Breastfeeding in Public?

Question

If you saw a mother breastfeeding her child in a public place, would you ignore her or say something to her and if so what would you say?

If you saw the same woman giving her child a bottle in the same public place, would you say something to her or ignore her and if so what would you say?

Why would you have different, if any, responses?

In case there is any other question as to why I added the part about the bottle and it's not obvious to the reader because I was not clear in my statement, the reason why the second part with the bottle was added was to get and accurate view of the perception of both types of feeding.

Answer 1

If I saw that woman breastfeeding and later bottle feeding, it wouldn't be a big deal. Breast or bottle, it is feeding and that is biggest priority.

If that woman were me, I wouldn't appreciate the stares. I mean for crying out loud, the bottle hasn't been around forever. Melons, boobs, breast, or whatever have you, are NOT sexual objects. If the general public is going to get offended over my baby FEEDING, then I think they need some serious counseling. I mean a breast is a breast, is a breast, but so many are brainwashed into thinking that breasts are just for man and woman's pleasure.

If I do not have a blanket drooped over my shoulder while breastfeeding, it is probably because my baby prefers not to have a blanket over the head while eating. I imagine it can get pretty uncomfortable trying to eat under a blanket while being pressed up to a warm body. It is not as easy for some women to be discreet, even with a blanket. Babies squirm, get distracted, pop off, coo, and play while breastfeeding (not so easy to keep a blanket on with that going on). They aren't worrying about whether or not you are being offended by their feeding from the mother's breast. They are also not worried that their mommy is going to expose the spout from which they get their nutrition. If you know she is just feeding her child, then why bother staring? So what, one of her breasts is hanging out? Get over it, women have been doing it for ages!

Answer 2

Babies need to eat and whether a mother is breastfeeding or bottle feeding, it needs to be done. I personally would breastfeed in a private place, if I was not at home I would find someplace to try to have some privacy with my baby, but I don't mind if a mother doesn't have an issue with breastfeeding in public as long as she has some class about it. You should use a thin nursing blanket to put over your shoulder and wear a breastfeeding bra so you can just drop the one cup down and expose only what is necessary to do the job. There's no need to be rude or make a spectacle of yourself just to feed your kid. A mother who is able to breastfeed is doing a great thing for her child, any mother who feeds their children properly when needed by breast or bottle is being a good mom!

Answer 3

If breastfeeding in public could be banned then so could desire to all of us eating in public!! Hell breastfeeding is greater organic then those shoes you have on your feet! i think of that's disgusting that breastfeeding is even suggested in such a vogue!! So what? There could be fashions exhibiting there ins and outs yet a mom feeding her toddler is faulty? So ill

Answer 4

Oh come on people....are we human beings or are we animals that operate on instinct alone? I see young (and some not so young..) women in public EVERY DAY wearing low cut revealing tops, shorts so short that their behind is hanging out or jeans so low that it barely covers their pubic area, and SOMEHOW men manage to control themselves and not ravage these girls in public.

These things are a lot more sexual than a quiet and content baby latched onto it's mother's boob. I don't care if she's sitting in a corner or openly nursing while walking down the aisle of a Wal Mart, if the baby is latched on, you aren't going to see a whole lot, in fact, you'll probably see a whole lot LESS boob that you see on the girl in the revealing clothes.

Get over it people!

Answer 5

Most mothers don't like the attention that showing part of their breast attracts so they try to find a private place.A guy can't help but stare,Bottles aren't shaped in as nice a package.I would ignore someone bottle feeding.But,with three teenagers,I miss caring for babies.It's easy to drape a cloth over the shoulder to cover the babies head and still breastfeed,there's nothing more natural.My wife was too full of anxiety to keep it up.I would respond differently because a partially clothed woman,put's a man's self control to the limit.

Answer 6

Breastfeeding is so natural... the child needs to eat, right? So why would it be a problem for people?

Besides, in this day and age, there are so many blankets, shirts, gadgets, etc. that a woman could use to cover up a bit, that it shouldn't be that big a deal.

Answer 7

i would ignore her if she were breastfeeding and probably also if she were bottle feeding. Babies have to eat often and those Mothers who decide to breastfeed (like nature intended) have every right to do so in public. There is no way the Mother should have to hide to feed her child or pump breast milk either. people who have a problem with something so innocent and natural aren't right in the head. You know people still lived fulfilling and meaningful lives before the industrial revolution...prolly more fulfilling.

Answer 8

I would do what I hope people do with me. Don't stare. I don't need a blanket to nurse, but I do know how to do it discreetly. It does bother me when the mother is not concerned that she is exposing her whole boob. It's nice to be discreet. As you can see, I wouldn't say anything, because I am a public nurser and my son is almost 18 months.

Answer 9

I breastfeed my one year old daughter still - fairly often, and at church, in public, anywhere. I used to be shy about it, but I've realized that so long as I'm not letting my breast hang out for the world to see (I try my best to be discreet) it's no one's business what I'm doing. If we're going to say something to women about breastfeeding in public (which is natural and beautiful and healthy) then shouldn't we tell women not to adjust their bras in public, tell little boys and old men not to pick wedgies in public, tell young men not to adjust the junk in public, tell women and girl to stop wearing reveally tops or letting their g-strings hang out of their pants????

Answer 10

I would ignore both women should be able to breastfreed in public w/out a hassel what are they going to do make the baby starve for an hour because they have to go shopping ppl need to mind there own business!
If they don't like it they don't have to LOOK! ")