breast feeding in public?

Question

Do you think it's ok to breast feed in public?

I think that people have become embaressed by this because for one: the breast has become a symbol of sex
and two: they are just prude or embaressed of it because they are extremely conservative.
I think it's natural and it in MOST cultures it is thought to be normal, it's just that us americans have decided what's right and what's in this world and even when visiting other countries we snicker and make snide comments about what's "normal" and what's not because some americans seem to think they own the whole world...
*cough cough conservatives cough cough...

anywayyyyyyyyssssss, what do you think about breast feeding in public?

The amazing idiocy of the very first answer persuaded me to state this:

Mothers need to feed there children. If they are out and about with there 2 kids and have no other means of feeding them what the fvck are they supposed to do? just let the poor child starve?

goddamn, that guy/girl was stupid

Answer 1

Breast feeding is completely normal and natural. Its the prudish people that are closet sex-phenes that equate everything with sex that think breast feeding is bad --because breasts have been equated with sex. Bottom line- If I'm in a store, restaurant, park, etc and my baby is hungry I'm going to feed her. I don't care what anyone else says. My baby relies on ME to feed her. I'm not going to make her wait until I can find a restroom or closet to feed her in. Besides, these days public restrooms are nasty.
I do, however, feel that out of courtesy women should put a blanket or shawl across their shoulder or breast to cover themselves. Then nobody has to see a breats, but the baby gets fed.

My #1 priority is my child's needs. If that makes you uncomfortable then I'm sorry.

Answer 2

If you allowed your baby to cry in the restaurant out of hunger someone would complain! A woman should be able to feed her hungry child ANYWHERE, train, bus, park, home, on top of a mountain! Although the way society is going, there will always be law suits and complaints about breast feeding in public, this is NOT the fault of the woman nor the baby but the fault of our over sexualized world we live in. Maybe next time you are in a restaurant ask the ‘man’ starring at you funny while nursing to hold your screaming baby while you can eat, and maybe he would see how you felt, even for a moment. This argument is a vicious cycle of hared towards breast, woman, children and sexuality (or lack there of). Do what you know and what feels right, and tell people off gently for being arrogant, ill-informed gnats. Have a beautiful day!

Answer 3

I think it's something that a lot of people are always going to have a problem with, but it's necessary and normal. Someone told me an interesting fact the other day, that until x many years ago (I can't remember how long), breasts weren't considered as having any sexual connotations at all, they were there for the sole purpose of feeding children. Even a woman's husband didn't consider them anything special. You're right, primarily they're nothing to do with sex, they're completely functional and contain food for babies. And to the people who think doing it in public is wrong, and should be done in a restroom, I say go and eat your lunch in the toilet!

Answer 4

I would much rather see an uncovered breast feeding session going on then a dog pooping any day. And I see many more dogs pooping then breast feeding going on. Breast feeding is not gross....and having a breast out is not gross....come on, it's in pg13 movies. I've seen people throw up in public and pee in public.....once again, i'd much rather see breast feeding. It's a positive thing, not a negative thing like all the others i just mentioned.

also, you don't eat in the dark, why should a baby have to?

Answer 5

It's not just okay, it's better for the child and by extension, for our society. Children that breastfeed are healthier, get anitbodies and other nutrients that can't be reproduced in formula.

I do think it has more to do with prudish people that have lost sight of the big picture. I have been around a multitude of mothers that breast feed and most of the time I didn't even notice.

People with a problem concerning breastfeeding need to grow up.

Answer 6

I don't think there's anything wrong with breastfeeding in public. First of all you hardly see anything but the baby, most women don't strip down to the waist or something you know... second even if you see something, there's nothing wrong with such obvious non-sexual nudity either. So you see a bit of a bare breast, big deal... then I'm European, we're more relaxed about non-sexual nudity in the first place. Female breast may be shown on prime-time if it's not in a sexual setting and no one cares about that either.

Answer 7

i agree with you. why is everyone so afraid of a boob? so, okay, it may have become a symbol of sexuality. breastfeeding, on the other hand, is not. the baby is eating lunch. i think people can determine that's not sexual or meant to be lewd. the possibility that anyone can be offended by this just goes to suggest how depraved people can be. and i think it's very sad that, because people get offended or are disgusted or do not accept this fact of nature, mothers are forced to seek complete privacy when none may be available or are led to make the decision to use formula (which is less beneficial to the child) just because of the hassle. if mothers could just walk around, feed their kids and not worry about what everyone else thought about it, more moms would choose the natural way of things. and, you're right. it's just here. other countries DO NOT CARE like we do. so, what's the deal? is everyone so sexually immature, or just immature and, like i said before, depraved, that they cannot handle a mother feeding her child? and i do not believe that more americans than not are prude. i think they pretend to be because everyone is too worried about what everyone else thinks. get over yourselves, people.

Answer 8

I personally would not do it in public, I would pump for that outing. You can pump breast milk and give it to the baby in a bottle. It is not shameful for a mother to breast feed her baby. If people have no problem kissing and touching one another in public. Then why shouldn't a mother be allowed to breast feed her baby. People are becoming self center and ignorant to what is right and what is wrong. What i find to be stupid is the judgment of people today is poor. You are out in public and if you need to breast feed your baby by all means you should be able to do it with out the stares and immature responses. You don't like it don't look. simple as that. people don't think about the baby is hungry, they think about how gross it looks to see a baby feeding on their mom. It boils down to immaturity. People eat out in the public all the time. What makes breast feeding any different from some one eating and walking down the street and food hanging out of their mouths! I think if a woman needs to feed her baby she should feel able to breast feed her baby if so needs to. you can't always get to a private plce to do it and if a baby is hungry it needs to eat. So it is fine by me. If you don't like it look the other way.

Answer 9

Yes of course I think it's OK. People need to get the heck over this issue. I don't even know why it IS an issue except for crazy people who needlessly oversexualize everything. Babies need to eat, and breastfeeding is the healthiest (not to mention cheapest) way to feed babies. What's so hard to understand about that?

A child shouldn't go hungry just because a woman's breast might offend a few frail sensibilities. If people can't handle the real world, including public breastfeeding, they shouldn't've stepped out their front door.

Answer 10

I have 5 children and breastfed them all. My children range in age of 9 to 26 years old. I never had a problem feeding them in pubic places and I always discreetly covered myself with a blanket or shawl. I never had anyone make me feel uncomfortable about it nor did I see anyone point or get discusted with it. I guess maybe I am not observant but I don't see alot of people in America as having a problem with this.

I really don't think the majority of American people who DO have a problem with it is due to them thinking of it in a sexual manner. I think IF anyone has a problem with it, it is not because it is "sexual" in nature but because as a society we have taught and been taught that public nudity is inappropriate.

Of course I am aware of the existence of perverts and choose not to address what their possible state of mind is because it is beyond my understanding.