If eating in a toilet is gross?

Question

Why do so many people consider it okay for tiny babies to be breastfed in a toilet? Their immune system is so immature and toilets are so unhealthy and hygienic. It's a crime against humanity.

This is in support of Breastfeeding week. In a recent question, many people said women shouldn't feed babies in public, but feed them in the public conveniences.

Sorry. It should read "unhygenic".

Wise ol owl. So you think that if a toilet isn't smelly, it's clean?
Have you ever noticed how many people don't wash their hands? How many people could have diseases which can be spread before they reach the washbasin?
Have you ever heard of cross-infection?
You want to know where I get my facts? I worked in a bacterology laboratory.

Sam - sorry to break it to you, but occasionally women want to go out for a period longer than four hours. Feed a baby, change it - could take up to an hour. Next feed is 3 hours away. So off you go to do a couple of hours shopping and lo and behold, don't those hours just fly!

Nomadlass, breastfeeding mothers don't want a medal. They want to be left alone to get on with it, without people calling in the police or insisting they do it in the toilets.

ThatMadLass - you're just being offensive. Not quite sure why. No one's forcing you to breastfeed - that is your choice and I respect it. And actually, unless you do breastfeed, you've got no idea how rude and hurtful people can be. Just like your comments. Breastfeeding mothers are defensive, not because they're martyrs, but because people are hypocrites.

Answer 1

I say if you are breastfeeding do it in public. the more people that do this eventually society will accept it. your baby comes first and boobs are too often regarded as sexual objects.

i formula fed mine because i couldn't breast feed but i absolutely believe that mothers should be left in peace to feed their babies wherever they choose. most people who complain are old men who claim to be christians, but don't care that a baby is starving with hunger. Where is the Christian goodwill there? If a mother is in a restaurant and has to go to the toilets to feed her baby her own meal is left getting cold and her companions will eat alone. this defeats the whole purpose of going out in the first place.

Answer 2

Where in the world do you get your facts. The main concerns for an unsanitized bathroom would have at least an airbourne noticible odor. If a mother brings a child in that environment to breastfeed, it would be shocking. However, depending where you are, mall, store, etc. the restrooms are some of the cleanest public places. (Providing the maintenance is kept up.)

It is sad, because breastfeeding moms don't have the opportunity to feed their children without criticism wherever they go. People act so offended if she does it in public, even being covered.

I would agree with you only if the conditions were of such that the mother of the same child ONLY fed the child in the bathroom. I doubt that is happening. If so, she is unstable and you should not be commenting on here, but contacting social services.

Answer 3

I agree that mothers should not feed there babies in the restroom. But some people who are against breast feeding should think of it this way. Years and years before formula was discovered by Henri Nestlé in 1866 the only way to feed your child was from the breast. And it was not looked down upon like it is today.

When I was pregnant with my son last year I went to my grandmother for all the information that I could (her having nursed all 8 of her children) She told me about the 1940's when she was 20 years old and when it was not uncommon to she a woman on the bus feeding her child and she also told me to do my best to keep up with it. And because of her and my husband I was not afraid to nurse anywhere I need to if my son was hungry. I think because of them it is the reason I nursed him until now (10 months and way too many teeth to be messing with...he's a biter lol)

If someone had a problem with me I would just stare right back at them. I would feed him on the bus, train and outside. I would never deny my son food just because someone is uncomfortable with seeing me nurse. Then just turn your head away.
I just really think it all has to do with the society that we live in today. I promote Breastfeeding Mamas loud and proud.
AND NO I DON'T WANT A MEDAL OR ANY PRAISE FOR MY CHOICE FOR FEEDING MY CHILD THE WAY GOD INTENDED FROM THE BREAST.

Answer 4

Screw them - feed in public.

I fed my baby in public cafe, malls, on the beach - even when he began to pull away, leaving me exposed to all! (though I did carry a burp cloth which I used to help protect my modesty!)

I was always ready with a smart answer in case I was ever approached - ready to respond in a loud, proud voice that I was happy to provide the best for my baby and that it was none of their business - they can simply look elsewhere. Ideally some comment about the way they looked being offensive to me was the plan - but I never got the opportunity!

It amazes me that people don't spend more time objecting to the outrageous flaunting of naked or scantily clad women from the front cover of some newspapers but instead target societies most caring and responsible mothers!

Breastfeeding Rules!

Answer 5

I think it is bang out of order. I breastfed my first child for 11 months and my second child for 7 months, and I discovered the mother & baby rooms that were available and tended to plan my routes around those.

Best thing to do when going to a restaurant or cafe is to ask if it is ok to feed the baby at the table. I fed mine in Pizza Hut before and no-one said anything... in fact if you are clever about it most people don't even notice.

If anyone had ever said anything to me about it I would have told them to take their meal into the toilet and eat it in there. That would have shut them up!

Answer 6

That has always been my argument.

Society has made it tough for some women to feel comfortable about breastfeeding in public. It is difficult to get babies to wait until the mother can find somewhere safe & clean to feed so they have no choice.

Even the baby changing areas i.e in mothercare, aren't the best places as you have nappies being changed in the same room as breastfeeders.

Wouldn't life be better if we could find a solution?

Answer 7

I am so sick of hearing about people bi*ching about mother's feeding their babies. We can feed our child where we want too. God made us the way we are, we were never suppose to give our child formula, Our body's make the milk that our child is suppose to have, if you can't handle breastfeeding your baby then that's your problem, you don't have to take it out on us mothers you can handle it. And its not like no one has seen a boob before, we all have them they just all look different. By law we can breastfeed our child where ever we would like and if you say something to us about it you can be arrested for harassment. If we can't breastfeed our child in public, you can't eat in public, or feed your child in public. How about that when i see a mother feeding her child out of a bottle I will ask her to go to the restroom because no one wants to see her doing that. Come on do you want to hear my child cry because he or she is hungry? Should I let my child go hungry until I can find a place to feed him? I think that is against the law.

Answer 8

wh yis eating in the toilet gross. It is if you lick the bowl but breatfeeding?

Perhaps when people become a little more relaxed about seeing it in public then ladies wont have to go into hiding to feed.

To counter that, why are these mothers not feeding their children at home, why wait and come out to do it, i hate on demand feeding, 4 hourly and that's your lot!

Answer 9

Its sad stores should provide a hygenic room for mums to feed babies etc. It can be very embarassing with pervs ogling a young mum breast feeding in public so the poor things dont have any choice. I know what I would do but I certainly would not want to take my baby into a dirty public loo.

Answer 10

toilets are unhealthy and hygienic????!!! Is it really possible to be unhealthy and hygienic at the same time???

if you think it's a crime to feed babies in toilets, then maybe they should scrap all public toilets. wouldn't it be the same thing if the mother uses the toilet and leaves it, with all the deadly bacteria and viruses clinging all over her clothes and skin then goes back to carry her baby again?