what do you think about breastfeeding in public?

Question

with out a blanket or anything... it was in a restaurant (sp) and is it unsanitary?

Answer 1

It's no problem at all. A friend of mine has a baby and she breast feeds it; even sitting right next to her there's very little to see, just very briefly while uncovering/covering back up, but who cares.. it's not sexual nudity, it's just a bare chest in a whole different context. Unsanitary? Breasts aren't dirty, except in people's minds! There is nothing on the skin of a breast that isn't on the skin of arms, and bare arms aren't unsanitary. The baby sucking isn't unsanitary either, it's *eating*. No more germs spread from it sucking than from you opening your mouth and putting a fork in it. Now if she were changing the kid in the dining area... but feeding, nothing wrong with that.

Answer 2

I think it's fine to nurse in public, no blanket needed. What baby wants something put over their head? As for unsanitary, I think every breastfeeding mother has clean breasts, so what's the issue? And how in the world can anything equate breastfeeding to urinating as one of your other posters did?? And what's with this it isnt necessary business, do you think I really wanted to eat one handed or have my food go cold while I nursed my baby? No... but neither did I want to stay at home for the year I nursed her. I'm so tired of all these uneducated, close-minded people trying to make a big deal out of something that ISN'T. How did the general public get to be in the state it is in? I can only assume you are in the US as this is primarily an American issue. I had someone change their baby's diaper on the table next to me at a restaurant when I was in high school, now THAT was unsanitary and repulsive to me. Do you know what though, thinking back all these years later I know for sure there wasn't a changing table in the bathroom so limited options! As a mother I'm more understanding of these things now.

Answer 3

Wow have times changed! If this question were asked 40 years ago, people would think you were silly for asking it! (no offense).
Breast feeding should be as natural in a public place as breathing air.
Personally I've never done it, but as a young boy I can recall my Mom feeding the rest of my brood (I have two younger twin siblings) in the middle of a Christmas parade!
I think it really sucks (pardon the pun) that some people (if you can call them that) are offended by something that has been so natural for thousands, if not millions of years!
And no, it's not unsanitary...Just so long as you weren't rubbing your breasts on the rest room floor, you should be fine.

Answer 4

I can't comment on the sanitary aspects of it but I personally believe it is a rude intrusion of one own's beliefs and perhaps convenience on those around you. This potentially embarrasses many people. Leaves parents with difficult questions to answer from their children.....and taking a big step back, if the woman didn't have a baby with her, few would except that she should sit in a restaurant topless! ;)

To clarify, I was answering the question relative to blantant rather than discreet breastfeeding.

Answer 5

Hey, I sucked on a woman's breast for a year when I was an infant. Most folks did. I cannot see what is unsanitary about that. I have to weigh in on this issue with all those who said it was good. Human milk is far better than infant formula.

Why should a person be ashamed of their natural bodily functions? Granted--waste elimination is best done in private for sanitary reasons. But I have walked by nursing mothers. I have never been accidentally splattered with breast milk. I've had waitresses dump hot coffee on me. I have had to endure the insufferable boors who insist on polluting the air I breathe with noxious fumes from stinking cigarettes and cigars. But I see nothing wrong with a woman breastfeeding an infant--it is perfectly natural and healthy. It is a beautiful thing.

People get hung up about the weirdest things. What if we all decided that eating itself was nasty and unsanitary, and agreed it should only be done in private?

P.S. I have never in my life seen an "unsightly" breast. What the hell is that? I furthermore think it is absolutely outrageous that men can, with impunity, do that which women can be arrested and thrown into jail for. Can you say "double standard?"

Women have fine, wonderful features, and I find it appalling people think they need to hide or obscure these things. What is supposed to be so titillating about an exposed mammary gland, anyway? Whoever is offended by the sight has something fundamentally wrong with them. Plenty of other cultures around the world are far superior to ours in their lack of hangups about this issue. I am amazed you got so many responses from people vehemently opposed to the practice. Let the kid eat in peace, for Christ's sake.

