Does seeing a mom nurse in public offend you and why?

Question

Question for michigirl83 (who probably won't read this again, but whatever) I'm still nursing my 20 month old, would that offend you? Also, my dd never would except a blanket over her head, so that wouldn't work. However, I am pretty discreet (I use my T-shirt to cover any bare skin :))

Answer 1

i'm offended when i see babies with bottles, pacifiers, and nannies. i'm offended when people yell at kids. i'm offended when people hit kids. i'm offended when i see a mother ignore what her child is trying to tell her. i'm offended when i see a father tell his son he's not really hurt, to suck it up. i'm offended by infants and toddlers in day care.

i am not offended by seeing a mommy love her baby, give her baby its birthright - human milk and mommy's arms. babies should be nursed for at least two years; most prefer and benefit from much longer.

Answer 2

Of course not. It is a child feeding from it's mother. How and why would and should that offend me?

To the parent of the 11 year old boy, is what you should be teaching your son REALLY "Breasts are bad, don't look at them cause it's naughty." ? Shouldn't you instead use the experience to teach your son "that woman is using her breasts for their intended purpose, to feed her child." ?

Seriously, I'm not a nudist or anything, but people need to relax with the whole "Oh My God! I can see her nipple!!!!" So what? It's a nipple. The only reason it's a big deal is because people make it a big deal! Like a parent who is seriously offended because their children can see a mother feeding her child. Isn't teaching your children that that kind of thing is shameful and should be hidden from public view a very poor lesson?

The people who have a problem with this are the people who are repressed. They use the "think of the children" argument to mask their own insecurities with watching a mother feed her child. I'm sorry to all of yall raised in such a repressed way, but breastfeeding is not inappropriate. It's done in the Bible, and I'm pretty sure the Koran as well. It was only later, when the puritains started slaughtering women on stage for showing bare skin above the ankle that society became so paranoid that see a woman's bare chest is somehow immoral and wrong. Hell, up until the 16th century a rich woman's dress was often cut so that it covered the shoulders, but exposed her bare chest. A woman's breasts used to be considered beautiful. And a woman feeding her child used to be considered natural. Thankfully the world is starting to return to the realization that just because breasts have been sexualized, that doesn't mean that seeing them is sexual. Especially when all that is happening is that a mom is feeding her child!

Answer 3

This depends on a couple factors. One - the age of the child. I have seen women breast feeding children that looked preschool age. This offends me because I fear for the child's years of therapy. Two- If I can see an actual breast. They make blankets for a reason. Any other time a bare breast in public would not be acceptable so why should this be different? And three, if there is an area that is designated for this purpose or not. In many shopping malls there is a "family area" for this express purpose. It would be better for the mother to go to this area for two reasons, one because it will be quieter for the child and two to not risk offending someone. Also, restaurants are not really the place for it because of health code issues. No shirt, no shoes, no service?

To answer question posed to me... no not a twenty month old. I was a bartender in college and saw my fair share of craziness, and once saw a women nursing a 4 year old. Literally 4. This disturbed me and many other people who saw it. I know people think breastfeeding is great and natural but a child who could possibly read and go to school should probably not be still breastfeeding. Childhood is hard enough without having that added to the kid's issues!

Answer 4

I formula feed my daughter, however, it has never offended me to see a mother nurse her infant in public. The only thing that bothers me a bit is on the rare occasion when her breasts are completely showing and I have my 11 year old son withme. This just happened recently in the mall and he is at an age where I would prefer that he didn't see a woman's naked breasts. However, the majority of the time, the mothers I have seen have been polite and discreet and I don't think in these cases that there is anything to be offended about.

Answer 5

We are MAMMALS !!!! Does it offend you when you see a calf suckling it's mother ? I am so fed up with people thinking this way.......we live in an advanced society and yet the most natural , beautiful moment between Mother and baby is supposed to be hidden.....banished to closets and dirty bathrooms........This really bothers me that human kind would be offended by this . Ignorant humans . I am always discreet when nursing my 16 month old , however I still get looks from individuals who are appalled by the scene before them . I think this is just another problem that is more saturated in the USA . Some how we are backwards in our beliefs as a society . I throw up my arms ....or shall I say my nursing bras !!! I intend to nourish my baby when and where ever she needs to . I once nursed her at a packed baseball game .........she pulled the blanket down and there I was exposed.....I didn't mind ......I think the men behind us were embarrassed.........of what........a Mother's Body ? A child eating ? Babies were BORN to breastfeed ! ( I'm not some psyco BF enforcer it's just how I choose to feed my baby )

Answer 6

Although men seem to think otherwise, the primary purpose of our breasts is to feed our babies. This is a wonderful miracle of God/nature that we are able to give our children the nourishment they need from our own bodies. The nursing mother should be respectful toward her own body and not make a spectacle of herself, but personally, I feel good when I see a mother and child(as long as the child isn't too old). Any age under 2 1/2 or 3, I think is appropriate.

Answer 7

It certainly doesn't offend me as I have boobs as well, nothing new there. But occasionally some women seem to do it VERY publicly, letting it all hand out with no regard for modesty and more showing than is necessary. I think some women do this just to get a reaction and don't agree with this. Most breastfeeding mothers manage to keep everything pretty well covered, and I think it's great.

Answer 8

Not at all, if that is her preference in the way the baby is fed she should have the right to do so anywhere without feeling like she might offend somebody. What does these people think they did before the invention of formula? I think alot more mothers would feel more comfortable with it if people would just think for moment about the baby and not about where the baby is eating from. That is there intended purpose.

Answer 9

Nope --It is the most natural and wonderful thing that a mom can do for her baby! I personally enjoyed nursing both my children and I did it very discreetly in public so I would not offend anyone. I got some stares --but I just looked at the people, smiled and said --- Lunch time!!!

Answer 10

I nursed both my sons for a year back in '93 and '95 when the push for mom's to go ahead and nurse was just getting started.

I have very large breasts so even with nursing tops it was pretty awkward for me. Usually I would go to the restroom or the car. That was just me though.

It is not offensive at all as long as you are completely covered and discrete about it. Nursing your child is natural and the best thing for him or her.

Answer 11

Back when i didn't have children i thought it was weird, of course I was formula fed and wasn't taught that breasts were for feeding children. But now it doesn't offend me at all. It's normal to me. I breastfeed my baby anywhere and any time. I don't really care to be discreet because other people's feelings mean nothing to me. The important thing to me is that my baby is being fed and that he is comfortable, not the idiots that think breasts are sexual.