Do people really get offended by a woman breast feeding her child in public?

Question

I only came across one person who was upset when I used to feed my son, He was a fairly elderly man and he seemed rather outraged but instead of looking away he just kept on glaring at us!

If you do find it offensive can you explain why please?

Thanks for all the answers so far, its been very interesting.

I actually breastfed my son for over a year...if he was hungry I fed him, it never really bothered me about being in a public place. However I was discreet, I always found a quiet spot etc and didn't wave my boobs inevery ones faces!. I just never really noticed any negative reactions apart from this one man...my friend has just given up breastfeeding because she found she was always getting negative attention. Maybe she was just paranoid....or maybe I was just too absorbed in my son to notice!

Answer 1

I do not find it offensive at all, it's completely natural.

What is wrong with people on here? Breast feeding is completely naturally and it's been going on for hundreds of years. Do you think people got offended in the 1600's 1700's & 1800's? No because they didn't have the technology. If someone wants to breast feed there child and they choice not to use breast pumps then thats Intirely up to them. Who hasn't ever seen boobs before anyway? Just shows how prudish some people can be. For example
If you were eating a burger and a vegitarian was looking at you strangly would you get up and take your food and go and eat it in a rest room? No you wouldn't because it's unhygenic!

I say Respect the breast. I take my hat off to anyone that choose's to breast feed. I have seen a few people breast feed and they don't go flaunting there boobs around every where

Answer 2

Kate, I think you should only eat or drink at home. Never travel or go shopping, unless you can do without sustenance while you're gone. I guess you could eat in the bathroom if you had to, but only if no one knows what you're doing. Can you live by these rules? I can't, and I won't ask my baby to live that way. Maybe we can just agree that if you don't like seeing me breastfeed, you won't watch.

Anyone older than 50 or so has the same attitude as Kate. They don't mean to be rude prudes, they were just brought up that way. After the start of WWII, formula was pushed heavily because so many mothers had to work, and pumping was not an option. Formula continued to be pushed onto mothers because the almighty scientists of the time thought that they had improved upon breastmilk after only a few years of research and development. Now we are becoming more enlightened (gradually), and the culture is starting to accept public breastfeeding. Some mothers of young boys have a problem with their boys seeing a small area of breast, and they mean well. I don't see why breastfeeding has to be hidden from children. Children should see breastfeeding. Why not?

Any man, woman or child who have a problem with me breastfeeding in public is welcome to put a blanket over their own heads.

Answer 3

I breastfed both of my children past a year. Some of the comments I received were horrible. I even had someone come in my house and tell me to go somewhere else. I told him to get out. Then I had another man come in and say.."oh come on, do you have to do that here" I told him that a woman can run half naked down the beach and no one says anything, but I use them what they were meant for and people frown and tell me to go somewhere else. I breastfeed discreetly, most of the time, no one would even know what I was doing. At home, I'd just pull it out and feed them unless there was a man other than my husband, then I'd cover up. I was on the public bus once when my daughter was small, and it was cold outside so I just put her inside my jacket at the bus stop b/c she wanted to eat so when I got on the bus, no one even knew she was in there, til she was done and started moving around. It is a normal, natural thing and babies shouldn't be asked to eat in the bathroom. I don't eat in the bathroom.
Some say, just give them a bottle.......my children never would take a bottle, no matter how much I tried.

Answer 4

I breast fed all three of mine, up until they were 10 months old, and i never came across a problem. With my first i was actually praised by an elderly lady, saying that it was nice to see some old values still being in place in my generation (i was only 20 at the time), and to be honest the majority of our grandfathers generation were breastfeed, so in my opinion they should be more open to it. People only find it offensive because they are not used to it, if any of my kids now saw a lady breast feeding they would'nt bat an eyelid, its when we hide things, we make them more of a taboo, resolution: Dont let narrow minded people deter you. If they don't like what they see, they should'nt look!

Answer 5

I certainly don't find it offensive, it's not like the woman is going around flashing everyone, she is feeding her child which is what breasts are there to do. I've seen quite a few women out breastfeeding & all of them have been as discreet as they could be. I think it would be more convenient if places could provide a comfortable private place for women to feed in if they wanted, there's no way I would want to take my baby into a public toilet to feed them.

The way I view it is its better to have the baby feeding that crying because they are hungry! I really can't see anything offensive about it, breasts are there for this function, not to be sexual objects (just happens that they are viewed that way also!)

Answer 6

I never saw anyone being offended by that. Actually i was always welcome by some smiles and just a few stares a cuple of times. I don't mind breastfeeding infront of public. That's what is best for my babies. I have evry right to take care of my baby in my own way. Although I believe that your boobs should be covered. Not because that it may offend someone but bcoz it doesn't look decent.

If somebody doesn't like it, they should look away.

I have been breast feeding my 4 months old from the very start. Although I am thinking of giving her formula in public. This decision is not because of other people who don't like it, stare at it or get offended by it. Its just that she is becoming more and more active and wouldn't drink at once. So I think it would be much more convenient to give her formula. Although I haven't taken any step towards it.

Good Luck

Answer 7

do you know what some people are just ignorant my baby is due in 9 weeks and i intend to breastfeed whenever and where ever i need to and do you know what if you don't like it then don't look i don't stare at you when your eating so don't stare at my baby when they are i don't care if i offend you or any one else my child is my priority not you and anyway didn't your mother ever tell you it was rude to stare i find these kind of people offensive but your not going to stay in are you no and I'm not going to stop feeding my child but not everyone is as thick skinned as i am and those **** out there that make you feel like your committing a criminal offence could really put a new first time mum off and those of you responsible for this should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves you have just deprived some poor child of the best start in life and the mother of a very special bond

Answer 8

I live in the uk and i breast fed my youngest daughter till she was a year old i must admit i never got an insults all though i was stared at now and again Its a natural to breast feed i felt like i was doing the best for my little girl and i didnt care what people felt I got strange looks even if my daughter was under my clothes i was always discreet

Answer 9

Firstly, there is nothing offensive about it. Full stop.
People get "offended" by it because of the exposure of the female breast. It is scary for so many people. Instead of seeing it for what it is - one of the functions being to supply food to an infant - these people sexualise in much the same way a priest may condemn porn AFTER he watches the whole movie.
If someone has the audacity to say anything to you about breast feeding - simply, look at them with wide open eyes and say: How dare you ogle me? This will send any old perv running. Ok, I know probably not do-able with a baby but funny just the same.
See what I mean?

Answer 10

When the baby's gotta eat, the baby's gotta eat. People who get offended obviously have never been in that predicament. I bottle fed, but my best friend breast fed. The only thing that was bothersome is that she wasn't discreet about it - maybe discreet is the wrong word. She'd totally take off her shirt at my house (in front of my hubby and whoever else) and didn't use a blanket or anything - and her kid was almost 3. SO that was a little awkward. I think there is nothing to be ashamed of, but it is respectful to use a blanket or something so that not everyone sees your business. BUt, do it wherever. Your baby is your top priority. There are these things at baby botiques called "Hooter Hiders" that are really cute, stylish, trendy cut fabrics with a strap and a towel on one side to help breast-feeding mothers avoid situations like that. And they are way cute!