Answer 6

Looks to me like the point of going to a restaurant is to eat.
Breastfeeding is substantially healthier for the child, and frankly for the health care system our taxes pay for.
It should be encouraged; at minimum left to the mother/child. Breastfeeding should never be discouraged.

Do you like to eat with a blanket over your head?
Babies don't either. Already when latched on to the breast the infant has only a tiny space on either side of the nose for breathing, adding a blanket would make it difficult for the baby to breath.

Go ahead and put a blanket over your head for a minute, then take it off your head and feel how much easier it is to breath. Now smash your nose up against a bunch of flesh and stick a blanket over your head. Now do it with tiny lungs while trying to drink a lot of liquid.

Breastfeeding is the way we mammals feed our young. I can't imagine how or why it ever became 'disgusting' to society; a huge shame on us all, I think. It should bother others no more than it bothers others that the baby is breathing, or blinking.

Answer 7

I think that at first, it is embarassing to try to do, but once the baby' s head is large enough and the mother is experienced enough, it is hardly likely that you could even know the woman is feeding her baby and would assume the baby is just resting on her lap. At first it is embarassing to try to do because we seem to have forgotten that breast are made for this, not as sex symbols, and its really sad if a human can not look at baby being nurtured and fed as a beautiful thing and instead thinks that a plastic bottle dangling at a distance is attractive....though they'd probably think plastic boobs are attractive too....and maybe even cigarettes look glamourous. .....I think people smoking is much more disgusting to see than a baby being cared for with love.

Answer 8

I dunno -- is it nasty and unsanitary to drink a Diet Coke in public? :-) Most women use some sort of light covering to avoid drawing unwelcome attention to themselves. I see nothing wrong with a discreetly breastfeeding a baby in public. The ones that choose to be indiscreet -- hey, I just ignore them. You probably see more cleavage on a 17-year-old at the prom than you do a nursing mother.

Interesting how sexualized breasts are, considering what a mundane function they have.

Answer 9

You do realize that is the reason women have breasts, right? Contrary to what most teen-aged boys think, they are not really play things.

A woman shouel breatsfeed her child when ever he/she is hungry, it's as simple as that. Anyone who is uncomfortable, shoudl get their minds out of the gutter and get over it.

Answer 10

Holy Moses, what a lot of stupid answers you've got here!!

I'm proud to say that I breastfed all 3 of my children. Its the food nature intended your child to have, and no formula could ever compare. I don't rag on women who choose not to, nor look down on them, for this is a very personal decision.

As for breastfeeding in public, what do some of these idiots expect you to do? Stay home until the kid turns one or you quit?! Would you rather listen to a screaming baby while you eat your dinner? Does he not have the right, if not more so, to enjoy his meal too?

It is in no way unsanitary, as it not anything like saliva, feces, or urine. To compare the 2 shows a total lack of intelligence.

As long as the Mom isn't waving her boobs around I don't see what the problem is. In fact, I never hesitated to feed my child, no matter where I was and used the on demand feeding method. Quite a few times I was approached by a stranger asking for the time or directions during a feeding. If the babe looked up to see who was talking, it was funny to watch people's expression. They had nooooo idea what I was doing, they just thought I was just holding my sleeping baby!

For all you silly prudes who are "disgusted", this is easily resolved. If you don't like it, LOOK AWAY. See? Simple. I wouldn't approach the woman with your 'concerns' either, for you will be hotly reproached and might even get a shot of milk in the eye!

To the original poster, good question, unrealistic answers. Hope this shed some light for you :)

100% agree with poster above. Go smash your nose up, wrap a blanket around your head and see how great your dining experience is.




EDIT: Ohhhhhhh, booo hooo hooo, I got some thumbs down, I'm so sad....LOL! Get real people, you're total morons, just accept it and move on. Its NEVER going to change so the best you can do is either change your opinion on it or look away.
*rolling my eyes*

To the 'smart' people and you know who you are, CHEERS!