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Breastfeeding in Public- views?

I dont want this to be a debate on breastfeeding, whether its good or bad...as this is a different issue, which i was really shocked with today.

I was out with a friend who's recently had a baby and we went for a walk around the park, she sat down and started breastfeeding, i hadn't even noticed what she was doing till i took notice, as i'd just thought she was having a cuddle! She didn't even whip the tit out..was very subtle. Anyway, a few minutes in..an older woman came up to her, and told her to do it in private or a toilet, as what she was doing was 'disgusting and offensive' I was so shocked at this womans attitude, shy little me, told her she was the one being disgusting and offensive by degrading such a natural act. This woman hobbled off calling us 'hippies'. My friend said she'd been told not to do it on buses as it was 'indecent exposure' etc aswell

How do you feel about mothers breastfeeding in public? Maybe you don't have as strong views as that woman, but do you find that it's a bit off-putting, or still a social taboo?

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Reply 1

Wildstarchild

Everyone wants to see your breasts until your baby needs them.

Reply 2

bysshe

Nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public. It's hardly "offensive"!

Reply 3

SovietRussiaFH

I think it's a bit offputting, there's no reason why they can't do it somewhere more private.

Reply 4

Fandellos

for goodness sake.

its fine, seriously. babies need to eat. its also a bonding experience. so if that old lady has ever eaten in public and socialised with friends, she can go to hell.

Reply 5

TommyWannabe

As long as its discreet then I have no problem with it. Sat on a bench in the middle of town/in a restaurant in hardly discreet.

If the park was quiet though and your friend was beind careful then I'd have no problem with it.

Reply 6

Fandellos

SovietRussiaFH

I think it's a bit offputting, there's no reason why they can't do it somewhere more private.

errr, middle of park/somewhere remote and baby waning food now? i.e. screaming and crying?

call me silly but i think a baby's wellfare comes before potential offensive.

Reply 7

nolongerhearthemusic

I agree with the law - that a mother should be allowed to breastfeed in any place she's otherwise legally allowed to be. Of course she should. If you don't like it, walk away. Babies need to eat...

anna_spanner89

I wouldn't want to see it on the train or a cafe (enclosed places...)but in the park...I really don't see anything wrong with that and I certainly wouldn't go up and start shouting at them! It's perfectly natural.

Reply 10

anna_spanner89

Fandellos

for goodness sake.

its fine, seriously. babies need to eat. its also a bonding experience. so if that old lady has ever eaten in public and socialised with friends, she can go to hell.

Exactly, my friend told her we wouldn't ask her to eat in private or in a toilet.

Also people forget, with newborns, its demand feeding, you feed them, when they need it

Reply 11

nterry242

I don't mind it if it's subtly done, like how you describe your friend doing it, but I don't think it's something I'd feel comfortable doing myself. Also I would've felt really awkward if I was you, but I wouldn't have told her to stop or anything like that.

Reply 12

Wildstarchild

Why do they need to be discreet and tucked away in a corner?

Its not like you see anymore of the boob than you would if someone was wearing a bikini top.

Reply 13

Vykeera

Babies need to eat., and I think the idea of taking your baby into the toilets to feed him/her is really disgusting tbh. Breastfeeding is natural - not wrong! It's not babies' fault that we've sexualised breasts so much.

When/if I have a baby, I thoroughly intend to feed him/her outside, no matter who complains about it. :p:

Reply 14

randomgirl

Well as long as it's subtle then who cares. I mean, it's only natural.

Maybe a woman getting her breasts out in public and parading around with them would be taking it too far, but a little baby having a feed on a park bench is hardly the most horrific sight in the world.

Reply 15

anna_spanner89

Oh and thanks to who it is who negged me for having a 'view' on this...you know who you are!!

Reply 16

Candypants.

I don't see why people have a problem with it, really. It's a completely natural thing, and necessary. I mean would the haters rather the baby was there crying it's eyes out from lack of milk?!

Reply 17

Llamaaa

It's ok if discreet and not on cramped spaces. If someone next to me on a bus did it I would complain because it smells, is messy and makes me feel ill (I'm not saying that it is gross that they do that- good for them!! But I have a vomit reflex on certain noises and suckling is one of them!).

I don't think it's fair to ask them to go into a toilet- who wants their child to eat in a toilet?! But then, I don't think it's really dinner table behaviour either. However, if they are in a place which has a special room for such activities, I think it's fair to ask them to go in there.

So long as it's not whipping the boob out and is discreet, then it's not too big an issue in my opinion!!

Reply 18

Antonia87

Anyone who takes offense to that is, quite frankly, an idiot. If a mother has taken her baby out, what do people expect her to do? Go home every time the baby gets hungry? And as for going into somewhere more "private", such as a public toilet, babies can breast feed for very long periods of time, the mother just can't sit in there for a couple of hours. The baby needs to eat, for Christ's sake.
Why is it that so many are fascinated with breasts and once they see them being used for what they are actually THERE for, they freak out?