How do you feel about breast feeding in public?

Answer 1

i think mothers should be proud of it. It is tottally ok. It is only feeding your baby. Would you want to eat your meal in a bathroom?

Answer 2

Truth be told, I really don't care, so long as you cover up. Babies need to eat, and women have the right to feed the baby any which way they desire. I have a close friend who has a child still breast feeding, and it is rather uncomfortable when she just pulls her breast out in public and feeds the baby not really caring who sees what. At first she was careful to keep a blanket covering up, and I was totally cool with that, but after a while she no longer cared and that's when it became awkward. Women, feel free to breast feed in public, just try to keep it covered as you would usually when not breast feeding.

Answer 3

First, let me say that I'm breastfeeding now, and I've breastfed both my babies. It really bothers me when I go out to my car to feed my baby and people give me nasty looks through the windows. I'm covered up and in my own personal property, so if you don't want to look, then don't!! At least I'm not just whipping it out in the middle of the resturant and letting my baby eat where everyone can watch. I guess it just bothers me that women can have a good, high paying job, be a mom, keep a house, but isn't allowed to breastfeed her baby, which is the most natural thing in the world.

From a medical standpoint, I would much rather see a woman breastfeed her baby then take out a bottle and formula. I know that there are women that can't breastfeed, or that have made the choice not to, and I'm not saying that it's wrong to use a bottle, I just think that that is a wonderful thing that a mom would want to have that time with her baby.

Answer 4

I have absolutely NO problem with it.

The public is uncomfortable because they still look at the female breast as a sex object.

It's actually the best thing for the baby and mother to bond, it provides intimacy and a lot of antibodies that cause immunity to certain diseases.

Studies show breast-fed children are healthier, grow up with fewer emotional problems, and also are more normal weight than bottle fed babies.

I think it's fine anywhere providing it is done tactfully. But a mother needs to use discretion as to her surroundings.
For the restaurant owners who throw women who are breastfeeding out of their restaurants, they need to provide a "room" where this can be done. (No, not the bathroom).
I mean, let's grow up, ppl !

Answer 5

If the woman can do it appropriately I'm not against it, as a matter of fact I used to. I would always wear button down blouses with a breast feeding bra and cover up with a light blanket. However, I was at the park one day when I saw a child of about four walk up to his mother, tug on her blouse, and she picked him up to begin nursing. It wouldn't have been too bad but she had no concern for who saw her breast. It was a park and even tho it is perfectly natural children really don't need to see another woman's breasts.

Answer 6

A baby's gotta eat. If men can walk around in public with no shirts on, what's the big deal about women breast feeding their children thus sustaining the life of that child and providing it with nutrients? Does a man walking around barechested provide any valuable service to this world? Especially when that man has breasts larger than mine?

Answer 7

As long as the mother doesn't just whip her boobie out for everyone to see, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. You gotta feed the kid right? Just do it tactfully. I've seen women that I think get off on breast feeding in public. I worked in retail and there was a customer with her baby a few feet away from me. Her baby started crying and she actually got as close as she could to me, whipped out her boob and fed the kid and then stared at me like I should clap or something. It was weird and creepy. She just stood there and stared at me while her baby sucked her boob. I'm all for breast feeding, but ladies, please keep your boob covered up and don't stare at people waiting for some sort of praise or awe. It's weird.

Answer 8

Go for it. Keep a blanket handy. Even though guys get away with running around barechested, us women can't.

I watched my mom breastfeed all 4 of my younger brothers, so I don't mind in the least. I think it's great that you can feed your babies that way. There's lots of health benefits for you and Baby. 'Sides, a breastfed baby smells sweeter than a formula-fed baby- they smell all sour, yucky.

Funny story-- I was reading one of my mom's breastfeeding books once- I was bored. Anyway, my baby brother (6 or 7 yrs old at the time) comes into my room and the book is open, face down, and he sees the front. Of course it had a picture of a woman in a rocking chair,... breastfeeding.

Well, since he was the youngest and didn't remember being fed that way, had never observed it, he said, "Ew- gross!"... I laughed... then I told Mom, and she laughed, too!!

The funny thing is- when he was a baby, Mom would be sitting on the couch, feeding him, and my dad would bend over to kiss her and my brother would push Dad away. Then he started kicking at (pushing them away with his feet) anyone who sat beside her, by his feet... and then giggle!

When he was older- toddler and in grade school- one of us older kids would want to hug her, and he'd push us away and say, "MY mommy!" He's still a momma's-boy. He's a really good guy- 20 yrs old, now.

Answer 9

for me personally I do not like it one bit! If I gotta breast feed I am going some place discreat where nobody can gawk at me whether they think it's cool or not. I guess it's because I am a shy person and don't like to be the center of attention unless I feel comfortable with it. Who knows maybe my view will change if I can have kids.

Answer 10

Our culture has over-sexualized the female breasts. Other cultures, such as the Japanese, do not do this so much, althought they are starting to from Western influence. If you watch Japanese anime, you will see that a woman can show her breasts and even have a man touch them without it being sexual. (Think of Ranma 1/2.) So, I'm in favor of breastfeeding in public. If men have to stare or get sexually aroused, shame on them!

Answer 11

I think it should be allowed and tolerated. People need to realize that nursing a child is the same as feeding it a bottle. However, the puritannical roots of the American mindset see breastfeeding as sexualized, since it involves the (inadvertent) display of what many analysts consider our Western sexual fetish - breasts.