposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I agree.  My point was many claim that BECAUSE breastfeeding is a natural thing that makes it ok for public consumption. I don't think because something (whatever it is) is natural is necessarily the hallmark of whether is it properly done in public.

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7. 74

   fitmomposted 12 years ago

   I breastfed both of my babies and only did so in a restaurant a couple of times. Most of the time, I would feed them sitting in the car while everyone else was in the restaurant (not always fun, but moms make sacrifices all the time). I chose to do so because at those times the baby was cranky or was wiggly and it would've been difficult to keep myself covered or for them to get a good feeding in.
   
   I tried to be considerate of others that I was around. Even at home, I breastfed in the baby's room most of the time instead of where the company was. It was usually just easier for the baby to eat without distractions.
   
   If someone is not trying to be discreet, I can understand that some people may be uncomfortable. The states have different laws about breastfeeding in public. Some states require you to be covered and others don't require any covering at all. Here is a link that tells the laws of different states: http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/hea … -laws.aspx

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8. 78

   joanwzposted 12 years ago

   Yes it's okay to breastfeed in public. I did it all the time with my kids. It's best to be as discreet about it as possible, though, as some people find the whole thing distasteful.  I always had a receiving blanket (small, lightweight blanket) with me to cover things up, so that no one was forced to watch what was going on. It helped some. But there will always be those who will object no matter what.

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   1. 37

      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I agree - I was always discreet but I was not going to feed my child in a nasty public restroom or feel shame about doing what was best for my child.  I was always respectful and discreet, but my babies ate when and where they were hungry.

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9. 60

   Specialk3749posted 12 years ago

   Some say it is poor etiquette and that we should not breastfeed in front of young boys?  What about the way women dress nowadays?  They reveal more of their breasts than I do while breast feeding!  How about swim suits?  When you go to the beach, the women dress in less than their underwear.  Why are these not banned?  Breastfeeding is not seductive or sexual!  It can be done in very modest ways.  Much more modest than the typical summer clothing for women.   So, if you want to ban or regulate breastfeeding, then ban or regulate the way women dress so that we do not see any of the breast at all.  Come on people....society has things backward!!

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10. 85

    mikejhcaposted 12 years ago

    Yes, it is okay to breastfeed in public.  It does not hurt anyone and women often wear revealing clothes.  However everyone should consider other people.  In some situations they should compromise.  For example the mother could use a blanket or the offended people could stop looking at the mother and her baby.  Another reason it is okay is because the law allows it.

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11. 39

    Miss Tillmanposted 12 years ago

    yes it is ok, and they have laws about how women are allowed to breastfeed. As a mother, yes it is uncomfortable to go so long without doing so.  I personally would never breastfeed in public, I would pump before my outing and that way I can just give my child the breastmilk in a bottle.  Also, new mothers should make their away from home trips very short, for reasons like this and just the time it takes to tend to a newborn. if you are gonna spend 3 hrs out, and have to feed your child while out you will not get anything done because you will be feeding your child for atleast an hour. so my advice is for breastfeeding mothers is to organize your time and errands around your baby's feeding time. Feed before you leave the house, burp, change diaper and your ready to go.---Mother of 2 1/2 kids!

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12. 0

    Larry Wallposted 12 years ago

    A woman has the right to do it, assuming she does it modestly. However, I do not understand why so many woman either worry about doing this or want to do this. Having only one adopted son, I am no expert, but I worked in an office with four pregnant woman and heard a lot of discussion about this. It is up to the woman. I would think she would want some privacy and not risk have someone gawking at her or some grandmother telling her how tough it was when glass bottles were used.

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13. 0

    Justsilvieposted 12 years ago

    Yes it is ok! That is what breasts are actually for!
    
    And if someone is offended they might try looking away and respecting another persons space. if someone has a young adolescent male along who seems fascinated, they might just say something simple like "the lady is feeding her baby" amazingly enough kids wont get a trauma from the truth
    
    And why should anyone have to feed a baby in a public restroom. Most of them are too nasty to take your child to much less feed them there.

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